Ruger Old Army

[M. De Land]

So.......

I am still waiting to see the open top even "beefed up" that handles magnum loads from Casull or Linebaugh, until then.....

The open frame is weaker for the same reason a single bolt lug is weaker in center fire rifles, Single sided off set support does not handle pressure as well as opposite two side support with less steel ( arbor with a wedge slot cut in the middle of it) to withstand the thrust pressure. The steel left on either side of the wedge slot in the arbor is far less than is the combined mass of the top strap and lower frame along with it being off set to the thrust vector pressure line.
Think Krag (one lock lug to the rear) as opposed to Springfield ( two lock lugs on opposite sides to the front) bolt guns.
Front lug lock up handles pressure better and flexes the action less than does rear lug lock up support.
The same is true of closed frame design in revolvers.
There is not one magnum level revolver I'm aware of that uses an open frame design and the reason is thrust pressure management.

 

[45D]

So.......

I am still waiting to see the open top even "beefed up" that handles magnum loads from Casull or Linebaugh, until then.....

Folks have been waiting since the '50s for Colt to make a SAA in 44Mag. 2 years ago I took an open-top past the SAA.

Mike

 

[M. De Land]

It's funny the "bug" in your head about "Ruger only " loads being the determining factor for an open-top platform being capable and in some instances being stronger than the top strap equivalent. I've never said anything about them shooting Ruger Only loads ( but I am heading in that direction and they are fine!! Which means, I've already proven my point!).
The 2 sides of the wedge slot doesn't matter a whit as long as the "end fit " is correct and tight . . . that's a main factor in why I can already shoot what I'm shooting. Your understanding of the platform is sorely lacking . . .

Mike

Actually the opposite is the reality !

 

[M. De Land]

Folks have been waiting since the '50s for Colt to make a SAA in 44Mag. 2 years ago I took an open-top past the SAA.

Mike

But not even close to 44 Magum pressure !

 

[45D]

But not even close to 44 Magum pressure !

Never claimed I would.
Just said it was stronger than a Remington cap gun. Turns out it's a lot more than that ( it put the open-top ahead of the Mod. P Colt!! )

 

[Dude]

What do you figure it would take for an open top to handle magnum loads? How much beefier the arbor? Of course the cylinder would need to be enlarged to fit a larger arbor. How much more metal in the frame? The wedge probably would be fine as is.