Ruger Old Army, SS or Blued?

[Ghost Dog]

I've been checking out some of the ROA's for sale on GB, the stainless steel ones are more selling for quite a bit more than the blued and I'm wondering if it's worth the extra cost? I'm looking for a shooter, something that's accurate and that some day I can pass down to my daughter(who's becoming a better shot than her old Dad, but that's a subject for another thread.)
There is one stainless that was stored without being cleaned and has pitting in various places now that it's been cleaned up, is this something to stay away from?

Thanks, G D

 

[AbitNutz]

I have put thousands of rounds through my Stainless ROA. I have cleaned it badly and not at all sometimes. Finally I just take the cylinder out and hang it in the dishwasher.

I'm sure the the guns are equivalent shooters but the ease of maintenance of the stainless just tips the balance well toward the stainless.

Just my opinion as a person who is not as meticulous about cleaning his black powder guns as he should be....

 

[4v50 Gary]

Stainless steel rusts too. The advantage is that to refinish it, you hit it with steel wool and voila!

 

[Ghost Dog]

So some pitting on a used one would not be a huge concern? I'm guessing it would sell for about $1oo less than one without the pitting.

Thanks, G D

 

[Ghost Dog]

Here is a link to one I've been looking at on GB.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=233736762

The question I'm asking myself is if I spend more on one now in better condition will it be worth the differance in cost down the road?

Thanks, G D

 

[arcticap]

Yes, it's certainly worthwhile to buy one that's in better condition. Everyone wants a bargain but the overall condition has a lot to do with the price and its future value too.
A nice blue one is probably better than a stainless one of questionable condition. The condition of the chambers and bore are important features to consider.
There's enough ROA's to choose from to be able to get one that's in better condition for a fair price.
That one could be quite good once it's cleaned up but it's a bit of a gamble.

 

[arcticap]

Here's a NIB blue one:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=236057219

 

[Ghost Dog]

Arcticap, thanks for the feed back.

G D

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

I would buy stainless if for nothing else to get an all steel gun. Most of the blued ones have an alum. alloy frame.

 

[rvn67n20]

Ghost Dog, I'd pass on the one you pointed to - look at those nipples. Might have a project getting them out. I'm with arcticap; take your time looking, hold out for something that looks good, either blue or ss depending on your cleaning habits. I have a ss ROA headed my way that went for $411 to my door. Good luck, shoot straight.

 

[mykeal]

I own 4 ROA's, 2 blued and 2 SS. I shoot the blued ones and fondle the SS ones. No good reason, I just like shooting the blued ones better and looking at the SS ones better.

Arcticap nailed it.

 

[arcticap]

I would buy stainless if for nothing else to get an all steel gun. Most of the blued ones have an alum. alloy frame.

But that only pertains to blue ROA's made prior to 1985.

http://www.gunblast.com/Hamm_Ruger-SA-GripFrames.htm

I don't believe that's the majority of the blue ones made since they only represent 12 years of ROA aluminum production verses 23 years of blue ROA's produced only with steel.

For instance the blue ROA on Gunbroker that I cited has serial #145-847XX
which was made in 1996 and is all steel.

http://ruger.com/service/productHistory.html#

 

[dprice3844444]

stainless is the only way to go with black powder,less rusting, and they are dishwasher safe

 

[robhof]

I held out for a stainless and glad I did. I do a pretty good job cleaning, but I've carried mine during B/p season (in Ky it's legal) and it's gotten wet a few times and it's still shiney, better than my blued BH that I carry during modern gun season.

 

[Pancho]

At the very least I'd deduct from the worth of the gun the cost of a new cylinder and nipples. With that being said the bore is the most serious/expensive problem. Without really being able to inspect the bore I'd pass.
A metallurgist friend of mine told me they named stainless wrongly it should have been called stainsless.

 

[ClemBert]

I went with SS for my ROA's. I like the look of SS and the ease with which one can "refinish" one using just a Scotch Brite pad. Nothing specifically wrong with a blued one but given the choice I'd go for a SS first. After you get one or two ROA's in SS then get a blued one.

 

[Ghost Dog]

Thank you all for your responses. It's helped me get a better idea of what I want. I like Clemberts suggestion best, get a couple of Stainless Steel ROA's then get a blued one!
Ideally for me I'ld go for a SS 51/2 inch Barrel with adjustable sights. But since they didn't come from the factory in that combo I'm sure a set up like that is out of my price range for the time being.
351 WINCHESTER, thanks for the heads up on the early frames being an alloy. Can anyone tell me if there's been a difference in the quality of the stainless steel one over the years?

Thanks again, G D

 

[arcticap]

AFAIK Ruger did make some SS 5.5" ROA's with an adjustable sight but those are the most rare. However Clements Custom Guns will cut an ROA down to whatever size is desired like was done for TAURUSBOB. And recently TAURUSBOB was also having another 7.5" ROA cut down to 5.5".

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=571337

 

[VA27]

Mine's stainless, but I gotta say Mykeal, that 5 1/2" blue one sure looks tough.

I'd go with whatever I could find first and look around for the 'other'.