I have a new Ruger SP101 (it was returned before when cylinder was hanging up but that has been fixed by Ruger). After cleaning it, I noticed in two grooves what appears to be tooling marks running down the center on the groove from where the rifling starts to muzzle. It is not leading or fouling but faint marks. Funny thing, the accuracy of this revolver is excellent and it really likes my standard working load of 6.0 grs Unique behind 358429 Keith SWCs (357 Mag cases).

If it was a rifle, I would return it, but since the SP101 shoots well, shouldn’t I just not return it? It just bugs me that Ruger had let this revolver get through quality inspection with these marks.

Comments?

If it shoots well without leading, I wouldn't worry about it. If it really bothers you I think that Ruger will fix it.

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Made it, Ma! Top of the world!

I might run a box of jacketed through it to be sure that wasn't going to be an issue. If the jacketed bullets don't foul, I wouldn't send it back.

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Just Say No - To Social Media

I agree with the above posters. If there is an issue, I am sure Ruger would take care of it for you. Problem is, the barrel you get back may not be as accurate, or may be prone to leading. Unless it really bothers you, why risk the **** shoot?

Larry

In the 80's I went to a box store for a fishing pole. I walked out with fish gear and a new 243; But not without some grief. There were three of the rifles from a major manufacturer enjoying high reputation. One had a deep gouge in the bolt face, one had similar deep troughs throughout the rifling grooves so bad you could water your horse in. The third was acceptable but had dings and dents in the stock. I talked with the clerk who said he could not sell that caliber in Arizona and said "make me an offer I can't refuse." So after putting the best stock on the best rifled action I got it for 76% list price.

Another disappointing experiencing was taking a pre 64 m70 to a competition enthroned gunsmith for a new bbl from another well respected maker and when I got it, for less money than I had expected to pay, I saw what looked like a curly hair half way down the tube. It proved to be under Hawkeye bore scope ratcheting from a broken cutting tool in the leading edge of the rifling land. It took way over 150 rounds of break in firings to make it cleanable, and never shot better than the old bbl. It seems ya gotta be somebody to get fair work.

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"Don't Give Up the Ship"

I’ll test some jacketed stuff tomorrow. I’ll be social distancing, nearest humans are about five miles away!

I also ran a pointed wooden toothpick across the marks and the wood didn’t even catch on them. I don’t have a bore scope to check the severity and depth of the tooling marks.

Update: a smaller and more pointed wooden toothpick would catch slightly on the marks...

If the gun shoots accurately, and there is no added fouling created -- what's the problem? Enjoy it.

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Pisgah

If it is accurate and there is no excess fouling, leave it as is.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

I learned a long time ago ... if it shoots well , keep it .
I returned a 1911 barrel that had a "defect" and got a brand new defect free perfect barrel ... My 1" grouping defective barrel is now replaced a 1 1/2 " grouping perfect barrel .... I wish I had never seen that defect and would love to have that barrel back ... those 1" groups were sweet .

Shoots well - Defective ... what you gonna do !
I know what I would do ... keep the shoots well .
Gary

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Certified Cajun
NRA Member

Went to my shooting pit today, and sent fifty 357 Magnum 158 gr jacketed soft points down range. After a thorough cleaning the marks are still present in the grooves without any copper jacketed fouling. Accuracy was pretty good if rolling a can easily at 25-30 yds is any indication...this 3” SP101 protects us when hiking in the high desert and is a great plinker can roller...It out shoots a 2.25” SP101 with a spotless barrel. I do intend getting the 3” out to our range for some formal bench shooting for groups.

I will call Ruger tomorrow and advise them my situation.

In the final analysis, the accuracy is the bottom line! No matter what the barrel looks like. That was clearly Ruger's assessment after test firing.

Many things in life are counter intuitive. Like what looks to be a flawed barrel has no affect. It's a small price to pay for mass produced firearms that are so affordable we can own more than one, or even many more.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

If it really bothers you, you can lap the barrel and possibly make even slightly better. For me, the groups on paper are the final judge of a barrel. It may be better to just use it as is and not mess with it.

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protocalldesign.com

isnt that standard on Rugers? All of mine have had the same thing. Completely harmless

Think of it as the rifling having rifling.

Yes, unlike machine chatter, these marks follow the land in the middle from beginning to muzzle. As I updated, a small pointed wooden pick would very slightly hang up on the marks. But no copper fouling at all even with factory jacketed magnum loads (158 gr JSPs). I just ran Hoppes 9 soaked patches to remove fouling, ran bronze bristle bore brush back and forth a few times, more solvent/patches until a dry patch came out clean...NO fouling.

Here is photo...see one on the lands with the marks (dotted in potion of the length) running along the length of the groove.

Attached Images

99E9D0FA-2AD3-4D9E-895A-8B2BEDA99FC0.jpg (28.8 KB, 42 views)

With that degree of accuracy, I would leave it alone. Say Ruger rebarrels it and the new barrel looks nicer, but is not as accurate as the old barrel? What then? If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

It will bother you because you know it is there. There is no guarantee that a replacement barrel will look better, though it may shoot worse. I vote to leave it.

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Front sight and squeeze