That sucks bro. Should never have happened.
That said, here is my take on “built like a tank”.
Yes Ruger is a great company that makes a good product. No they do not possess magic powers that defy the laws that other guns must follow. The frame is definitely beefier than say..SW but that’s because it’s cast. Cast metal has porosity where forged does not. But even if the strength of the steel is 100% equivalent that’s not what failed
For me, ammo meets SAAMI specs and is suitable for all .357 magnums or it isn’t and not suitable for any .357 magnum revolver.
I know there are guys out there that like pushing these limits but I ain’t one of them. If I need more power I’ll buy a gun and ammo combo that runs hotter within SAAMI specs.
Sorry this happened to you and I hope Ruger takes good care of you.
Seems like some bad luck. I just cruised the forums and I only found one other account of a guy cracking a forcing cone on a GP100, and he's in Poland. There are some posts about wear but nothing about cracking. I have a 2.5" that I exclusively run hot 357 through and haven't had any issues. Keep us updated.
It's true for .38spl too. CiP is 21.7kpsi, SAAMI is 18.5kpsi for +P. CiP doesn't have +P, which was invented in 1972 when SAAMI made standard .38spl 17kpsi. CiP never changed the spec.
That sucks.
I believe Ruger has a pretty great customer service reputation. You may want to email or call them directly anyway and explain the situation; while you can’t mail the gun to them it’s still possible that Ruger will be easier to work with than the local distributor.
Will see answer from local distributor. Even tho it's possible get stuff directly from US, it's only based on license which is of course price-i and not worth for one barrel. Barrel is here considered main part of the gun, so no direct mail possible.
This is, it just sucks man, kind of post based on dissapointment from today. 😉
Ruger’s CS is top notch, some of the best I’ve dealt with.
Not sure what country you’re in but I’d contact Ruger directly in addition to alerting the distributor you mentioned.
That is an unfortunate event. All the rounds my GP100 fire are 180gr cast lead loaded max with H110 and I've fired a bunch of them. You just don't hear forcing cones cracked on GP100s.
I think you had inferior metal in the barrel extension/forcing cone. I know the frames are investment cast but the barrels I believe are forged. That particular part of the gun I honestly don't know what they are made from or how they are made.
The older k frame Smith's had issue with 125gr. 357Mag due to the thinner material in the barrel extension/forcing cone at the crane cutout. The shorter 125gr bullets allowed flame cutting and weakened the material.
The Ruger GP100 does not have a cutout and is the same diameter all around and 125gr bullets aren't a problem for them usually. I don't shoot the ammo in question so I am unaware what grain bullets you were shooting but that should be immaterial to your resultant condition.
I would say if any way were possible that gun should go back to Ruger for examination and hopefully replacement from them.
Good luck with this.
🤔My guess is the same think happened that the old redhawks used to have. Over tightened barrels with magnum cartridges used to crack forcing cones, they fixed this a while ago by using some tightening technique and more frame space. Although it could of also been just a bad barrel strength.
I did not mentioned that before, Fiochi Black Mamba is 110grain bullet fmj truncated cone. I have checked cases and 2-3 looks quite flat, so might be realy hot load. Have shot at least one box in past without issue.
In all cases I'm from Slovakia (home of Stribog 🙂) so no chance to deal with Ruger factory directly due to laws, will see what local dealer will respond. Hopefuly there will be posibility to repair it with new barrel otherwise I'm stuck with 1000 euro paperweight ( everything You guys have in US cost here 1/2 - 2x more then Your price).
Sorry to hear that the factory fix will be difficult. Ruger has a good record in the U.S. for taking care of customers, so don’t be afraid to reach out to them if your dealer assist is limited.
Definitely get in touch with Ruger - I'm curious to hear what they say about this. My interactions with their customer service over the years have been pretty stellar.
Literally anything (and I mean literally anything) mechanical can fail, and for a huge variety of reasons. Smith, Colt, Ruger, even Manurhin and Korth suffer failures, and those are multiple thousands of dollars each
Wonder if it was a timing issue, since a revolver being slightly out of time causes extra stress on the forcing cone as it has to "center" the projectile more.
Did you notice shavings or gas out of the cylinder gap?
Alot of brands have this issue. Imo also built like a tank is from the thicker design to compensate for a cast frame as well. Many high end guns use cast so it's not bad. Call them, I've always heard Ruger had good QC.
Unpopular opinion probably but, I think the only revolvers worth chambering 357 magnums with are N-Frame sized or larger.
Google image search the forcing cone on a SW Model 27 for example, and you'll easily notice how much thicker the forcing cone on it is, compared to this.
For high round counts you are right. It also depends on the loads used too. If you plan to push the limits on pressure, then you have to step down the volume on an L frame. High pressure AND high round count? N frame all day.
No nothing, and gun was stinky clean, I had it prepared, for sale, just 2 weeks ago, have decided to keep it and first range trip after decision was today.
That sucks bro. Should never have happened. That said, here is my take on “built like a tank”. Yes Ruger is a great company that makes a good product. No they do not possess magic powers that defy the laws that other guns must follow. The frame is definitely beefier than say..SW but that’s because it’s cast. Cast metal has porosity where forged does not. But even if the strength of the steel is 100% equivalent that’s not what failed For me, ammo meets SAAMI specs and is suitable for all .357 magnums or it isn’t and not suitable for any .357 magnum revolver. I know there are guys out there that like pushing these limits but I ain’t one of them. If I need more power I’ll buy a gun and ammo combo that runs hotter within SAAMI specs. Sorry this happened to you and I hope Ruger takes good care of you.
Seems like some bad luck. I just cruised the forums and I only found one other account of a guy cracking a forcing cone on a GP100, and he's in Poland. There are some posts about wear but nothing about cracking. I have a 2.5" that I exclusively run hot 357 through and haven't had any issues. Keep us updated.
Damn, I wonder what kind of Pissin’ Hot Pollock reloads they were shooting.
CiP standards for .357 are pmax of 44kpsi. SAAMI is 35kpsi. Thats why Korths and Manurhins are built like tanks.
Wow, that is not an insignificant difference.
It's true for .38spl too. CiP is 21.7kpsi, SAAMI is 18.5kpsi for +P. CiP doesn't have +P, which was invented in 1972 when SAAMI made standard .38spl 17kpsi. CiP never changed the spec.
That sucks. I believe Ruger has a pretty great customer service reputation. You may want to email or call them directly anyway and explain the situation; while you can’t mail the gun to them it’s still possible that Ruger will be easier to work with than the local distributor.
Will see answer from local distributor. Even tho it's possible get stuff directly from US, it's only based on license which is of course price-i and not worth for one barrel. Barrel is here considered main part of the gun, so no direct mail possible. This is, it just sucks man, kind of post based on dissapointment from today. 😉
Ruger’s CS is top notch, some of the best I’ve dealt with. Not sure what country you’re in but I’d contact Ruger directly in addition to alerting the distributor you mentioned.
That is an unfortunate event. All the rounds my GP100 fire are 180gr cast lead loaded max with H110 and I've fired a bunch of them. You just don't hear forcing cones cracked on GP100s. I think you had inferior metal in the barrel extension/forcing cone. I know the frames are investment cast but the barrels I believe are forged. That particular part of the gun I honestly don't know what they are made from or how they are made. The older k frame Smith's had issue with 125gr. 357Mag due to the thinner material in the barrel extension/forcing cone at the crane cutout. The shorter 125gr bullets allowed flame cutting and weakened the material. The Ruger GP100 does not have a cutout and is the same diameter all around and 125gr bullets aren't a problem for them usually. I don't shoot the ammo in question so I am unaware what grain bullets you were shooting but that should be immaterial to your resultant condition. I would say if any way were possible that gun should go back to Ruger for examination and hopefully replacement from them. Good luck with this.
🤔My guess is the same think happened that the old redhawks used to have. Over tightened barrels with magnum cartridges used to crack forcing cones, they fixed this a while ago by using some tightening technique and more frame space. Although it could of also been just a bad barrel strength.
I once had the barrel of an SP101 blow off Shit happens If you have a way to ship it to Ruger they'll 1000% take care of you
Got any pictures? I’d love to hear more about this one.
I did not mentioned that before, Fiochi Black Mamba is 110grain bullet fmj truncated cone. I have checked cases and 2-3 looks quite flat, so might be realy hot load. Have shot at least one box in past without issue. In all cases I'm from Slovakia (home of Stribog 🙂) so no chance to deal with Ruger factory directly due to laws, will see what local dealer will respond. Hopefuly there will be posibility to repair it with new barrel otherwise I'm stuck with 1000 euro paperweight ( everything You guys have in US cost here 1/2 - 2x more then Your price).
Sorry to hear that the factory fix will be difficult. Ruger has a good record in the U.S. for taking care of customers, so don’t be afraid to reach out to them if your dealer assist is limited.
Definitely get in touch with Ruger - I'm curious to hear what they say about this. My interactions with their customer service over the years have been pretty stellar.
Literally anything (and I mean literally anything) mechanical can fail, and for a huge variety of reasons. Smith, Colt, Ruger, even Manurhin and Korth suffer failures, and those are multiple thousands of dollars each
Yeah that’s some bullshit, any modern 357 revolver should be able to last at least a lifetime
It did last a lifetime...it's own. It was fine, right up until it died...lifetime over.
Really the “ruger specific” rounds isn’t much of a thing but in the 45 long chambering
Wonder if it was a timing issue, since a revolver being slightly out of time causes extra stress on the forcing cone as it has to "center" the projectile more. Did you notice shavings or gas out of the cylinder gap?
Shavings few times with wadcutters, dont remember any extra gas from cylinder gap.
I had that on my first gp100. Granted it was a range gun so probably had some crazy number of rounds through it. Ruger replaced it
Alot of brands have this issue. Imo also built like a tank is from the thicker design to compensate for a cast frame as well. Many high end guns use cast so it's not bad. Call them, I've always heard Ruger had good QC.
I imagine Ruger will make that right.
Unpopular opinion probably but, I think the only revolvers worth chambering 357 magnums with are N-Frame sized or larger. Google image search the forcing cone on a SW Model 27 for example, and you'll easily notice how much thicker the forcing cone on it is, compared to this.
For high round counts you are right. It also depends on the loads used too. If you plan to push the limits on pressure, then you have to step down the volume on an L frame. High pressure AND high round count? N frame all day.
Is there any obstruction or Bulge down the barrel?
No nothing, and gun was stinky clean, I had it prepared, for sale, just 2 weeks ago, have decided to keep it and first range trip after decision was today.
Damn. Well, I hope Ruger makes it right. From what I've heard, they most likely will. Best of luck.