Ruger old army

[badguybuster]

Any ruger old army fans? Conversion cylinder users? The bore is. 457 but what about using hard cast. 458??

 

[k22fan]

Any ruger old army fans? Conversion cylinder users? The bore is. 457 but what about using hard cast. 458??

Love ‘em! It’s commonly said that if Bill Ruger hadn’t died his son couldn’t have dumped the Old Army. Ol’ Bill built it to be the best cap-n-ball revolver ever made and succeeded handsomely. He did, however, stick with his penny pinching ways and used existing barrel stock inventory. Old Armies have the same bores as Black Hawk .45 Colts. They are not .457”. The .457” ball diameter comes from the way cap-n-ball revolvers are loaded. Lead is shaved off the circumference of the ball as it is rammed into the chamber in order to be certain of a tight fit to discourage B/C flash setting off additional chambers.
For conicals, Old Armies shoot great with Lyman’s 100 year old 185grain hollow base mold that was marketed towards .45 Colt shooters for 80 years. Unfortunately, like all hollow base bullets, it’s a PIA to cast.
Lee offers 2 molds that also shoot great in Old Armies, a purpose built 220 grain RN and their .45 cal. REAL muzzle loading rifle mold of the same weight. The shanks of both Lee molds freely enter the chamber. The front band of the REAL bullet and the rear of Lee’s RN bullet’s ogive are big enough to seal the chambers.

Like all muzzle loaders, all Old Army bullets and balls need to be cast of pure lead. I’ve never heard of a commercially marketed conical that was suitable for use in Old Armies without also using a center fire conversion cylinder. I presume the conversion cylinders’ throats are reamed for revolver bullets, not .458” rifle bullets.

 

[Erich]

I have one, and use it with Kenny Howell's conversion cylinder. I use .452" hardcast bullets and they work great - 3" groups at 50 yards (benched). I use .457" balls in the percussion cylinder, too.

The out-of-round hole is from a previous shooter:

 

[rog8732]

I have a 5 inch, fixed sight in SS. I bought it just because of the looks, mostly, with an intention to shoot B P when I could get a "round tuit". Those "Tuits being difficult to find sometime, I became aware of the selection of conversion cylinders. I have since bought and used the Kirst in both .45 Colt and in .45 ACP.... Shoots great,perfect fit,very happy with my set-up......Slow, certainly slower than Josey could switch his cylinders, on horseback,at full gallop,but something about the single action has always been enjoyable to handle. I use cowboy loads for the .45 and just any factory loads for the ACP .45.

 

[badguybuster]

I dunno why but I love the look and feel. A friend let me shoot gp loads over the weekend and I'm hooked

 

[desi2358]

I've owned a couple over the years, still have a stainless model. Great shooter, excellent sights, probably the best cap-n-ball field gun I've ever owned. Not very traditional but what a great handgun! Never messed with the conversion cylinders though, always stuck with powder and ball. Maybe try one sometime if I find the right deal.