The RUGER OLD ARMY Club

Beautiful SS ROA. May it give you as much pleasure as the ones that I own have given me. I mostly shoot my stainless steel as the clean up seems a bit easier. At least it seems easier, may just be because it shows the grime better.

Here is a picture of my ROA from 1973 that i just bought in as new condition, with box and everything.
Im having a lot of fun shooting it, but the caps often gets stuck behind the hammer. I have tried CCI and Rws-caps, and those are what i have found here in Finland. Any ideas of what i should try, or is this the way it should be? Im new into bp. Best regards Stellan

Stellan said:

Here is a picture of my ROA from 1973 that i just bought in as new condition, with box and everything.
Im having a lot of fun shooting it, but the caps often gets stuck behind the hammer. I have tried CCI and Rws-caps, and those are what i have found here in Finland. Any ideas of what i should try, or is this the way it should be? Im new into bp. Best regards Stellan

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Cap jams with a Ruger Old Army should be quite rare. When you say, "the caps often get stuck behind the hammer" I assume you mean that the spent cap is getting trapped in the frame slot through which the nose of the hammer protrudes; is that correct? In the 15 years I have been shooting these guns, that has happened to me twice.

I have used CCI #11 caps in my Ruger Old Armies. (I have 4 now). They do not fit the nipples as well as Remington #10 caps, so they are not my first choice. I have no experience with RWS caps. But even the CCI #11 caps rarely jam.

I recommend trying other brands of caps, preferably the Remington #10 if you can get them. If that does not help, you might try other nipples, like Ampco/Treso or Slix-Shot. These nipples have smaller vent holes than factory Ruger nipples. The smaller vents will reduce the gas pressure coming backwards through the nipple and help to keep the spent cap from entering the slot in the frame.

If the problem is caused by the hammer spring being too light (not holding the hammer down on the cap during ignition), I would expect a lot of failures to fire on the first strike. Has that been happening?

J-Bar said:

Cap jams with a Ruger Old Army should be quite rare. When you say, "the caps often get stuck behind the hammer" I assume you mean that the spent cap is getting trapped in the frame slot through which the nose of the hammer protrudes; is that correct? In the 15 years I have been shooting these guns, that has happened to me twice.

I have used CCI #11 caps in my Ruger Old Armies. (I have 4 now). They do not fit the nipples as well as Remington #10 caps, so they are not my first choice. I have no experience with RWS caps. But even the CCI #11 caps rarely jam.

I recommend trying other brands of caps, preferably the Remington #10 if you can get them. If that does not help, you might try other nipples, like Ampco/Treso or Slix-Shot. These nipples have smaller vent holes than factory Ruger nipples. The smaller vents will reduce the gas pressure coming backwards through the nipple and help to keep the spent cap from entering the slot in the frame.

If the problem is caused by the hammer spring being too light (not holding the hammer down on the cap during ignition), I would expect a lot of failures to fire on the first strike. Has that been happening?

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When i got the gun, the nipples were far to large for the caps (11:s) to seat, so then i had issues with that. I made a tool for mounting the nipples in my lathe and trimmed them down. Now the fit is firm and that problem is gone. But even with the nipples too large, i had the issue with jamming. Maybe i should try to shim the spring if possible? But it might be close to coil bind as it is already.

J-Bar said:

I have used CCI #11 caps in my Ruger Old Armies. (I have 4 now). They do not fit the nipples as well as Remington #10 caps, so they are not my first choice. I have no experience with RWS caps. But even the CCI #11 caps rarely jam.

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Are you speaking of the standard non magnum CCI's? With the magnum variety I often had misfires. Bought ToTW nipples that stated CCI #11's and still had those issues so I contacted them and was told they were designed for the standard version. I can't find those but did find Rem #10's work like a charm (when the firing compound hasn't fallen out).

Here is a photo of a factory original Ruger Old Army nipple on the left, a Slix-Shot nipple in the middle, and a Treso nipple on the right. Note the differences in vent diameter:




Here are comparisons of each brand of nipple with three different caps. First, the Ruger original equipment nipples with CCI #11, CCI #11 Magnum, and Remington #10 caps. Both types of CCI caps were loose on the Factory Ruger nipples. The Remington #10 seated firmly:




Next, these are the Slix-Shot nipples with the same caps. The CCI caps were not quite as loose on the Slix-Shot nipples, but were not as firmly seated as the Remington #10 caps.



Finally, the three different caps on Treso nipples. The CCI caps were loose on the Treso nipples, but the Remington #10 caps seated firmly.




Stellan:

I have no idea what kind of nipples your gun had when you bought it. CCI caps are normally pretty sloppy on these revolvers. If you had to reduce the diameter of the nipple to get a CCI cap to fit, I suspect some previous owner had musket nipples in there. Factory original Ruger Old Army nipples require a hexagonal nipple wrench; the base of the cone is hexagonal. If your nipples did not have hexagonal bases, they were not original nipples.

Do yourself a favor and buy Treso nipples and Remington #10 caps and enjoy trouble free shooting. Slix-Shot nipples will work almost as well. Ruger original factory nipples would be better than what you have. Hopefully the threads in the cylinder have not been buggered up by whatever nipples you have in there now.

Good luck.

Track of The Wolf and Blomquist (Spl?) also have the hex base, which is why I bought ToTW (I went to great lengths to find a Klein 3/16" nutdriver).

ToTW nipples claim to be designed like the Ruger externally and internally like the Tresso.

I never put the OEM nipples back on so I have no idea how a Rem #10 fits.

rodwha said:

Track of The Wolf and Blomquist (Spl?) also have the hex base, which is why I bought ToTW (I went to great lengths to find a Klein 3/16" nutdriver).

ToTW nipples claim to be designed like the Ruger externally and internally like the Tresso.

I never put the OEM nipples back on so I have no idea how a Rem #10 fits.

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Thank you. I am not familiar with either of those brands. The ones I photographed were in my parts drawer, and I took the photos today. I use the Remington 10s in competition. I got a good buy on the CCIs; I use them on my Thompson- Center Hawken and for clearing the nipple vents before loading my revolvers at a match. That is the reason I had the CCIs on hand.

Like you I found a good use for the CCI #11 magnums and Rem #11's - feeding my sidelock that eats anything.

I'd certainly like to find some standard CCI #11's to try though. I hear they are stronger (less likely to split after firing), though I've never had one tie up my ROA or NMA and I've shot them quite a bit (at least 1000 rounds between the two).

My ROA is from '83 and was my father's shooting buddy who passed.

At the time the ToTW nipples were $1 cheaper per nipple than Tresso and so it paid the shipping. But I've since been shown that Tressos can be had for a similar price from some vendor. I often pointed out the price difference and was schooled.

Thanks a lot for all the help!
Where can i order those nipples?

I realise that i forgot to answer som questions this morning. The caps i used was standard cci, not magnum.
The nipples are hexagonal and there was a Ruger original tool for them in the box.
How big are the holes in the Treso nipples? Just want to make sure that i dont hace those already, before shipping them halfway around the world.

Stellan,

I don’t think TRESO nipples for ROA are available any longer, although there must be remnant inventories. They were the nipples we recommended for our Classicballistx cylinders. Our recommendation now is SlixShot. Either is head and shoulders better than anything else such that we figure all others are money wasted. Consistent precise fit and superior, reliable ignition are the reasons why. You will be money and performance ahead buying them regardless of cost. It should be noted that Ron Blomquist’s ROA nipples are their equal, but sometimes difficult to obtain.

Remington #10 caps seem to be the solution for the ROA. They fit TRESO and SlixShot nipples correctly and closely without need of pinching or crimping. With their small flash holes, TRESO and SlixShot deliver good ignition with about any propellant, compressed or not. Their flaw is that their metal is thin and soft - making for more positive ignition, but more prone to disintegration with very heavy loads. Again, the smaller flash hole of TRESO and SlixShot nipples compensates greatly by better pressure containment and Rem #10’s rarely disintegrate on them even when using near maximum charges.

If your intent is to simply go “bang” with light charges and round ball with indifference to accuracy, many combinations will satisfy. But proper nipples and well fitting quality caps will prove materially more accurate even in such loadings.

That’s our experience, anyway.

I don’t know about their distribution in Finland, but I know Remington #10’s to be available in Germany through Frankonia. And we have clients using them on our cylinders in Norway, Denmark, and Sweden. Nipples are not restricted for export here, so if you cannot find SlixShot elsewhere, let us know and we will arrange.

Edo.
CBX

The ToTW nipples are excellent as well. Not sure if they ship internationally or not though. Looking at their site I see that they do. You might be better off finding some closer as shipping may not be as high but it's certainly worth checking.

https://www.trackofthewolf.com/List/Item.aspx/807/1

2nd page just a little bit down it you'll see the PRA-S. These are the ones I bought for mine. Supposedly they'll fit to those standard CCI caps.

classicballistx said:

Stellan,

I don’t think TRESO nipples for ROA are available any longer, although there must be remnant inventories. They were the nipples we recommended for our Classicballistx cylinders. Our recommendation now is SlixShot. Either is head and shoulders better than anything else such that we figure all others are money wasted. Consistent precise fit and superior, reliable ignition are the reasons why. You will be money and performance ahead buying them regardless of cost. It should be noted that Ron Blomquist’s ROA nipples are their equal, but sometimes difficult to obtain.

Remington #10 caps seem to be the solution for the ROA. They fit TRESO and SlixShot nipples correctly and closely without need of pinching or crimping. With their small flash holes, TRESO and SlixShot deliver good ignition with about any propellant, compressed or not. Their flaw is that their metal is thin and soft - making for more positive ignition, but more prone to disintegration with very heavy loads. Again, the smaller flash hole of TRESO and SlixShot nipples compensates greatly by better pressure containment and Rem #10’s rarely disintegrate on them even when using near maximum charges.

If your intent is to simply go “bang” with light charges and round ball with indifference to accuracy, many combinations will satisfy. But proper nipples and well fitting quality caps will prove materially more accurate even in such loadings.

That’s our experience, anyway.

I don’t know about their distribution in Finland, but I know Remington #10’s to be available in Germany through Frankonia. And we have clients using them on our cylinders in Norway, Denmark, and Sweden. Nipples are not restricted for export here, so if you cannot find SlixShot elsewhere, let us know and we will arrange.

Edo.
CBX

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Thanks for the answer. I want the best possible accuracy, i shoot because i want small groups. Remington caps might be hard to find here but i will try. Should i contact you on your website regarding nipples?

I have not had problems with RWS and ROA original nipples.So I have no idea what may be causing the problems but as others have stated a change of nipples may be in order. Not an expensive way to try and solve your problem. Good luck and let us know what happens.

Hi, I just acquired this Ruger old army. In the box with the nipple wrench. I shoot the Pietta Remington new model army, I understand this handgun to be in demand. I looked up the low serial number and it looks like it was made in 1973. The gut I got this from said it was his brothers and he never fired it. I believe it as i have taken it apart to clean up and the old oil was hard and caked on the metal parts. I saw no signs of it being fired. I am going to sell this to someone, anyone interested send me a pm. Looking for $600.00

Well, y’all, never let it be said that Classicballistx isn’t up with the times! Here’s our response to BLACK FRIDAY and CYBER MONDAY.
ROA Club members buying our best selling satin stainless ROA cylinder get a $50 DISCOUNT, one per customer, from today through December 15.
Ho, ho, ho!
This is only for satin stainless, and the discount is per purchase, not per cylinder. We have inventory in stock and can ship immediately. Email [email protected] or through the website to request a discounted invoice.
Merry Christmas, ROA Club!

That's a good deal for sure. I'm almost tempted to get another one.

Greetings Everyone !! In these days of "political correctness" and missing nativity scenes in department store fronts, public parks, and snowflake infested school campuses, It is invigorating to see all these coming back !! How delightful ! Yes, they are coming back, indeed. The America of yesteryears is on a resurgence of returning to normality again. Thank you very much. With a smile and a double nod here. We have witnessed great changes this year. A lot of positive changes. For the people. By the people. Today at the supermarket I greeted everyone who passed me by with their overflowing pushcart with a friendly "Merry Christmas" greeting. Most answered back with the very same words ! Amazing ! Not too long ago, I would have heard the word 'seasons greetings' or happy holidays' instead. Yes folks, it IS OK to say "Merry Christmas" again. Say it loud, say it proud. To all of the great folks here at this forum, I bid you all a wonderful Merry Christmas !!

¡Feliz Navidad, compadres!

Edo.

Merry Christmas!

Afrikaans - "Geseënde Kersfees en ‘n Voorspoedige Nuwe Jaar."

Arabic - "I'd Miilad Said Oua Sana Saida"

Argentine - "Felices Pasquas Y felices ano Nuevo"

Armenian - "Shenoraavor Nor Dari yev Pari Gaghand"

Basque - Eguberri on

Bohemian - "Vesele Vanoce"

Breton - "Nedeleg laouen na bloavezh mat"

Bulgarian - "Tchestita Koleda; Tchestito Rojdestvo Hristovo"

Chinese - [Mandarin] - "Kung His Hsin Nien bing Chu Shen Tan"

Chinese - [Catonese] - "Saint Dan Fai Lok"

Cornish - "Nadelik looan na looan blethen noweth"

Croatian - "Sretan Bozic i Nova Godina" (Merry Christmas & Happy New Year)

Czech - "Prejeme Vam Vesele Vanoce a stastny Novy Rok"

Danish - "Glædelig Jul"

Dutch - "Vrolijk Kerstfeest en een Gelukkig Nieuwjaar"

Inupiaq Eskimo (Kotzebue area in NW Alaska)-
Quvianagli Anaiyyuniqpaliqsi suli Nakuuluni Ukiutqiutiqsi-
(Merry Christmas) (and) (Happy New Year)

English - "Merry Christmas"

Estonian - "Haid joule ja head uut aastat"

Farsi - "Cristmas-e-shoma mobarak bashad"

Filipino-"Maligayang Pasko"

Happy New Year in Filipino

"Manigong Bagong Taon"

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year in Filipino- "Maligayang Pasko at Manigong Bagong Taon"

Finnish - "Hyvaa joulua"

French - "Joyeux Noël"

German - "Froehliche Weihnachten"

Greek - "Kala Christouyenna"

Hawaiian - "Mele Kalikimaka"

Hebrew - "Mo'adim Lesimkha. Chena tova"

Hindi - "Shub Naya Baras"

Hungarian - "Kellemes Karacsonyi unnepeket"

Icelandic - "Gledileg Jol"

Indonesian - "Selamat Hari Natal"

Iraqi - "Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah"

Irish - "Nollaig Shona Dhuit"

Italian - "Buone Feste Natalizie"

Japanese -" Shinnen omedeto, kurisumasu omedeto.
The first part is translated "Happy New Year.
Kurisumasu omedeto means Merry Christmas.
Japanese people generally add the expression gozaimasu to indicate humility.

Korean - "Sung Tan Chuk Ha"

Latvian - "Prieci'gus Ziemsve'tkus un Laimi'gu Jauno Gadu"

Lithuanian - "Linksmu Kaledu"

Navajo - "Merry Keshmish"

Norwegian - "God Jul"

Pennsylvania German - "En frehlicher Grischtdaag un en hallich Nei Yaahr"

Polish - "Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia"

Portuguese - "Feliz Natal" "Boas Festas"(Good Holidays.)

Romanian - "Craciun fericit" (Merry Christmas), "Sarbatori Fericite" (Happy Holidays) Thanks Julia!

Russian - "Pozdrevlyayu s prazdnikom Rozhdestva s Novim Godom"

Serbian - "Hristos se rodi"

Slovakian - "Sretan Bozic or Vesele vianoce"

Samoan - "La Maunia Le Kilisimasi Ma Le Tausaga Fou"

Scots Gaelic - "Nollaig chridheil huibh"

Serb-Croatian - "Sretam Bozic. Vesela Nova Godina"

Slovak - "Vesele Vianoce. A stastlivy Novy Rok"

Slovene - "Vesele Bozicne. Screcno Novo Leto"

Spanish - "Feliz Navidad"

Swedish - "God Jul and (Och) Ett Gott Nytt År"

Tahitian -Merry Chrismas :" Ia orana te Noera"

and Happy new year is "Ia orana i te mata iti api"

Thai - "Sawadee Pee Mai"

Turkish - "Noeliniz Ve Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun"

Ukrainian - "Z Rizdvom Khrystovym !" - "Merry Christmas"

" Z Novym Rokom !" - "Happy New Year"

"Z Rizdvom Khrystovym i Novym Rokom !" - both greetings together.

Vietnamese - "Chuc Mung Giang Sinh"

Welsh - "Nadolig Llawen"

Yugoslavian - "Cestitamo Bozic"

That about covers it!

Happy new year! I hope to do more with the Ruger and fly fishing this year. ....and writing....beer....KLR650....stain the cabin....whisky.....squirrel hunting.......

I need to take some better pics but there's my 7.5" with adjustable sights. Carry it often at the land. Took a spike 3 years ago. He was on the run at 60 yards. Made a clean head shot after being told I couldn't do it. He took a nose dive and did a flip. Love my roa