Ruger old army question

[Onty]

Although cylinder boss on Webley Mk VI revolver serves as retaining feature, to hold cylinder attached on barrel:



It works also as deflector of powder, lead and grease debris from getting into the bore.

Since Mk VI was initially designed as a military black powder firearm, designers took extra measures in case some debris and dirt get into cylinder central hole. To prevent them from clogging revolver, they added spiral groove on cylinder axis, attached to barrel:

 

[armoredman]

Interesting...but honestly the differences in thickness of metal between the ROA and NMA don't really come into play unless I want to max charge it, and right now I am not YET required to depend on my black powder revolvers for lawful self-defense. I will say if the psychos in charge outlaw everything BUT black powder, then I might be starting to get worried and looking for that extra cylinder and such. If I want to carry it while black powder hunting, (don't NEED to, Arizona law states you can carry any firearm you want for defense during any season as long as you do USE it to take game.), as it would be kinda neat to back up the Renegade with the NMA, then I think a good normal stout load would do just fine.
Off to the side, I was told the ROA was actually built to take a load of smokeless powder if someone accidentally loaded it that way, which is why it is so heavily overbuilt. Personally, I like the looks and the solid feel - ever Ruger handgun I ever owned seemed to be built like a tank.

 

[C Younger]

I like the stainless but prefer to shoot the blue. This is high and bright sunshine country and the blue produces less glare. I have the blue model that I fancied up with a brass super blackhawk grip frame.

I like the durability of stainless, but also prefer the looks of blued or color case guns. I live in soggy western Oregon though, so if I can buy stainless, I do.

 

[C Younger]

Interesting...but honestly the differences in thickness of metal between the ROA and NMA don't really come into play unless I want to max charge it, and right now I am not YET required to depend on my black powder revolvers for lawful self-defense. I will say if the psychos in charge outlaw everything BUT black powder, then I might be starting to get worried and looking for that extra cylinder and such. If I want to carry it while black powder hunting, (don't NEED to, Arizona law states you can carry any firearm you want for defense during any season as long as you do USE it to take game.), as it would be kinda neat to back up the Renegade with the NMA, then I think a good normal stout load would do just fine.
Off to the side, I was told the ROA was actually built to take a load of smokeless powder if someone accidentally loaded it that way, which is why it is so heavily overbuilt. Personally, I like the looks and the solid feel - ever Ruger handgun I ever owned seemed to be built like a tank.

I agree that the thickness really doesn’t come in to play for the average shooter. It is nice though to know we own the strongest and most reliable black powder revolver ever produced.

 

[45 Dragoon]

I agree that the thickness really doesn’t come in to play for the average shooter. It is nice though to know we own the strongest and most reliable black powder revolver ever produced.

It comes into play if you want to shoot "fun stuff" with a conversion cylinder though . . .



Mike

 

[doubleh]

I once compared the power of my Old Army shooting all the 4F black I could get in the chambers and seat a round ball even with the chamber mouth and my Super BlackHawk. I shot a 8 X 8 X16 cinder block standing up on end at about 20 yards. The cinder block I shot with the OA resulted in chunks being knocked off but a still standing block after 6 shots. One shot from the SBH resulted in a pile of chunks. The 4F did have enough oomph for a "crack" instead of a "boom" with each shot, the only time I ever got that from a BP revolver. The time frame was back around 1975 before the company I worked for decided carrying firearms around during work time was a bad idea.