Max loads in an ROA

[AbitNutz]

So I went to the range yesterday and tried my ROA with triple 7, BigLube 155 gr and 210 gr.
Shot so clean it isn't even funny. Accuracy was not bad. I started at 25gr of Triple 7 and 155 gr and went to 30gr (largest powder funnel I had). Then I switched to the 210gr bullet and 30gr of powder. Recoil was significant. Accuracy was OK..
Here's where it looks like this is maximum. I believe I could go 35gr with the 210 but I was experiencing bullet jump. Two of the bullets jumped out enough to jam the cylinder. I'll try it again and make absolutely sure I'm really putting pressure on my loader. But if they continue to jump. I guess that's the max.
The bullets were sized to .454 and had an excellent interference fit when I loaded them.
I would like to try 35gr of Triple 7 if the bullets would stay put.

 

[ClemBert]

It is very common for me to load with 35 grains of 777 with a .457 swagged lead ball. I've shot a few rounds with 40 grains of 777.

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

almost certain a .457 dia slug is required. likely will shoot better too.
I haven't tryed 777 but from reports - maybe I pick up a jug.

 

[ROAshooter]

Abit....I have a question for you.how old is your ROA??.....I ask this because the last one I bought new...I was experincing bullet jump/jaming....I took my calipers and found out.. each chamber was a few thousand larger than the face opening........so the ring of lead being shaved left the ball/bullets undersized for the chambers.......thus the creep and jaming. I used the RCBS case chamfering tool....to gently ream each opening......to the same measurement of the chambers.....still shaved lead.....but the ball/bullet creep no longer happened.....

 

[AbitNutz]

I just got my ROA so it's one of the last ones. It's a 5 1/2 stainless. But you may have exactly the right idea. I have been thinking of doing exactly the same thing. There is clearly one, maybe two cylinders that are tighter than the others and make starting the bullets a real pain. So clearly they are different sizes from one chamber to the other...Great minds think alike! I'm going to check and try that.

Are there any gunsmiths that check and do this kind of thing?
Lee's gunsmithing advertises the following. However they only list the "Plainsman" for Cap & Ball revolvers. I wrote them asking if they could do a "Gunslinger" on my ROI but never got a reply.

GUNSLINGER: (The action job most often selected) custom tune springs, trigger job, custom time and fit hand, handfit and polish action, open forcing cone, true rear barrel face
$125
COWBOY: custom tune springs, trigger Job
$95
PLAINSMAN: (Cap & Ball): custom tune springs, trigger job
$95
.

 

[mykeal]

Any gunsmith who is even remotely familiar with Ruger single action revolvers (such as the Vaquero, Blackhawk, Single Six, etc. etc. etc.) should be able to do the work.

I'm a bit puzzled. What is your goal with all this experimentation? You're concerned about how much powder you can stuff in the chambers, but the only mention of accuracy is 'not bad'. Is the idea to make the most noise and smoke you can, or maximize recoil, or....what?

 

[AbitNutz]

I want to find out everything about this pistol. Most powerful load, most accurate, cleanest burning, with what powder, bullet, roundball, cap...all of it.
There is a certain appeal in knowing you can stuff this thing full of whatever you can find and not worry about blowing yourself up. I've been handloading cartridge pistols for 20 years but never got in to blackpowder....and I think I like it.

Triple 7 shoots cleaner than anything I've tried so far and it's starting to look like the more powerful loads are more accurate than the lighter loads...at least with conical bullets at 25 yards.

And not bad accuracy to me, with my eyes, is 3 inches center to center at 25 yards..I'm not recoil sensitive in anyway. So I'm just learning and having fun.

 

[arcticap]

Here's info. about using the Ruger Old Army for hunting:

http://www.dixieslugs.com/RugerOldArmy1.htm

http://www.dixieslugs.com/RugerOldArmy2.htm

http://www.dixieslugs.com/RugerOldArmy3.htm

 

[mykeal]

I've been shooting black powder for some 35+ years, and the only absolute that's held over that time is that every gun is different. Another one that's been pretty reliable, but not perfect, is that the maximum load is never the most accurate. It should be that the maximum load is very rarely the most accurate.

My ROA's most accurate load is 30 gr fffg real black with a .457 round ball and a lubed felt overpowder wad. That may or may not be the best one for you; that's actually a good thing as you're finding out - you get to experiment and shoot a lot of rounds.

With respect to chamber dimensions: ream them to 0.001 to 0.002 above the rifling groove diameter, which should be 0.452. They'll be close - both of my ROA's have 0.450 chambers.

 

[AbitNutz]

Slightly confused about your recommended cylinder dimensions. You say your ROA's have .450 chambers but you recommend reaming them to .002 above .452? That would be .454...not sure I follow what you're saying.

 

[mykeal]

You want the chamber diameter to be .001 to .002 larger than the rifling groove diameter. If the rifling groove diameter is .452, ream the chambers to .454. Then use a .457 ball. When you load the ball into the chamber it will be swaged to .454, just .002 oversize for the rifling groove, and when fired will fully engage the rifling, leaving no path for gas to escape around the ball.