old army , loading procedure - The Firearms Forum

raysmithson1 · 12-18-2010, 02:13 PM

I have a Ruger old army 45 cal. how to load it,how do you load it , I use grease on top of ball, is that ok or is their cleaner way? I load one 44 casing full of pyrodex, pistol , load ball, put wheel bearing grease over the ball,,, put cap on , fire,,,, nice pistol but a lot of time to reload,,, thanks all

22shot · 12-18-2010, 02:43 PM

raysmithson1

Wheel bearing grease???

Check out jack404 post; "so what about these" 11-13-10; in this forum.
It's pretty good; and relates to your post.

Check out the .454 conical from Baffalo Bullets; Dixie Gun Works..

FYI: a .44 casing load of BP is about 35-39 gr.; depending on S&W or Colt casing.

Oneida Steve · 12-18-2010, 03:04 PM

I am an old-time cap-and-ball shooter. For the Old Army I load 30 grains of Pyrodex P and then place a Wonder Wad on top of the powder. A light tap with the rammer seats the wad squarely onto the powder. I then seat the ball on top of the wad.

You don't need any grease if you use an under-the-ball wad like Wonder Wad. This has been my competition load for many years. Wonder Wads are much cleaner than grease, and never a flash-over. Try some Wonder Wads. You'll like them.

raysmithson1 · 12-18-2010, 03:08 PM

thanks Steve just the answer i needed,, and yes I did check the post out thank you also 22 shot,, it's alot of fun ,, my friends at the range like it too,,, thanks again Merry Xmas to all Ray

Night Driver · 12-19-2010, 02:58 AM

I've been shooting a Ruger Old Army cap & ball revolver since the 70's. I started out using Crisco over the bullet but changed to wheel bearing grease when the Crisco began melting out of the cylinders under the extreme summer heat in Oklahoma.

I cast my own .457 round balls and conical bullets. For plinking and close up the round balls work just fine. For hunting or ranges over 50 yards I prefer the conicals.

I put as much BLACK POWDER in the chambers as possible to still be able to seat the bullets flush. This is not so much for the extra power but for the sake of consistancy. By keeping the powder charge constant it makes the bullets group in the same place shot after shot.

I cast my own bullets, make my own percussion caps and shoot only real black powder. If you didn't want to go to the trouble of loading and then shooting black powder in the revolver then why did you buy it in the first place?

redwing carson · 12-19-2010, 08:15 AM

I agree with Night Driver. I load the chamber with a charge that allows the seating of the ball or bullet. I am not a target shooter so I don't fill the chamber with "Breakfeast Food". My choice load is 35 grs. of 3F/BP under a Lee .457 conical lubed with SPG thru a .456 sizing die. This bullet is than loaded with out wads or over grease. When shooting loads that need grease over the chamber, look at Mobile 1 a non-Petro lube sold at Auto Zone. The heavy Petro based lubes can blow back in to your pistols action combined with cap residue may cause some problems.

RC

12-18-2010, 02:13 PM	#1
raysmithson1 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Monterey ca. we call it paradise Posts: 63	old army , loading procedure I have a Ruger old army 45 cal. how to load it,how do you load it , I use grease on top of ball, is that ok or is their cleaner way? I load one 44 casing full of pyrodex, pistol , load ball, put wheel bearing grease over the ball,,, put cap on , fire,,,, nice pistol but a lot of time to reload,,, thanks all -->

12-18-2010, 02:43 PM	#2
22shot V.I.P. Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: U.S.of A. Posts: 376	Re: old army , loading procedure raysmithson1 Wheel bearing grease??? Check out jack404 post; "so what about these" 11-13-10; in this forum. It's pretty good; and relates to your post. Check out the .454 conical from Baffalo Bullets; Dixie Gun Works.. FYI: a .44 casing load of BP is about 35-39 gr.; depending on S&W or Colt casing. Last edited by 22shot; 12-18-2010 at 03:06 PM..

12-18-2010, 03:04 PM	#3
Oneida Steve Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 1,028	Re: old army , loading procedure I am an old-time cap-and-ball shooter. For the Old Army I load 30 grains of Pyrodex P and then place a Wonder Wad on top of the powder. A light tap with the rammer seats the wad squarely onto the powder. I then seat the ball on top of the wad. You don't need any grease if you use an under-the-ball wad like Wonder Wad. This has been my competition load for many years. Wonder Wads are much cleaner than grease, and never a flash-over. Try some Wonder Wads. You'll like them.

12-18-2010, 03:08 PM	#4
raysmithson1 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Monterey ca. we call it paradise Posts: 63	Re: old army , loading procedure thanks Steve just the answer i needed,, and yes I did check the post out thank you also 22 shot,, it's alot of fun ,, my friends at the range like it too,,, thanks again Merry Xmas to all Ray Last edited by raysmithson1; 12-18-2010 at 03:14 PM..

12-19-2010, 02:58 AM	#5
Night Driver V.I.P. Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: TEXAS, LAKE LIVINGSTON AREA Posts: 51	Re: old army , loading procedure I've been shooting a Ruger Old Army cap & ball revolver since the 70's. I started out using Crisco over the bullet but changed to wheel bearing grease when the Crisco began melting out of the cylinders under the extreme summer heat in Oklahoma. I cast my own .457 round balls and conical bullets. For plinking and close up the round balls work just fine. For hunting or ranges over 50 yards I prefer the conicals. I put as much BLACK POWDER in the chambers as possible to still be able to seat the bullets flush. This is not so much for the extra power but for the sake of consistancy. By keeping the powder charge constant it makes the bullets group in the same place shot after shot. I cast my own bullets, make my own percussion caps and shoot only real black powder. If you didn't want to go to the trouble of loading and then shooting black powder in the revolver then why did you buy it in the first place? __________________ MY QUALITY CONTROL/ERROR PREVENTION CREW ON DUTY

12-19-2010, 08:15 AM	#6
redwing carson Former Guest Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: western wyoming Posts: 734	Re: old army , loading procedure I agree with Night Driver. I load the chamber with a charge that allows the seating of the ball or bullet. I am not a target shooter so I don't fill the chamber with "Breakfeast Food". My choice load is 35 grs. of 3F/BP under a Lee .457 conical lubed with SPG thru a .456 sizing die. This bullet is than loaded with out wads or over grease. When shooting loads that need grease over the chamber, look at Mobile 1 a non-Petro lube sold at Auto Zone. The heavy Petro based lubes can blow back in to your pistols action combined with cap residue may cause some problems. RC