The RUGER OLD ARMY Club

I hope to shoot it this weekend, it's been two weeks since I've been able to shoot. I haven't had a chance to shoot it since I finished the front sight. I know I will have to file front sight down some so I'm anxious to get out there.
 
I use Pyrodex,black is too hard to find around here,and shipping is usually too high. Pyrodex is hard enough to find,many of the gun shops around have stopped carrying most of their muzzle loading supplies. Even the Cabela's that I frequent has turned their muzzle loading supplies into an anemic,rather short,two sided shelf,that is largely occupied by jacked .50 cal sabots,but no powders.

I have Pyrodex ffg right now,and it works well. I was shooting RB over 30grn volume. When I loaded it up with RB over 40grn,they started climbing up over the target at 25 yards. Then I loaded some conicals I had from somewhere. They measured .456 and averaged 193grn. Those flew 10-12" over the target at 25 yards even over 25grn. That is when I decided I was going to build a taller front sight.

I would like to have one of the deepend cylinders,and might even send mine in to have to trued and deepend. I don't really have a desire for a conversion to 45LC or 45 ACP,though. I have a 1911 for 45acp. and if I want to shoot a big,fun cartridge,I break out my 500 mag! Maybe someday if I can aquire another couple of ROAs I'll send on in to get the 50 cal conversion,that'd be a nice partner for my 500 mag.
 
"What do you fellas make of those marks? I shot a light down the barrel from the muzzle end,something I hadn't done before and noticed these concentric marks."

Too long a tool for coning the barrel??

Jackrabbit is probably right. - "Might be chatter from the rifling cutters."
 
Been shooting my ROAs with Black MZ. Its not as energetic as Pyrodex but the cleanup is a lot nicer. It does produce a lot of smoke which can be a bit annoying, especially when trying to make a follow-up shot on small game. Also have to aim slightly high.
 
It's a substitute black powder made by Alliant. Sportsmans Warehouse has it for about $10 a pound. It only comes in 2f but it compresses nicely. It does have a clumping problem.
 
Before building a new front sight, consider deepening the slit in the rear sight, and then taking a fine file to the range and bench shoot, filing the top of the rear sight till you get the desired POI, Rear sight blades are cheap, I got a lot of 3 from Ebay. I was able to get dead on at 15yds with this method. Of course this only works with the adjustable models, I would never cut into the frame of a fixed sight model.
 
Before building a new front sight, consider deepening the slit in the rear sight, and then taking a fine file to the range and bench shoot, filing the top of the rear sight till you get the desired POI, Rear sight blades are cheap, I got a lot of 3 from Ebay. I was able to get dead on at 15yds with this method. Of course this only works with the adjustable models, I would never cut into the frame of a fixed sight model.

NO! Don't file the rear sight if you want to shoot higher, file the front sight.

Most ROAs shoot too high with energetic loads so most everyone files the rear sight and replaces the front sight with a taller blade. You want to do just the opposite to shoot higher.
 
NO! Don't file the rear sight if you want to shoot higher, file the front sig
NO! Don't file the rear sight if you want to shoot higher, file the front sight.

Most ROAs shoot too high with energetic loads so most everyone files the rear sight and replaces the front sight with a taller blade. You want to do just the opposite to shoot higher.
I missed that about shooting low, try raising the rear sight if adjustable 1st! As stated, most shoot high and the various methods are to lower impact points...
 
Hello everybody,

Just found this forum and am looking forward to reading and learning more about Ruger Old Army pistols. 15 years ago I bought a beat up piece with a rusty barrel that I regretted selling but couldn't stand looking at it in it's condition. It shot better with that rusty barrel Ruger than several other Black Powder pistols I have owned since then. I have been purchasing several NIB pieces the past few months that I plan on passing down through the family but plan on pushing lots of lead through them before that happens. I haven't went through many threads yet but am hoping to get some good advice for the best powder and loads/loading procedure for the best performance. I also would like to get some extra cylinders to load up ahead of time for hunting and target shooting but am concerned about what tolerance is acceptable from one cylinder to the other in relation to where the cylinder seats against the barrel. With the 3 guns I have 2 are a pretty good fit for each other and one cylinder is larger and wont fit in the other 2 and there is about 750-1000 tolerance gap distance when I put the other 2 in the larger piece so at this point I am a bit leary of swapping cylinders from one gun to the other.

I am assuming since this is my firs post and I am including a couple of pics that I am now a member? I'm not sure if somebody registers me and gives me a "Stud Number" or if there is something else I need to do.

Any feedback on the membership or will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
USMC-Mott (2).JPG
 

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ROA Club Members:

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266. USMC - Mott

Welcome Justintime, DeadEyeDave44 and USMC - Mott :D:D:D
 
A couple of hints. Since you had an ROA in the past, you probably know that they shoot high with high-powered loads. With no parts available from Ruger you may have to make a taller front sight for the 2 7 1/2" barrels. I don't know a solution for the shorter barrel since it isn't pinned.
A good accurate load for me is 30 gr. of FFF black powder (not Pyrodex) with a cast round ball. As always, each gun shoots its own favorite load so starting at 20 grs. and working up will give you the load you want.
 
USMC-Mott;

Many of the original Ruger Old Army nipples worked fine, but I ran into a few that did not allow the cap to ignite reliably. If you have trouble getting your caps to pop, especially if you are using the original factory hammer spring, try other nipples. Slix-Shot and Track Of The Wolf nipples are available for the ROA. Treso nipples worked great too, but apparently are no longer being manufactured, so they are the holy grail for blackpowder shooters!
 
USMC-Mott;

Many of the original Ruger Old Army nipples worked fine, but I ran into a few that did not allow the cap to ignite reliably. If you have trouble getting your caps to pop, especially if you are using the original factory hammer spring, try other nipples. Slix-Shot and Track Of The Wolf nipples are available for the ROA. Treso nipples worked great too, but apparently are no longer being manufactured, so they are the holy grail for blackpowder shooters!
Treso, AMPCO nipples are available at the Possible Shop for $31.95 a set, today.
 
USMC-Mott;

Many of the original Ruger Old Army nipples worked fine, but I ran into a few that did not allow the cap to ignite reliably. If you have trouble getting your caps to pop, especially if you are using the original factory hammer spring, try other nipples. Slix-Shot and Track Of The Wolf nipples are available for the ROA. Treso nipples worked great too, but apparently are no longer being manufactured
USMC-Mott;

Many of the original Ruger Old Army nipples worked fine, but I ran into a few that did not allow the cap to ignite reliably. If you have trouble getting your caps to pop, especially if you are usin Slix-Shot and Track Of The Wolf nipples are available for the ROA. Treso nipples worked great too, but apparently are no longer being manufactured, !
 
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