Explain the ROA to me.

[ArmedBear]

What's the appeal?

I like black powder revolvers. I like Ruger's products. I like Blackhawks. But I am just not attracted to an expensive modern BP revolver.

My replicas shoot well, and they have that whole historic thing going, too. And they're cheaper, too.

What is it about ROA's that gets people excited? I haven't shot one in years.

I'm not trying to be a jerk; I just see a lot of people stoked on the things, and I'd like to know what they really like about them.

 

[Bad Flynch]

>What's the appeal?<

They are quasi-historical.

They are designed and built like a tank.

The stainless versions are less susceptible to corrosion.

They are well-known for their accuracy; most shooters in the U.S. use them for competition revolvers. Other makers (Pietta,Pedersoli) have target revolvers in the same class that cost as much or more.

Ruger stands behind them and will service them, should they ever need it.

They are made wholly in America.

There have been many design improvements, such as the loading lever latch change.

All of that aside, the other revolvers are fine, too, but with the noted exceptions, are not in the same class.

 

[ArmedBear]

most shooters in the U.S. use them for competition revolvers

That I can see, and I would as well. A R&S or Remmie with modern sights isn't exactly "historically accurate" either.

I just figure that, if I wanted a practical gun for field use, I'd get a Super Blackhawk.

 

[timothy75]

You could say the OA appeals to the man who likes to shoot black powder for sport but isnt caught up in the nostalgia or historical aspect of doing so.

 

[ArmedBear]

Hmmm...

Maybe I've never met that man, except for hunters who really want to be shooting centerfires but want to be out during "primitive" season.

BP is a messy PITA. Sans the fringe benefits of historical interest, it just seems like a lot of trouble. And I enjoy it, even though I don't own anything made of buckskin or with a WAHmaker label, or anything of the sort.

Interesting.

 

[DMZ]

When I lived in the Washington Cascades, I like to carry my OA when I was deer hunting (modern rifle, general buck) as I would often come upon a blue of ruff grouse which I could take for a little camp meat.

Come winter, I carried it in my pack when I was out grooming snowmobile trails. Many a snowshoe hare ended up in the stew pot because of that gun.

I kept pre-rolled paper cartridges and caps in a small tin that I carried.

That revolver was accurate, reliable and most importantly (at that time in my life) cheap to shoot.

Gun like that tends to grow on ya.

 

[ArmedBear]

Well yeah, I also remember when BP was cheap to shoot.

Gotta find some cheap lead again...

 

[fineredmist]

One big bonus of the stainless model is the easy cleanup, remove the stocks and cylinder and place in the dish washer. It comes out squeaky clean add a little oil and your good to go.
Nice isn't it?

 

[ArmedBear]

Dish detergent abrasive isn't any better for a Ruger than it is for a Uberti (also available in stainless).

 

[robert garner]

ArmedBear
With the Ruger OA, you get all the benifits (lol) of blackpowder without the problems inherent in the century old designs, yes you will still have to clean them,but the Old army just keeps on tickin year after year seemingly infinitum.
Snakeshot? go for it
PRB good for 100 yds go for it
boolits for longer range or hunting go for it
Now it wont keep up with Hans's "blaster"
or Ivans Stechin
you don't run 'round with hunnerts of rounds in clips (heh heh heh, i heer ya Maggies now)
But she does good, what she does.
real good.
robert

 

[Thatcher]

Its the most modern pistol I can legally own here - simple as that. Its also very very reliable when you get it set right, I've not had any form of cap jam or mis-fire in over 1000 shots.

 

[songsofreedom]

Armed Bear- The appeal? The ROA has the balance/feel, shooting characteristics of any modern revolver, which is excellent. Its sturdier, stronger than any black powder revolver on the market. Actually, the italian made black powder guns are terribly made. Just because its made in italy doesn't mean it has the elegance of a Beretta, by no means or manner. All the italian BP guns I own are not that good quality, kind of gritty. The ruger old army, however is made in utmost excellent quality, which is evident the moment you lay your eyes on one. Plus, you can use the conversion cylinder with modern .45 colt loads with that- which I have done, that is why I love mine. And, not everyone has a handgun license can use the ROA with conversion cylinder to shoot cartridge guns.

 

[ArmedBear]

Actually, the italian made black powder guns are terribly made.

I had to check my calendar, but I did confirm that it's not 1983.

Yes, my old Italian-made Remmie replica has lousy soft steel in the innards, terrible springs, and a cast frame that's softer steel than I'd like. I retired it. On the other hand, it was an $80 finish-it-yourself kit 25 years ago.

And there's still some junk out there.

However, it's simply not true that a Uberti is "terribly made," or that it isn't up to the standards of Beretta. Uberti MAKES all the Beretta revolvers. They also make a forged-frame version of the NMA now, if you want strong without the weight of a Ruger -- not that quality cast-frame Remmie replicas have ever been considered too weak.

Some higher-end replica guns were quite well-made in the '80s (e.g. an old R&S my dad passed on to me, Euroarms?).

It's true: if you want the beefy construction, nipple clearance and nice loading lever of a Rogers and Spencer, the safety notches of a Remington, modern sights and the grips of a Colt, in stainless, the ROA does offer those features in one package. If you want those things and don't just want to get a Blackhawk (or are not allowed to by law as in the UK), those are reasons enough to get a ROA.

But this isn't the '80s, and there are some well-made guns out of Italy. They just cost more than the mediocre ones.

There's no reason to spread false information.

 

[songsofreedom]

Well, there you go, armed bear- You answered your own question... Ha!
The ROA does offer those features in one package, that answers your questions. As for the italian revolvers, I haven't bought one since the 80's, you are right. I should not be biased about something I haven't tried recently, and not that you brought that up, I will go out and buy myself an 1858 remmy made by uberti, thanks.

 

[Jamie C.]

In the "For what it's worth" department... and this isn't addressed to anyone in particular, simply a statement of fact concerning my own experience:

I have a brand-new Uberti 1858 Remington copy... 5-1/2 inch barrel, standard blued finish. I bought it a few weeks ago and have been busy rounding up supplies, since all of my old stuff is packed away, and for a .50 cal rifle anyway... or my cannon.
This will not do for a .44 cal revolver.

Anyway, it's as nice a gun as any Ruger I've ever owned, inside and out. ( And I've owned more than a few Rugers, just not an Old Army. )

Give me a couple more weeks and I'll tell you how it shoots. ( I expect if I do my part, it'll certainly do it's part. )

Should have a nice range report after my in-laws deliver powder, caps, and a bullet mold from PA.

Oh, and here's my "Spaghetti Remington Clone", along with my hat, my old badge, and a knife my father made:



J.C.

 

[songsofreedom]

Hey Jamie, do you have any pictures of it? How is the quality and how much did you pay for it? I was looking to pick one up myself, and I'm not sure if I should get the 5 1/2 or 7 1/2 model, the other 7 1/2 inch models are pretty heavy, though.

 

[Jamie C.]

I bought it from Taylor's and Co. for $254.00 plus shipping. All total it was $264.31, to deliver it to my door. ( And within 3 days too, since I live so close. )

The 5-1/2 inch model feels a little lighter to me than a Colt SAA clone with a 4-3/4" barrel, but the weight is a little "off". It's barrel-heavy. I may load the grip of mine with a lead slug, just to change the balance. ( I don't tend to like the long-barreled guns, or ones with too much muzzle-heaviness. They "hang" well once on target, but their a bitch to get there in a hurry. )

My gun, as it came out of the box, weighs 2 pounds, 8 ounces exactly, btw.


J.C.

P.S. Prior post edited and picture added.

 

[ArmedBear]

I'm not sure that a Remmie is barrel heavy so much as front-frame-heavy, compared to a SAA. Very different distribution of the steel in the frame.

I don't have any shortened Remmies, though. I'll have to try one.

(Collect them all!)

 

[Jamie C.]

I'm not sure that a Remmie is barrel heavy so much as front-frame-heavy, compared to a SAA. Very different distribution of the steel in the frame.

Well, the front of the frame probably doesn't help much, but if you'll look at a round .45 cal barrel next to an octagon one, you'll notice that the round one has a bit less steel in it. ( Thicker walls at the corners with the octagon ones, usually. )

That, the extra bit in the frame, and the fact that the cylinder isn't fluted on the Remmie equals a fair bit of "extra" weight out in front of the trigger guard, vs. a Colt SAA or clone. Also, there's the matter of which weighs more; an ejector rod, spring, and housing, or the loading lever assembly on the Remington? I'd guess the latter, especially with that web underneath.

Still, the balance isn't hard to correct, and the whole thing shouldn't end up weighing any more than an old model Ruger Vaquero.

I'll have to play with it a bit and see what I come up with. It's possible I may decide I like it best just as it is. Right this minute though, it just seems awfully "light in the tail feathers" to me.


J.C.

 

[ArmedBear]

You could just get the full-length version and shoot that a few times. Then the 5 1/2" won't seem to have so much weight out front.

True re barrel weight.

I'd forgotten... My 4 3/4" SAA clone is a .357, so there's a good deal more steel out there than a .45 has.

 

[John C]

Armed Bear:

I'm too young to know, but from what I've heard here and elsewhere, the ROA was really the only decent BP revolver up until just a couple of years ago. I don't really know, but from what I understand, it also has the largest powder capacity in the cylinders, except for Walker replicas.

Now the Italians have come up the food chain and are competing on Ruger's turf with high quality, adjustable sights, and stainless steel. Ruger had that market cornered for 30 years, almost.

I do have a stainless ROA, and I do like it alot. It should've been the first revolver I bought when I turned 18, rather than the ill-advised roads I went down in those days. I got a super deal on mine 5 years ago, I should have bought two of them.

-John