The RUGER OLD ARMY Club

ROA Club Members:

286. P61guy 287. OOCM 288. antagony 289. mikegray0422 290. LarsUlmann
291. Buzztail 292. rubberturkey 293. jpg55 294.Trooper Joe 295. Sistema1927
296. Bibbyman 297. pinebough 298. Dohrmc


Welcome pinehough and Dohrmc! :D
 
Last edited:
Trooper Joe said:
Ruger Old Army – back in service
(Also, this is my first post for this club)

I bought this ROA about 10 years ago at a gun show for $250. Mainly I wanted to get it because there was no paper work or registration required in Michigan. Have used it a few times at the range and hunting.


Almost sold it and I am glad I didn’t. Recently, I ordered a Howell 45 cal conversion and one of the Belt Mountain quick change systems. Even though my ROA was made in 1982, the cylinder required no fitting in my gun.


View attachment 960440[/URL
]


Took it to the range yesterday and it worked perfectly with my Silvertip ammo (fired cases almost fell out of the cylinder). Windage was right on and elevation was a little high (easily corrected with this gun).


This RD cylinder and Belt mountain system are perfect for this gun (especially since you have to reload the cylinder out of the gun).


View attachment 960441[/URL
]


View attachment 960442[/URL
]


Here is the photo of my whole ROA family complete with the original C and B cylinder and stock cylinder pin and loading assembly.


View attachment 960443[/URL
]


I just found two boxes of 255 grain, round nose lead ammo at my dealer yesterday. Also, I am going to play around with one of the original Lee basic loaders for a while for both this gun and a new Uberti 1871/72 Open Top in 45 Colt caliber (got to keep the loads for that gun on the lighter side).


Thanks for all you forum members that gave me a lot of encouragement to resurrect this old friend.


(Going to keep my eyes open for a short barrel, fixed sight model, hopefully in blue, without tapping out my home equity loan .)


Trooper Joe
Click to expand...
You haven’t had any problems with the silver tips? I use the cowboy rounds. Were did you get the Belt Mountain system. Thank you and welcome
 
Well, I finally gathered up everything that it takes to shoot the newly acquired ROA. Finding BP was oddly the easiest and .457 balls the hardest. Caps fell some where in between. The lube and wads I made myself.

I have been shooting, reloading, and casting for years but this is my first venture into Black Powder. I do believe I am going to really enjoy this revolver. If I could just find a reasonably priced mold I could turn some of this lead into 457 projectiles. I have a friend who owns a gun shop that had been sitting on several tins of CCI 11 caps. When I bought powder I layed in a good supply so it looks like the balls are going to be the hold up. I don’t think that these 300 are going to last long.
 
T of the W is where I found the balls. I have not been able to find a mold in stock anywhere. I found one in the trading section of one of the forums but after an offer of what a new cost we were unable to agree on a price. My son is a machinist and is trying to fine tune a set of 4 cavity blocks he is making. Maybe what he is building will work out.
 
My Pietta 1858 vs Ruger Old Army, short barrel, fixed sight model

I bought my first 1858 Remington (short barrel model) by Pietta last month. I have two Pietta cap and ball cylinders as well as a new RD conversion cylinder that fits and works perfectly.

I also have an ROA stainless long barrel, adjustable sight model and an RD cylinder that also works great. In addition, I just picked up a blue, full size ROA, unfired, made in 1972 (first year). Recently, I have started a serious search for a short barrel fixed sight ROA in stainless or blue (I am leaning toward the stainless since I just found out that the blued models have an alloy grip frame).

I know that I will probably not pick up the ROA I want for less than $1,500 or so.Today, I was wiping down my 1858 and was again amazed how nice this gun is. Blueing is perfect, locks up tight with all cylinders, and the trigger pull is great compared to my stainless ROA as well as my new blue ROA.

I only paid $300 for my new Pietta 1858 plus $240 for the RD cylinder. I am beginning to think I am going to be careful about paying too much for the short barrel, fixed sights ROA that I want.

I have seen a number of posts comparing the 1858 Remington reproductions vs. the ROA's. I now know what the concerns are about the value of the pricy ROA's vs. the 1858's.


Trooper Joe
 
Old Army is arguably the finest BP percussion ever made. Would not sell mine. In the past I
bought and sold several. This was Bill Ruger's favorite model. He based it upon the
Blackhawk which was based upon the old west Bisley. I have many of Bill Ruger's writings
and published works involving the Old Army including the first ads he ran offering it. It is
not an exact replica but is a close likeness of the 1858 Remington(NMA). This is an important
point under Federal and State law that keeps the Old Army an exempt non-modern
firearm as a percussion ignition revolver. California rates it as a modern firearm because
it is not a perfect replica (a nebulous concept). Well it is arguably a replica of a wild west cowboy
gun. The Feds rate it exempt. The Florida Supreme Court recently interpreted a replica to
be a likeness of an antique and adopted the primitive firing system as the deciding factor.
The Old Army is a close likeness/replica of the old west percussion revolver. See photo below.
Comparing it to the 1858(NMA) Remington. It does not bear a similarity to a Glock!
It should therefore remain an exempt non firearm under the law. (excuse target sights).View attachment 974678
 
ROA Club Members:

286. P61guy 287. OOCM 288. antagony 289. mikegray0422 290. LarsUlmann
291. Buzztail 292. rubberturkey 293. jpg55 294.Trooper Joe 295. Sistema1927
296. Bibbyman 297. pinebough 298. Dohrmc 299. BEEMAX 300. LightninST


Welcome BEEMAX and LightninST! :D
 
Last edited:
Thank you arcticap, for the welcome. I have followed this forum for many years.
The ROA is a "Legacy" item in my view. A timeless beautiful creation that
transcends the ordinary gun. Bill Ruger put his Cowboy passion and love into
the ROA and it was his pride and joy. The ROA radiates Ruger's passion. Thank
you Bill Ruger for blessing us old Cowboys with your lovely work of art.
 
Lightnin ST, My number is 300 but if the forum allows the switch I would be 301, if you want the 300 number. And they allow.I am good with any number. I have been a secret non listed observer member since this got going. I just never cared for being in lights or being public. I am a private type. If that number is important I will switch. I would not know how to do it. BEEMAX

Trooper Joe, Those high polish ROAs with the white grips were made
late in the production history. Many have non target sights and were made for
cowboy action. The are very high price wise. $1400 to $1800 lately. They will
likely not come down since no more production with rising demand. Your thinking about the 1860 is spot on. The new Uberti 1860 stainless is a heart throb for under
$500.
 
Last edited:
BEEMAX said:
Lightnin ST, My number is 300 but if the forum allows the switch I would be 301, if you want the 300 number. And they allow.I am good with any number. I have been a secret non listed observer member since this got going. I just never cared for being in lights or being public. I am a private type. If that number is important I will switch. I would not know how to do it. BEEMAX

Trooper Joe, Those high polish ROAs with the white grips were made
late in the production history. Many have non target sights and were made for
cowboy action. The are very high price wise. $1400 to $1800 lately. They will
likely not come down since no more production with rising demand. Your thinking about the 1860 is spot on. The new Uberti 1860 stainless is a heart throb for under
$500.
Click to expand...

Actually I was discussing a Pietta 1858 not a Uberti 1860. I have a Uberti 1860 and a Uberti 1875 in 44-40 and they also are great guns.

I am getting good a swapping loaded cylinders into my 1858. Not as good as Clint Eastwood in Pale Rider but I am working on it.

Trooper Joe
 
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