Ruger OM Blackhawk issue

[Calif Hunter]

I purchased an old model Blackhawk in ,357 from an auction house. It is nothing special as I just wanted a .357 that did not need to be coddled. It has a bit of surface rust on the front end of the barrel but the bore and rest of the finish is fine.

I took it apart to clean it, ran a few patches down the bore and through the chambers and then went to put it back together. The cylinder does not want to go back in all the way. I have a few other Blackhawks, both and new models and have never had this issue before. The loading gate is open, the gun on half cock, cylinder pin removed, etc. Normally, the cylinder should just roll back into place, replace the cylinder pin and you are good to go.

Has anyone experienced this? Is there a decent gunsmith in the Apple Valley/Victorville/Hesperia area? Perhaps there is an issue with the hand? It operated fine - cocking the hammer, rotating the cylinder, etc before I removed the cylinder.

Thanks

[Jess B. Guy]

Locking bolt stuck?

[Calif Hunter]

Sorry - I am not quite sure what piece that is?

[jfwlb]

Are you sure you are inserting it from the correct side? I had the same issue with a Colt SSA at the SSZS and found that it only went back together if inserted from the right side. Hope this helps.

John

[Calif Hunter]

Yes - trying to replace it through the loading gate area as is done with all my other Colt-type SA revolvers. It should go in a slight downward angle and then "roll" into place to the left. It does not "roll" into place and does not go far enough in to the left to replace the cylinder pin/rod.

[ar15barrels]

Locking bolt stuck?

Sorry - I am not quite sure what piece that is?

The locking bolt is the piece that pops up from the bottom of the frame window to hold the cylinder in alignment with the barrel.
The cylinder has 6 scoops that let the locking bolt engage the actual CUT at the end of each scoop.
On a new model BH, the locking bolt is withdrawn when you open the loading gate.
On a new model BH, you can not open the loading gate with the hammer cocked.
I don't have an old model BH to compare but I do have Colts and I believe the old models to be similar to colts in that the loading gate can be opened regardless of the hammer position.
The 2nd click (of 4) on a Colt frees the locking block.



Notice that there is a 1/4 cock and 1/2 cock notches and that the locking bolt is free at 1/2 cock but not at 1/4 cock.
Again, I don't know if the Old Model BH is the same as a colt, but it's something to look at.

[Calif Hunter]

Thanks for the explanation. The locking bolt is down or withdrawn at half cock like the Colt, so it is not causing the problem.

[ar15barrels]

Thanks for the explanation. The locking bolt is down or withdrawn at half cock like the Colt, so it is not causing the problem.

Then the pawl that rotates the cylinder is the next thing to look at assuming it's not the ejector or the base pin sticking into the window.
Both of those should be super obvious.

[kendog4570]

... I don't know if the Old Model BH is the same as a colt, but it's something to look at.

Close enough for this exercise.
If the hand is jammed, it is sprung by a coil spring and plunger, trapped by the grip frame. The Colt hand has a leaf spring attached to the hand itself.

[Calif Hunter]

I played with the hammer a bit around the half cock notch and got the cylinder to go back in. Thanks for all the advice.