Ruger Old Army

[qcml]

Just got one the other day and was at the range last night. Tried a number of different loads 25/28/30 3f, w/wo fiber wad w/457rb. None really grouped all that well. Ran out of time to try any more. So any suggestions on where to go from here.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Can't say what the problem might be with gun/load.
Maybe just stop wiggling. :wink:

 

[George]

I had a ROA for several years, before someone decided he needed it more than I, and it was as accurate as any pistol I ever owned, even modern ones with accuracy jobs. My target load was 23 grains of FFFg Goex and 17 grains of filler, either Creme of Wheat or cornmeal, with a .457 round ball.

Spence

 

[Blizzard of '93]

ajustable (target) sight or fixed (notch)?
did you check the muzzle crown for burrs/dings?
and if adjustable sights good and snug, not wobbling any?
28-3-gr 3F and .457 rb should be good shooting load?

 

[qcml]

As far as the fiber wad over powder vs lube over ball, is that just a personal thing. I'll check the others also.

 

[mykeal]

30 gr/vol Goex with a dry lube felt wad and .457 rb is my best load in both 5 1/2" fixed and 7 1/2" adjustable ROA's. Most accurate handgun I own beyond 10 yards.

 

[Stumpkiller]

I owned one that was killer accurate but don't remember the load. I can tell you it was FFFg, a 0.457" round ball w/lube over it (Hodgdon's Spit Ball as I remember) and no wad. Just can't recall how much FFFg. Seems like I used an expended .357 MAG case full, but I'm not certain.

A friend of mine loved it and would ask me to bring it along whenever we went 'chuck hunting. I sold it to him so HE could carry it. :haha:

 

[wattlebuster]

All I can help you with is I load my 5 1/2 inch barrel old army with 30 grs of ffg with a dry lube felt over the powder an a .457 ball on top of that an it is as accurate as any modern gun that I have. Im very pleased with mine an hope you get the bugs worked out of yours :thumbsup:

 

[qcml]

I'm using 3f SCHUETZEN BP. never had much luck with it in my rifles. I'll try Swiss next. start low and work back up. Got hot yesterday and the bore butter got runny after a while.

 

[DanChamberlain]

Metalman

How's the bore? Any leading?

Dan

 

[TFoley]

Just got one the other day and was at the range last night. Tried a number of different loads 25/28/30 3f, w/wo fiber wad w/457rb. None really grouped all that well. Ran out of time to try any more. So any suggestions on where to go from here.

Since I got it back in 1986 and worked out a good load, nothing has changed with MY ROA.

No BP, so I shoot 25gr of Pyrodex P under the usual .457 RB - no filler, but I top off the chamber with a dollop of E45 - a pharmaceutical hand/skin cream that is totally hydrous.

I usually win my comps - six shots into around 2 inches at 35 yards does that.

tac

 

[qcml]

The bore is clean. I don't think this pistol has been fired much if at all. Is there a break in period for these as with rifles.

 

[TFoley]

The bore is clean. I don't think this pistol has been fired much if at all. Is there a break in period for these as with rifles.

Not that I've ever noticed. I just took mine out of the box, gave it a thorough clean-up of a slight trace of the storage oily stuff - not much as it had been in a showcase - and shot it.

Shoots the same now as it ever did, if I do my bit.

tac

 

[Austringer]

Hi,I have an ROA, which I load with 35gr(vol) Fine black powder (what you colonials call 3f??)followed by an OX Yoke cushion wad (lubed)and the a .457 ball. It groups better than I can hold - even with my shaky hands I get 1.5 in group at 15 metres. Mind before I tuned the trigger it was crap. That might be your problem, as supplied by Ruger the trgger pull is samson like

Tony W

 

[mazo kid]

..... Mind before I tuned the trigger it was crap. That might be your problem, as supplied by Ruger the trgger pull is samson like
Tony W

That might be the only "break-in" needed, just use it a bunch so the sear surfaces get smoother.

 

[qcml]

Well, I guess I was just wigglin to much. nice group with 25gr 3F. What a blast :thumbsup: