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.

 

[Erich]

Mine is probably the most accurate revolver I own. The Howell's cylinder is great, but the right ball stuffed over the right load is even better. And it's remarkably powerful.

 

[Stickgunner]

I have one in Stainless and one in blued steel, and both are fantastic. I also have a replica 1858 that never sees any use. The ROA is commonly considered the best of black powder pistols for good reason. It can take large BP loads without any trouble, and do it over and over. If I could only keep one of my black powder pistols, it would be my SS ROA.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Bought one years ago-bright stainless fixed sights-went all in and got an extra nipple wrench and 12 wxtra nipples. That was about 20 years ago. ......Have never shot it Sits in the bottom drawer and looks at me when I go looking for something. One day I'll sell it or shoot it.

 

[cherrypointmarine]

Back when I was in the Corps , a couple of buddies and myself were heavy into Western paperbacks , think Louis L'Amour . Well , we all ended up getting black powder pistols , I got a Ruger stainless steel. Man , we had some fun with them . One day we were out in the woods and came upon a quarter panel someone threw away . We decided to see what a lead ball would do , we were surprised . It put one h*** of a hole in that panel . We figured out quick why so many lost arms and legs in the Civil War . You get hit with one of those lead balls and you're losing some part of your body .

 

[45Smashemflat]

Thanks folks! It's definitely a want rather than a need. . Perhaps one will land at the right time when the price matches my current stash.

 

[Erich]

Thanks folks! It's definitely a want rather than a need. . Perhaps one will land at the right time when the price matches my current stash.

I'll bet you find one. I'm thinking these will become a lot easier to find in just a few years as folks age out of the hobby. They're worth the wait.

 

[fatcat3]

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.

THIS! I went bat pop crazy over almost everything black powder (never did get a canon) for a decade or so. Will still shoot my M.L. for hours on end. C&B-R are just a pain in the tail. Still don't stop me from thinking I need a ROA.

 

[RM Vivas]

When I turned 18, I went to the local sporting goods store and bought a stainless Old Army. At that time it was the closest thing you could get to a handgun in NYC without the license hassle. Took it it with me up to Alaska and used it up there for a bit.

I enjoyed it but then a few "real" guns came my way and I parted with it.

Best,
RM Vivas

 

[Glenn R. McMannly]

I prefer the lighter handier .44 New Model.

 

[45Smashemflat]

Bought one years ago-bright stainless fixed sights-went all in and got an extra nipple wrench and 12 wxtra nipples. That was about 20 years ago. ......Have never shot it Sits in the bottom drawer and looks at me when I go looking for something. One day I'll sell it or shoot it.

I did not know they made fixed sight models. Interesting!

 

[erikpolcrack]

I've got two Rem Model 1858 clones made by Pietta, one blued and one stainless. They're pretty close to being a fixed-sight Old Army. I really enjoy them, but mostly with the conversion cylinders and cowboy action loads.

 

[Old18C]

I have deer hunted with mine, and lead balls are very effective. My wife bought me a stainless model, and I have a standard; both are great weapons that should not be underestimated.

 

[Glenn R. McMannly]

Ball and cap muzzleloading revolvers can be either one of the most frustrating shooting experiences of one of the most fun, at least in my experience.

There's definitely a curve of learning but once discovered, they're pretty neat.

 

[gregdr01]

For me, it's about why I shoot BP pistols... and the answer to that is not to have the most modern -- and to me "sterile" -- gun available. I far prefer shooting my relic (but still shootable) 1849 Pocket or 1862 Police and Pocket Navy for a cylinder or two, and if I really want to have a BP session, I'll pull out one of my modern replicas -- I'm particularly partial to the 1862, but I also like shooting the 1860. If I'm set on maximum power, my 1858 replica is 95% as capable as a ROA.

The ROA does have one major weakness, and that's its loading lever, which can be bent if care isn't taken when loading.

I had ROAs in both blue and stainless. They are amazing pieces of modern engineering, but they just didn't do for me what I wanted when shooting BP, which is to take me back to when cap-and-ball pistols were all there was.

YMMV

 

[Erich]

The ROA does have one major weakness, and that's its loading lever, which can be bent if care isn't taken when loading.

Golly, I have never heard of anyone bending a loading lever on a Ruger Old Army, and am including a couple old timers who've written books on black powder handguns. I'd say that should be pretty far down the list of worries for someone who buys one.

And - sorry - but I know people who've modified arbor presses to ram in hardcasts to take deer with ROAs (and we all know how Ruger proofed the ROA for strength during development using Bullseye): I disagree with your assessment that the 1858s (which I dearly love, myself) are 95% as capable. I would argue the ROA with its modern springs and steels is on an entirely different level than the replicas.

 

[Glenn R. McMannly]

For me, it's about why I shoot BP pistols... and the answer to that is not to have the most modern -- and to me "sterile" -- gun available. I far prefer shooting my relic (but still shootable) 1849 Pocket or 1862 Police and Pocket Navy for a cylinder or two, and if I really want to have a BP session, I'll pull out one of my modern replicas -- I'm particularly partial to the 1862, but I also like shooting the 1860. If I'm set on maximum power, my 1858 replica is 95% as capable as a ROA.

The ROA does have one major weakness, and that's its loading lever, which can be bent if care isn't taken when loading.

I had ROAs in both blue and stainless. They are amazing pieces of modern engineering, but they just didn't do for me what I wanted when shooting BP, which is to take me back to when cap-and-ball pistols were all there was.

YMMV

I enjoy shooting muzzle-loading shotgun and rifle.