Ruger Old Army?

[Colonial Boy]

I loved my Old Army and shot it a lot in competition and just shooting targets for the fun of it.
It was a bit heavy though and I machined half a pound off or if.

I posted this some years ago but the photo is no longer there.
As you can see the barrel was machined octagonal, cylinder fluted and a new and stronger cylinder axis pin also let the trigger guard into the frame and improved the trigger pull at the same time without any work on the trigger/scear.
This is a photo of a photo and I had to get rid of the pistol when i moved to an area where there was no pistol club as target shooting is the only reason for ordinary folk to have a licence in this ‘enlightened’ country.
It got christened “The Rugington” by fellow club members.

 

[Ninering62]

I loved my Old Army and shot it a lot in competition and just shooting targets for the fun of it.
It was a bit heavy though and I machined half a pound off or if.View attachment 145996
I posred this some years ago but the photo is no longer there.
As you can see the barrel was machined octagonal, cylinder fluted and a new and stronger cylinder axis pin also let the trigger guard into the frame and improved the trigger pull at the same time without any work on the trigger/scear.

It got christened “The Rugington” by fellow club members.

Very nicely done

 

[Colonial Boy]

I just went back to my original post on this pistol and the photo has magically reappeared.

Here’s the photo/photo that I posted in 2005., looks a bit better without the bit of paper over Fotobucket’s promo.
One big improvement was that I cut away the frame so that a ball that couldn’t be seated properly and was standing proud of the cylinder could be rotated out where it was easy to remove it.
I tended to use full loads so sometimes a bit to much powder got in there.

 

[Coinneach]

Atta boy! Get them making smoke!


This! I just sold my second last adjustable sighted Ruger. Bleh. Those sights are all wrong. I’m considering a much lower profile hunting adjustable for the other one problem is it’s going to cost significantly more money…

Theres more than a few of them over here being offered for sale, one has to conclude that others are getting rid of them for good reason.
Maybe I'm some kind of freak but I I shoot far better with the older conventional ML sights, then again my "new eyes" sans cataracts afford this ol guy that privileged ability to do so.

 

[Bad Karma]

Theres more than a few of them over here being offered for sale, one has to conclude that others are getting rid of them for good reason.
Maybe I'm some kind of freak but I I shoot far better with the older conventional ML sights, then again my "new eyes" sans cataracts afford this ol guy that privileged ability to do so.

I like hearing that! I’m in line for cataract curgery… nervous cause, well hell, you know. I have excellent vision in broad daylight.

 

[TFoley]

Frankly I cant abide the modern day chunked up sights on Cap and Ball revolvers, it makes them difficult to draw from a Holster and IMHO discredits any challenge in the sense of an appreciation for authenticity.
I'm not trying to damn anyone here for their own preferences, but even at 70 years old I like the challenge of shooting authentic forearms; fortunately I've had Eye cataracts removed and synthetic lenses installed that make life reasonably easier.

The Ruger Old Army 'Vaquero' version has correct sights as per old-style BP revolvers - check it out to see I don't lie.

It's true that the ROA DOES have a non-trad chunky foresight and definitely non-trad micrometer rear sights, but anyone interested in buying one must already know that. at least, I would have thought so.

 

[Whughett]

Theres more than a few of them over here being offered for sale, one has to conclude that others are getting rid of them for good reason.
Maybe I'm some kind of freak but I I shoot far better with the older conventional ML sights, then again my "new eyes" sans cataracts afford this ol guy that privileged ability to do so.

Given the condition of those offered I’d hazard a guess $$’s figure more into equation then shoot ability. JMO. In my hands they shoot better than I can hold, a fact proven every time I shoot one along side a friend shooting his. Identical stainless basic ROA’s.

Additional thoughts. The ROA is what Sam Colts 1873 would have been had he the technology to do so.

 

[Coinneach]

The Ruger Old Army 'Vaquero' version has correct sights as per old-style BP revolvers - check it out to see I don't lie.

It's true that the ROA DOES have a non-trad chunky foresight and definitely non-trad micrometer rear sights, but anyone interested in buying one must already know that. at least, I would have thought so.

I have a pair of Ruger Old Army pistols in SS, traditional old era sights that hold real well.

 

[M. De Land]

I have a pair of Ruger Old Army pistols in SS, traditional old era sights that hold real well.

Traditional Colt sights in reality (Vicaro style ) cannot hold a candle to Ruger standard Partridge adjustable for paper target shooting . The square profile against a round bull will give better definition in any light condition. Folks seem to like the Colt style sights better for Cowboy large steel target work though.

 

[Coinneach]

Traditional Colt sights in reality (Vicaro style ) cannot hold a candle to Ruger standard Partridge adjustable for paper target shooting . The square profile against a round bull will give better definition in any light condition. Folks seem to like the Colt style sights better for Cowboy large steel target work though.

That would depend on the individual, and out to what range.

 

[M. De Land]

That would depend on the individual, and out to what range.

The standard adjustable partridge Ruger is a better sight in every way at any range for accurate aimed fire than is te non adjustable Colt style sight.

 

[Pete453]

Bad Karma, these grips were made by my late friend, and black powder mentor, Homer Melot. He had made them for a modern Ruger. Theyre perfect in the hand, feel like a SBH. Notice, from about the center down, theyre allmost parallel. The spacer on the bottom is 5/16". Someone with x-large hands could make it 3/8" thick. Homer was a good shot with a handgun, he sure new what he was about.

 

[Bad Karma]

Heres the SBH grip frame on the vaquero style Ruger. It’s very good. I’m hopef that someone will be producing triggers and hammers for the Old Army so it can be used with Bisley or new model Super Blackhawk grip frames. We shall see. Currently, using the new model grip frame is,a pain in the neck but doable.

PERFECT for bigger hands.

 

[Bad Karma]

And this is the custom part you need to make to hold the trigger plunger spring in place on your new model grip frame.

It‘s not much, I’ve seen them made from a spent .22 casing.

”
you’ll need one of the adapter methods below:

You can make the simple aluminum adapter shown below to fit in the NM GF behind the old model trigger or just use a .22 LR case to hold the return spring and plunger in place.

Either will need the one NM trigger return spring retaining pin closest to the trigger shown below to hold your OM trigger return spring/plunger adapter or .22 case in place. File a small notch in the .22 case head to nest on the retaining pin.

3] Or you can use an old model trigger with a shelf soldered on the back for the NM trigger return spring and GF like the Clements adapter trigger shown above.

4] The very easiest swap is a Ruger Old Army steel or SS old model style grip frame already designed for the old model plunger and return spring. They also have a wide trigger slot. The Clements adapter trigger with the shelf for NM return spring ground off is easier and cheaper than finding an OM wide trigger.”

 

[Pete453]

Very nice, i like it!

 

[Bad Karma]

Traditional Colt sights in reality (Vicaro style ) cannot hold a candle to Ruger standard Partridge adjustable for paper target shooting . The square profile against a round bull will give better definition in any light condition. Folks seem to like the Colt style sights better for Cowboy large steel target work though.

My only objection to the Blackhawk adjustable sights are the heigh above the hand… yes, they give a beautiful sight picture and are easier to find than the fixed sight version. If I had my druthers and just couldn’t live without the capacity for adjustment I would probably send one to Hamilton Bowen for his adjustable rear sight and a small unobtrusive ramp. Something along these lines.

 

[Bad Karma]

Or even a flattop

 

[Bad Karma]

@Ninering62 here you go!

 

[Coinneach]

My only objection to the Blackhawk adjustable sights are the heigh above the hand… yes, they give a beautiful sight picture and are easier to find than the fixed sight version. If I had my druthers and just couldn’t live without the capacity for adjustment I would probably send one to Hamilton Bowen for his adjustable rear sight and a small unobtrusive ramp. Something along these lines.View attachment 146797View attachment 146798

Well I like that style, a damn good compromise.

 

[Coinneach]

The standard adjustable partridge Ruger is a better sight in every way at any range for accurate aimed fire than is te non adjustable Colt style sight.

Says who ?
I have a good friend in his late 50's who consistently out shoots other metallic silhouette competitors who use modern conventional chunky adjustable sights.
Ol Scott fires a Ruger Vaquero using 44 Special rounds (his reloads) out to 125 metres (Australian range) with old Colt style fixed sights.
Why is he so accurate using the basic unmodified pistol ?
Because the mans intimately knowledgeable in regards to the weapons capabilities with that round and load out to range, and how to hold elevation wise.
Its all about experience and practise.