Ruger Old Army

[Old Charlie]

I have a Ruger Old Army in stainless steel. It has one bad chamber in the cylinder. Every time I shoot it that one chamber allows the ball to shift forward and lock up the gun.
It appears to have a ridge in the chamber that may be making the ball a little under sized. I am amazed at the poor finish on the inside of the chambers. I thought Ruger was a quality product.
Old Charlie

 

[bwhoffman]

2 quick options...
1. send it back to ruger for correction. they typically are good to work with
2. mark that cylinder and cycle itto be the first one to go off.

Brett

 

[renovato]

I'd definately get it back to Ruger.

Have you micced the bore and chambers? If your chambers are undersized, having them bored to slightly over bore diameter would not only fix your problem but increase accuracy as well. I don't know if undersized chambers are common to Ruger or not, but they are to some brands.

 

[Lone Carabiner]

Since it is an undersized chamber you are loading it ought to go right on down the barrel. Sure you ain't got a bad nipple?
Ruger are reknowned for good work and accuracy, if yours persists in malfunction call the factory and tell them about it.

 

[Toomuch_36]

Brett has pretty much nailed it. The Rugger Old Army is a top quality revolver (but as with any manufacturer, occasionaly a bad part will slip by the inspectors). Contact Rugger about the problem, I'm sure they will be glad to make it right.

Toomuch
............
Shoot Flint

 

[Lone Carabiner]

Youv'e got a flinter 'Ruger Old Army" :bull:

 

[Juggernaut]

Do you have access to a micrometer? If so mic the cylinders. Mine Rugar Old Army is an excellent weapon and piece of workmenship. I have never had any trouble with it at all.

Juggernaut

 

[jdixon]

Scrounge up a used cylinder or go ahead and buy a new one, then get back to shooting.

 

[spitfire]

Brett has pretty much nailed it. The Rugger Old Army is a top quality revolver (but as with any manufacturer, occasionaly a bad part will slip by the inspectors). Contact Rugger about the problem, I'm sure they will be glad to make it right.

Toomuch
............
Shoot Flint

I have to agree with your advice.The Individual chambers are reamed with seperate reamers.Sounds like a worn reamer gouged the chamber.I would contact Ruger. :winking:

 

[Old Charlie]

"Scrounge up a used cylinder or go ahead and buy a new one, then get back to shooting"

A new stainless steel cylinder with shipping would run close to a $100.
Old Charlie

 

[Toomuch_36]

Youv'e got a flinter 'Ruger Old Army" :bull:

What in the world ever gave you the notion that the ROA came as a flint? :nono:

Toomuch
..........
Shoot Flint

 

[John Taylor]

Call Ruger, they are great about taking care of their products. They have even fixed some that were clear abuse from the owner.

 

[the priest]

while ruger is great with factory defects and repairs in general, their .45 cal revolvers are plagued with inconsistent chamber mouths. if the mouths are undersized you can ream or have them reamed. If they're oversized as are yours, it creates some concern. don't be surprised if you send it back and then hear 'it's within specs'. good luck either way.

on a more positive note, it's said the revolver users from days gone by would roll up a dollar bill and put it inside one of their chambers,....just for the undertaker. (then lay the hammer on this chamber for safety) looks like you've found the chamber that wants to volunteer. :winking:

 

[Old Ironsights]

I have a Ruger Old Army in stainless steel. It has one bad chamber in the cylinder. Every time I shoot it that one chamber allows the ball to shift forward and lock up the gun.
It appears to have a ridge in the chamber that may be making the ball a little under sized. I am amazed at the poor finish on the inside of the chambers. I thought Ruger was a quality product.
Old Charlie

I agree with all of the above replys except to say,

If you have the time, send the gun to Dave Clement at Clement's Custom Guns and have him do his ROA "cleanup" on it.

He deepens the chambers to a consistant and larger grain volume, times and smooths everything out. Absolutely primo work.

I do bore out the cyls. You gain about 100 fps and 5-10 gr. of capacity. Cost is $50.

He Googles easily.

 

[Lone Carabiner]

Just a joke, I've got a ROA and I suspect he may have bad ignition, but may be some chamber problem

 

[the priest]

"Old Charlie[/quote]
If you have the time, send the gun to Dave Clement at Clement's Custom Guns and have him do his ROA "cleanup" on it.

He deepens the chambers to a consistant and larger grain volume, times and smooths everything out. Absolutely primo work.
[/quote]"

Good call Old Charlie and the best suggestion yet IMHO considering one chamber is already oversized. I've seen and read where guys get over 700fps of enegy from the ROAs with this mod and 777.

 

[Lone Carabiner]

Clements got a website? Or what phone #?
My ROA shoots good but if his work is reasonable price may elect to have it done.

 

[the priest]

www.clementscustomguns.com

 

[11th corps]

I just read this thread. I was out to the range yesterday to shoot my 2 ROA's. I bought mine in 1975, and the other was my dads purchased a couple of years later.
I like to load both, then shoot both left and right handed, pulling one up on target as i drop the other to my side.
I have fired thousands of .457 roundballs out of both, and have not had a problem, except normal stuff like caps getting caught in the cylinder on occasion.
Every Ruger I have ever owned was hell for strong.
Send your gun back to Ruger. I bet they will make it right.

 

[Smokin6Gun]

Charlie what siize balls are you shootin'? If they are .454" go to .457" balls...that would eliminate the problem.
If you want a cylinder reamed to what ever size. .460" or have a .50 cal kit put into it contact ules or and associate at...[url] http://www.bigironbarrels.com/forum/index.php http://www.bigironbarrels.com/[/url]
Replace [censored] with [big iron barrels](all one word)
I hope the ball does it for you.