Loads for my Ruger Old Army

[Marlin_444]

Hey All,

Factory specs for a '73 ROA say 20 Grains ("Up or Down")... with a .457 Ball...

What do you shoot? 25, 30, 35? Interested in hearing what you load aand shot regularly in yours...

I have a RD Conversion Cylinder and I'll be shooting some MagTech Cowboy 700 FPS loas through it to...

I appreciate your input!

Ron

 

[Dave Markowitz]

I normally shoot a .457 roundball with 28 grains of 3Fg Goex. I'll either fcover the ball with grease or lately, have been using a Wonder Wad between powder and ball. Wads are less messy.

The maximum load for the ROA with a RB is 40 grains of powder. But see what your gun likes best.

 

[madcratebuilder]

20gr is a light load in a ROA, I'm in the 30-35 gr area with my loads. I think it likes 30 over 35 gr, hard to tell unless I'm shooting off a sand bag.

Did you know sand bags are flammable?

 

[kanook]

load it to the rim with loose fff, tap the cylinder to make sure it level, put on the .457 and cram it home, wipe off extra loose powder and the little lead ring, repeat 4 more times. have a blast. I tried the measure each load thing one time, but found it easier to reload in the woods while hunting without worrying about how much of this and that to get what I need. Plus it's less stuff to carry in the woods.

 

[MCgunner]

load it to the rim with loose fff, tap the cylinder to make sure it level, put on the .457 and cram it home, wipe off extra loose powder and the little lead ring, repeat 4 more times. have a blast. I tried the measure each load thing one time, but found it easier to reload in the woods while hunting without worrying about how much of this and that to get what I need. Plus it's less stuff to carry in the woods.

I have a powder flask and measure cut to fill a cylinder to near the top, compress it with a 220 grain cast Lee conical. Similar technique, there, I guess. It shoots fine and, like you say, less crap in the field. I don't use underwads or other such stuff. I don't carry it a LOT in the field, but I reckon in Canada, I would, well, if I carried anything. The ROA, due to astounding accuracy and good power, makes a more'n adequate field revolver, just kinda a lunk of steel to tote around compared to a K frame .357 magnum or something.

Did you know sand bags are flammable?

Yeah, that's why I started putting layers of duct tape on mine.

 

[ClemBert]

I usually shoot with 35 grains 777 with a lubricated wonder wad and .457 swagged lead ball. I've tried 40 grains but its difficult when using a wonder wad as this requires some compression...something that 777 doesn't like. 40 grains with or without wonder wad should work fine with black powder. If you don't use a wonder wad then there should be room for 40 grains of either 777 or BP with no compression....just use lube over the ball in this case.

 

[MCgunner]

I never lube my 220 conicals. Well, yeah, I do lube 'em with a beeswax/alox mix, but not with crisco over the top. Round ball I put crisco on.

 

[Marlin_444]

Thanks everyone...

Ron

 

[kanook]

MCgunner you gave me an idea. My first pour is always from the flask, no worry about lingering powder. My second pour was into a plastic tube and then pour into the cylinder, if it flashes at least it's plastic and very little powder. I am going to take one of my clear plastic pellet housings, measure out the charge and mark it. I know it's one more item, but I can and will keep it in the flask so as not to forget it. Thanks to the OP for this thread and thanks to MCgunner for making me think.