madcratebuilder
Member
Adequate storage room is my biggest problem, followed closely by money.
Old Army Rugers--A Question or Two
- Thread starter Montana Billy
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Adequate storage room is my biggest problem, followed closely by money.
Fiveshooter
Member
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2002
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- 169
Ruger Old Army
I like the Ruger Old Army revolvers.
No...they don't balance as well as a Remington 1858 or a Colt 1851.
The weight of a 7.5" barreled adjustable site Old Army is 2 pounds 14 ounces.
The advertised weight of the reproduction Walker can vary from 4 pounds 4 ounces to 4 pounds 8 ounces.
That being said I can't see how anyone that claims to like a Walker can complain about the weight or balance of an Old Army.
The total production of the original Walker was only 1,100 guns. One would think if it had a viable market there would be a much higher number manufactured.
No question it was the most powerful production revolver of it's day and as far as "production" percussion revolvers it could still claim that title even today.
I have read claims of astonishing accuracy on this board in reference to certain specimens of replica Walkers. Obviously if the original Walkers were known for this it went unappreciated in it's time or more should have been made and sold.
Without question the little 5.5" ROA has the best balance of all the ROA models.
No... The Old Army can't compare with the power of a Walker at least the way it comes out of the box. If you are willing to spend a few dollars you can add a considerable amount of power just by having the chambers bored deeper and shooting a heavy conical over 777.
If you want to go full custom it can be made to outclass the Walker in power but you will have to get it done with 5 shots instead of 6.
I have a .50 caliber (actually .485) ROA that does quite well in both the power and accuracy department.
http://imageevent.com/fiveshooter/ccgoa
Of course a Walker could be converted to a custom 5 shot in a larger caliber as well but I would question the strength of the frame design and softer steel used in the frame of the Italian replicas for such a conversion.
Open top revolver designs were never known for their strength to begin with.
I have seen a stretch frame ROA left in it's original caliber that would hold more powder than a Walker. I never did see any data on how it performed though.
I have several ROAs and all the ones with adjustable sites have had at least a front sight blade change to allow enough adjustments to shoot conical bullets.
I shoot only RB out of the 5.5" fixed sight models.
All of them shoot very well.
No...it's not a replica of anything nor have I ever heard a claim from Ruger that it was.
I do think it is "historically correct" as it is an "original" in it's own right.
I know some people will never warm up to them but they are great guns and very well made.
I have a few Italian replicas that shoot well. All of them suffer from soft metal and seem to wear a bit faster than I would like.
I have one 58 Remington that has proven very accurate.
They all have their place and they are all fun. Buy what you like and shoot what you like.
I like the Ruger Old Army revolvers.
No...they don't balance as well as a Remington 1858 or a Colt 1851.
The weight of a 7.5" barreled adjustable site Old Army is 2 pounds 14 ounces.
The advertised weight of the reproduction Walker can vary from 4 pounds 4 ounces to 4 pounds 8 ounces.
That being said I can't see how anyone that claims to like a Walker can complain about the weight or balance of an Old Army.
The total production of the original Walker was only 1,100 guns. One would think if it had a viable market there would be a much higher number manufactured.
No question it was the most powerful production revolver of it's day and as far as "production" percussion revolvers it could still claim that title even today.
I have read claims of astonishing accuracy on this board in reference to certain specimens of replica Walkers. Obviously if the original Walkers were known for this it went unappreciated in it's time or more should have been made and sold.
Without question the little 5.5" ROA has the best balance of all the ROA models.
No... The Old Army can't compare with the power of a Walker at least the way it comes out of the box. If you are willing to spend a few dollars you can add a considerable amount of power just by having the chambers bored deeper and shooting a heavy conical over 777.
If you want to go full custom it can be made to outclass the Walker in power but you will have to get it done with 5 shots instead of 6.
I have a .50 caliber (actually .485) ROA that does quite well in both the power and accuracy department.
http://imageevent.com/fiveshooter/ccgoa
Of course a Walker could be converted to a custom 5 shot in a larger caliber as well but I would question the strength of the frame design and softer steel used in the frame of the Italian replicas for such a conversion.
Open top revolver designs were never known for their strength to begin with.
I have seen a stretch frame ROA left in it's original caliber that would hold more powder than a Walker. I never did see any data on how it performed though.
I have several ROAs and all the ones with adjustable sites have had at least a front sight blade change to allow enough adjustments to shoot conical bullets.
I shoot only RB out of the 5.5" fixed sight models.
All of them shoot very well.
No...it's not a replica of anything nor have I ever heard a claim from Ruger that it was.
I do think it is "historically correct" as it is an "original" in it's own right.
I know some people will never warm up to them but they are great guns and very well made.
I have a few Italian replicas that shoot well. All of them suffer from soft metal and seem to wear a bit faster than I would like.
I have one 58 Remington that has proven very accurate.
They all have their place and they are all fun. Buy what you like and shoot what you like.
Last edited:
Dixie Slugs
Member
Interesting indeed! I have just finished a 5 part writeup on the ROA....which covers testing a 7 1/2" Pre-Warning and 5 1/2" hand selected gun. They were tested with roundballs and conicals in the percussion cylinder and with hard cast conicals loaded in the 45 Colt in a Kirsh cylinder. I used Tripple 7 and Black Mag 3 vs standard blackpowder. 37.5 grs of Triple 7 and a 205 gr hard cast .452" bullet gave over 1000'/" in the Kirsh cylinder....with excelent accuracy!
All this was aimed at having a dependable precussion revolver as backup while hunting true wild hogs during blackpowder season.
I am not going to get into a peeing contest over replica guns vs the ROA. I am convinced that the ROA is the highest level of development of the percussion revolver though.
I have no interest in Cowboy Shooting, playing Josy Wales, or whatever.
I will not advertise where those writeups are posted since they are on another webpage. Anyone interested can contact me at [email protected] and I will give them the location.
Regards, James
All this was aimed at having a dependable precussion revolver as backup while hunting true wild hogs during blackpowder season.
I am not going to get into a peeing contest over replica guns vs the ROA. I am convinced that the ROA is the highest level of development of the percussion revolver though.
I have no interest in Cowboy Shooting, playing Josy Wales, or whatever.
I will not advertise where those writeups are posted since they are on another webpage. Anyone interested can contact me at [email protected] and I will give them the location.
Regards, James
Smokin_Gun
Member
Hell Jim post it here save yourself all that work after diligently completing a 5 part write up...just post a hyperlink that shouldn't get anyones panties in a bunch.
Or better yet you can post the address on my Forum ifin you like.
http://www.voy.com/60048/ and you are welcome to do so there anytime.
Smokin_Gun Forum owner and Admin...
Or better yet you can post the address on my Forum ifin you like.
http://www.voy.com/60048/ and you are welcome to do so there anytime.
Smokin_Gun Forum owner and Admin...
BHP FAN
Member
I've had three,sold one for genuine finacial distress and the other two for ''new toys'' [Cowboy guns] but I certainly have nothing against them,and will probably score another if I live long enough.
Dixie Slugs
Member
Smokin_Gun
Member
Thanks Dixie Slugs and 4v50Gary...
madcratebuilder
Member
James, excellent write up on the hunting loads for the ROA. Welcome to the forum.
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