Ruger Old Army Help

[INDY45]

I have just bought a nice ROA,( HIGH POLISH ) in stainless 7.5 " barrel, What would be a good starting point for my powder charge? What powder do you use? And I believe it is .457 cal. And where would I find a set of extra factory nipples and a factory nipple wrench.Also looking for a extra cylinder. Thanks for any Help Indy45

 

[Put]

Congratulation on getting the Old Army. Mine is my most accurate revolver and I love it. My most accurate charge is 30 grains of FFF. That is just under what the ram will seat so I have to use an extra ball (a smaller one) to help seat the .457 dia ball. It can handle as much of the Holy Black as you can put in the cylinder.

For an extra cylinder use these guys. http://www.classicballistx.com/our_cylinder.html

Also you may want to check out Gun Blast and the new Belt Mountain conversion for the Old Army. http://www.gunblast.com/BeltMtn-OldArmy.htm

 

[VAdoublegunner]

Great revolvers, the best of its kind actually. You will have a ball shooting it.
I have a pair of them, 7.5" SS adj. sights, and it is a blast to fire them both at the same time, CAS gunfighter style.

I only use real black powder, although I have used Pyrodex since I got a couple of free bottles of it. I cast my own .457 roundballs, but either the Hornady or Speer swaged ones work splendidly.

As to load...fill 'er up until you can just seat the ball flush! Why not have fun with them, they are plenty accurate even with full loads. I use 3F Black Powder; a full load runs around 36 grains by volume to keep the ball just under flush. At 38 grains it is a little close to flush. I roll the roundballs in some lube, consisting of a homemade concoction of equal parts beeswax/Spit Ball and a half part paraffin, leaving them with a coating of it before seating them. It eliminates the messier process of overtopping the cylinder with lube but has worked so far to prevent chainfires. Remington #10 Caps seem to work best.

 

[DeletedMember275]

Not sure if Ruger is till making nipples for the Old Army. My understanding is that they are no longer supporting this gun with repair parts. You can, however, buy excellent quality aftermarket nipples from Track of the Wolf. Scroll down about 1/3 of the page.

http://www.trackofthewolf.com/List/Item.aspx/807/2

 

[NorEaster]

I use APP in mine. It measures by volume. I also use standard .454 conical bullets that I would normally use in a .45LC bullet. I arrived at my load in the following manner: took an appropriate size dowel and placed it in the empty cylinder. Marked dowel where the face of the cylinder met it. From that mark measured 1/8" back, then the length of the lead bullet, then the thickness of a wonder wad. Then using a clear plastic Thompson Center powder measure, I placed the dowel in it and pushed the plunger up to were my final mark was. It then gives me the grain reading; but I converted that to the Lee Dipper size that I needed.
I then measure the loads using the Lee dipper and place them into these: http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_100_359&products_id=7713
After I pour the load into them I place the bullet into the load tube and cover it with a wonder wad. I store the loaded tubes in an air-tight container and off the a CAS match I would go.
At the match, squeeze the load tube and dump the wad and bullet into my hand, pour the load into the cylinder, place and seat the wad and bullet. Cap up at the loading table and have a ball.

 

[cagedodger]

While you can get close to 40 grs in an Old Army cylinder chamber and still seat a round ball, IMO it's a waste of powder unless you like really loud bangs and lots of smoke. I find 28-30 grs much more accurate and my powder lasts a lot longer.

I use corn meal as a filler on top of the powder and a pre-lubed felt wad over that. (to soften fouling) The idea is to get the ball at the front of the chamber without leaving an air pocket in the chamber. (very dangerous)

As long as you use .457 round balls, which should shave a ring of lead off the ball as it is seated, there is no need to put grease on or over the ball. Chain fires usually happen from the rear from loose fitting or missing caps.

Prepare to have a new favorite handgun!

Cage

 

[tacklebury]

I know I love mine. ;) I've had a blast the few times I have had it out so far. I have used the same 200gr. and 255gr. conical leads I load in my .45 Colt Blackhawk and .457 RB's with no patch, grease or wads. I can sure make some tin cans fly too. ;)

With the .457 RB's so far, the most accurate load has been 36 gr. FFFg Goex. ;)

 

[Wyandot Jim]

I have just bought a nice ROA,( HIGH POLISH ) in stainless 7.5 " barrel, What would be a good starting point for my powder charge? What powder do you use? And I believe it is .457 cal. And where would I find a set of extra factory nipples and a factory nipple wrench.Also looking for a extra cylinder. Thanks for any Help Indy45

Well I guess you never heard that now ya can buy ready made cartridges :lol: :lol:
Just pushing your leg.
I would go with Treso Nipples. Ruger doesn't sell stock anymore and Treso are about the same price and much better.
I use about 23Gr Goex 3F but I load with press. ROA Rammer will not load that little without a filler. You can also use a 38 cal. bullet to seat the ball with no filler. I also don't use grease. No need for it WITH the type of shooting I do. I also use .454 ball since my chambers are tight enough and easier to load as the fouling builds up.
http://www.jedediah-starr.com/closeup.asp?cid=76&pid=863&offset=0
Mine

 

[UmpquaCharlie]

Nice picture Hawkeye....

 

[Jeff Quinn]

I like to load mine with the cylinder out, using a press. That way, I can go as light or as heavy as I want with the powder charge. I use the Black Dawge press, and have lately been using 777 powder, 2.2cc volume Lee dipper.

 

[dlhredfoxx]

Nice set up Jeff.

 

[Jack Ryan]

While you can get close to 40 grs in an Old Army cylinder chamber and still seat a round ball, IMO it's a waste of powder unless you like really loud bangs and lots of smoke.

Oh yes, I do like, yes I use all the bang powder I can fit in and still let the cylinder turn.

I cast my own bullets and balls and really like the 200 grain REAL bullets from the Lee mold.

A little grease let's you shoot longer/cleaner. When planning an extended shooting session or accuracy focused I'll use pregreased wads under the bullets and a little less powder.

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v521/JackPatrickRyan/Videos%20Mine/?action=view&current=AShootnIrons.mp4

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v521/JackPatrickRyan/Videos%20Mine/?action=view&current=AShootCan.mp4

 

[Rclark]

My load is 40g of FFFg . (I use one of the Lee Dippers that comes close). Currently using Triple-7. Leaves enough room to add some cream of wheat before pressing the ball home. Don't use any grease on the front. Jeff, the dipper works just fine with the cylinder in place... BTW :) .


I have poured in all the powder it can hold and pressed the ball home too. But only charge one chamber when I do. Just for fun! Then back to 40g....


Enjoy!

 

[Wyandot Jim]

I like to load mine with the cylinder out, using a press. That way, I can go as light or as heavy as I want with the powder charge. I use the Black Dawge press, and have lately been using 777 powder, 2.2cc volume Lee dipper.

Yep been using that press for about 8 years and 1000s of rounds for CAS
Jim

 

[INDY45]

Thanks for all the info,I have to find a nipple wrench to take the old ruger nipples out .The gun did not come with factory wrench any suggestions, I will replace with treso nipples but got to get old ones out first :?: :?:

 

[NorEaster]

I have a 3/16" deep drive socket wrench that I use.

 

[Wyandot Jim]

Thanks for all the info,I have to find a nipple wrench to take the old ruger nipples out .The gun did not come with factory wrench any suggestions, I will replace with treso nipples but got to get old ones out first :?: :?:

They are std. hex nut driver size. Just don't remember the size :oops: :oops: .

 

[INDY45]

Thanks go out to Noreaster & Wayndot jim I did not think of that, mind is not clear because I'm so happy with my new pistol. Thanks guys for all the help.

 

[gifford]

Indy 45 - I didn't get a Ruger mipple wrench when I got mine either; I use a Craftsman 3/16" Nut Driver. It's a six sided nut wrench which fits the nipples perfectly. I got five of the six out. The 6th is rounded so it's not coming out. I'll take it as it is though. Use some high speed bearing grease, I got mine from O'Rielys, on the threads and they will come out a lot easier next time. Good luck with yours, I know I sure like mine.

 

[SHOOTER]

Thats sexy as all hell!! :evil: :evil: :evil:

I have just bought a nice ROA,( HIGH POLISH ) in stainless 7.5 " barrel, What would be a good starting point for my powder charge? What powder do you use? And I believe it is .457 cal. And where would I find a set of extra factory nipples and a factory nipple wrench.Also looking for a extra cylinder. Thanks for any Help Indy45

Well I guess you never heard that now ya can buy ready made cartridges :lol: :lol:
Just pushing your leg.
I would go with Treso Nipples. Ruger doesn't sell stock anymore and Treso are about the same price and much better.
I use about 23Gr Goex 3F but I load with press. ROA Rammer will not load that little without a filler. You can also use a 38 cal. bullet to seat the ball with no filler. I also don't use grease. No need for it WITH the type of shooting I do. I also use .454 ball since my chambers are tight enough and easier to load as the fouling builds up.
http://www.jedediah-starr.com/closeup.asp?cid=76&pid=863&offset=0
Mine