Ruger Old Army

I have two fairly regular and major hobbies, Guns and Cars. Now my wife will tell you I have many other hobbies, but they are not what I consider regular or major hobbies. They are more past times. Cars I got into when I was a kid with my dad and it has hung on through thick and thin. In fact my office is totally done in muscle car memorabilia. Guns came along later in life, although I have forever hunted and been around guns. It wasn't until about eight years ago that I really got into pistols in a big way. What started it all was a trip to a local gun store when I stumbled upon a used Ruger Old Army in stainless. At the time it really got my juices flowing for the whole black powder experience. I loved that gun and got "talked out" of it for just over $100 more than I paid for it. Ever since I got rid of it I have kicked myself. That extra $100 wasn't worth it!

The entire time I owned my original adjustable sight Old Army I wanted to have it converted to fixed sights. In fact that is probably the main reason I sold it. It just never seemed right to have adjustable sights on a black powder pistol. OH, the thing was accurate as could be, and that could be directly attributed to the adjustable sights, but it just wasn't right! None the less, that Old Army really quipped my interest in handgunning. I quickly picked up a .44 Magnum Super Blackhawk and shortly thereafter a Colt King Cobra. From this point there are too many buy's, sells and trades to mention. But, from that point on the Old Army has held a special memory for me.

Now Ruger has now provided me just what I always wanted in my original Old Army. An Old Army with fixed sights and a high gloss finish. As you can see from the picture this is one fine looking pistol. The polished stainless gives the Old Army a nickeled look and should provide a very tough long lasting finish. Once sighted in with a particular load it should be a great country carry pistol for plinking and small game hunting.

If your unfamiliar with the Ruger Old Army, it is one of the finest percussion revolvers made today. The cylinder design virtually negates the possibility of cross fire (more than one cylinder firing at a time), and provides a notch between each chamber for the hammer to ride in. This specially designed notch provides for safe handling and carrying of a fully loaded cylinder. The frame and spring design is based on the strong and maintenance free Blackhawk foundation. I have loaded the chambers absolutely full of Pyrodex, with just enough room for an over powder wad and the ball. The Old Army soaked up the load with no ill effects. My personal favorite load for the Old Army is 35-37 grains of blackpowder. Remember, blackpowder is measured by volume and not weight. This much smokeless powder would blow any gun, your hand, and you into ugly fragments. The ball seater that is integrated into the barrel underlug, works flawlessly and provides years of trouble free service. Even after many years of loading my Old Army was tight and in very good shape. The stainless steel provides an easily cleaned surface that resist the pitting and marring that blackpowder can have on other finishes. The polished finish of the new Old Army is even more resistant to marring. Fit and finish is excellent, although there is some expected travel in the trigger, as common with most Rugers.

Brownells now carries a number of spring kits for the Old Army that allow you to customize the trigger and hammer action. Additionally, a number of companies offer Old Army action jobs for those Cowboy Action shooters out there. Obviously, the rise in popularity of Cowboy Action shooting has paved the way for this new rendition of the Ruger Old Army. It would serve any blackpowder Cowboy Action shooter well and long.

All in all this firearm is one of the finest that I have ever owned. I can guarantee you that this gun will find a "permanent" place in my gun collection.

Back to the Shootin Iron