Ruger old Army?

[ZVP]

My Buddy offered me the use of his Ruger old Army for as long as I want so I have a lot of learning to do! All I have to do is drive over and pick it up!
I have absolutelly no experience with the ROA.

Can anyone suggest some starting loads to try and then perhaps some preformance loads for it?
Thanks guys,
ZVP

 

[4v50 Gary]

Get a .457 round ball mold. That's the diameter ball recommended by Ruger.
Use 20 grains FFF. They seem to be good for accuracy.

Cap 'n ball starter

 

[J-Bar]

Link to the Old Army instruction manual on Ruger's website:

https://ruger-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/_manuals/oldArmy.pdf

 

[Legionnaire]

I've been shooting 24 grains of 3F with good success. I use a lubed wad between the powder and ball.

 

[robhof]

Be forewarned, the ROA's are addictive; once you try them, you may well become one of us on the ROA fanclub.

 

[Starter52]

+1 to Legionnaire. You should go with a lubed wad between the powder and the ball. I use .457 swaged lead balls (Hornady or Speer) in my Old Army.

 

[MCgunner]

I've yet to find a load that shoots BAD in my ROA. Some loads are better than others and as with my Remmy, 25 grains 777 seems to be the right dose. I like to shoot my Lee cast conicals in mine, though.

 

[AJumbo]

Make sure that your load leaves no air space between the powder charge and the ball. In mine, this seems to be around 25 grains, but it could be more or less in yours. Mine shoots just fine with basically any powder charge. Stick to black powder or any of the BP substitutes and you'll never hurt this revolver.

I use .457 round balls for most shooting, but I also do well with .454s if the charge is kept light.

Be safe, have fun!

 

[MCgunner]

I use corn meal filler cause I'm too cheap to buy lubed wads like oxyoke and too lazy to mess with trying to MAKE 'em. Works for me. Not just not leaving space, but getting the ball up near the mouth of the cylinder, less free bore, helps accuracy.

 

[andrewstorm]

roa

buy one while the market is low now ,cause eventuly your friend will want his back,or make him an offer now and save yourself the trouble,as rob says theyre addictive,and fun,loaded full house or,low power,its the finest percussion pistol ever made.get u one and go have some fun........remember take a kid,shooting,hunting,fishing,camping.hikeing,rockhunting,or other adventuring........youll be glad you did and so will the kid. hunting load-35 gr 777 3f-250 gr lead .454 dia cowboy bullet.

 

[ReloaderEd]

Yes, I have 2 ROA's both have 45 colt conversion cylinders if I want to use them. Loaded with round ball with lube cover or wad they shoot very well. I have to use enlarged grips because of trigger guard bite but other than that I really love them.
I plan to do more bp shooting this next spring. and yes buy the ROA if you can.

 

[MCgunner]

If you don't load it so hot, that trigger guard won't bite.

 

[dprice3844444]

http://www.ruger.com/service/productHistory/RE-OABP.html mfg dates

my 3rd ones enroute

 

[MCgunner]

Hmm, mine's 1982, newer than I'd thought.

 

[robert garner]

ZVP Good friends are a treasure. eyeball your powder till it looks like there is just room for the ball,put in ball, grease over ball(crisco) cap and fire away.
Do your friend right and keep it well cleaned and oiled.
robert

 

[BullRunBear]

You're gonna love it! I have three ROAs (yeah, I know, but they are addictive, worse than Colt C&Bs). All of mine prefer .457 balls. I use 30 grains of 3F powder, a homemade lubed felt wad (I'm too cheap to buy commercial wads) and the ball. But I started out at 20 grains and worked up until I found the load my guns liked.

Keep it cleaned and lubed and the ROA will last for generations. You have a great friend if he's willing to lend this beauty.

Jeff