New Ruger Old Army – Need help dialing in

[Bumpy Rhodes]

That's what I figured . . .

One thing this place doesn't lack is attitude.

I am waiting for you to help me "grasp HOW the open-top platform works" and educate me "just how genius of a design it really is". I'm just a lowly former engineer, Please finish what you started. Who, knows, you may win me over and help me understand. Thanks!

 

[45D]

I am waiting for you to help me "grasp HOW the open-top platform works" and educate me "just how genius of a design it really is". I'm just a lowly former engineer, Please finish what you started. Who, knows, you may win me over and help me understand. Thanks!

Well, not looking for "converts", didn't say you were a "lowly" engineer, i didn't "start" anything. You said the lack of a top strap bothered you (that's what tipped me off that you didn't "fully" understand the design). I figured you would "appreciate" it once you thought about it.
They had Mechanical engineers in the 1830's /40's that were extremely clever and intelligent as well. It's THEIR design that allows me to operate a copy of their design made with modern materials that can surpass many "top strap" designs (seemingly to the "upset" of many).
In short, i regularly shoot +p ammo in my cartridge converted open-top platform revolvers. A pair of '60's in 45acp and 45C in a pair of Dragoons.
The search function here will get your info.

Mike

 

[Bumpy Rhodes]

Thanks Mike, but I still don't understand the genius of the design, unless you are referring to the limitations of the manufacturing processes of the period. I was hoping you could help me understand. Thanks.

 

[D Yager]

I am on board with Mike on the open top design. If the pistol is set up properly its a very strong platform, more so than the Remington. You have contact with bottom of the arbor socket, the frame area where the wedge fits, the slot where the wedge fits and the two pins and frame area at the bottom of the frame and barrel lug. As long as those places are fitted and kept tight you have a 2 piece unit behaving like it's one chunk of metal. Mike has been shooting +P 45 ACP loads in his guns for a little while now with no problems. For those who are hung up on the Remington top strap being the stronger design take a look at the area where the loading ram goes through the frame and look at the top strap where the sight groove is milled out. Those areas don't look real stout to me.

 

[45D]

Thanks Mike, but I still don't understand the genius of the design, unless you are referring to the limitations of the manufacturing processes of the period. I was hoping you could help me understand. Thanks.

The "compactness" of the frame (the arbor IS the "top strap") along with the size of the pieces involved lend much to the strength of the platform rather than the frame being a "perimeter" fully around the cylinder. The arbor fully seated against the bottom of the arbor hole (in the barrel lug) under tension from the wedge "driven" in to impart and maintain such. This gives a rigid assemblage of the two which now depend on the arbor being screwed into the frame.
If there is a space between the arbor end and the bottom of the arbor hole, the wedge becomes a loose "pin" between two assemblies with opposite forces acting on it (which will eventually need replacing because of).

All of my +p rounds (23Kpsi in 45acp or 45C) use jacketed bullets (230gr for acp's, 250gr. for 45C).
The wedges in all of them are perfect with a minimum round count in the '60's of 2,000.

Mike

 

[45D]

By the way, the end of the arbor contacting the bottom of the arbor hole is what determines the "endshake" (barrel / cylinder "gap").
The fact that ALL makers of these reproduction revolvers left out that impotent little detail ( Pietta saw fit to correct that a dozen yrs ago) is why they have been thought of the way they have been.
The platform, executed as per design, makes quite a bit of difference!!.

Mike