Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Around the Campfire => Topic started by: recurve shooter on November 17, 2010, 12:12:02 pm

Title: anyone have a Ruger old army?
Post by: recurve shooter on November 17, 2010, 12:12:02 pm
hi guys. i was lookin into getting a cap and ball revolver that could handle a hunting load, so its pretty much between a walker or dragoon, and a ruger old army. i like the ruger. anyone have one? what do yall think about it? worth buying? thanks!
Title: Re: anyone have a Ruger old army?
Post by: mullet on November 17, 2010, 01:05:32 pm
 I have one and like it a lot. It's pricey.
Title: Re: anyone have a Ruger old army?
Post by: recurve shooter on November 17, 2010, 03:44:08 pm
thanks for the reply Mr. Eddie. yeah they are a little on the expensive side, but then again so are all rugers, but if its a good gun, its worth it.  ;D
Title: Re: anyone have a Ruger old army?
Post by: mullet on November 17, 2010, 04:15:48 pm
 I have the blued model and my younger brother has the stainless Centennial one. You can load a hotter charge in them and they are accurate.
Title: Re: anyone have a Ruger old army?
Post by: kerryb on November 17, 2010, 04:16:30 pm
Good guns never go down in value
Title: Re: anyone have a Ruger old army?
Post by: Josh on November 17, 2010, 04:38:27 pm
if they are taken care of they can go UP in value...  ;D
Title: Re: anyone have a Ruger old army?
Post by: mullet on November 17, 2010, 05:14:09 pm
 They've already gone up quiet a bit since Ruger discontinued them.
Title: Re: anyone have a Ruger old army?
Post by: mullet on November 17, 2010, 06:48:12 pm
here it is
Title: Re: anyone have a Ruger old army?
Post by: jwarwick on November 17, 2010, 07:36:10 pm
I have one just like Mullets, but it is stainless.
The fit and finish and mechanism of this gun are superb.

I may get around to hunting with it, but it would really have to be a close shot.
This round ball shooter just makes a "pooot" sound when it goes off- I'm just used to a hi-power rifle. I think that the charge is not enough to hunt responsibly.
What do you think Mullet?

Jon
Title: Re: anyone have a Ruger old army?
Post by: Josh on November 17, 2010, 08:18:50 pm
man that's a beautiful pistol.  :)
Title: Re: anyone have a Ruger old army?
Post by: mullet on November 17, 2010, 09:28:38 pm
 Jon;

 I've killed two hogs with this one shooting 43 grains of Pyrodex. I usually carry it when I'm hunting with my double barrel 12. I'll shoot .69 cal rnd ball in one barrel and a boatload of #3 buck shot in the other.
Title: Re: anyone have a Ruger old army?
Post by: sailordad on November 17, 2010, 09:43:37 pm
very nice gun,ive always like that style plus the dragoons.
always been a sturm ruger fan too  ;)

The fit and finish and mechanism of this gun are superb.

this is why i have always like sturm ruger  guns
not to mention they always seem a tad less expensive than the competitors
Title: Re: anyone have a Ruger old army?
Post by: recurve shooter on November 18, 2010, 11:01:48 am
awsome. now i really want one lol.  ;D
Title: Re: anyone have a Ruger old army?
Post by: jwarwick on November 18, 2010, 09:18:37 pm
Mullet,
I have only been shooting 30 grain pyrodex pellets because thats all I had on hand.
Maybe I made the gun pooot because of the light load.

I'll get some loose pyrodex and measure out some bigger loads... how much is too much?

Jon
Title: Re: anyone have a Ruger old army?
Post by: mullet on November 18, 2010, 09:39:45 pm
 Jon
 I tried to load 45grn like I was told you could, but it was too hard to stuff it in. Are you shooting patched balls or 457'ns?
Title: Re: anyone have a Ruger old army?
Post by: stickbender on November 19, 2010, 03:07:05 am

     I have one like Eddie's, and love it.  Very accurate.  I use regular black powder.  fff grain.  It doesn't go poof, it lets you know it went off with a nice roar, and kick.  I wouldn't hesitate to hunt hogs, deer, etc. with it.  Why, I have "heard" that an occasional water lizard has succumbed to it, I mean one just like mine...... ::)  If you can get one, I would go with the Ruger Old Army.  It is well made, accurate, smooth as butter, is American made.
Plus it has better sights!  ;)  I just used an old .44 mag. shell as the powder measure, and a .457 ball.  Lee also makes a conical bullet for it also.  Never tried that one though.  I just might get back into shooting it again.  I hunted with a double barrel shotgun in the swamps, and carried my rifle on a sling, so when, I came to the edge of the swamp, I could have a bit longer range, but then I got the pistol, and I just carried that with me, instead of the rifle.  I loaded the right barrel with .36 cal. balls, and the left with .45 or 50 balls.  Both barrels shot very nice patterns.  I used winchester AAA wads, with bore butter, in the space under the shot cup.  I have killed doves with it also.  Got a lot of wide eyed questioning after a few shots.  Like what HELL are you shooting?!!!   Sounds like a damn cannon going off ! :o :o ;D ;D
I have a little Italian made colt police, in .36  that I like also, but not to hunt with.  It is also quite accurate, but not as smooth as the Ruger, though it does have a very crisp and no creep, or slack, trigger.  But it has the sight in the hammer, unlike the Ruger with the adjustable sights. ;)  Save your pennies, and haunt the Gun Shows, occasionally you will find one.  They are few and far between now.


                                                                     Wayne
Title: Re: anyone have a Ruger old army?
Post by: jwarwick on November 19, 2010, 12:31:59 pm
Jon
 I tried to load 45grn like I was told you could, but it was too hard to stuff it in. Are you shooting patched balls or 457'ns?

I'm shooting 30 grain pyrodex hard pellets and .457 grain round balls.
Just off the top of my head I would think that FFF sized powder would burn faster than the hard pellets, and pack better into the cylinder- allowing you to get more in.

Obviously, I'm new at black powder pistols- this is the only one I've ever shot. Just have hawken rifle black powder experience.

Jon
Title: Re: anyone have a Ruger old army?
Post by: recurve shooter on November 19, 2010, 02:06:35 pm
awsome.  ;D i love my little brass framed .44 with the twelve inch barrel, that sucker is accurate, with decent adjustable sights, but it cant handle a heavy charge, sooooo time for something bigger. er.. that is after i buy gifts for five more people. and fix my truck. and buy a laptop for collage...hmmm this may take a while.  :P
Title: Re: anyone have a Ruger old army?
Post by: mullet on November 19, 2010, 08:12:04 pm
 Jon;

 FFF is the way to go in the pistol or the shotgun. I shoot FFF in my flintlock and prime it with FFFF.