Great week for C&B

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BullRunBear

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I posted this on the Muzzlelaoder Forum but wanted to share it here as well.

I picked up a steel frame Pietta 1858 Remington when it was on sale at Cabelas a few months ago. Finally got a chance to shoot it last week. The pistol range was down for maintenance so I had to use a general purpose range where the most appropriate targets were some 6” steel plates at 30 yards. After a couple of sighting shots the next 24 plates went down, with authority. My wife was spotting and said most of the shots hit the same area on the plates. I’ve only used Colt style C&B (except the ROA) and I’m thrilled at the Remington’s performance. Never cared for the grip/balance on the 1858 compared to the Colts but I can’t complain about the results.

A few observations. This gun preferred a 25 gr. charge of FFFG, a home made lubed felt wad and a .454 ball. The Cash snail shaped capper didn’t fit (too wide for the slots) so I had to cap by hand. The size 11 caps worked okay but were a little loose. I’ll try size 10 caps next time.

NOW, I told you that so I could tell you this. :D

I was at a local gun store to get some more .454 round ball for the Remington. I made the mistake of looking in the consignment case and there it was: a blued, 7.5” barrel, adjustable sights Ruger Old Army. It’s a match to my stainless ROA. I asked to see it and the clerk brought it out with the fitted case it was sitting on. The thing is unfired. No line on the cylinder, no rust, the barrel and chambers are pristine as are the nipples. The Ruger website says it was made in 1981. The case contained a Colt style flask, a spare set of nipples, adjustable powder measure, brass bullet mold (all unused), and some other accoutrements.

A real surprise was a container of Eley Bros. percussion caps with a green label stating they were for the Colt patent belt and pocket revolver. It’s an old style label and matches an antique version. I learned that some of the containers were made for Colt signature series in the 1980s and 1990s for a limited run.

The setup looks like a gift was put together for someone to include all the items needed to shoot the ROA. Even the balls were .457, which is what most ROAs require. For some reason the gear was never used.

$425.00 out the door. I would have paid that for an unfired ROA alone. Now I have 2 reasons to get back to the range.

Yeah, a really good week for cap and ball.

Jeff
 
Now that is a great deal.
How much lettering (warning) is on the ROA?
 
1st line on barrel: before using gun - read warnings in instruction manual available free from

2nd line: STURM RUGER & CO. INC., SOUTHPORT, CONN. U.S.A.

The text is on the top of the barrel.

I haven't pulled my stainless model from the safe to compare them. Since I hope to get to the range tomorrow, I'll get it out later today.

Jeff
 
I have one from the early 70s without the warnings, and I was wondering when they started putting the warnings on the guns.
 
Sorry I can't answer your question. The blued model is from 1981 and the stainless I got a few years ago is from 1982 and the warnings match. The instructionmanual is dated 1980. The exploded drawing in it just shows the second line (Sturm Ruger, etc.) not the warning. Must be someone on the Forum who knows for sure.

Jeff
 
What turns me off for the blued rugers is they use cheap alum. frames. Some had brass frames and I've heard of some having steel frames, but have never seen one.
 
Tested with a magnet. This blued model has an aluminum grip frame; my stainless has a steel grip frame. Not sure it matters since the stress of recoil is pretty minimal with cap and ball revolvers. Even a full house load with the ROA feels like a standard power 38 special.

Jeff
 
Why would aluminum grip frames turn anyone off? Ruger used aluminum frames in their Blackhawks and I've never heard of any complaints. I would prefer steel also but aluminum wouldn't bother me in the least...light...strong...non-corrosive (under most circumstances).
 
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