One of my hunting partners used to own one of these many years ago and I always liked the look/feel and accuracy of these guns.....not to mention how strong they are!

So I put out some feelers out and was fortunate to acquire this nearly new condition 1976 production stainless 7.5" model recently.

The shocking part is how much these ROA's have gone up in price....they were produced from 1972 until 2008 and offered in a blue or stainless version and fixed or target sights were options as well as 5.5" or 7.5" barrel lengths....with some much longer lengths including a buntline model.

These take a .457 diameter projectile and most folks use a standard lead round ball, but conical bullets are certainly out there.

This one is so clean I am almost reluctant to shoot it.....almost.....but it will be shot very soon!

I would eventually like to have a blue version with target sights and a 5.5" version with fixed sights.

__________________
Tom Graham SWCA #2303

Widely considered the finest black-powder revolver ever made. Very strong, very durable. Hammer doesn't actually strike the nipples, so they last much longer. Easy to field strip without tools for loading and cleaning. Large, robust subassemblies. Accurate, powerful, comfortable. I've got an original Ruger/Bianchi holster for mine, which I'm pretty sure used up an entire cow.

Correct on all points sir!!!

The "tank" of modern percussion revolvers without a doubt!

I am picking up one of the Ruger marked Bianchi flap holsters this week from a local guy who just happens to have one that he does not need.....very fortunate to find that holster!!

__________________
Tom Graham SWCA #2303

Congratulations on your purchase of a lovely machine. Mine is my most accurate revolver.

__________________
How God has blessed us!

How does that conversion cylinder work? Would like to find one in .45 ACP

__________________
Forum consigliere

What do you mean doesn't actually strike the nipples? What does the hammer strike?

__________________
Forum consigliere

Never heard off one in ACP only in 45 Colt. Sorry.

Ivan

Rugar Transverse bar type action. Safe to carry loaded with 6.

Ivan

I can't recall whether there are any for the ROA in .45 ACP - mine is a .45 Colt (ridiculously accurate) and I often use .45 Cowboy brass to run .45 ACP loads in it (the photos below are of .45 Colt loads with hardcasts). I have a .45 ACP 5-shot cylinder for a Pietta Bros. quasi-1858 and it is a joy (it has extra notches between the chambers to lower the hammer so you carry five, same as in the 6-rounder for the Colt round in the ROA).

__________________
How God has blessed us!

Only replying because I don't want anyone to get hurt.
I believe the quoted statement by friend Ivan is inaccurate: there is no transfer bar on the ROA (it uses the Old Model lock-up). The reason it's said to be safe to carry the percussion cylinder fully loaded is because there are deep notches between the chambers (see photo below) into which one can rest the hammer. (Note this still requires cocking and decocking the gun while loaded, something a lot of people would not encourage and I'm not suggesting anyone do it without giving serious thought to prospective bad consequences.)


Gary, to answer your question, you can find discussion online about the ROA hammer being designed so as not to strike the nipples during dry-firing. I'm not going to state that for a fact, although I've dry-fired my ROA percussion cylinder without damage to the nipples. (I also have a bunch of spares.)

__________________
How God has blessed us!

Thanks for answering my question as well as correcting Ivan's observation. My OA specifically says in the manual to NOT dry fire unless there are old caps on the nipples as continually doing so will peen the nipples. The safety notches are nice as they do allow one to carry the revolver fully loaded with the hammer completely down between the cylinders. It IS an old three screw action in every sense of the word

__________________
Forum consigliere

The Ruger quality control is such that it is very likely the hammer strikes the cap and stops just barely short of striking the nipple, or apparently not. Maybe just conjecture on my part .45 ACP cyls have been made but are scarce. I think they may only be available from the family run business that actually manufacturers the cylinders.

I was also fortunate enough to come across this Bianchi flap holster that fits well on eBay recently. And I will be picking up one of the Ruger marked Bianchi flap holsters from a friend locally this week sometime.

__________________
Tom Graham SWCA #2303

I inherited a 5.5” Old Army with the .45 Colt cylinder, it’s a great gun to shoot. One of these days I will try it with the black powder cylinder. I never thought about a .45 ACP cylinder for it, but now I’m curious to see if I can find one.

__________________
Wheel guns are real guns.

Gary, there is indeed a 45acp conversion cylinder for the ROA.
I sent you a PM for the source.
Eric, I really like the approach with the 45 cowboy brass. I am going to try that approach in my Ruger.
Always learn things on this forum.

Over on the Ruger forum they are talking about this Kaido pure lead .456 bullet being good in the ROA......the guys there are suggesting to order them WITHOUT lube....anyone tried these??

Click the link below.....it's a safe link to the GunBroker listing....not sure why it's coming up "Just a moment" when I copy/paste the link??

Just a moment...

__________________
Tom Graham SWCA #2303

I have pared my ROA collection down to four....my first SS 7.5 bought in 1974...and shot continuously since new....with no need for repair or parts..Picked up a minty used 7.5 blued sometime in the late 70s....I snagged the very first 5.5 blued that came into the Oklahoma market...2002...and shortly after the 5.5 SS...I picked a up a few others when a bargain...and sold them to friends who lusted for a ROA after shooting mine.....have shot round ball the majority of the time....but came across a new in the box....hollow point conical slug....Lee molds labeled for ROA...all the people who shot one of my ROAs...were very very impressed with the accuracy these fine revolvers would produce...

I am also on the hunt for the blue version of the 7.5" ROA with target sights, but of course the 5.5" fixed sight version is also on the list.

__________________
Tom Graham SWCA #2303

Even more rare of the bright polished SS 5.5...is a factory...brushed SS 5.5....with adjustable sights....

I had one when I was a kid. You could pick them up pretty cheap back then. It was such an accurate revolver. Loved that Lee Mold, 35 gr FFF. FOOLISHLY sold it for way more than I paid for it. We've all been there

I shot mine just yesterday. So much fun! I'm wanting a second one, just because. I insist on the pre-warning marked guns. Just me.

I remember, as a kid, looking over the 1972 Rugers available. Dreams. Always liked the Old Army. Never had one, just a couple Rem. Repos. Cool guns.

__________________
No baby we aint

I have one like the OP's, only newer (1996). I have shot mine with the .45 Colt conversion cylinder. I guess I should dirty up the BP cylinder as well. I do have a few Colt and Remington repos too.

__________________
John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

The conversion cylinder to shoot metallic cartridges is pretty cool but that said I have enough hand ejectors that will do that job so I’ll probably just stick to black powder on this one. Or a synthetic powder depending if I can ever find some triple seven! Also, I’m thinking about trying to get one of these in the blue finish. A buddy of mine in Washington State may have one for sale, so if the price is right, it may find its way to my place. These things have gone up ridiculously in price, but then again, they are extremely well-made and very accurate and they don’t make them anymore!

__________________
Tom Graham SWCA #2303

Wish you were nearby, amigo: I'd give you a can (stocked up when Walmart was having an afterseason sale).

__________________
How God has blessed us!