ROA number 11’s

[Dexterado]

FYI, for any new Ruger Old Army owners. If you’re shopping for caps, I have discovered that about 40% of the time it takes two hammer strikes on CCI number 11 caps. I ran out of 10’s, so I bought 1,000 CCI 11’s, and tried them for the first time today. I’ve never had that happen with number 10’s, so thought I’d pass it along. The 11’s work fine on my Colt replicas.

 

[KingOfKindling]

Sounds like the CCI #11's aren't seating all the way on the nipples. Lots of things can make this happen, and it can happen with any cap size or manufacturer. Size on the nipples could be a bit big to start with, or the nipple ends could be a bit mushroomed. Should be easily solved by making sure the caps are fully seated.

I generally seat all my caps with a piece of dowel rod with 45 degree cut on the end. If clearance allows, something like a sharpie pen works in a pinch. Just push the cap on with your chosen tool until it's fully seated.

 

[Smokerr]

We have two guys who can tell you if its an ROA issue. I flip them equally as I can, so Mike aka 45D and D Yager. Both repair and tune guns. D Yager is building his business so can turn things around faster than Mike. Both are tops in my book.

So, FWIW:

I had CCI 11s for a while on two ROA (now one). Worked as good as anything (Rem 11s)

In fact, in 3 years of shooting BP now (not a long time) I have yet to see a 10.

The 58 NMA of the 76 era my wife gave me came with CCI 11 and RWS 1075. Both shot fine, the RWS1075 fit right. As I recall I have to pinch the 111 a bit.

One possible is your hammer to Cone space is a tad off. ROA are not perfect guns which seems odd from being a modern Ruger product. Often the bolt lift (hope I said that right) needs adjusting. I got modern RS1075s now, good fit, fire fine in ROA and 47 Walker (as well as fit 47 Walker no pinch)

Mine the trigger where it interfaces with the hammer (not sure which is sear) broke off the last tang. Now it won't release the hammer if I hold it back to do a slow release .

Our range rules require the cylinder to be out so if I get caught out with having just cocked it, the only way to drop hammer is to fire it. Cease fire means stop and it can be for reasons other than the timer says its time. So they do not like a post shot cease fire.

So I do not shoot it when we are getting close to the timer expiring (cease fire every 15 minutes).

Different cones may correct.

Long way of saying they can have problems, love the gun but I have been surprised these kind of issues on a modern built gun. Italians have their low cost factor, so while modern guns the quality is not always there. Ruger you do not expect.

I would find it very annoying. Also check to be sure you do not have something in the hammer face or the action.

 

[extreme_fudd]

FYI, for any new Ruger Old Army owners. If you’re shopping for caps, I have discovered that about 40% of the time it takes two hammer strikes on CCI number 11 caps. I ran out of 10’s, so I bought 1,000 CCI 11’s, and tried them for the first time today. I’ve never had that happen with number 10’s, so thought I’d pass it along. The 11’s work fine on my Colt replicas.

I mostly just use CCI 11's. I could never easily get CCI 10's to fit my stock Ruger nipples (the caps are too small in diameter). I have about 99% success with ignition on the first try. I do insure that my caps are fully seated by pressing them with a wooden dowel.

 

[D Yager]

I've found the that CCI #11 caps like a nipple that is .165 to .170 in diameter at the halfway point up the side of the cone. This gives a firm fit and they go bang very reliably. If the nipples on your pistol are fatter at the halfway point than the measurement above you can chuck the nipple in a hand drill and turn them down using a diamond file from Harbor Freight. I shoot #11 CCI caps on both of my ROAs with no issues.

 

[Dexterado]

Sounds like the CCI #11's aren't seating all the way on the nipples. Lots of things can make this happen, and it can happen with any cap size or manufacturer. Size on the nipples could be a bit big to start with, or the nipple ends could be a bit mushroomed. Should be easily solved by making sure the caps are fully seated.

I generally seat all my caps with a piece of dowel rod with 45 degree cut on the end. If clearance allows, something like a sharpie pen works in a pinch. Just push the cap on with your chosen tool until it's fully seated.

Yes, I always do, but it didn’t help with these 11’s. 10’s no problem.

 

[Dexterado]

I've found the that CCI #11 caps like a nipple that is .165 to .170 in diameter at the halfway point up the side of the cone. This gives a firm fit and they go bang very reliably. If the nipples on your pistol are fatter at the halfway point than the measurement above you can chuck the nipple in a hand drill and turn them down using a diamond file from Harbor Freight. I shoot #11 CCI caps on both of my ROAs with no issues.

It’s factory nipples, and I have no way of measuring, but that sounds logical.

 

[KingOfKindling]

Yes, I always do, but it didn’t help with these 11’s. 10’s no problem.

Interesting. Never seen that happen when things are properly seated unless you've got excessive hammer face to nipple distance or a crapped out mainspring.

You should grab yourself a set of cheap calipers and feeler gauges. Even cheap stuff helps out a ton when trying to diagnose just about anything mechanical.

 

[extreme_fudd]

Are you sure that they are stock nipples?

 

[D Yager]

Interesting. Never seen that happen when things are properly seated unless you've got excessive hammer face to nipple distance or a crapped out mainspring.

You should grab yourself a set of cheap calipers and feeler gauges. Even cheap stuff helps out a ton when trying to diagnose just about anything mechanical.

Agreed in full, these pistols are just pieces of machinery, they ain't rockets or airplanes. You can get basic measuring tools and diamond coated files at the local Harbor Freight for about 30.00 bucks. I will be more than happy to help out with showing how and what to measure.

 

[rodwha]

FYI, for any new Ruger Old Army owners. If you’re shopping for caps, I have discovered that about 40% of the time it takes two hammer strikes on CCI number 11 caps. I ran out of 10’s, so I bought 1,000 CCI 11’s, and tried them for the first time today. I’ve never had that happen with number 10’s, so thought I’d pass it along. The 11’s work fine on my Colt replicas.

Same with Ram #11s for me

 

[bpd303]

the RWS1075 fit right. As I recall I have to pinch the 111 a bit.

I have used RWS 1075+ caps on all my guns and they fit just fine. The only gun I had to size the cones for is my Withers O/U mule ear side lock rifle/smooth bore. A friend said a lot of the old originals used #12 caps that haven't been made in decades. Like D Yager said it's easy to chuck a cone in a drill and turn it down for a good fit.

 

[Taevers]

Dex,
Rws 1075 are even worse than #11’s on my ROA. The worse. And I only bought 500 of em. So I ain’t howling as loud as you. 10 Remingtons fit like an angel made em for it. You and I both can get em used up with cap rifles though.

 

[TFoley]

I'm still shooting my ROA with the original nipples from 1986. Average outing seems to be around 60 shots, and I use it every month. That's a lot of shooting right there, and with Remington #11 caps from the off. I'm now down to around a thousand.....quite what I'll do when they are gone is a question I'm not sure I want to know the answer to.

 

[Maven]

Fwiw, I had the same problem as the OP with both original and Uncle Mike's nipples. I then changed to Slix Shot nipples and the gun became 100% reliable.

 

[Taevers]

Fwiw, I had the same problem as the OP with both original and Uncle Mike's nipples. I then changed to Slix Shot nipples and the gun became 100% reliable.

That’s helpful Maven. This day and age we need all the arrows we can get in the quiver. I have 1200 #11 caps coming to Alaska. Have to have something for lighting up powder.

 

[Blackpowderart]

Buy a set of slixxshots and shoot any cap you want. 40 bix is worth it in my opinion. But then I buy replacement nipples before the gun ever gets shipped so it's a no brainer.

 

[Dexterado]

Are you sure that they are stock nipples?

Yes, I bought this new at bass pro many years ago, and I never replaced them. It’s worked flawlessly until I got these CCI caps. It worked great with the RWS 11 caps, it just doesn’t like the CCI.

 

[Dexterado]

Dex,
Rws 1075 are even worse than #11’s on my ROA. The worse. And I only bought 500 of em. So I ain’t howling as loud as you. 10 Remingtons fit like an angel made em for it. You and I both can get em used up with cap rifles though.

Yeah, the work fine with my Colt replicas.

 

[FredS]

I can only find CCI #11's in my area so I ordered the Slix shot nipples for my ROA. Just waiting for a break in the weather to try it out. According to the Slix Shot website, the nipples are designed for CCI #11's. They fit nice on the nipples, but haven't shot it as yet.