Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Ruger Blackhawk base pin problem

I was at a gun show Sunday, looking for a nice Savage 99, none to be had. Someone had a 3 screw Blackhawk, unaltered, in .357 Mag, and I snapped it up. Later at home, I tried to remove the cylinder and found that the base pin retainer is jammed (wont depress) and the base pin jumps out when I dry fire the gun.

I spent some time searching the campfire for base pin issues, but all I came up with is the Belt Mountain fix. No problem, if that's what I need to do, but does anyone have any other ideas?

I'll post this to the Gunsmithing forum also.

I always replace the factory base pin with the Belt Mtn. base pin. It is just slightly larger in diameter and helps tighten things up a bit. I also replace the base pin latch spring with a heavier Wolff spring. It sounds like your base pin latch could have been assembled backwards.

I learned something, never assume that, just because an answer to a problem is easy, that it is incorrect. OIL WAS THE ANSWER!!!
I applied some KROIL, let it sit, then tapped the latch with a dowel and small hammer. It broke free, and a bunch of rusty oil came out. I was able to remove the base pin, removing the ejector housing, and finally got the latch removed. The edge, where it steps down to the threaded end, is badly chewed up. So its off to the Brownells web site to order a new one. I really don't think I need the Belt Mtn. parts, since there is almost no play in the cylinder with the stock base pin.
My sincere thanks to my Campfire brothers, you guys prove once again that this is the most knowledgeable group of gun loonies on the net. Thanks to everyone who replied. Any other suggestions would be appreciated.