Ruger Old Army

[45Smashemflat]

Every now and then I THINK I want a Ruger Old Army. Both to use with black powder, and maybe to get a replacement cylinder in 45 Colt.

I'm not sure what I would do with it other than make some noise and smoke from time to time. Probably too big for any "serious" use, and I have other pistols/revolvers to hunt with.

Anyone here have one just for kicks? What are your thoughts on how it shoots, care and feeding?

 

[Muley Gil]

I have one, complete with the .45 Colt cylinder. Mine is the 7 1/2" stainless version, with adjustable sights. With cowboy loads (which is what the conversion cylinder is rated for), it shoots like a Blackhawk. It's capable of 2-3" at 25 yards. I wish I still was.

 

[gmarshall99]

Its easy to load, shoot and clean. I don't shoot mine often, but when I bring it out and shoot it, I'm glad I have one.

 

[Shrek Of The Arctic]

I used to have one many years ago. I eventually gave it away. Compared to the various 1851 and 1860 revolvers, it was better in every metric. Strength, accuracy, timing, fit and finish, etc. And for the price I'd paid...which was somewhere between $200 and $300, that was all well and good. As we move into modern pricing, I'd question whether the juice was really worth the squeeze. A fella could still have a lot of fun with a historically accurate clone and spend much less than the prices I'm seeing for them. I'd say for $500 or less...sure, what the heck. But as the price increases from that $500 point, I'd become more hesitant. Of course, that's with consideration to my own budget.

My affair with cap and ball revolvers was fairly abbreviated. They did not suit me. While I could shoot a muzzleloader all day at a leisurely, relaxed and thoroughly enjoyed pace, the cap and ball revolver was frankly just a bit too busy for me to enjoy. As I remember the sequence (Don't hold me firmly to it, I make no claim to be Outlaw Josey Wales here) Charge cylinder with powder 6x. ram ball 6x. grease each charge hole 6x. Finally, turn the gun over, place percussion cap 6x. Shoot all six shots quicker than I'd intended to. Wash, rinse, repeat. It was more mentally exhausting than it was relaxing for the way my mind works, and I certainly was not always up to all the peripherals surrounding them when I took them out.