Author Topic: New Ruger Army on the way (Read 2388 times)

lonewolf5348 · « **on:** August 03, 2010, 03:21:17 PM »

I should have it here on Friday a New Toy
1978 production near Mint

All Hawks Kill · « **Reply #1 on:** August 03, 2010, 04:52:11 PM »

Sweeeeeeeeeet! She is a beauty, Congrats!

beerbelly · « **Reply #2 on:** August 03, 2010, 05:11:43 PM »

I have one in stainless. The old army is in my opinion the finest black powder revolver made. I have a conversion cylinder with mine. Every one that shoots it loves it. You made a fine chouse.
Beerbelly

blhof · « **Reply #3 on:** August 04, 2010, 11:16:53 AM »

A great find. It amazes me that since Ruger stopped making them, new old stock ones keep coming up for sale. I only hope this continues for awhile. I love shooting mine too much to make it a safe queen and that's what I would have done if they suddenly became valuable like some models of Colt.

coyotejoe · « **Reply #4 on:** August 05, 2010, 06:53:29 AM »

Gun nuts are funny folks! When a firearm is discontinued by the manufacturer it is almost always due to poor sales but as soon as it is discontinued everybody wants one and will pay well over what it sold for a year ago.

simonkenton · « **Reply #5 on:** August 05, 2010, 08:45:16 AM »

Beautiful gun!

Me want!

lonewolf5348 · « **Reply #6 on:** August 08, 2010, 02:28:10 PM »

I was out shooting my flinter to day and the fellow next to me was shooting a 1858 rem: I wanted to shoot the ruger to day but there was no-one with Round balls that will fit my ruger.I did fire the Remington And it all came back to me with a little help from a Buddie who owns the rem:
I fired 25 gr. 3F cream of wheat that was about 1/4" from the top of the cylinder ,then added the ball rammed into the cylinder and added some lube to the top of each cylinder.
25 yards all in the black 2 hand hold trigger was a little on the heavy side and the sight fixed not great for old eye.
I had a old timer who shoots BP pistols and he said by looking at the Ruger I just pick up maybe 6 rounds were fired otherwise a mint gun

Range Rider · « **Reply #7 on:** August 19, 2010, 06:51:47 AM »

A very fime handgun indeed. I have a stainless version. I shoot the Lee .457 bullets lubed with SPG in front of 35 grs. of Wano 3f. This load will keep up with most handguns at 100 yds. I size the base to .451 and the driving bands to .457. I use a 1 to 1 alloy 1lb of dead lead to 1lb. of reclamied range lead. This is a bit of work but the end reuslts are worth it.

lonewolf5348 · « **Reply #8 on:** August 21, 2010, 03:50:29 PM »

well I tried the ruger to day at 20 yards seem to shoot a excellent 2" group 2 hand hold no bench rest.
I went with 25 grains of goex 3F and 25 grain of cream of wheat I then used my 60/40 beeswax @ lard (no salt )
I was very happy for the first time out I went threw about 25 rounds No jams ,cleaning to about 45 min:

hillbill · « **Reply #9 on:** September 07, 2010, 03:57:44 PM »

got my new to me ruger old army last week off gunbroker.shoots excellent with 35 grns of black and round balls.im useing a ox yoke wad over the powder.it came with a conical mold that i need to warm up and cast sum bullets from.id really like to shoot a whitetail with it this year.any of yu guys done this?

Range Rider · « **Reply #10 on:** September 08, 2010, 04:58:55 AM »

Hillbill Lee makes 2 conical molds for Cap & Ball handguns. They make one for the 58' Remy and one for the ROA. The one made for the ROA has a tapered bullet. The slug runs .452 at the base and .457 on the forward driving bands. This allows the bullet to be seated into the chamfered ROA chamber. This is a very accurate bullet over 35 grs. of 3F. I prefer it over the round ball. The .454 Remy bullet will work in the ROA. That said the accuracy past 25 yds. falls off in my gun. The Lee ROA bullet has plenty of power out to 75 yds. Good luck with your ROA.

hillbill · « **Reply #11 on:** September 08, 2010, 02:50:21 PM »

Quote from: Range Rider on September 08, 2010, 04:58:55 AM

Hillbill Lee makes 2 conical molds for Cap & Ball handguns. They make one for the 58' Remy and one for the ROA. The one made for the ROA has a tapered bullet. The slug runs .452 at the base and .457 on the forward driving bands. This allows the bullet to be seated into the chamfered ROA chamber. This is a very accurate bullet over 35 grs. of 3F. I prefer it over the round ball. The .454 Remy bullet will work in the ROA. That said the accuracy past 25 yds. falls off in my gun. The Lee ROA bullet has plenty of power out to 75 yds. Good luck with your ROA.

well the conical mold i have is the 456-2201R. it says its a .456 dia mold. it says on the box it is designed for the roa.i havent cast from it yet so i dont have any actual bullets to measure.is this the mold you are talking about?it quite possibly is from the 70's or older.

blhof · « **Reply #12 on:** September 08, 2010, 04:00:33 PM »

That's the mold that I have for mine, it's the 2 bulllet mold. I also got the 457 round ball mold for mine, the balls are a little lighter and seem to be more accurate in my pistol. I've gotten 1 1/4" groups at 25yds from a rest with the RB's and usually get about 2" with the conicals. I used mine last year to finish a deer from 10 yds when she started to get up as I got near, I actually managed a head shot and she was done. B/p revolvers are legal in Ky during B/p season and I carry it as a back up and wouldn't hesitate to use it at bow ranges.

lonewolf5348 · « **Reply #13 on:** September 11, 2010, 11:24:42 AM »

Range day to day:
I was out to day but instead of goex 3F I tried some triple 777 3F 30 gr. and a wad and RB @ grease cookie and at 20 yards man blew the 10ring out of the target.
I played with a few different charges and went up to 40 grains still the ruger tack drive them round balls.
I would say at 50 yards and the same sight picture hold the gun shot high about 7" over center with 40 grains :The group more like 6" on paper.
I drop down to 30 gr. and the group got tight but still high over center
I have to say for a cap and ball it can shoot.
I have another ? how many shooters here drop the lower half of the trigger frame out of the gun for cleaning.
I myself remove he nipples drop the cylinder in hot soapy water,emerge the front of the barrel into the hot water scrub with a nylon bore brush,I clean the frame inside and out :I also send a little cleaning solution down the sides of the hammer and try to clean the residue out of the trigger parts,oil all parts before putting it back together.
I read it not that hard to drop the lower half out of the gun for better cleaning ?I just like to here the pro or cons on the subject

blhof · « **Reply #14 on:** September 11, 2010, 02:18:18 PM »

I drop mine out every few months, others take their guns down completely every time they shoot. I wash through the entire gun with soapy water and then rinse in very hot water followed by a thorough spraying of alcohol and pressure spraying of air, then a good coat of lube. There's some buildup in the trigger area when I take it down, but it easily cleans up with no corrosion left behind, so I'm sticking with what works.

Range Rider · « **Reply #15 on:** September 12, 2010, 10:32:07 AM »

HillBill what a mold calls out and what it throws are not always the same. I have found that these .456 molds throw .457 to .458. They throw nearer the number with pure lead.

RR

lonewolf5348 · « **Reply #16 on:** October 10, 2010, 12:11:30 PM »

I drag the ruger with me yesterday to the range came up with a outstanding load
Triple 777 35 Gr. a wonder wad and a grease cookie top of ball ( 60/40 mix beeswax,lard no salt, 2 tablespoons of olive oil)
The target 20 yards 6 shots maybe a 1 1/2" one hole group : but high just breaking the top of the black on the bulls eye between 11 and 12 o'clock
I find the father I shoot it 50 yards I run out of the rear sight adjustment to try to lower the rear sight .she still shoot high
I have to say the gun can shoot
I was looking into ordering a new rear sight (blade) and file it down and re blue it.I think my front sight is silver solder on

Range Rider · « **Reply #17 on:** October 10, 2010, 08:13:07 PM »

LoneWolf, if you are thinking of ordering the Ruger front sight blade forget it. I ordered the Ruger front sight blade and it is the same sight blade without a hole. They show 2 blades you can order from Brownells one is for the Adj. sight ROA and one is for the nonAdj. sight ROA. I cut a front sight using the orginal as a pattern, except I made it taller. I am able to shoot conicals and .45 Long Colts with my R&D Conv. The ROA can and is sighted to point of aim. I much prefer the Lee conial 256 for the ROA and 35 Grs. of 3F very accurate. Good Luck.

RR

lonewolf5348 · « **Reply #18 on:** October 15, 2010, 07:14:32 AM »

any one have any instruction on removing the rear blade (sight) ?

Range Rider · « **Reply #19 on:** October 16, 2010, 08:48:27 AM »

Why would you want to remove the rear sight blade? The blade is very close to bottom and will do little good to change zero. Just remove the sight from the gun and screw the windage screw out then remove the blade.

RR.