Love my NAAs - question on Ranger II

[jetcsa]

     Hi folks, I've been lurking here for a while and decided to make my first post. I bought my first NAA LR second hand from a LEO buddy back in the early 1980s. I finally sent it back to NAA for an overhaul and to get the new safety cylinder last year. My buddy warned me before I bought it that he had disassembled it and had resorted to using super glue in a couple of spots to get it back together . It had run 100% for nearly 40 years, though. My wife and daughter have Pugs, my son has a Black Widow, and I have the original LR, a Sidewinder combo, and a new Ranger II. I guess that makes us a bona fide NAA family. Oh, and my Daddy passed away about 3 years ago. He had always admired my little NAA, and told me he had bought one. When I sold my childhood home for my Mama last year, and was cleaning it out for her, I found his NAA hidden within arms reach of his recliner .

     I drug my feet and missed the first iteration of the Ranger, but I jumped on the Ranger II as soon as I realized that they were available. I couldn't find a combo, so I bought the magnum while I had the chance. I'm planning to send it to NAA to have a LR cylinder fitted. I wondered if any of y'all had "real time" experience with how long it takes for NAA to fit one and return it? It's always hard to part with a new "toy" when you're having so much fun with it . Finally, has anyone had Rick make them an IWB tuckable holster for a Ranger? I'm going to email him about it, but figured I might not be the first person to want one. A big thank-you to the moderators and members for making this such a good, clean, family-friendly, and informative forum!

John

[smokeless joe]

Thanks for stepping out of the shadows and up to the firing line. Good to have ya. I sent my Pug back to have it fitted with a lr cylinder and I think the turnaround was maybe just over a week. It's been a couple years so I'm a bit foggy on the exact time but I was impressed so it couldn't have been too long. Look at it this way, the quicker you send it in the quicker you'll get it back.

[jetcsa]

smokeless joe,

     You make a very good point! I'll call NAA tomorrow for a return authorization. Thanks for the nudge

[billmeek]

John,

Welcome out of lurker mode.  I sent a NAA in for a cylinder repair and it took around 10 days to get it back.  Most of that was shipping time between Tennessee and Utah. 

[Uncle_Lee]

Welcome John,
Happy to see you.
Join us and let us know what is going on.

[Canoeal]

I didn't have a cylinder replaced, but I had other work done, They had it about a week, plus the shipping to and from PA.
Yeah, I anxious the whole time...I get it. They are good folks, and it came back better than new.

[RICKS PLACE]

Speaking of the Ranger ll, I go thru a gun dealer just West of Austin, Texas for my NAA's.  They have a site that lists guns that they can have in the store within a couple days after order.  It's about a 40 minute drive for me.   I never see the Ranger ll listed, I guess it's on the market by now.  I would hope NAA has the problems fixed.  If one ever comes up on the listing, I may order one as I like the looks.  I said I would never get one, but the looks sure grows on you.

[jetcsa]

Ricks Place

I worked for a master gunsmith in Georgia for about a year when I was in high school. I've worked on and customized guns for myself and my family ever since. I got my FFL and did general gunsmithing as a second job a few years back, just because I enjoy it so much. I had so much work that I couldn't keep up, and found myself making the same money working 6 1/2 days a week as I was just working 3 1/2 days a week - not good for family time. I guess I was just stuck in 1979 on pricing my work. I didn't feel like I was being fair to my customers to make them wait as long as they had to for simple jobs, so I quit taking in new work. When I retire as a pharmacist, I may just have to pick it back up - in fact I probably should have retired 2 years ago, and just done gunsmithing full time, and charged 2016 prices - the pay would probably be better. As a 3rd generation pharmacy owner, I can say that the profession "ain't what it used to be"!

From that perspective, I will tell you that my Ranger II is a very well made revolver. I just cannot fault it on the quality. With the NAA lifetime warranty, I think you would have a hard time going wrong if you have a chance to pick one up at a reasonable price. I've seen the complaints and videos of it opening when cocked. Maybe it's my small to medium sized hands, or maybe its just the way I cock the piece, but I have not even come close to inadvertently opening mine when cocking it. Of all the NAAs owned by myself and my family, it is definitely my favorite! I do love Schofields and Webleys, and even old S&W and Iver Johnson break-tops if they aren't "slap wore out", so I may be a bit biased.

John

[Ruger]

Hey John . . . WELCOME to the firing line!  Don't be bashful.  Reload often and pull the trigger.  We need you here on this firing line to keep us straight and let us hear all sorts of opinions and leanin's.  Don't step back into the shadows; keep firing!

[Honky Tonk Man]

Hey John, Welcome!  I hope you do pursue gunsmithing when you retire.  There are never enough good ones.  Maybe at least as a hobby? 

Your question about turn-around time at the NAA factory in Provo got me thinking...  Have many of you out there visited the factory?  My wife and I spent a month boon docking around the "Mighty 5" National Parks in UT and then down to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon before leaving for home about 2 months ago.  I considered driving up to see the NAA factory on the way home, but it was Sunday and probably closed.  Is there anything to see there?  Do they have tours?  I've been to shops that won't let you past a receptionist sitting in a room behind a glass window.  Is there a store for people off the street, or are all sales done thru the mail and internet. It would have meant an extra 100 miles or so, and I just wondered if it would be worth it?   

[billmeek]

The lobby itself is likely worth the time alone.

From : http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2016/09/jeremy-s/factory-tour-north-american-arms/

A representative of nearly every product line in the NAA catalog is on display in the reception area and can be handled by visitors (cylinders are not bored out so cannot accept live ammo).

[Bj]

Thanks for sharing photo tour.

[Honky Tonk Man]

Thanks Bill.  Very helpful.  It looks like a worthwhile stop if I find myself back in UT. 

[smokeless joe]

Yeah I'd definitely like to tour the facility if I were in the area. Thanks for the pics.

[OV-1D]

  Would be nice to see the "Earls" being case hardened , a real period look , imagine that with some real antler boot grips totally "WOW" .

[Uncle Pepper]

I need a ranger 2expert.  Mine will not cock if I put it in a safety notch from the open position.  It works fine if I put it in a safety notch the old fashioned way.  I have soaked it in a good cleaning solution and fun buttered it but it still won't cock.  I don't get around d very well since I don't drive anymore so getting to the ups store to send it back would be a real pain.  Hope to fix it with just another good cleaning.

Many thoughts would be helpful.

Thanks

[linux_author]

I need a ranger 2expert.  Mine will not cock if I put it in a safety notch from the open position.  It works fine if I put it in a safety notch the old fashioned way.  I have soaked it in a good cleaning solution and fun buttered it but it still won't cock.  I don't get around d very well since I don't drive anymore so getting to the ups store to send it back would be a real pain.  Hope to fix it with just another good cleaning.

Mr. UP - not exactly sure what you mean... are you saying:

1. open ranger ii
2. close ranger ii
3. put hammer in cylinder safety notch
4. ranger ii won't cock

?

willie
on the Gulf of Mexico

[Uncle Pepper]

If I open the cylinders and close it on a safety notch it will not cock.  If I close it on a cylinder and put it in a safety notch it works fine.

[RogueTS1]

It is not made to be closed on a safety notch. It is designed to close on a chamber and then the hammer to be slightly pulled back, the cylinder to be rotated to a safety notch and then the hammer dropped gently into said notch.

I would hazard to guess you may be damaging the hand and bolt. The gun is supposed to be at half cock while opening and closing as are most if not all single action revolvers.

[Canoeal]

I thought it was supposed to be opened and closed in holf cock. Then it would have to be partially cocked, rotated, and placed in a slot...Hmm. Guess since I don't have one, I may be wrong... I have not seen anything resembling an owners manual.

[smokeless joe]

I thought it was supposed to be opened and closed in holf cock. Then it would have to be partially cocked, rotated, and placed in a slot...Hmm. Guess since I don't have one, I may be wrong... I have not seen anything resembling an owners manual.

That's how I open and close mine Al

[RogueTS1]

You are correct Canoeal. They are all supposed to be placed at half cock before removing or opening the cylinders.

[Uncle Pepper]

Thanks for all the input.  I saw a YouTube video on putting it in the safety notch and close it so I guess I won't do that again.  YouTube can be wrong. Thanks again.

[robbi]

Have always had great service from them