Ruger Old Army pistol

Dead I · February 02, 2011, 06:07:52 PM

I've got one of these pistols and so far have only fired it with BP and 457 round balls. It shoots fine. I'm wondering if I can cram in some 45 half jacketed bullets over a Pyrodex pill, or maybe 40 grns of BP? Anyone tried this? As I study the pistol I think it will stand some pretty heavy loads. They lock up tight and are very well made. I plink with 25 grns of BP and a wonderwad underneath the bullet. I'm thinking it'll take as heavy a load as one can get into a Walker replica. The Ruger is much more handy and I trust it more.

Anyone out these have experience with one of these Ruger's?

Pettifogger · February 02, 2011, 09:56:05 PM

Jacketed bullets and muzzle loading revolvers are basically mutually inconsistent. To get proper combustion and to seal the chambers from chain fires the bullet has to seal the chamber and be a tight fit. Soft lead balls squish to conform to the chamber and make a tight seal. It would be virtually impossible to load jacketed bullets to get a seal that is tight enough for good ignition and still have the bullet be able to be pressed into the cylinder with the loading lever. I have seen people bend the lever trying to seat balls that weren't pure lead let alone a jacketed bullet.

Dick Dastardly · February 02, 2011, 10:11:49 PM

As Larsen said, jacketed bullets in front stuffers are not a good idea. However, if you want some more oomph, try the fine DD/PUK/ROA-II Big Lube®LLC bullets in that ROA. This bullet was specifically designed for the ROAs. Lube sized for a nice snug interference fit and cast from fairly hard lead, this flat nose bullet packs real stopping power. Put all the FFFg black powder in that you can compress enough to get cylinder face clearance behind the barrel and let 'er flicker. I'm thinkn' you could push 900 fps with this 210 grain bullet.

FWIW, I've shot this load from my brace of ROAs and it is very safe. Photo attached. It does buck some tho. .

DD-DLoS

Bishop Creek · February 02, 2011, 10:32:47 PM

Quote from: Dick Dastardly on February 02, 2011, 10:11:49 PM
As Larsen said, jacketed bullets in front stuffers are not a good idea. However, if you want some more oomph, try the fine DD/PUK/ROA-II Big Lube®LLC bullets in that ROA. This bullet was specifically designed for the ROAs. Lube sized for a nice snug interference fit and cast from fairly hard lead, this flat nose bullet packs real stopping power. Put all the FFFg black powder in that you can compress enough to get cylinder face clearance behind the barrel and let 'er flicker. I'm thinkn' you could push 900 fps with this 210 grain bullet.

FWIW, I've shot this load from my brace of ROAs and it is very safe. Photo attached. It does buck some tho. .

DD-DLoS

Dick,
I may have to try the DD/PUK/ROA-II Big Lube®LLC bullets in my Pietta 1858 Remington DeLuxe "Shooters" revolver as, like the Ruger, it also takes a .457 ball. Regretfully, I sold my stainless ROA with white micarta grips a few years ago

Dick Dastardly · February 03, 2011, 05:58:30 PM

Howdy Bishop Creek,

There are several ways you can try before you buy the mold. I've got a number of fine casters listed in the links section of my web site. Click the banner below if you don't run ad blocker or else click here http://www.biglube.com.

You can also buy a Bullet Sampler from my web site and populate it with the Big Lube®LLC bullets of your choice. I'll rebate the purchase price of the sampler back to you within 90 days if you choose to buy a mold. You can't loose.

Both the DD/PUK/ROA-II and the EPP-UG will do your work but the conical DD/PUK/ROA-II may work better because of the double rebate base.

I shoot both with great satisfaction from my ROAs and 1860 open tops.

DD-DLoS

Bishop Creek · February 03, 2011, 09:44:41 PM

Quote from: Dick Dastardly on February 03, 2011, 05:58:30 PM
Howdy Bishop Creek,

There are several ways you can try before you buy the mold. I've got a number of fine casters listed in the links section of my web site. Click the banner below if you don't run ad blocker or else click here http://www.biglube.com.

You can also buy a Bullet Sampler from my web site and populate it with the Big Lube®LLC bullets of your choice. I'll rebate the purchase price of the sampler back to you within 90 days if you choose to buy a mold. You can't loose.

Both the DD/PUK/ROA-II and the EPP-UG will do your work but the conical DD/PUK/ROA-II may work better because of the double rebate base.

I shoot both with great satisfaction from my ROAs and 1860 open tops.

DD-DLoS

Thanks Dick. Is the PUK part of the bullet named after Paladin UK? I remember him from the Frontier Spot days. Funny, and a good pard! I have been out of black powder shooting the last few years due to a heavy work load putting my kids through college but I can't wait to see the smoke and flames roar from my pistols again. Bought my first cap 'n ball pistol back in 1969 when I was 19, an 1851 brass framed Navy. No instructions, taught myself through trial and error how to load and fire it.

I have bought and sold so many good arms over the years, some which I wish I still had; a ROA, Schofield, 2nd Generation 1860 Army and 1851 Navy, Colt Signature Series factory nickel plated 1860 Colt, double barrel outside hammer shotguns, custom built 1770s flintlock, etc., which I always fired using the Holy Black. No smokeless for me.

I purchased 300 JP 200 Big Lube Bullets™ cast by Mason Stillwell a few years ago back when he was still casting and loaded them into Colt .45 Starline cases and thought they were fantastic. No need for lubed cookies! So I'll take your advice and try some of your new Big Lube Bullets.™

Dick Dastardly · February 04, 2011, 08:17:36 AM

Yup Bishop Creek ,

The flat nose was an idea contributed by Paladin UK. He has an original DD/ROA mold and was bashing the bullet noses flat so he could use them in his 45 Cal rifle. So, when I named the 2nd version of the DD/ROA bullet I added the PUK in his honor.

Turns out that this bullet is extremely versatile. It works well in cap & ball pistols, 45 Cal rifles, Colt 1911s, Cowboy 45 Special, 45 Schofield and as mentioned 45 "Long" Colt. I've had great success shooting it from my Thompson Center Seneca 45 Cal muzzle loading rifle. This turns out to be one very fine and extremely versatile 45 Caliber bullet. Photo attached.

DD-DLoS

rickk · February 04, 2011, 11:27:51 AM

Dick,

When used in the 45 LC, where do you crimp it?

Rick

Mako · February 04, 2011, 11:39:34 AM

Quote from: rickk on February 04, 2011, 11:27:51 AM
Dick,

When used in the 45 LC, where do you crimp it?

Rick

On the ogive in front of the lube groove. Don't try to crimp on the small section before the ogive begins you will have the crimp fall into the groove and you won't get the hard crimp you need . It gets a good bite on the ogive.

~Mako

rickk · February 04, 2011, 11:47:54 AM

Any issues with it pushing into the case in a tubular rifle magazine without a crimp groove?

Mako · February 04, 2011, 12:38:33 PM

Quote from: rickk on February 04, 2011, 11:47:54 AM
Any issues with it pushing into the case in a tubular rifle magazine without a crimp groove?

If you can push it in on a 1/8" compressed case of FFg you are more man than I.

Uh oh........ you aren't thinking of using these with smokiless are you?

Pushing in isn't a problem with a correctly loaded BP cartridge, backing out is the issue.

~Mako

rickk · February 04, 2011, 01:08:53 PM

Good point Mako.

Dick Dastardly · February 04, 2011, 01:50:27 PM

Crimp on the ogive, just ahead of the front driving band. The band is narrow deliberately. Mako said it perfectly. A good snug friction fit should keep the bullet from pushing back into the case if you're shooting heathen fad smokeyless powder. Otherwise the bullet is nicely supported by the compressed black powder under it.

I'm not sure just why this black powder bullet is so accurate, but both it and the EPP-UG are very accurate bullets. They are, however, intended for use with black powder.

DD-DLoS

Bushrod · February 26, 2011, 04:16:20 AM

Bad idea don't even try it!

Dick Dastardly · February 26, 2011, 05:43:29 PM

Howdy rickk,

This bullet has a flat nose thanks to the efforts of Paladin UK. He put flat noses on his original DD/ROA bullets so he could use them in a tube magazine rifle. I took his idea and ran with it. Thus the name DD/PUK/ROA-II. It shoots just fine out of tube magazine rifles and the flat nose makes it very safe to do so.

The bullet is supported by the compressed black powder. I'd not use it in tube magazine rifles if loaded with heathen fad smokeyless stuff.

DD-DLoS

rickk · February 26, 2011, 06:07:49 PM

Dick,

After much thought, I avoided the issue entirely by ordering from you the 250 grain mold, which has a crimp groove.

It seemed more versatile, and I always have preferred heavier bullets. Nothing like a freight train to move something that doesn't want to be moved. ;-) Heck, I believe that 250 grains is "standard" for 45 Colt anyway.

Yes, it won't work in the Ruger Old Army, but it will be perfect for everything else, and I already had a conical Old Army mold.

I've got a lifetime supply of lead stashed away, so the extra lead should not be a problem.

Rick