Yes, I am now one of "Those".......
 

As many of you know, I just bought a Ruger Mark II from JonM here on this forum. I was excited beyond belief. A couple weeks after buying it I drove up to Wisconsin to go shooting with Jon. I put about 400 rounds through it and was madly in love with this new gun. I wanted to 'dress it up' a little. I bought a scope and some BEAUTIFUL Volquartsen grips for it. I knew I couldn't sight the scope until I went the range but I wanted to put the new grips on and post a 'before' and 'after' picture here. I also wanted to be able to post in the "Nice Grips" thread. Jon showed me how to take the gun apart for cleaning and I felt confident in doing that. So, the new grips are thick and they came with a larger thumb piece for holding the bolt open. So, I figure I can do this. (I work with some complex instruments at work and I maintain them, replace parts and fix them almost on a daily basis.) You know where this is going, don't you? So, I take down the gun as Jon showed me without a problem. Then I remove the peg that holds the thumb piece and some internals that have to do with the mag. Pieces fall out. Teeny, tiny pieces.........and I don't know where they came from. I worked on this for nearly three hours last night until I finally gave up in utter frustration around 0230. I PM StakingBear, who is my mentor, supporter, teacher and he sends me a calming PM back telling me it's okay, it can be put back together. But I don't see StalkingBear until the end of September. So, I PM Jon who says he can put it back together. I could drive up to Wisconsin most any weekend.

I am very disappointed in myself. Mostly disappointed that I tried to do this myself. I was SO EXCITED to get these new grips, though.

So, let me now post the before and after pictures I wanted to post. Except the before picture is the same but the after picture is NOT going to be showing off some beautiful, new grips.
The parts I can't figure out where they came from.
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...rac/parts2.jpg

My beautiful gun before I messed with it.
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...IMG_0159-1.jpg

My gun now. http://www.websmileys.com/sm/sad/239.gif
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...orac/after.jpg

And, yes, I'm a 'girl'. I cried.

http://www.picrandom.com/images/wutsg87997.gif
http://wcuk.files.wordpress.com/2007/12/unsee.jpg

Relax. It's happened to most of us.
You still have the same beautiful gun....its just scattered about a bit. Take it up to Jons or if you are in a bigger hurry take it to a local smith and be sure to tell them the old standby story, "my friend did this" :rolleyes:
Good excuse to have them mount the scope while you are there;)

What Gate said. :cool:

WHAT?!? Have them mount the scope? Aw, heck, I could mount the scope. http://www.easyfreesmileys.com/smile...mileys-706.gif

Actually, as I was working on the gun last night I was eyeballing that scope mounting rail thinking "I could do this". Eyeing the rings, eyeing the rail, looking at the scope...........

I think I'll do it, but under someone's supervision. If I don't do it, then how do I learn?

Good for you Winds, go for it.

Go for what? Taking my gun apart and not being able to get it back together? :( I've already went for it. Actually, I am quite discouraged but I'll get over it.

oh jeez:rolleyes:

Unsee it? I wish I could undo it. WAIT............I already have.......:o

WOC...there is no failure in learning and experimenting. Just think, when this is all fixed you will never forget what those pieces are and how they get put back together. ;)