Ruger Old Army
- Thread starter SHOOTER
- Start date
Made from '72 to 2008 officially. They did a clean up run about a year and a half ago.
They are the best percussion revolver that one could hope for. They were one of Bill Rugers favorite projects. They are super strong and reliable and it's a shame that they stopped making them. Prices are continuing to climb for good used ones. You will mostly find the adjustable sighted 7.5" barreled model, either stainless or blued, when you go looking for them. Towards the end of their production they did make them in a fixed sighted version. They also made them in a 5.5" barreled version as well. The fixed sighted version is now highly sought after and what I am looking for in a blued model. There is a forum member who has a very rare 5.5" adjustable sighted model. Maybe he will chime in. The ones that I have had the pleasure of shooting are super accurate.
Of all the different guns that Ruger has made and dropped over the years, this is the one that I wish that they would bring back.
They are the best percussion revolver that one could hope for. They were one of Bill Rugers favorite projects. They are super strong and reliable and it's a shame that they stopped making them. Prices are continuing to climb for good used ones. You will mostly find the adjustable sighted 7.5" barreled model, either stainless or blued, when you go looking for them. Towards the end of their production they did make them in a fixed sighted version. They also made them in a 5.5" barreled version as well. The fixed sighted version is now highly sought after and what I am looking for in a blued model. There is a forum member who has a very rare 5.5" adjustable sighted model. Maybe he will chime in. The ones that I have had the pleasure of shooting are super accurate.
Of all the different guns that Ruger has made and dropped over the years, this is the one that I wish that they would bring back.
22/45 Fan
Hunter
Any idea why they were discontinued? I realize companies don't stop making profitable and good selling products but it seems to me the OA was dropped just as Cowboy Action Shooting was getting hot and i would have thought the demand would have been very high.
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contender
Ruger Guru
The ROA's are in a class by themselves. If you try & put together a collection of all the variations,, you'd be looking at around 30-35 different ones. (Off the top of my head guess!)
While they are one of the best ever made BP handguns,, for the factory, they were slow sellers. But, as noted, it's easy for them to bring them back anytime.
If you really want to learn about them, you need the RENE guide.
While they are one of the best ever made BP handguns,, for the factory, they were slow sellers. But, as noted, it's easy for them to bring them back anytime.
If you really want to learn about them, you need the RENE guide.
flatgate
Hawkeye
Ruger made a few with brass grip frames prior to the barrel length option. Stainless versions were also produced.
All utilized Ruger's .45 cal. Blackhawk barrels. As stated in this thread, there are a bunch of
variations. Way more than what my measly collection contains...... :shock:
flatgate
All utilized Ruger's .45 cal. Blackhawk barrels. As stated in this thread, there are a bunch of
variations. Way more than what my measly collection contains...... :shock:
flatgate
Although the .457" ball is the recommended diameter, the .453" ball will also work. It's a great gun that Ruger just couldn't afford to make anymore. If they started making them again it would cost as much as a Blackhawk or Redhawk.
Yea I kind of like them :wink:
They started off being called 44s as most all Cap & Ball guns were known. The reason is they went by the drill size for the barrel rather than the grove size. Changed when central/center fire came along. I use .454 balls rather than the .457s. Easier to load as the fouling in the cylinder builds.
The story I heard was as long as Mr. Bill was alive they would produce ROAs. Well ya see what happened.
Yes a few 5 1/2" fixed sights have gone for $1000-1100 on auction. If ya want one ya got to pay for it.
Jim
These started life as 7 1/2" blued guns. :wink:
They started off being called 44s as most all Cap & Ball guns were known. The reason is they went by the drill size for the barrel rather than the grove size. Changed when central/center fire came along. I use .454 balls rather than the .457s. Easier to load as the fouling in the cylinder builds.
The story I heard was as long as Mr. Bill was alive they would produce ROAs. Well ya see what happened.
Yes a few 5 1/2" fixed sights have gone for $1000-1100 on auction. If ya want one ya got to pay for it.
Jim
These started life as 7 1/2" blued guns. :wink:
