WANTED/ISO Looking to buy a Ruger Old Army

[SilverHairPatriot]

I am looking to buy a Ruger Old Army with a 5-1/2 in barrel, preferably in stainless. That’s a tall order and hopefully there is one on the market somewhere. I found several for sale in the UK, but the customs and port fees/shipping costs are nearly $1000. Ouch!

 

[michiganmuzzy]

Ive seriously considered finding a smith who would shorten one for me.

 

[Frank in Fairfield]

https://www.modernmuzzleloader.com/threads/ruger-old-army-bp-pistol.59630/

 

[Sound Tribe]

Ive seriously considered finding a smith who would shorten one for me.

Let me/us know if you find someone and end up doing that.

Would be interesting to see one cut down to 3.5"-4.75" range too.

 

[Ka'imiloa]

For what it is worth, as a former NMLRA competition pistol shooter (25 and 50 yd. matches) using flintlock, caplock and the Ruger Old Army revolver, I was interested in the best twist rate. Most of the other available revolvers, the Colt replicas for instance, had a twist rate around 1:32 as I recall (check an older Dixie Gun Works catalog's descriptions), but I found a friend who could measure the twist rate of an original Remington 1858 Army revolver. It was gain twist, ending in 1:16 twist at the muzzle. That takes skill to measure!

So the 1:16 twist of the Ruger Old Army doubtless was chosen wisely, based on the above knowledge. With the low powder charges used in competition to decrease both fouling and recoil, a distinctly faster twist rate all the more gives the Ruger Old Army an accuracy advantage, I believe. You will find the Master Class ML pistol shooters using Ruger Old Army revolvers, not the other available caplock revolvers. (The sights are better, too.)

May I suggest respectfully that the Ruger Old Army is no longer made and the price keeps going up. There are a lot of other caplock revolvers that could have their barrel shortened, or bought that way, and thus leave the prized Ruger Old Army as is.

Aloha, Ka'imiloa

 

[Sound Tribe]

For what it is worth, as a former NMLRA competition pistol shooter (25 and 50 yd. matches) using flintlock, caplock and the Ruger Old Army revolver, I was interested in the best twist rate. Most of the other available revolvers, the Colt replicas for instance, had a twist rate around 1:32 as I recall (check an older Dixie Gun Works catalog's descriptions), but I found a friend who could measure the twist rate of an original Remington 1858 Army revolver. It was gain twist, ending in 1:16 twist at the muzzle. That takes skill to measure!

So the 1:16 twist of the Ruger Old Army doubtless was chosen wisely, based on the above knowledge. With the low powder charges used in competition to decrease both fouling and recoil, a distinctly faster twist rate all the more gives the Ruger Old Army an accuracy advantage, I believe. You will find the Master Class ML pistol shooters using Ruger Old Army revolvers, not the other available caplock revolvers. (The sights are better, too.)

May I suggest respectfully that the Ruger Old Army is no longer made and the price keeps going up. There are a lot of other caplock revolvers that could have their barrel shortened, or bought that way, and thus leave the prized Ruger Old Army as is.

Aloha, Ka'imiloa

For the twist rates, I know that Pietta uses a slower 1:30 twist rate on most of their guns while the same Uberti guns have faster twist rates closer to 1:18

I do believe that some 2nd gen Colts have the option for a gain twist rifling though, along with the original Colts and Remingtons

And yeah, the ROA is the ultimate competition gun! In videos I have heard that the fixed sights version was created to make it eligible for certain competitions that don't allow adjustable sights.

 

[michiganmuzzy]

https://www.rugeroldarmy.com/

 

[Sound Tribe]

https://www.rugeroldarmy.com/

On that website it states the pre warning ROA sell for much more.

Anyone know a price range? I was able to score one in an auction...

Stainless Steel w adjustable sights 7.5" barrel new in box w manual/papers. It has no warning label, only stamp says "Ruger Southport, CT"

 

[michiganmuzzy]

I see them go in a very wide range, from $500 to $1800(asking).

 

[Sound Tribe]

I see them go in a very wide range, from $500 to $1800(asking).

Okay thanks.

Crazy that an SS pre warning would go for 500. I can't even find a normal one for that low haha.

 

[michiganmuzzy]

Okay thanks.

Crazy that an SS pre warning would go for 500. I can't even find a normal one for that low haha.

I keep seeing guys selling them cheap in Florida. So, maybe they are in really bad shape? Everywhere else they seem to go closer to $1k.

 

[Jitterbug]

On that website it states the pre warning ROA sell for much more.

Actually, that site states that the pre-warning models “command a modest premium” over adjustable-sight models.

When I read “modest premium,” I don’t think “sell for much more.”

EDIT- earlier, I typed “fixed sight,” when I meant to type “pre-warning.” My apologies.

Good catch, Sound Tribe!

 

[Sound Tribe]

Actually, that site states that the fixed sight models “command a modest premium” over adjustable-sight models.

When I read “modest premium,” I don’t think “sell for much more.”

View attachment 42668

Huh? The pre warning model I meant.

The one without the stamp on the barrel saying "black powder only" etc. But yeah the fixed sights are rarer as well.

The ones only stamped with "Ruger" marking are much rarer than the warning labeled ones. I've seen people in search of them on other forums, stating the increased price. I was just wondering how much more.

Edit- ah gotcha. I was confused haha