[dam8]

I am in the market for a SAA. I have been reading the threads and looking at what is rugged and meets my needs. I will be carrying sometimes. I like the birdshead V. in 45. It seems to be fairly concealable. For safety reasons I like the old army.,( with the 45 lc conversion cyl.)because the cyl. can come right out to render the hog leg safe. What do you guys think?

[Jim Watson]

Why do you feel you have to remove the cylinder to render a gun safe? Access by unreliable people or children?
If you just must, you can drop the cylinder out of a Blackhawk or Vaquero almost as easily.
The Old Army with a conversion cylinder is a toy suitable for Cowboy target shooting. Stay with a real breechloader for serious use like hunting or if for some weird reason you want a single action for self defense.

Oh yeah, you can secure a double action revolver even faster by swinging out the cylinder and hooking a padlock through the frame. And a DA is a much more versatile gun and more effective defensive weapon.

[JShirley]

Hi, dam8. Welcome to THR.

I, too, have considered getting a Ruger Old Army, and replacement cylinder. Why? Because I think loading gates are stupid and ugly- otherwise, I would have no problem carrying SA for self defense! :what:

Anyway, I have considered the Old Army as a dress gun/Barbecue/Wedding gun, with some nice engraving. Might still do it...then again, might be a nice Model 57, or a cute Kahr, or...

:)

John

[James Bondrock]

"For safety reasons I like the old army.,( with the 45 lc conversion cyl.)because the cyl. can come right out to render the hog leg safe. "


:confused: I have never removed the cylinder from a New Model Ruger (I don't have any ;) ), so I cannot comment on ease of cylinder removal. I do have an Old Army and three "Old Model" (three-screw) Rugers. The Old Army cylinder does not remove all that quickly. I was able to dig my thumbnail into the screwdriver slot of the cylinder pin lock and turn it , but most of the time it will require a tool of some sort. More confusing is this .45 Colt conversion cylinder business. Is this an aftermarket thing? Ruger certainly does not make one. Also, I cannot believe that .45 Colt bullets fired through an Old Army would be very accurate. I have never slugged the bore of mine, but it is made to fire .457" diameter balls. Presumably the bore is this size. However, .45 Colt bullets are typically .451-.454". Surely the .45 Colt bullets would rattle down the bore like an old musket.

[RON in PA]

James: The OA does use .457 round balls but they are swedged down to approx. .454. I have a cylinder that allows use of 45 Colt ammo. It works fine with my reloads (.454, 455 gr bullets over 8gr Unique) as well as factory 45 Colt. It is slow to reload, but lots faster than loading cap and ball. It's expensive, but for a revolver nut that's not too important. Gives one an additional option for an already excellent revolver.

[Old Fuff]

Dam8:

If the main reason you are interested in a Ruger Old Army over the Vaquero is because of the ease in removing the cylinder, get the Vaquero. There is no practical difference between the two revolvers so far as removing the cylinder is concerned. In either case you can do it in a couple of seconds, and unlike the Old Army the Vaquero doesn't require any tools.

While the Old Army can be fitted with an after-market cylinder to fire cartridges, it is still a modified cap & ball revolver. The Vaquero is designed and built to be a cartridge revolver.

I presume the Old Army, plus an optional cartridge cylinder will cost you more then the Vaquero alone, and it can be had in far more combinations of caliber, barrel length, style, and finish then the Old Army.

[dam8]

Thanks for all the replies, I have a few antique revolvers (broken back 32 s and 38 s) also a NAA 22. I carry a p32 every day so a Vaquerro would be for home security, a side arm for back up while hunting and just all around fun. I do have a few 9mm semi autos.

[TallPine]

Well, you might want a Blackhawk instead, which has adjustable sights that are much larger and easier to see than the sights on the Vaquero.

Unless you want the "cowboy look" of the Vaquero with the grooved top strap for a rear sight.

[go8dalejr]

Have a super blackhawk when hunting i load the cyl and put in my pocket
until in the field and coming out of the field. It only takes about 5 seconds
no tools to put it in just dont lose the pins. Alot quicker for me to do than
rotate cyl load one shell at a time.

[James Bondrock]

James: The OA does use .457 round balls but they are swedged down to approx. .454. I have a cylinder that allows use of 45 Colt ammo. It works fine with my reloads (.454, 455 gr bullets over 8gr Unique) as well as factory 45 Colt. It is slow to reload, but lots faster than loading cap and ball. It's expensive, but for a revolver nut that's not too important. Gives one an additional option for an already excellent revolver.

Interesting, Ron.

[James Bondrock]

Well, you might want a Blackhawk instead, which has adjustable sights that are much larger and easier to see than the sights on the Vaquero.

If need be, I would not hesitate to rely on my "Old Model" .45 Blackhawk convertible (interchangeable .45 Colt and .45 ACP cylinders) as my only defense / hunting gun. Fortunately, I don't have to. ;) And it isn't for sale. :p