Ruger Old Army?

[Kansas Jake]

It seems the only question you need to answer is, do you hate the 1858 Remington because of the black powder aspect and clean up or because of how it functions? If it the functioning of that gun and not black powder in general then you would probably enjoy the Ruger.

 

[TFoley]

Got two. Love em.

I've only got one - bought on my birthday in 1986. The original nipples lasted until about two years ago - the first time out after lockdown was lifted - two just broke the cones off....

I'll be shooting it tomorrow!

 

[Whughett]

Just my opinion and it seems to vary depending on who’s posting, but the Rugers cylinder will run all day whereas the Remy, or at least the four I own will start to stall after a few cylinders. Granted it’s a quick fix with the base pin being so easy to pull out and wipe down, but even then wait too long and that’s a chore to slide out.
After the ROA for accuracy and run time it’s the Rogers and Spencer’s. But when it’s range time the Colt open tops generally wind up going. They are just so darn pretty and attention getters.

 

[M. De Land]

Will the Ted Cash snail capper work on the Ruger?

The cap fence needs opening a bit in my opiion for easy Ted Cash snail capper use but the inline capper works OK and is what I use.

 

[Festus]

It seems the only question you need to answer is, do you hate the 1858 Remington because of the black powder aspect and clean up or because of how it functions? If it the functioning of that gun and not black powder in general then you would probably enjoy the Ruger.

To be honest, one thing I don't like about the Remington is capping it. I should grind the notches so a capper will fit in there. I think Mike Beliveau did one on one of his videos. I enjoy the Colts much better. As I have said before, black powder is here to stay, that smokeless powder is nothing more than a fad.

 

[M. De Land]

Just my opinion and it seems to vary depending on who’s posting, but the Rugers cylinder will run all day whereas the Remy, or at least the four I own will start to stall after a few cylinders. Granted it’s a quick fix with the base pin being so easy to pull out and wipe down, but even then wait too long and that’s a chore to slide out.
After the ROA for accuracy and run time it’s the Rogers and Spencer’s. But when it’s range time the Colt open tops generally wind up going. They are just so darn pretty and attention getters.

My ROA Centenial model in blue finish shoots pretty well in factory persuasion except for the trigger job but my 58 Pietta which has seen a major rebuild will out group it. Course it has been line reamed, had the forcing cone re-cut and the barrel lapped.
Actually a tuned up 1860 can give them both a run for their money in grouping ability which I at one time would not have believe possible.
The main issue with the 60s is the poorer sight design which has a harder time realizing the accuracy potential.

 

[M. De Land]

My ROA Centenial model in blue finish shoots pretty well in factory persuasion except for the trigger job but my 58 Pietta which has seen a major rebuild will out group it. Course it has been line reamed, had the forcing cone re-cut and the barrel lapped.
Actually a tuned up 1860 can give them both a run for their money in grouping ability which I at one time would not have believe possible. The main issue with the 60s is the poorer sight design that has a harder time realizing the accuracy potential.

 

[user 51067]

I'm up to twelve of them (and counting) if that's any indication of how much I like them!

 

[TFoley]

I'm up to twelve of them (and counting) if that's any indication of how much I like them!

Why twelve? One is enough for most folks...that's just plain greedy. No wonder they are hard to find in the US of A. Our local gunstore has SEVEN for sale. Three of them unfired, too.

 

[Woody Morgan]

My ROA Centenial model in blue finish shoots pretty well in factory persuasion except for the trigger job but my 58 Pietta which has seen a major rebuild will out group it. Course it has been line reamed, had the forcing cone re-cut and the barrel lapped.
Actually a tuned up 1860 can give them both a run for their money in grouping ability which I at one time would not have believe possible.
The main issue with the 60s is the poorer sight design which has a harder time realizing the accuracy potential.

Can you imagine what a tuned ROA might be capable of?

wm

 

[Valkyriemc]

Why twelve? One is enough for most folks...that's just plain greedy. No wonder they are hard to find in the US of A. Our local gunstore has SEVEN for sale. Three of them unfired, too.

I'm curious as to the gun store prices on the ROA's, do you recall??

 

[TFoley]

I'm curious as to the gun store prices on the ROA's, do you recall??

Yup. The three unfired are £650 each. The other three are between £450-500. One is a Vaquero model in blue.

 

[Erwan]

I'm curious as to the gun store prices on the ROA's, do you recall??

In Absurdistan for a used one :

And the cherry on the cake :

That means :
"" Weapon of category B, subject to authorization, ID, valid shooting license and the original of each of the two parts of the prefectural authorization of category B required. "
So if you buy one or more S&W model 29 or one or more (more than one you can't) ROA this is the same : weapon authorization mandatory and issued by the authorities, even just to buy...... and also to save it in the bathroom cabinet...

 

[MSW]

it doesn't fill my hand as well as my colt 1860, but it's what i keep for things that go bump in the night.

 

[springfield art]

Seems a pretty consistent sentiment! I have 4 and they're all tack drivers. All mine have conversion cyls of course but they are amazing shooters! One rides with me in my car at all times!
My Dragoons will group better but I've had much more practice with them!

Mike

I had a Walker once that I got cheap; but it was so heavy!! Almost couldn't give it away, no one wanted it! I'd get a Dragoon if I wanted a large revolver. I'm happy with 1860's & 1851's.

 

[TFoley]

In Absurdistan for a used one :
View attachment 144662

And the cherry on the cake :

View attachment 144665
That means :
"" Weapon of category B, subject to authorization, ID, valid shooting license and the original of each of the two parts of the prefectural authorization of category B required. "
So if you buy one or more S&W model 29 or one or more (more than one you can't) ROA this is the same : weapon authorization mandatory and issued by the authorities, even just to buy...... and also to save it in the bathroom cabinet...

To be honest, I'm not sure whether you are saying that it is a problem to buy it or not, as you mention that it is classed the same as a cartridge-firing handgun like a Model 29. Here in UK we are so used to having replica firearms classed the same as any modern firearm that it's a 'so-what'?

We can legally walk into a dealer and buy a hundred genuine antique revolvers and take them home. But we are NOT permitted to shoot them.

If we want to shoot ANY antique firearm, then it is dependant on you having a Firearms Certificate, and having that firearm registered on it. And how to get a Firearms Certificate? That, mon vieux, is entirely a different subject......

 

[springfield art]

To be honest, I'm not sure whether you are saying that it is a problem to buy it or not, as you mention that it is classed the same as a cartridge-firing handgun like a Model 29. Here in UK we are so used to having replica firearms classed the same as any modern firearm that it's a 'so-what'?

We can legally walk into a dealer and buy a hundred genuine antique revolvers and take them home. But we are NOT permitted to shoot them.

If we want to shoot ANY antique firearm, then it is dependant on you having a Firearms Certificate, and having that firearm registered on it. And how to get a Firearms Certificate? That, mon vieux, is entirely a different subject......

Interesting to read how other countries' experiences play out. Here in US, can receive ML guns as just any merchandise, except for some States, like NJ, CA, NY, etc., even though muzzleloaders are hard to use in crime!

 

[user 53713]

My question is: Are they worth it? I have several Ruger unmentionables and love them. I have a 1858 Rem clone and hate it. The Ruger reminds me of the Remington and I am starting to wonder if I would use one if I bought it. I have wanted one since I was a kid, but never bought one for some reason. Can I get an opinion from the guys who like the Colts, if you like the Ruger?

 

[user 53713]

https://images.proxibid.com/AuctionImages/3777/150514/FullDetail/909.jpg
I have something like this, but no blackpowder cylinder...

 

[M. De Land]

Can you imagine what a tuned ROA might be capable of?

wm

Yes, all the right stuff is their to make match ready guns out of them and they are by far the strongest percussion revolvers I know of ! I have seen some Rugers that had alignment issues and virtually all of them need a good trigger job and many have tight bores under the frame threads.
I once, many years ago, did a trigger job on a Super Black Hawk that was horribly out of line with the barrel/chamber co-axis and I was sure it would both be inaccurate and spit lead. The surprise was it grouped nicely and did not spit, go figure , an example of a printed theory that did not prove to be universally true in real life.
Only thing I could guess is that all the chambers were equally misaligned but why it didn't spit I never could find an answer for, perhaps the forcing cone was cut deeper and wider than normally would be.
I didn't have a range rod at the time to check it but I'm quite sure it would not have chambered through the bore.
Another theory I at one time adhered to was that a rough and some times pitted bore could not be accurate. Boys, it ain't necessarily so ! If the rifling is strong , the crown square and the bore is level, it probably will shoot as good as when new.
I learned a great deal about barrel enteriors after acquiring a Hawkeye bore scope, set of plug gauges and began to hand lap barrels with poured lead slugs. I had to unlearn a few things that was in print about rifled bores and viewed as absolute.