June Gun Sales Second Best on Record
We have just had one of the few months where there was not just a decline of checks from the previous month but a decline for the month by itself.
Category: Gun Schtuff
PRODUCT WARNING AND RECALL NOTICE
HERTER’S™ 9mm Luger 115 grain FMJ (manufactured by WINCHESTER®)
Herter’s is recalling the following lots of 9mm Luger 115 grain Full Metal Jacket pistol ammunition.
Symbol: HRT9A
Lot Numbers: SC13LD44, SC13LD45, SD10LD44, SD10LD45
Note: If ammunition was purchased before March 25, 2021, it is NOT subject to the recall.
Herter’s has determined the above lots of 9mm Luger 115 FMJ ammunition may contain propellant that does not properly ignite and burn when the cartridge is fired. Ammunition containing propellant that does not properly ignite and burn may result in a bullet remaining in the barrel (i.e., a bullet-in-bore obstruction). Firing a subsequent bullet into the bore obstruction could cause firearm damage, rendering the firearm inoperable and subjecting the shooter and bystanders to a risk of serious personal injury.
DO NOT USE HERTER’S™ 9mm Luger 115 FMJ SYMBOL HRT9A THAT HAS LOT NUMBER SC13LD44, SC13LD45, SD10LD44 or SD10LD45. The ammunition Lot Number is stamped on the 50-round carton as indicated here:
To determine if your ammunition is subject to this notice, review the Symbol and Lot Number. If it is Symbol HRT9A and Lot Number SC13LD44, SC13LD45, SD10LD44 or SD10LD45, immediately discontinue use and contact Winchester toll-free at 844-653-8358 for free UPS pick-up of the recalled ammunition. Upon receipt of your recalled ammunition, Winchester will ship replacement ammunition directly to you or issue you a reimbursement check.
This notice applies only to Symbol HRT9A with Lot Number SC13LD44, SC13LD45, SD10LD44 or SD10LD45. Other Symbols or Lot Numbers are not subject to this recall.
If you have any questions concerning this 9mm Luger 115 FMJ pistol ammunition recall please call toll-free 844-653-8358, write to Winchester (600 Powder Mill Road, East Alton, IL 62024 Attn: 9mm Luger Recall), or visit our website at www.winchester.com.
We apologize for this inconvenience.
HERTER’S
Robyn Sandoval of A Girl And A Gun recently took my MAG-40 class in South Dakota, and while there, she gave me permission to share this list she put together. Though it probably understates how many LCP-size .380s and snub .38 revolvers are being carried by women today, the guns folks take to pistol class are largely indicative of what they keep for home defense, in my experience.
Courtesy of Robyn:
To know the handguns and gear that are trending for women in 2021, look at what women are choosing to train with and carry. Recently A Girl & A Gun Women’s Shooting League (AG & AG) hosted its 9th Annual National Conference. All 450 participants were required to go through a “gear check” process where their handguns, belts, holsters, and mag pouches were all reviewed and function checked. The following lists the most popular brands and models that the women brought to training.
2nd Preliminary Report on the Tisas .45 Commander.
Having some spare time available, I decided to drill down on the pistol’s feeding problem.
I think I’ve got it fixed.
I first tried relieving the notch that engages the cartridge rim, but even after that, the pistol still didn’t want to reliably feed, so I dived into my spare parts and compared the factory extractor to a mil issue one.
As you can see in the picture:
The end of the factory extractor on the right is noticeably thicker in diameter, so I swapped in the issue one and voilà, the feeding problem is no more.
AK and I are going to burn some gunpowder this weekend, so we’ll confirm that the reliability problem has been solved, and go from there for possible sight adjustment for the ammo the pistol likes best.
Paul crankin the 9mm Tippmann Gatling Gun at at the Whittington Center,
Winchester 9mm 115 gr Ammunition Recall
Olin Winchester, LLC is recalling the following lots of 9mm Luger 115 grain Full Metal Jacket and 115 grain Jacketed Hollow Point pistol ammunition.
Symbols: Q4172, RED9, USA9JHP, USA9MMVP, USA9W, WW9B
Lot Numbers:
SC03LD44, SC03LD45, SC03LD46, SC03LD47
SC13LD1, SC13LD6, SC13LD18, SC13LD44, SC13LD45, SC13LD46, SC13LD47
SC52LD44, SC52LD45, SC52LD46, SC52LD47
SC62LD44, SC62LD45, SC62LD46, SC62LD47
SC72LD44, SC72LD45, SC72LD46, SC72LD47
SC92LD44, SC92LD45, SC92LD46, SC92LD47
SD10LD1, SD10LD3, SD10LD6, SC10LD12, SD10LD18, SD10LD46, SD10LD47
SD50LD1, SD50LD3, SD50LD6, SD50LD11, SD50LD12, SD50LD18, SD50LD46, SD50LD47
SD60LD1, SD60LD3, SD60LD6, SD60LD11, SD60LD12, SD60LD18
SD70LD1, SD70LD3, SD70LD6, SD70LD11, SD70LD12, SD70LD18
SD80LD1, SD80LD3, SD80LD6, SD80LD11, SD80LD12, SD80LD18
Winchester has determined the above lots of 9mm Luger 115 FMJ and JHP ammunition may contain propellant that does not properly ignite and burn when the cartridge is fired. Ammunition containing propellant that does not properly ignite and burn may result in a bullet remaining in the barrel (i.e., a bullet-in-bore obstruction). Firing a subsequent bullet into the bore obstruction could cause firearm damage, rendering the firearm inoperable and subjecting the shooter and bystanders to a risk of serious personal injury.
DO NOT USE WINCHESTER® 9MM LUGER 115 FMJ / JHP OF THE ABOVE SYMBOLS THAT HAS ANY OF THE ABOVE LOT NUMBERS.
To determine if your ammunition is subject to this notice, review the Symbol and Lot Number. If it is any of the above Symbols and Lot Numbers, immediately discontinue use and contact Winchester toll-free at 844-653-8358 for free UPS pick-up of the recalled ammunition. Upon receipt of your recalled ammunition, Winchester will ship replacement ammunition directly to you or issue you a reimbursement check.
This notice applies only to the above 9mm Luger 115 FMJ and JHP Symbols with the above Lot Numbers. Other Symbols or Lot Numbers are not subject to this recall.
If you have any questions concerning this 9mm Luger 115 FMJ / JHP pistol ammunition recall please call toll-free 844-653-8358, write to Winchester (600 Powder Mill Road, East Alton, IL 62024 Attn: 9mm Luger Recall), or visit our website at www.winchester.com.
1st preliminary report on the Tisas, .45 ACP
It’s been heard that the best reason to buy a new handgun is because you’ve found a holster in the chest of drawers that you don’t currently have a gun for.
That being close to the case, and being in the market for a Commander sized 1911, I was at the one of the gun stores in the local flying area and espied one of the current versions with the full steel frame by the Trabzon Silah (TİSAŞ) c0mpany, imported from Turkey.
Well, the gun looked good. The fit and finish were excellent, but of course, the proof is in the shooting, which I managed to do last week, during the Shootist’s Holiday at the NRA Whittington Center just south of Raton, New Mexico.
I am currently underwhelmed, but final judgement will be held in abeyance until I determine what may be necessary to fix the problems I had with the gun,
First, it wouldn’t reliably feed Black Hills Ammunition’s standard 230 gr hardball fmj ammo in any of the several different magazines, which included twin sets of; Check-Mate military issue, Metalform stainless round follower, Triple K round follower and even Wilson-Rogers.
Each time, the round would feed halfway into the chamber, then hang up and tie up the gun, necessitating pulling the magazine out and cycling the slide to clear the jam. I didn’t attempt to fire a group for record.
Trying CCI’s Lawman brand of same load however did work and at 50 feet on the Sight-In Range, holding 6 O’clock with elbows rested on heavy concrete benchrest table, I could keep the shots in the black of the target, but the group size was rather disappointing.
(click on all pictures for a larger version.)
I think I’ll do some comparison measurements of the cases of the different brands and see if the rim thickness might be the cause but in any case, it looks like I’ve got a bit of extractor tuning and maybe feed ramp polishing ahead of me.
Remington factory was similarly underwhelming but this was older ammo back when nickeled brass was being used.
However, I did find one bright spot when I tried one of Dad’s reloads of the same Remington 185 grain jhp loaded with 7.5 grains of 700X.
This group came in under 3 inches and with a little sight adjustment would be perfectly satisfactory.
Pvt. Martin Teahan’s M1 Found 72 Years after D-Day
East Brunswick, NJ USA – -(Ammoland.com)- If I were to report the facts, I would tell you Private Martin Teahan of HQ Company, 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR), died on June 6, 1944, near a church in Picauville, Normandy.
While scouting a position, he was shot in the leg, captured, and then killed by a German soldier who thought he was reaching for a weapon.
A few weeks after D-Day, a French farmer in the area found a rifle with the name M. Teahan engraved on the butt of the rifle. No one knew what the farmer did with the rifle for 72 years, until it was discovered this February by a French Army Paratrooper Commander named Colonel Patrick Collet.
Those are the facts, but the story associated with the rifle tugs on something much deeper for me.
You see, Private Martin was my Uncle “Matty.” A poor Irish Immigrant, who’s stories of his bravery resonated with me as I grew up in the same rough Irish neighborhood in the South Bronx. Five days prior to the discovery of the rifle, I visited my roots for the first time since childhood. I stood in grand St Jerome’s Church, and thought of my Uncle Matty as I looked at his name, engraved in the cool stone of the somber building.
I’m taking my copy of the one on the left to Raton. We’ll see what we’ve got.
How a $500 1911 Stacks Up Against a $5000 1911
Does all that money just buy bells and whistles, or is there really something to dropping a few bills on a 1911?
The 1911 is often considered a real man’s gun or the pistol of a professional. Prices range from less than $500 to beyond $5000, and that’s before gold inlays, engraving, or genuine ivory grips are added in. Nighthawk’s Turnbull VIP 1911 retails for $7999. Wilson Combat’s more practical X-Tac Supergrade Professional starts at $4795. And Springfield Armory’s Ultimate Carry Handgun will cost you $3395.
But there’s another end of the spectrum. Springfield also offers more than 50 other 1911 models with prices as low as $640. And SDS Imports offers Turkish-made 1911s starting at only $409. How can one type of firearm go from being that cheap to having prices equivalent to the cost of a good used pickup truck? It’s all about what’s going on under the hood.
Self Defense Essentials and the Combat Triad
When it comes to personal protection your mindset is more important than the gun and ammo you carry
Imagine you’re new to firearms and want to be armed for self-defense. You’re probably wondering which gun to buy, what type of holster you need, and what kind of ammunition would be best. Some will argue the gun is the most important element because it must work every time. Others will insist the holster matters most because if you’re uncomfortable carrying, you won’t carry. And then there are those who maintain that ammunition is paramount because ultimately, it’s the bullet that does all the work. Without question, all these items are important and can contribute to your survival, but what is most important?
The Combat Triad
Former Marine Jeff Cooper founded what is now known as Gunsite Academy in Paulden, Arizona, in 1976. It is the oldest and largest civilian firearms training school in the world. In an effort to codify the basics of using a firearm to survive a lethal confrontation, Cooper established what he called the Combat Triad. This triangle of guidance consists of mindset, gun handling, and marksmanship. Though the three sides of the triangle are considered equilateral, the base or foundation of the Triad is mindset, for without the combat mindset, your skills and abilities with weaponry and tactics are of little value.
Now is the Time to Make the Case: Remove SBRs from the NFA
As the Biden administration gears up to pass fresh guidance on pistol stabilizing braces, I humbly suggest that this is precisely the time to get working on legislation to remove SBRs — short barreled rifles — from the purview of the 1934 National Firearms Act.
Arguments and assertions from the DOJ / ATF / Biden administration related to pistol braces only strengthen the case that SBRs shouldn’t be subject to special scrutiny as compared to rifles with 16-inch or longer barrels.
In my comprehensive “How Does ATF’s Vague Pistol Brace Guidance Contradict Itself?” article, I went section-by-section through the draft guidance document (which, to be sure, is going to be the model for whatever comes out of the Biden White House if it isn’t simply used verbatim) and played angel’s advocate, arguing why each and every section was and is wrong, vague, inconsistent, misleading, anti-factual, self-contradictory, and/or just plain dishonest.
The Biden administration is in the final stages of drafting a regulation on firearm accessories that can be used to make pistols more like rifles . . .
. . . The firearm accessory can make pistols more accurate and deadlier. It effectively transforms a pistol into a short-barreled rifle . . .
Does your head also spin when you see the exact same people who have always banned or attempted to ban “assault weapon” features on the basis that they allow for “spraying fire” and “firing from the hip,” and have banned “Saturday Night Specials” in part due to their inherent inaccuracy now railing against pistol stabilizing braces for having exactly the opposite effect?
I’m sorry, but can y’all please decide if accuracy is a good thing or a bad thing? I’ll give you a hint: it’s good.
Analysis: Dogs Can’t Smell Serial Numbers and the Dangers of Mindlessly Repeating Police Narratives
Dogs, no matter how well trained, can not tell if a gun has a serial number engraved into it or not.
That is not the impression you would get if you listened to KSBY’s report on Santa Barbara, California’s new police dogs, though. The NBC affiliate chose to frame their story on the dogs through the lens of their ability to detect so-called ghost guns.
“The [ghost] gun might look similar to any regular weapon; however, it’s missing one major piece: registration to make it legally owned,” KSBY reporter Melissa Newman said. “Today, I got a first-hand look at the only K9 in the county trained to detect them.”
The K9 is actually trained to sniff plastic, steel, and gun powder. That’s it. He can’t smell whether a gun has a serial number engraved in it. He doesn’t know if the owner has a registration paper from the state government for it. That is exactly what Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Deputy Shane Moore tells the station eventually.
“Zeke is trained to alert on what we call polymer 80’s, and it’s like the grip part of the handgun. He’s also trained to alert on the steel, the slides, and the ammunition we use for firearms,” Deputy Moore told the news station.
Moore is oddly trying to conflate a company that sells unfinished gun parts, Polymer 80, with the gun parts themselves. So, let’s be clear. The grip on a gun made with Polymer 80 parts is made out of, you guessed it, polymer, just like a Glock or Smith & Wesson pistol sold at the store. There’s no real difference in materials for parts used in homemade guns or retail firearms.
KSBY eventually acknowledges this obvious fact, but they commit to this bizarre framing anyway.
The whole piece reads like a police department wanted to brag about how they’re doing something to combat the specter of “ghost guns,” and nobody at KSBY thought twice about how ridiculous the narrative was. Police departments often want to show people they are actively fighting criminals, and local news often wants to play up threats to juice ratings. Those incentives align in all sorts of bad ways, but occasionally they combine to make everyone involved with the story look utterly ridiculous.
I believe most police are trying to do the right thing most of the time. But that doesn’t mean you have to take everything they say or do at face value. You absolutely shouldn’t do that with police spokesmen or any other kind of government official if you’re a journalist.
There’s a major difference between respecting law enforcement and mindlessly repeating anything they have to tell you. This principle extends well beyond firearms, but it’s certainly true here. Some police, especially those in public relations, like to frame rights primarily as impediments to easier police work. And while life would be easier on law enforcement if we allowed them to search anyone for any reason they saw fit, or let them arrest anyone for merely owning a gun, it would make life quite a lot worse for everyone else.
So, the next time a police officer tries to tell you a story about how their new K9s are trained to smell the difference between a serialized gun and an unserialized one, maybe take that with a grain of salt.
“I’ll take Dismal Failures for $500. Alex”
Have U.S. Gun Buyback Programs Misfired?
“Gun buyback programs (GBPs), which use public funds to purchase civilians’ privately-owned firearms, aim to reduce gun violence. However, little is known about their effects on firearm-related crime or deaths. Using data from the National Incident Based Reporting System, we find no evidence that GBPs reduce gun crime. Given our estimated null findings, with 95 percent confidence, we can rule out decreases in firearm-related crime of greater than 1.3 percent during the year following a buyback.”
extract:
Moreover, during the first two months following the gun buyback, we find that a GBP is associated with an increase in incidents of firearm-related crime.
The 7.7 percent increase in gun crime we detect in column (4) is relatively modest, suggesting at most, two additional gun crimes.
Again, the findings in the pre-treatment period are consistent with the common trends assumption. In the post-treatment period, we find a small increase in gun crime over the first year following a GBP, followed by longer-run null results.
Across the three specifications presented in Table 4, we show that GBPs are associated with a 6.9 percent increase in gun as compared to non-gun crime in the two months following a gun buyback.
In the posttreatment period, we find no evidence that GBPs reduce gun crime (panel a) or non-gun crime (panel b) in the 24 months following its enactment. 26 We find a small, short-run (month of enactment) increase in gun relative to non-gun crime.
In addition, firearms sold in buybacks do not appear to be those that would typically be used to commit gun crime. Approximately 25 percent of GBP participants reported that the firearms they sold were not in good working order (Romero et al. 1998). A study of a series of gun buybacks in Milwaukee, Wisconsin between 1994 and 1997 found that the types of firearms turned in were more likely to be older weapons with longer barrels and smaller magazine size(Kuhn et al. 2002). Such weapon traits are not commonly linked to firearm-related homicides and suicides (Planty and Truman 2013).
These findings are consistent with adverse selection in firearm quality that one would expect to observe with a relatively low offer price and no price discrimination.
Moreover, income gains to GBP participants selling low quality firearms could result in an increase the supply of properly functioning guns.
The 3 Golden Rules of Defensive Carry
What’s the best defensive handgun? There’s no easy answer to this question, but if you had to shoot to save your life while being attacked, you’d probably like to have the biggest handgun you could find. I know I would. Of course, there are some problems with big and powerful handguns for defensive carry: They’re hard to carry and hard to conceal, and they recoil with enough force to twist your own wrists into submission. There’s a reason nearly every .44 Magnum revolver that’s for sale on the used market comes with half a box of ammunition.
Robert Ruark made the “use enough gun” phrase famous. In fact, it was the title of one of his books, published in 1965 after his death. Ruark’s reference to enough gun was about hunting dangerous game, and he did a good bit of it. He shot lots of buffalo, several elephants, two lions, and multiple tigers. He was even mauled by an Asian leopard. So Ruark had some experience to back up his advice, advice which has since been applied to hunting all sorts of big game and even to defensive carry.
Rule No. 1: Defensive Carry Means Having a Gun
When it comes to the self-defense handgun, the question naturally follows: What is enough gun? Can you have too much gun? Handguns effectively stop attacks in several ways. The first and most common is just their mere presence. Countless assaults are thwarted every year just because the good guy had a gun. Will it work for you? Maybe. There’s no way to know.
Another way handguns save lives is when they’re used to shoot the bad guy. This can result in a superficial wound so painful or terrifying to the attacker that they change their mind about doing bad things. A wound from a handgun can also cause voluntary collapse due to the attacker realizing they’re shot and succumbing to the fear of what the wound might ultimately cause. And then there’s involuntary collapse. This occurs about from a wound that breaks support structure, induces unconsciousness, and on rare occasions, causes near-instant death. In almost every case where the attacker is wounded, shot placement plays a huge role in the outcome. Maybe Ruark’s advice should have been “Hit ’em in the right spot.”
Rule No. 2: Nothing Is Certain
The problem with shot placement is that little is guaranteed. While being assaulted and fearing for your life, it’s extremely difficult to shoot with assured accuracy. To compound the problem, unless the bullet strikes and sufficiently damages the central nervous system, the reaction to getting shot is mostly a dice roll. The mental state of the attacker and whether they’re under the influence of any substances also plays a role in the outcome.
The armed civilian must make a choice regarding the gun they will carry. Without question, a .44 Magnum, or some similar very powerful large-bore handgun, can inflict a very nasty and painful wound, even in a location that does not have a high potential of lethality or inducing collapse. On the other hand, as we mentioned, handguns in this power range are extremely unwieldy, difficult to conceal, and difficult to control during recoil.
Rule No. 3: Carry Whenever Possible
After having a gun, the next requirement for defensive carry is having a gun that’s compact and light enough you’ll actually have it with you all the time, because none of us know when a deadly assault might occur. Beyond that, the handgun needs to be compatible with your abilities. In other words, you need to be able to manage the handgun during recoil and quickly shoot it with a competent level of precision.
What cartridge should it be chambered for? We never really know what enough gun will be. Bad guys have been stopped with .22s and have also continued to fight after being center-punched with a .357 Magnum. The most powerful cartridge that will allow you to still do all those things well is the correct answer. Anything beyond that is too much gun. Worry about having a gun and being able to use it effectively before you worry about what kind of gun will be enough.
Using a gun for hunting is entirely different than carrying a handgun for self-defense. When hunting, you control the outcome and only shoot when the situation is right, and then only because you want to. With self-defense, you have no control of when, where, and how the event will unravel. All you can do is react with what you have with you. If you have too much gun, you might have left it at home or you might shoot it poorly.
How to Maximize Your Training During the Ammo Shortage.
A few rounds of ammunition, your EDC handgun and a simple target can be enough to help you incrementally improve your skills.
Visiting a couple of local firearm emporiums, the startling lack of ammunition for sale was really driven home. While I was in one shop, a couple stuck their heads in the door and asked if there was any 9 mm or shotgun ammunition for sale. Nope. I knew that the demand for guns and ammo has stripped shelves bare, but seeing the extent of the demand-driven shortages in person was nevertheless shocking.
Ammunition shortages impact your ability to practice and, I fear, will harmfully impact the training business in a big way. After all, how can you go to a shooting class if you have no ammunition, or the trainer can’t provide it?
While I have no idea when the current situation will improve, I’m going to assume it isn’t much better by the time you read this, so let’s resolve to make every shot count. Dry practice can help keep your skills up. I’ve covered that in my last couple of columns, so now let’s talk about making our range time as meaningful as possible.
While doing a mag dump is great fun, you’re missing an opportunity to learn something by carefully firing each shot. Work on precision and accuracy first, then increase the distance. Next, work on doing all that right, but quicker. Talk yourself through every shot: “Front sight, presssssss, front sight.” You can also perform this drill with micro-red-dot-equipped handguns.
Here’s the Drill
A sample pistol drill you might try using a 5-inch circle for a target, starting from a low-ready, muzzle-depressed position:
3 yards One perfect shot, no time limit. If your shot is in the circle, move back. If not, repeat.
7 yards One perfect shot, no time limit. Move back or repeat as necessary.
10 yards One perfect shot, no time limit. Move back or repeat as necessary.
15 yards One perfect shot, no time limit. Repeat if necessary.
Now repeat the entire sequence, 3 to 15 yards, shooting as quickly as you can, but as slowly as you must. As we like to say, take your time, fast.
Once you have mastered this drill you can challenge yourself further by going to a smaller target.
There you have it: An eight-shot (maybe) drill that you can utilize when ammo is in short supply. Concentrate on a perfect sight picture, focusing on the front sight, carefully pressing the trigger straight to the rear and following through. And, keep up your dry practice.
Do Everything?
These look to be a good compromise for most people who carry concealed.
Enough Gun: Are Modern Micro 9s the Do Everything Pistol?
For the past decade, the hottest sector of the firearms market has been the concealed carry market and an obvious trend has been the invention and mass manufacture of handguns that are ever-smaller and friendlier to concealed carry. While many dedicated enthusiasts do carry compact or full-size double-stack autoloaders, the vast majority of concealed carriers who are more casual in their approach do not find carrying such guns on a daily basis practical, or even achievable.
Until recently, carrying a gun usually involved the choice between carrying a substantially sized auto-loading pistol or full-size revolver, or carrying a smaller pistol in the pocket auto or snub revolver category. While small-frame revolvers and tiny pocket autos have long been, and remain popular carry choices, people have generally agreed that such weapons are compromise guns that are easy to carry but not as capable as full-size pistols. For civilian self-defense, however, even such small carry options generally suffice.
The new crop of micro auto pistols chambered in 9mm and capable of holding 10+ rounds has significantly changed the game. Several years ago Sig Sauer released the Sig P365 which was smaller than even the well-established Smith and Wesson Shield pistol which had reigned supreme among the “single stack” 9mm options. The Sig P365, of course, also crammed 10 rounds of 9mm into the same flush-fitting magazine profile that the competition was only offering in 6 or 7 rounds. This was, indeed, a game-changer, as 10+ rounds has long been the unofficial difference between small gun and duty gun capacity.
Ruger has discovered that a small number of Ruger-57 pistols may have right safety levers that do not meet our specifications and may be prone to cracking. Although only a very small number of pistols appear to be affected, Ruger is committed to safety and is asking owners of Ruger-57 pistols to perform a routine function check of the safety lever to ensure its proper operation. If the function check confirms that the safety lever is operating properly, no further action is required. If you find that your pistol’s safety lever is not functioning properly, please sign up for this retrofit. View Safety Bulletin PDF
RUGER-57 PISTOLS WITH A SERIAL NUMBER OF 642-26275 AND ABOVE ARE NOT AFFECTED BY THIS SAFETY BULLETIN.
Products Subject to This Safety Bulletin
Potentially affected pistols include any Ruger-57 pistol with a serial number of 642-26274 or lower (including all Ruger-57 pistols with a “641” prefix). If your Ruger-57 pistol is within this range (641-00000 to 642-26274), you should follow the inspection procedure outlined below to determine whether your pistol requires a retrofit. Ruger-57 pistols with a serial number of 642-26275 and above are not affected by this Safety Bulletin.
Description of the Issue
In some rare instances, the internal “leg” of the right safety lever may crack or break, rendering the manual safety ineffective. If present, this condition may cause the manual safety to appear to be functioning properly when it is not. Although Ruger already instructs owners of Ruger-57 pistols to perform a function check before each use, we are requesting that all owners of potentially affected pistols perform this safety inspection immediately.
How to Inspect Your Pistol
BEFORE YOU BEGIN, BE SURE YOUR PISTOL IS UNLOADED AND THERE IS NO LIVE AMMUNITION IN YOUR WORKSPACE.
- With the pistol pointed in a safe direction, remove the magazine and place the manual safety in the “fire” position.
- Retract the slide and lock it to the rear using the slide stop.
- Visually and physically inspect the chamber to ensure there is no ammunition present.
- Retract the slide slightly and release to allow the slide to close on an empty chamber.
- Engage the manual safety (see Figure 1) by pushing up on the safety lever. Ensure it moves up fully and “clicks” into place.
- With the pistol pointed in a safe direction, pull the trigger firmly, but do not force it beyond the point where you meet resistance. The trigger should be blocked and the hammer should not fall (see Figure 2A).
NOTE: If your pistol PASSES the function check (trigger is blocked and hammer does not fall) NO FURTHER ACTION IS REQUIRED.
If your pistol FAILS the function check (with the manual safety engaged, you are able to pull the trigger and the hammer falls – Figure 2B), PLEASE DO NOT USE YOUR PISTOL. SIGN UP FOR THE RETROFIT OR CALL US AT 336-949-5200.
Ruger reminds consumers that periodic inspection and function checks of any firearm is important to ensuring its safe operation. It is important to frequently perform regular function checks as described in your instruction manual, and to clean and inspect your firearm after each range session. Proper maintenance increases the longevity of your firearm and will allow early detection of worn or broken parts.
Ruger also reminds consumers to always treat every firearm as though it is loaded and always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction. Never rely upon any safety or mechanical device to justify unsafe or careless firearm handling.
How to Sign Up for the Retrofit
STEP 1: Perform the function check. If your pistol PASSES the function check, no further action is required.
STEP 2: If your pistol FAILS the function check (you are able to pull the trigger and release the hammer with the manual safety engaged), please do not use your pistol. Sign up for the retrofit below or by phone at 336-949-5200.
STEP 3: Our Customer Service team will issue you an RMA and send you a pre-paid shipping label to return your pistol for service.
STEP 4: We will perform all required safety updates and will make every effort to return your pistol within one week of when we receive it.