So at what point does a "new" revolver succumb to physics? If a new revolver works fine with a correct bolt drop, when does the need for early drop happen. All my revolvers still drop the bolt where it's supposed to.
The original Ruger revolvers ( 3 screw actions) required the use of the half cock notch to load and unload . . . and just like the Colt, that's the only time the cylinder should be moved by hand ( hammer on half cock). Some folks will pull the hammer back "just enough" to free the cyl and turn it and THAT is how the "ooooopses" add up to marks on the cylinder. As long as the "action" is what moves the cylinder, there shouldn't be marks / rings on the cylinder. The 3 screw functions just like the Colt SA's . . . the difference being how moving parts move and as everybody knows, Ruger uses coils. THAT was a major improvement for the longevity of the action except for the hand (pawl) spring. It was anemic then and still is today ( including the "offshoots" FA's, BFR's). "Short stroking" the hammer will allow cylinder throw-by ( you can demonstrate it at will with a Ruger) because of it. By contrast, the Colt action does not unless the hand spring is cracked or broken ( which is the first thing to check on a Colt demonstrating throw-by). Because most folks handled the older BH's like a Colt, you'll see a higher percentage of them with "clean" cylinders compared to the NM BH's.
Later Ruger's with the 2 pin action and a transfer bar retained the same hand spring and to exacerbate the problem, as I pointed out before, the half cock notch was deleted and replaced by the loading gate which means you turn the cylinder to lockup . . . enter "the accepted beauty ring" ( weak hand spring or not).
As far as all this "how to set-up" goes, you can follow the "Factory setup" which is what most folks would prefer . . . or your "gunsmith" can do a "make it function" fix if they don't know the factory fix.
Point being, if fixed "as the factory would", any later attention would be same or straightforward. If it's a "make it function" fix, any later attention may involve having to figure out what "the other guy was thinking". For that reason, I think that's why Ruger and Glock replace all returned revolvers with factory parts. If you want to keep any "upgraded" parts or "fast draw" parts, better take them out before sending.
Mike