Ruger Forum

rclark · March 11th, 2012, 05:08 PM

I started with 30g. Then went to 40g and like it. The POI is not high enough to matter as I still can ding the steel out at 77 yards. I think I have the 'bug' again and will start shooting more Cap&Ball now.... Yesterday was just absoluting a blast. Didn't have any problem with the CCI #11s either. Only tied up the revolver once and none fell off.

My ROA

AH1T · March 24th, 2012, 10:42 PM

I'm a member of a black powder club and I've owned and shot the ROA quite a bit over the past 25 years. I also have a conversion cylinder for it, and enjoy that as well. The ROA is a lot of fun and is also a seriously accurate handgun. I don't find loading the conversion cylinder to be any more cumbersome or slower than loading cap and ball...it's just a different way to enjoy the same firearm. I noticed that you asked about storing powder...Storing black powder is not the same as storing smokeless powder...be very careful about static electricity and low humidity. I have a friend who can attest to the need for caution with static...he lit off a can merely opening the lid after walking on carpet. He now has permanently embedded grains of black powder in his upper torso, arms and face, along with the burn scars. Loading your cylinder should always include either wonder wads or "crisco" to prevent the flashover you have heard about. Recoil even with max loads in your ROA is not an issue. Use common sense and black powder only and you really can't hurt the gun...it's built tough...have fun!

rclark · March 25th, 2012, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Loading your cylinder should always include either wonder wads or "crisco" to prevent the flashover you have heard about.

Cream of Wheat "wad" works good for me.

Seneca · March 31st, 2012, 01:20 PM

Here are my Ruger Old Armies...I wished Ruger would have made a batch of them with a shorter barrel and adjustable sights. Maybe they make them again It'd be nice if they did...

rclark · April 16th, 2012, 03:00 PM

Nice! I am on the lookout for a SS ROA now.... I've definitely been bit again.

I was out shooting again on Saturday with my ROA. I have found it shoots 2" high at 25Y and quite a bit more than that at 50 yards. Since my rear sight was all the way down, I filed off half the rear blade that was sitting above the blade holder. See how that goes next time out (which will happen 'soon'

) . I shot about 42 rounds while my dad shot over 150 .357s .... A bit slow to reload ... but heck that is part of the fun!

[edit 4/17/2012] Tested with blade filed down. Looks like I am there. Here is a target from tonight. Not bad at all for off hand shooting (for me that is).

Smithy · August 12th, 2012, 08:41 PM

If given a choice, the Old Army wins hands down. They are built like a tank and the stainless models are so much easier to care for than the blued. Smithy.

P.S. Anyone have a spare 5.5" stainless Old Army they don't know what to do with? Smithy.

bwinters · August 13th, 2012, 04:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leeharrry

Thanks Sam. I did not know that conical balls could be used un the ruger. I thought only round balls. Just goes to show how little I know of the subject.

What of Federal Firearm requirements. Must a black powder revolver be bought threw a FFL dealer or can it just be shipped to your house. I think I was told years ago that gun of this sort are exempt from federal oversight.

leeharrry

In Nj we have to go thru the same paperwork for a muzzleloader as for a modern firearm. So no ordering a colt 1851 replica from Dixie gun works by mail We have to get a state pistol purchase for it. The same for a daisy air rifle.

Cplfly · September 6th, 2012, 10:32 PM

I've had my old Army for years,I have a T/C Omega X7 .50 also. It's not for everybody

Buckstone · September 21st, 2012, 03:05 PM

My ROA was my Father's so I've gone hog wild, with a two cylinder Kirst set-up, and Belt Mountain Base Pin and Base Pin Latch assenbly. I also put on a set of Ruger's beautiful checkered rosewood grips. Considering it is an heirloom gun, I see the expense of the conversion set up a tribute to my Father, and I love shooting it with the .45 LC cowboy rounds. Much less mess that Black Powder round ball ammo. It's my favorite gun, with My Dad's flatgate Single -Six a very close second.

rclark · September 24th, 2012, 08:22 AM

Was just out again on Saturday and put about 50 balls down range. A couple of hours BP shooting for not much expense.... Can't beat it! A fellow club member also brought out of a couple of old Colts and a dueling pistol. Fun!

On thing that is now bothering me is seating the CCI No. 11 caps. For some reason I am unable with my thumb to fully seat them after the first 6 rounds, so 'most' times now I get clicks and after 6 (or 5 or 4

) clicks they all will go bang.... Guess I'll have to make a short dowel to push the cap home.... I thought I just had a bad batch of caps, but I opened a new can and these caps are having the same problem...

Smithy · September 24th, 2012, 03:49 PM

Caps have always been my nemesis no matter what the percussion gun. I use to get (what I thought was CCI? But not too sure) caps. They came in a small round Plastic container that was light blue in color. It was the same size as a regular tin of caps and contained 100 caps. The thing with them (sized #11) is that they had ribbed sides. They seemed to be able to fit anything. If the nipple was a bit large, the ribbed sides would open up allowing a fully seated fit. Same the other direction, if the nipple was a bit small, the ribbed sides could be compressed to increase friction on the fit.

Are these caps still made? Does anyone remember them and whom they were made by? This would certainly fix the above poster's problem. Smithy.

TMB · September 24th, 2012, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smithy

Caps have always been my nemesis no matter what the percussion gun. I use to get (what I thought was CCI? But not too sure) caps. They came in a small round Plastic container that was light blue in color. It was the same size as a regular tin of caps and contained 100 caps. The thing with them (sized #11) is that they had ribbed sides. They seemed to be able to fit anything. If the nipple was a bit large, the ribbed sides would open up allowing a fully seated fit. Same the other direction, if the nipple was a bit small, the ribbed sides could be compressed to increase friction on the fit.

Are these caps still made? Does anyone remember them and whom they were made by? This would certainly fix the above poster's problem. Smithy.

I had some years ago in light blue plastic container with caps you describe that were RWS.

rclark · October 21st, 2012, 08:39 PM

Solved my primer problem. I built a little rod of wood with a ball on the end. After capping, I press on the cap with the rod to fully seat. Worked well but beats up the rod. Need a harder wood I think. Anyway another fun BP day at the range with the Old Army. I think I will put the Old Army away now for the coming winter. Got it cleaned (all the internals too) and oiled and in its rug ready for spring.

rodwha · October 22nd, 2012, 05:20 AM

Rem #11's would slide off of a couple of my stock nipples so I bought a set from Track of The Wolf, and also bought CCI #11's. Track claimed they were designed to use the CCI # 11's. Same story.
The Remington's are just a little big and the CCI's are just a little small.
I was told to try #10's, but have yet to do so...

NorEaster · October 24th, 2012, 10:01 AM

I love my ROA's had two pair earlier in life; but tough times forced me to sell them. I was able to bounce back and find another pair of 7 1/2" ROA's. I'm still hoping to replace my lost 5 1/2" ROAs someday.

I use American Pioneer Powder and 160gr. RNFP bullets sized at .454
It's cheaper to buy them that way than it is to buy roundballs.
The American Pioneer Powder allows me to use standard lube bullets too.
I use powder/wad and bullet in the chambers and seat the caps well.
Just had some work done to my ROA's... they are still a work in progress though

They need MR3DB frames and holly grips now.