Ruger ROA ?

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FirinFlatTop

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Hello,

Few things I need a bit of help with.
Bought a new ROA, was made in 1979. Looking to get a few supply's for it as the wife caught it in the mail and is now under the tree....

Could someone tell me what size round ball to look for, size caps, I have some triple 7 from my CVA rifle.

I have all the wads, wad making materials. Realy need to know ball and cap size, and a good heavy hunting round would be nice also.


Thanks RC
 
Thanks , Don't know why I did not look for the manual. This gun in new in the box, like a kid at Christmas..... HaHa.... Told was in mint condition. Three more days... LOL

Now to find what I need local...


Thanks RC
 
You will not be able to get compression on 20 grs of black with the on board loading lever. That load must be loaded in an off gun loading machine. 25-28 grs would be better.
 
Congrats on the ROA. You're gonna love it!

Both of mine use .457 round ball with CCI # 11 caps. I only use 3F BP, not 777. That 20 grains for a starting load is quite low. I suggest 25 grains to start and you'll probably end up in the 30 grain range for best accuracy. Like you, I make my own lubed wads from heavy felt. Sorry I can't help with a heavy hunting load as I only use mine for targets. I've used Pyrodex P in the past and it was reliable but I got better accuracy and consistency with BP.

Merry Christmas!

Jeff
 
A 'heavy' hunting load would be on the order of 35 gr fffg real black powder. You can get more in, but accuracy will suffer, bringing your effective range to under 25 yards. 30 gr fffg real black seems to be the best target load for most folks, so I'd agree that starting with 25 gr real black and working up to smallest groups is a good plan. Don't forget to make the 15% reduction for 777, and avoid compressing it.
 
Noz said:
You will not be able to get compression on 20 grs of black with the on board loading lever. That load must be loaded in an off gun loading machine. 25-28 grs would be better.
Click to expand...
Noz,
Agreed, but here is what Ruger says in the instrution manual (they say to use a filler)....

POWDER CHARGE
It is safe to use as much Black Powder as the chamber will hold, leaving room for
the bullet. This maximum loading is not usually the most accurate loading,
however.
A good starting accuracy load, using a pure lead .457” diameter ball, is 20 grains
of FFFg and sufficient filler (corn meal is frequently used as a filler material) to
seat the ball approximately 1/16” below the chamber mouth. You may find that
some minor adjustment of this charge upwards or downwards is more accurate
in your “Old Army.”
Filler is not required and can be completely dispensed with if the powder charge
takes up at least 1/2 of the cylinder.
 
Thanks for all the replies guys. I found the caps local but could not find any ball lead , I hope my cousin still has all his loading mess for him shooting in a league.


I got to go shoot it...

Thanks RC
 
Those are really good looking. You should make some at stock length...I think folks would buy them to dress up the ROA a bit.
 
New ones can be bought from Brownells or Midway, though Midway is currently out of stock cause I bought em all :)
 
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try 30 grains by volume of 777 and .457 rb with a dab of crisco over the ball. do you have 2f or 3f 777?
 
I have the 3F.. also found some Pyrodex P. I got some .457 Hornady Ball.
Could not find any #11 caps, had to get the #10 CCI.

Looking forward to shooting this next week.



RC
 
My ROA can tack drive R/B with 35 Gr. of triple 777 a wad under the ball and a 60/40 grease cookie
I can at 20 yards put all 5 rounds in the same hole on a good day:The only problem is at 50 yards the front sight not higher enough shoot high at 50 but still a great group 4'
from the bench
I just purchased a near blade and took 1/8" off of it to see if I can bring the group down.
 
I have extended rammers on my ROAs, but before I got them I could load light powder charges by first seating the ball as far as I could with the rammer, then drop a .38 caliber bullet on top of the ball and make another stroke with the rammer. Rotate the chamber clear of the frame, drop the .38 out, and then load the next chamber.

Contact Ruger and they will send you a Manual for the ROA. You will need it when you eventually take it down completely for a thorough cleaning. The ROA is not exactly like a Blackhawk or Vaquero, and the disassembly/assembly instructions will keep you from buggering things up.
 
I shoot .457 round balls over 25 Grains of fffg with EXCELLENT results.
I routinely take squirrels out to 20 yards with this load.
The ROA is the most accutate handgun in my arsenal.
 
robhof

Took my first squirrel with my ROA the other day. I carry it as a back-up during B/p season here in Ky. Left the blind at mid-day and put the rifle in the truck, decided to scout around and saw 2 does at 80yds and they saw me, too far to try with the ROA, so I headed back and this squirrel kept crossing the trail in front of me, so I thought I'd scare it, then I ended up having to clean it. It's amazing how accurate you can be when you just point and shoot.:cuss::cuss::cuss:
 
Hello robhof. Nice to know there's another ROA owner here in BG. Sold my little 10 acre farm in Alvaton so I'm limited to occasional shooting next county over on my in-laws place a few times a year. Sure proud of the 2 ROA's I have. Posted pix on this forum before in the ROA thread. Maybe will see you some day at Sherwood's or Cheeks. Wishes to you and yours, and everybody else on this forum for a safe and rewarding holiday. Don
 
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