Ruger Mark II Chamber face damage?

TracerTesterman · December 6, 2017, 02:39 PM

I don't know how many tens of thousands of rounds have been fired through this thing. Heck, maybe a hundred thousand by this point.

But after a range trip, I was cleaning it and noticed this. No issues with function, but it looks like parts of the chamber face chipped off. (I'm not even sure if that's the correct term for the location - barrel face?).

Anyone seen anything like this before?

It bugs me enough that I'm looking around at replacement upper/barrels.

BBarn · December 6, 2017, 04:46 PM

I see some questionable spots, but it also looks like there is some crud built up. Perhaps clean it and take another pic?

Smoke & Recoil · December 6, 2017, 05:48 PM

Just honest wear from the bolt slamming closed. If it starts to slam fire, take
care of it.

FrankenMauser · December 6, 2017, 08:17 PM

Standard wear for a blow-back pistol with a high round count.

Keep an eye on it (as Smoke & Recoil indicated), but don't worry about it.

I have a 135k round Buckmark that shows similar wear. It wasn't until the barrel and slide mushroomed, from slamming into each other so many thousands of times, that the chamber tightened up enough to require repair. $25 and it was back in business.

Brian48 · December 7, 2017, 07:55 PM

This looks like normal wear to me as well. I wouldn't worry about it unless it starts to malfunction on you. I've currently got 3 MKIIs and others over the years. They all have this to some degree or the another. Still functions fine.

pete2 · December 7, 2017, 07:57 PM

My Mark 2 looks about like that. It looks like something abrasive being pounded between the face of the bbl and the bolt face. Bolt face is perfect but bbl face not so much. I wonder if the priming compound has glass or something else in it to cause this?

FrankenMauser · December 7, 2017, 11:40 PM

Quote:

I wonder if the priming compound has glass or something else in it to cause this?

BINGO!
Yes, rimfire priming compound contains abrasives.

TracerTesterman · December 8, 2017, 10:08 AM

Interesting.

I had never heard of it before, thanks guys!

SGW Gunsmith · December 8, 2017, 04:28 PM

From here it looks like the chamber face is OK, but the top, right side, of the pocket in the breech face that the extractor fits into has some rounding wear to it.

Can't say that you'll get much satisfaction from Ruger these days if you were to send them pictures involving your concerns, but it might be worth the try.
Worst case is, they will tell you that the pistol is too old and there's nothing they can, or will, do for you. Then again, you might get lucky and they'll offer a solution.

TracerTesterman · December 11, 2017, 10:25 AM

Thanks SGW. I had been thinking about an upgrade for some time, so I expect that's the direction I'll go.

pete2 · December 11, 2017, 10:34 AM

My pistol still shoots very well, I not gonna do anything unless it starts having problems. Ruger once replaced a gun on warranty for me, the replacement was worse than the one they replaced. If Tracer's pistol still works well, shoot it. He said no issues with function.

James K · December 11, 2017, 09:47 PM

Rebarrelling a Ruger is pretty difficult. Ruger makes the barrel/receiver as a unit and does not sell (AFAIK) barrels separately. As others have said, that looks like normal wear on a high count Ruger.

Jim

SGW Gunsmith · December 12, 2017, 10:36 AM

Actually, the Ruger Mark series of receivers and barrels are made as separate parts. The barrel is screwed into the threaded receiver. Clark Custom fits barrels to the Ruger Mark pistols almost daily.

Removing a barrel from the Ruger Mark receiver is NOT for the faint of heart!

TracerTesterman · December 12, 2017, 12:17 PM

Thanks guys, I haven't heard back from Ruger yet. But after pricing new barrelled uppers, I would almost be better off buying a new one...

Except, as mentioned, quality doesn't seem to be that great these days.

I reckon I'll keep shooting til it starts having problems.

Slopemeno · December 12, 2017, 04:04 PM

My Mk-II's barrel came right out. It wasn't difficult, but I did use an action wrench we had for it.

December 6, 2017, 02:39 PM	#1
TracerTesterman Junior member Join Date: November 9, 2017 Posts: 59	Ruger Mark II Chamber face damage? I don't know how many tens of thousands of rounds have been fired through this thing. Heck, maybe a hundred thousand by this point. But after a range trip, I was cleaning it and noticed this. No issues with function, but it looks like parts of the chamber face chipped off. (I'm not even sure if that's the correct term for the location - barrel face?). Anyone seen anything like this before? It bugs me enough that I'm looking around at replacement upper/barrels.

December 6, 2017, 05:48 PM	#3
Smoke & Recoil Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: East shore of Lake Michigan. Posts: 714	Just honest wear from the bolt slamming closed. If it starts to slam fire, take care of it. __________________ Sent from my Tandy 1000

December 6, 2017, 08:17 PM	#4
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,424	Standard wear for a blow-back pistol with a high round count. Keep an eye on it (as Smoke & Recoil indicated), but don't worry about it. I have a 135k round Buckmark that shows similar wear. It wasn't until the barrel and slide mushroomed, from slamming into each other so many thousands of times, that the chamber tightened up enough to require repair. $25 and it was back in business. __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

December 7, 2017, 07:55 PM	#5
Brian48 Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2001 Location: Boston, People's Republic of MA Posts: 1,616	This looks like normal wear to me as well. I wouldn't worry about it unless it starts to malfunction on you. I've currently got 3 MKIIs and others over the years. They all have this to some degree or the another. Still functions fine. __________________ Proud to have served.

December 6, 2017, 04:46 PM	#2
BBarn Senior Member Join Date: December 22, 2015 Posts: 887	I see some questionable spots, but it also looks like there is some crud built up. Perhaps clean it and take another pic?

December 7, 2017, 07:57 PM	#6
pete2 Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 2,566	My Mark 2 looks about like that. It looks like something abrasive being pounded between the face of the bbl and the bolt face. Bolt face is perfect but bbl face not so much. I wonder if the priming compound has glass or something else in it to cause this?

December 8, 2017, 10:08 AM	#8
TracerTesterman Junior member Join Date: November 9, 2017 Posts: 59	Interesting. I had never heard of it before, thanks guys!

December 8, 2017, 04:28 PM	#9
SGW Gunsmith Junior member Join Date: December 31, 2014 Location: Northwest Wisconsin Posts: 285	From here it looks like the chamber face is OK, but the top, right side, of the pocket in the breech face that the extractor fits into has some rounding wear to it. Can't say that you'll get much satisfaction from Ruger these days if you were to send them pictures involving your concerns, but it might be worth the try. Worst case is, they will tell you that the pistol is too old and there's nothing they can, or will, do for you. Then again, you might get lucky and they'll offer a solution.

December 11, 2017, 10:25 AM	#10
TracerTesterman Junior member Join Date: November 9, 2017 Posts: 59	Thanks SGW. I had been thinking about an upgrade for some time, so I expect that's the direction I'll go.

December 11, 2017, 10:34 AM	#11
pete2 Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 2,566	My pistol still shoots very well, I not gonna do anything unless it starts having problems. Ruger once replaced a gun on warranty for me, the replacement was worse than the one they replaced. If Tracer's pistol still works well, shoot it. He said no issues with function.

December 11, 2017, 09:47 PM	#12
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Rebarrelling a Ruger is pretty difficult. Ruger makes the barrel/receiver as a unit and does not sell (AFAIK) barrels separately. As others have said, that looks like normal wear on a high count Ruger. Jim

December 12, 2017, 10:36 AM	#13
SGW Gunsmith Junior member Join Date: December 31, 2014 Location: Northwest Wisconsin Posts: 285	Actually, the Ruger Mark series of receivers and barrels are made as separate parts. The barrel is screwed into the threaded receiver. Clark Custom fits barrels to the Ruger Mark pistols almost daily. Removing a barrel from the Ruger Mark receiver is NOT for the faint of heart!

December 12, 2017, 12:17 PM	#14
TracerTesterman Junior member Join Date: November 9, 2017 Posts: 59	Thanks guys, I haven't heard back from Ruger yet. But after pricing new barrelled uppers, I would almost be better off buying a new one... Except, as mentioned, quality doesn't seem to be that great these days. I reckon I'll keep shooting til it starts having problems.

December 12, 2017, 04:04 PM	#15
Slopemeno Senior Member Join Date: January 19, 2007 Posts: 2,663	My Mk-II's barrel came right out. It wasn't difficult, but I did use an action wrench we had for it.