ruger old army User Guide

INSTRUCTION

MANUAL

FOR

RUGER

OLD ARMY

“CAP & BALL” BLACK POWDER

PERCUSSION REVOLVER

For Product Service on this Model Please Call:

(603) 865-2442 (See p. 28)

STURM, RUGER & Company, Inc.

Southport, Connecticut 06890 U.S.A.

THIS INSTRUCTION MANUAL SHOULD ALWAYS ACCOMPANY THIS FIREARM AND BE

TRANSFERRED WITH IT UPON CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP, OR WHEN THE FIREARM IS LOANED OR

PRESENTED TO ANOTHER PERSON.

CB & KCB/3-03

READ THE INSTRUCTIONS AND WARNINGS IN THIS MANUAL CAREFULLY BEFORE USING THIS FIREARM

BLUED &

STAINLESS

STEEL

CALIBER

.457 Round Ball

Black Powder Only

FIXED AND ADJUSTABLE SIGHT MODELS

State-By-State Warnings

Certain states require by law that their own specified warning notices in larger-than-normal type be conspicuously included by the manufacturer, distributor, or retail dealer with firearms sold in that state. Sturm, Ruger sells its products in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Because our products may be sold in these states, we include the following:

California:

Connecticut:

“UNLAWFUL STORAGE OF A LOADED FIREARM MAY RESULT IN IMPRISONMENT OR FINE.”

Florida:

“IT IS UNLAWFUL, AND PUNISHABLE BY IMPRISONMENT AND FINE, FOR ANYADULT TO STORE OR LEAVE AFIREARM IN ANY PLACE WITHIN THE REACH OR EASY ACCESS OF AMINOR UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE OR TO KNOWINGLY SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER OWNERSHIP OR POSSESSION OF A FIREARM TO A MINOR OR APERSON OF UNSOUND MIND.”

WARNING

“Children are attracted to and can operate firearms that can cause severe injuries or death. Prevent child access by always keeping guns locked away and unloaded when not in use. If you keep a loaded firearm where a child obtains and improperly uses it, you can be fined or sent to prison.”

ADVERTENCIA

“A los niños los atraen las armas de fuego y las pueden hacer funcionar. Ellos pueden causarses lesions graves y la muerte. Evite que los niños tengan accesso a las armas de fuego guardándolas siempre con llave y descargadas cuando no las esté utilizando. Si usted tiene un arma de fuego cargada en un lugar en que un niño tiene acceso a ella y la usa indebidamente, le pueden dar una multa o enviarlo a la carcel.”

Maine:

“ENDANGERING THE WELFARE OF A CHILD IS A CRIME. IF YOU LEAVE A FIREARM AND AMMUNITION WITHIN EASY ACCESS OF A CHILD, YOU MAY BE SUBJECT TO FINE, IMPRISONMENT OR BOTH. KEEP FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION SEPARATE. KEEP FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION LOCKED UP. USE TRIGGER LOCKS.”

Maryland:

“WARNING: Children can operate firearms which may cause death or serious injury. It is a crime

to store or leave a loaded firearm in any location where an individual knew or should have known that an unsupervised minor would gain access to the firearm. Store your firearm responsibly!”

Massachusetts:

“WARNING FROM THE MASSACHUSETTS ATTORNEY GENERAL: This handgun is not equipped with a device that fully blocks use by unauthorized users. More than 200,000 firearms like this one are stolen from their owners every year in the United States. In addition, there are more than a thousand suicides each year by younger children and teenagers who get access to firearms. Hundreds more die from accidental discharge. It is likely that many more children sustain serious wounds, or inflict such wounds accidentally on others. In order to limit the chance of such misuse, it is imperative that you keep this weapon locked in a secure place and take other steps necessary to limit the possibility of theft or accident. Failure to take reasonable preventive steps may result in innocent lives being lost, and in some circumstances may result in your liability for these deaths.”

“IT IS UNLAWFUL TO STORE OR KEEP AFIREARM, RIFLE, SHOTGUN OR MACHINE GUN IN ANY PLACE UNLESS THAT WEAPON IS EQUIPPED WITH A TAMPER-RESISTANT SAFETY DEVICE OR IS STORED OR KEPT IN A SECURELY LOCKED CONTAINER.”

New Jersey:

“IT IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE TO LEAVE A LOADED FIREARM WITHIN EASY ACCESS OF AMINOR.”

New York City:

“THE USE OF A LOCKING DEVICE OR SAFETY LOCK IS ONLY ONE ASPECT OF RESPONSIBLE WEAPONS STORAGE. ALLWEAPONS SHOULD BE STORED UNLOADED AND LOCKED IN A LOCATION THAT IS BOTH SEPARATE FROM THEIR AMMUNITION AND INACCESSIBLE TO CHILDREN AND ANY OTHER UNAUTHORIZED PERSONS.”

North Carolina:

“IT IS UNLAWFUL TO STORE OR LEAVE A FIREARM THAT CAN BE DISCHARGED IN A MANNER THAT A REASONABLE PERSON SHOULD KNOW IS ACCESSIBLE TO AMINOR.”

Texas:

“IT IS UNLAWFUL TO STORE, TRANSPORT, OR ABANDON AN UNSECURED FIREARM IN A PLACE WHERE CHILDREN ARE LIKELY TO BE AND CAN OBTAIN ACCESS TO THE FIREARM.”

Wisconsin:

“IF YOU LEAVE A LOADED FIREARM WITHIN THE REACH OR EASY ACCESS OF A CHILD YOU MAY BE FINED OR IMPRISONED OR BOTH IF THE CHILD IMPROPERLY DISCHARGES, POSSESSES, OR EXHIBITS THE FIREARM.”

****************** ***** Please check with your licensed retailer or state police for additional warnings which may be required by local law or regulation. Such regulations change constantly, and local authorities are in the best position to advise you on such legal matters.

This firearm was originally sold with a key-operated locking device. While it can help provide secure storage for your unloaded firearm, any locking device can fail. All guns are designed to fire if they are loaded and the trigger is pulled. Therefore,

never install the locking device inside the trigger guard or in any way that it can possibly pull the trigger!

Do not leave the keys in the lock. The ultimate responsibility for

secure storage of any firearm must depend upon its owner and his or her individual circumstances.

Guns should be securely stored unloaded, in a secure location, separate from their ammunition.

See “Storage Warning”, page 26.

NEVER INSTALL

LOCKING DEVICE

INSIDE TRIGGER GUARD

WARNING– LOCKING DEVICES

DO NOT INSTALL

INSIDE TRIGGER GUARD

INSTALL LOCK

AS SHOWN HERE

FIREARMS SAFETY-YOUR RESPONSIBILITY

SAFETY MUST BE THE FIRST AND CONSTANT

CONSIDERATION OF EVERY PERSON WHO

HANDLES FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION.

This Instruction Manual is designed to assist you in learning how to use and care

for your

RUGER®OLD ARMY®percussion revolver properly. Please contact

us if you have any questions about it. Only when you are certain you fully understand the Manual and can properly

carry out its instructions should you practice loading, unloading, etc. with live powder, ball and caps. If you have any doubts about your ability to handle or use a particular type of gun safely, then you should seek supervised instruction.

Such personalized instruction is often available from gun dealers, gun clubs or police departments. If none of these sources can help you, write to the National Rifle Association, Training Division, Washington D.C. 20036. They will assist you.

The person possessing a gun has a full-time job. You cannot guess; you cannot forget. You must know how to use your firearm safely. Do not use any firearm

without having a complete understanding of its particular characteristics and safe use.

Remember: There is no such thing as a foolproof gun.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

General Information and Mechanical Characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Ammunition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Powder Charge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Percussion Caps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Eye and Ear Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

To Load and Fire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

To Uncock (Decock) The Revolver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

To Unload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

To Remove Cylinder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Disassembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Reassembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

To Clear a Malfunction (“Jam”) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Care and Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

Care of Stainless Steel Revolvers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Sights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Service and Parts Policy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Parts Drawing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

The Basic Rules of Safe Firearms Handling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Warranty Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

“Ruger®”, and “Old Army®”are registered U.S. trademarks.

Locking Device 5 Cocked Gun 15 Alterations 7 Indexing 16 Lead Exposure 9 Firing 17 Black Powder 10 Disassembly 22 Ammunition 10 Lubrication 25 Capped Cylinders 11 Storage 26 Muzzle Direction 13 Parts Purchasers 29 Handling 15

OTHER CAUTIONS AND WARNINGS APPEAR

THROUGHOUT THE MANUAL.

WARNING–ALTERATIONS

This product was designed to function properly in its original condition. Alterations can make it unsafe. Do not alter any part or add or substitute parts or accessories not made by Sturm, Ruger & Co. Inc.

DO NOT ALTER ANY GUN

FIREARMS ARE DANGEROUS WEAPONS–

READ THE INSTRUCTIONS AND WARNINGS IN THIS

MANUAL THOROUGHLY AND CAREFULLY BEFORE USING.

GENERAL INFORMATION

AND MECHANICAL CHARACTERISTICS

The RUGER®OLD ARMY®percussion revolver is an original Ruger design and is manufactured to our regular standards of strength and reliability, entirely in modern Ruger factories in the U.S.A. The best quality steels and coil springs are used throughout, the same as in our centerfire cartridge revolvers. Stainless steel nipples are standard and grip panels are genuine American Walnut.

The mechanism of the “Old Army” has been carefully designed to retain traditional handling and firing characteristics of the old-time “cap and ball” revolvers while at the same time incorporating improvements (U.S. and Foreign Patents) which mark the first significant advance in percussion revolver construction in more than a century.

WARNINGS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE ARE

FOUND ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES:

The RUGER®OLD ARMY® is a muzzle loading, percussion revolver intended for use with black powder, percussion caps, and soft lead projectiles. It does not fire conventional cartridges, but is instead loaded from the front of the cylinder. It is of single-action operation, and the hammer must manually be cocked before normally firing the revolver.

Like any such revolver, it is to be used with Black Powder only, and its safe use requires that the shooter be thoroughly familiar with its characteristics.

The mechanism of the

RUGER®OLD ARMY® provides for security against

accidental discharge when properly handled. As with any other firearm, however, the “Old Army” must be used with strict attention to correct safety practices. In addition, the revolver should be inspected frequently to assure that it is working properly.

NOMENCLATURE

TRIGGER TRIGGER

GUARD

BASEPIN

RETAINING PIN

LOADING LEVER

(RAMMER)

ASSEMBLY

LEVER LATCH

FRONT

SIGHT

BARREL

BASE PIN

GRIPS

GRIP

FRAME

NIPPLES (6)

SAFETY

RECESS (6)

HAMMER

REAR SIGHT

CYLINDER

FRAME

Parts referred to frequently are indicated by arrows.

AMMUNITION

The “Old Army” is a muzzle loading, percussion revolver intended solely for use with Black Powder.It should never, under any circumstances, be loaded with any

type of smokeless powder as the result could be damage to the revolver and injury to the shooter or bystanders. Black Powder is usually classified by powder

grain size, with “Fg” being the largest granulation and “FFFFg” being the smallest granulation normally available. Any granulation within these gradations could be used in the “Old Army”; normally, however, “FFFg” is the preferred grain size. Replica black powder such as Pyrodex may be used, so long as suggested loading data is strictly adhered to.

The “Old Army” is designed to use a .457” diameter round ball or .454” conical bullet of pure lead. Bullets of either type can be purchased from your dealer, ready to use, or can easily be cast at home with a small investment in equipment. Information on bullet casting is available from the manufacturers of moulds and casting equipment and from various authoritative handbooks. Your dealer should be able to provide you with any equipment which you may require. (See “Lead

Exposure” Warning, below)

The use of jacketed or alloy bullets is not recommended as accuracy is generally not as satisfactory as with the pure lead bullets.

AMMUNITION NOTICE

WE SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIM RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DAMAGE OR

INJURY WHATSOEVER OCCURRING IN CONNECTION WITH, OR AS THE

RESULT OF, THE USE IN RUGER REVOLVERS OF FAULTY, OR

NONSTANDARD, OR “REMANUFACTURED” COMPONENTS, OR OF

POWDERS OTHER THAN THOSE FOR WHICH THIS BLACK POWDER

FIREARM WAS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED.

W ARNING–LEAD EXPOSURE

Discharging firearms in poorly ventilated areas, cleaning firearms, or handling ammunition may result in exposure to lead and other substances known to the state of California to cause birth defects, reproductive harm, and other serious physical injury. Have adequate ventilation at all times. Wash hands thoroughly after exposure.

SHOOTING OR CLEANING GUNS

MAY EXPOSE YOU TO LEAD

Black Powder is an extremely sensitive propellant and is readily ignited by heat, spark, static electricity, friction, pressure, impact, etc. Unlike smokeless powder, Black Powder will ignite with great violence and rapidity even when unconfined.

Black Powder should be handled only in very small quantities. Never pour powder dir

ectly from a flask or powder horn into any muzzle loading firear

Many shooters pre-weigh single charges into medicine vials for use on the range or in the field. Never fire the revolver near an open powder container, or an explosion may result.

If you are not familiar with safe handling procedures for Black Powder and for muzzle loading firearms in general, you should obtain one of the authoritative muzzle loaders’ Manuals and study it carefully

before beginning to shoot.

BLACK POWDER IS EXPLOSIVE

POWDER?

Never Use Unknown or Smokless Powder

POWDER CHARGE

It is safe to use as much Black Powder as the chamber will hold, leaving room for the bullet. This maximum loading is not usually the most accurate loading, however.

A good starting accuracy load, using a pure lead .457” diameter ball, is 20 grains of FFFg and sufficient filler (corn meal is frequently used as a filler material) to seat the ball approximately 1/16” below the chamber mouth. You may find that some minor adjustment of this charge upwards or downwards is more accurate in your “Old Army”.

Filler is not required and can be completely dispensed with if the powder charge takes up at least 1/2 of the cylinder.

W ARNING–BLACK POWDER

Never Pour Powder Directly From Flask!

WARNING–AMMUNITION

Death, serious injury, and damage can result from the use of wrong ammunition, bore obstructions, powder overloads, or incorrect components. Always wear shooting glasses and hearing protectors.

Never use smokeless powder in any muzzleloader!

IMPROPER AMMUNITION

DESTROYS GUNS

Percussion caps are designed to fire as the result of a blow “percussion”.

A capped cylinder loaded with powder and ball is, in effect, a small firearm.

Never clean, lubricate, disassemble, or work on a revolver while it is loaded. Never install, remove, or carry a loaded and capped cylinder.

A loaded and capped cylinder can discharge if dropped or struck. Read

instructions before disassembling gun.

NEVER CARRY A

CAPPED CYLINDER

PERCUSSION CAPS

A percussion cap is a small metal cup, the interior top of which is coated with a priming mixture. This priming mixture is usually covered with a foil or paper liner. It fires when struck a blow.

The cap is placed on a cylinder nipple and when struck by the hammer, the priming compound explodes, igniting the powder charge.

The cap should fit the nipple only tightly enough so that it does not fall off when the barrel is elevated. Do not attempt to use caps which ar

e too tight or try to force or pound caps onto the nipples, as a premature discharge could result. The

suggested cap size for the Old Army revolver is No. 10 or No. 11 (U.S.) or equivalent.

Since percussion caps have an open end (which is placed on the cylinder nipple when you are ready to fire), they are susceptible to contamination. Be careful when handling percussion caps, especially with oily fingers, and try to keep water, grease, dirt and other contaminants out of the open end of the caps. Failure to do so is the main cause of misfires in cap and ball muzzleloading firearms.

W ARNING–CAPPED CYLINDERS

EYE AND EAR PROTECTION

Safety glasses must be used when loading and firing the “Old Army”, or any percussion firearm. Small pieces of the percussion cap are frequently blown away when a percussion arm fires. Always wear hearing protection when firing any firearm, in order to avoid permanent hearing damage.

TO LOAD AND FIRE

In the interests of both performance and safety, it is important that steps which follow be performed in sequence and with attention to detail:

1. BEFORE LOADING:

Check revolver to ensure that: A. Nipples are uncapped.

B. Cylinder chambers are empty. C. Chambers, bore and nipples are free of grease, oil or other obstruction.

2. CLEARING THE NIPPLES:

Without loading the chambers, place a percussion cap on each nipple. Point the gun in a safe direction and fire all six caps. This is done to ensure that the nipple passage is clear and dry.

Remove all percussion caps and cap fragments.

3. CHARGING THE CHAMBERS:

A. Starting with the hammer in its full forward position, place hammer in

half-cock (loading) position by drawing it to the rear until a “click” is heard. (See Fig. 1) The cylinder is now free to rotate in a clockwise direction. (If the hammer is brought back too far, or if the hammer is put into the loading position by easing it forward from full cock, the cylinder will not be free to rotate.) Do not touch the trigger while placing the hammer in the half cock notch

WARNING: Please re-read carefully the paragraph entitled

“Warning - Black Powder”, p. 10.

Hammer to Load Notch ( 1 "Click" Back)

+ 28 hidden pages