[PlayboyPenguin]

I have been eyeing a certain black powder Ruger. What is the main difference between it and the standard single actions. Can black powder rounds be purchased or must they be hand loaded?

[Third_Rail]

You misunderstand what "black powder" means.

There aren't any rounds, you load the black powder, the ball, and then cap the back of the chamber.

[Thefabulousfink]

If you mean blackpowder metalic cartrigdes like the original colt SSA shot, they are readilly available due to the popularity of Cowboy Action Shooting. They are a lot of fun, make a big cloud of smoke, and you can't shoot them indoors. If you are talking about cap and ball guns like the colt 1851 or the Ruger 1858, they are by their very nature 'hand load only'. They are even more fun to shoot and make an even bigger could of smoke.:D

Either way, blackpowder shooting is lots of fun but make sure you clean your guns imediately after shooting. Blackpowder is VERY corrosive.

Have fun.

[Stickjockey]

If you're talking about the Ruger Old Army, it's a cap-n-ball frontstuffer. You load the powder, ball, and such separately. No cartriges except if you make them yourself, a'la http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=144094

[mainmech48]

The Ruger "Old Army" is cap-and-ball: a "muzzle loader". You can make your own combustible "cartridges" for it with powder, waxed wad, ball/conical and cigarette papers, but they're pretty fragile and don't really speed things up a lot.

Metallic cartridges loaded with black powder are out there in several calibers. Mostly intended for specilty "cowboy" matches and masochists who love to spend an entire evening cleaning a gun and the brass.

C&B revolvers can be great fun. Truly challenging and lots of nostalgic appeal. Messy, though, and not nearly as much cheaper to shoot compared to regular smokeless cartriges as it used to be.

[doggscube]

I inherited a 7.5" Old Army (stainless, target sights). While googling it, I found out that conversion cylinders are available, and that the Ruger is plenty sturdy enough to handle the .45LC cowboy load cartridges (they are smokeless powder).

I bought the R&D cylinder available at Brownells (I think), and I have been happy with it, except the firing pins tend to stick after it's been stored for a while. They free up with a tap or two from a screwdriver handle.

I really enjoy firing it with the cartridges. The weight really smooths out the recoil.

I haven't fired it C&B yet, but our recent relocation brought us within a half-hour of an outdoor range (and within the borders of a shall-issue state :D ), so I'll get a chance shortly (it's in line behind other firearms I couldn't fire before).

-Jeff

[LAR-15]

cap and ball guns require no Federal bs.

State law may vary.

That makes cap and ball guns attractive to some folks

[robert garner]

The main difference is of course no cartridges!
The significant difference in cap and ball Ruger and the others is
modern coil springs , high tolerence to the powder fouling which stops the colt
remington clones,Xtreme accuracy.
Not that the clones don't give value for the money, most do,and are correct for
re-enacting military or old west.
The Ruger Old Army is a modern design that will give milk jug accuracy past 100 yard mark,velocity above 1,000 fps,and with proper powder and a 250 grn bullet
give 45 long Colt performance.No need to push hard all the time either; try it with 15 grains powder, filler, and a round ball, perfect for kids grammys and anyone just learning or targeting. It does everything you could reasonably expect a pistol to do.