Ruger Old Army Loading Tool

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6Gun4Fun

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Hi Everyone! I'm very excited about my loading tool for the Ruger Old Army. I've recently acquired "patent pending" status and will be distributing the first few units to various magazines for review. My prototype was geared towards the Old Army, but with a few tweaks, it can be used with any manufacturer's black powder revolver. I've posted a video of the tool in use on youtube and I'm interested in any feedback you might have. My unit not only acts as a loading tool, there will also be an optional wad cutting attachment.


http://youtube.com/watch?v=iem7LaCAhUs
 

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How is this tool patentably different from the Power tool loader as seen on the "www.curtrich.com" website? (page 3)
 
How is it patenable

It's different from that unit in MANY ways. First off, that unit relies on actual force exerted by the loader. With the off-set links, that force is multiplied and transferred to the ramming rod, so minimal effort is required by the shooter. Secondly, that unit only serves as a ramming mechanism, my unit also has a wad cutting attachment. From a design point of view, that unit is basically a pendulum that hinges from a pivot. One can clearly see the mechanical advantage of my loader.
 
Another aspect where my unit differs from that one is the fact that because of the mechanics of the off-set links, the ball is brought to the same depth in the cylinder bore every time it's used. Consistency is the key here. With my unit, the only variable in the loading process is the amount of powder measured by the loader.
 
the ball is brought to the same depth in the cylinder bore every time it's used. Consistency is the key here. With my unit, the only variable in the loading process is the amount of powder measured by the loader.
Click to expand...

How does it adjust to various powder charges? Is the ram adjustable for length?
 
Yes, sadly Ruger sidelined the Old Army. Bill said that as long as he had anything to do with it the Old Army line would continue. After his death, his son apparently has a different "vision". They are still available, but limited to stock on hand, and the price is going up up up.
I was thinking of adding additional brass ends in 5 10 and 15 grain increments. I have two for the prototype. The one I use most is for a 35 grain charge with a lubed wad (of course I cut my own) and a round ball. I've been giving triple 7 a try for the first time lately, ya get all the smoke without the smell.
 
After his death, his son apparently has a different "vision".
Click to expand...
William B. Ruger Jr. retired in early 2006 and resigned from the board of directors at the same time.
 
Correct. He had no particular role in the decision to discontinue the Old Army. It was strictly an economic decision by a management team committed to making the company profitable. They determined that the time and materials spent on the production line to manufacture the Old Army would be better spent on other guns that made more money.

I don't believe the Old Army will never be built again, but it won't be until the economic conditions in the US change. There was no market for the Old Army overseas, so it's strictly a matter of the US market conditions.
 
On Saturday, July 6, 2002, at age 86, after a period of failing health, Ruger died peacefully at home in Prescott, Arizona.

Ruger is survived by his son William B. Ruger, Jr., who served as the Chairman of the Company until his retirement in 2006; daughter Carolyn R. Vogel; six grandchildren; and ten great-grandchildren.
 
Ruger is survived by his son William B. Ruger, Jr., who served as the Chairman of the Company until his retirement in 2006; daughter Carolyn R. Vogel; six grandchildren; and ten great-grandchildren.
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The decision to discontinue the Old Army (as well as all the aluminum frame P-Series Ruger Autos) seems to have been made since Ruger Jr. retired. The point being while the company's direction has definitely changed, it's not fair to blame Ruger Jr. for the things that have happened at Ruger since he resigned/retired in February of 2006.
 
Thank You Scrat! I wanted to build a tool that would last a lifetime! I did try one of those other flimsy units, which prompted me build this unit.
 
6Gun4Fun said:
I was thinking of adding additional brass ends in 5 10 and 15 grain increments. I have two for the prototype. The one I use most is for a 35 grain charge with a lubed wad (of course I cut my own) and a round ball. I've been giving triple 7 a try for the first time lately, ya get all the smoke without the smell.
Click to expand...

You don't by chance have a 1858 clone do you?
How do you like the 777?

I'm on the list to get the one that Powder Inc. has but I've modified my cheap loading stand to accomodate the 58's cylinder more appropriately & although it works fine for now but I know that eventually it'll fail because it's not well built for the long term.
 
I guts to ask - why do you need the loading tool for the ROA when, to me, the ROA is one of the easiest revolvers to load? The smaller pocket models, Baby Dragoon, 1862 Pocket Police, etc are a pain to load - could this be adapted to those guns?
 
Loaders save wear and tear on the base pin. Comparatively, loading a revolver is difficult and cumbersome in when compared to loading on my loader. Seeing how the "Old Army" is the only BP revolver I currently own, It was logical for me to make a loader for it when I had my idea for the new design. I'm currently working on making modification to make the tool more versatile so it will work with other calibers and manufacturers. I've seen videos on YouTube of guys loading without any kind of loading aid, only to laugh when he's chasing his revolver across the table when trying to ram a bullet home. The bluing on my Old Army ram rod looks as though it has never been used to ram a bullet and I plan on keeping it that way. The wad cutting attachment was a natural adaptation for the tool. When the production model is ready, it will be able to load any make and caliber revolver and still be able to be used as a wad cutter. Any other units out there make that claim?
 
I've been using C&B revolvers for over 25 years & untill recently "about a year to be exact" I've started using a birthday gift which is the cheap loader that I have ATM, but before that I've gotten so used to loading the revolver using it's rammer assembly that it is second nature to me & I usually can get 5 chambers loaded with paper cartridges in just over 1.5 minutes & I never loaded using a table stand either "loading paper cartridges has been a few years for me since I use the rubber pre-loaders from DGW now," although I am a bit slower with loose powder, wad, & ball I just use the loader because I am a bit more in control of the pressure that I exert on the charge than I am with the rammer assembly.
 
Hi Voodoochile! No, I don't have an Remington clone yet, but I've been looking! I like the Triple 7, especially the ballistics that I've seen posted on the internet. I'm geared towards using my Old Army for hunting, well that is to say on ONE of my Old Army's, I have both a blued version with brass trigger guard, and a stainless steel model.
 
There was no market for the Old Army overseas,
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I disagree with this as The ROA is one of the few legal 'handguns' we can have over here, glad I got mine when I did.
 
Sorry, Boom-stick, but you aren't a market. It's certainly true the gun laws in the UK make the ROA desirable, but a few, even a few hundred, fans don't make a market - that takes several thousand. There just were not enough of you.
 
6gun4fun ...you didn`t mention a price for your invention ...the one Powder Inc. sells is spendy at around 64 bucks now ..but I bought one a few years ago ..it`s built like a tank , I doubt I`ll ever wear it out ...It has saved me many a loading lever pin on my Remingtons ..For a few years I was shooting my Remingtons twice a week ..now I`m down to once a month ..but still useing the cylinder loading stand.
 
How much

Here's what I'm proposing. I'll sell the first limited run of units without the wad cutting attachment for $65, if you want the wad cutter it will be an extra $25. I've added elements which allow for adjustments in bullet seating depth.
 
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