Ruger "Old Army" blackpowder revolver, range report (pic)...

canoeguy · #1 03-23-2012, 05:23 PM

I posted a week or so ago that I had bought a Ruger "Old Army" black powder revolver from a friend, he had bought it new in 1993 and had never shot it. I got it with a box of Speer .457 round balls, and a tin of Remington percussion caps.

I decided to not even fool around with Pyrodex or any other substitutes, get the real deal blackpowder, so I got two cans of FFFg black powder from the only place in the State of Virginia that sells it, Clark's Brothers in Warrenton, 70 miles away....

Also got some fresh CCI percussion caps and some Thompson Center "Bore Butter" lube to cover the front of the cylinder and keep fouling soft.

Shot 36 rounds through it the other day at the range, found a sweet load of 30 grains FFFG blackpowder, and a Remington cap:

18 rounds at 25 yards, standing, two handed hold:

This is probably one of the most accurate revolvers I have ever owned, it is time consuming to load and clean it, but the accuracy makes it worth it! Super nice trigger, 7 1/2" barrel makes a long sight radius for aging eyes, good, adjustable sights.

The CCI primers were lame as others here suggested, most took two hits to ignite. The almost 20 year old Remington primers were 100% reliable, and noticeably more powerful.

The Bore Butter worked as advertised, I cleaned the revolver after firing 18 rounds, three cylinders full, took one pass with a soaked cleaning patch to clean the barrrel. Stuff smells like Crisco, I think I'l try some Crisco and see if it works the same.

I did try a cylinder full of maximum power loads, 40 grains black powder, still got good accuracy, and 100% hits on a rack of falling plates. Fired as fast as I could cock and aim the revolver, filled the range with powder smoke, very satisfying!

And, my Lee bullet moulds came in from Midway yesterday, I immediately cast up 50 each of round ball and a 220 grain conical.

So, tomorrow I drive to Richmond (another 70 miles) to get a supply of Remington percussion caps, and continue my search for a flap holster...

redlevel · #2 03-23-2012, 05:36 PM

Outstanding!

Lots of smoke and fire, I'll bet.
I have a young friend with an Old Army. He mentioned today that he wanted to bring it to my range and shoot. I have considered getting into BP, but just never have.

I bet that 40 grain load would lay a Georgia Whitetail down right quick. What weight are the Speer round balls? Looks like it is plenty accurate for that, too.

Have fun!

Wyatt Burp · #3 03-23-2012, 05:37 PM

Good shootin'! And another interesting gun to add to your colection of shootable cool stuff. Anyone who shoots an NRA Musket (one of my fave. 94 variants and one that i don't own) can't be all bad!

Erich · #4 03-23-2012, 05:38 PM

Neat. Mine is accurate as well, whether with round ball, conicals, or metallic cartuchos.

canoeguy · #5 03-23-2012, 05:45 PM

Redlevel,

The .457 round balls weigh 146 grains I think, a 40 grain charge pushes them to over 1200 feet per second as I remember, so that's .357 Magnum power...

It will be interesting to see what the 220 grain conicals do, accuracy wise.

Mike1957 · #6 03-23-2012, 05:47 PM

Used to have an Old Army, but like a fool I let it get away.
They are nice guns.

sideways · #7 03-23-2012, 09:42 PM

Yes sir that makes me want to get mine out and shoot it. I have not had it out in several years now. You remind me of how much I use to enjoy tinkering with the measures and all the fun stuff that goes along with shooting the BP pistols.

Erich · #8 03-23-2012, 10:21 PM

Quote:

The .457 round balls weigh 146 grains

Mine weigh 143 and the 35 grains of 3F 777 get them moving out at 1140-odd fps, so I think you're right.

Bat Guano · #9 03-23-2012, 11:40 PM

Nice wood on that ROA, Erich.

Muley Gil · #10 03-24-2012, 12:17 AM

"I decided to not even fool around with Pyrodex or any other substitutes, get the real deal blackpowder, so I got two cans of FFFg black powder from the only place in the State of Virginia that sells it, Clark's Brothers in Warrenton, 70 miles away....'

Not sure where you live, but Jackie Venskoske, who is just outside of Winchester, Virginia, will sell you black powder all day long. Jackie's shop is next to Fort Shenandoah, home of the North-South Skirmish Association, the largest group of live fire Civil War shooters in the world.

540-888-3349 Back Creek Gun Shop, Winchester Va - Black Powder & Musket Caps - Goex, Swiss, Diamondback, & Schuetzen black powder, musket & pistol caps, lube, patches. N-SSA

DeadAye · #11 03-24-2012, 10:27 AM

Strangely enough ---
My (ALWAYS broke B-I-L) called yesterday and wanted to know what a NIB Ruger Old Army went for - He wanted to take his to the pawn shop and sell it. (For legal reasons he can only have black powder guns, btw). I told him that they'd probably give him $200 - $250 for it. He said that he needed $350.
I gave him $375.
Turns out that the gun looked new, but after taking it apart it was quickly apparent that it had been shot but not cleaned

It's now clean and oiled - I just hope the barrel isn't too far gone

I can barely walk, but should be good to go on Monday - I'll try to get a range report then............

PS - He called a few hours later - DRUNK & HIGH. Will I never learn?

John Eilertson · #12 03-24-2012, 03:40 PM

Looks like your having fun, and are skillful with your Remington. The round balls I put through mine weigh 128 grs, and I don't know what my velocity is, but it isn't slow, you can count on that.
I really like my '58, but have always used Pyrodex. Even that BP substitute is pretty corrosive, so thorough cleaning is mandatory. But that's a fairly small price to pay for so much fun.

Ethang · #13 03-25-2012, 06:49 PM

BTW plain Crisco will work just fine.