old army reloading help

[mtnman]

Ok so i am buying a ruger 45 old army. What should i order to load it? recommendations on powder, bullets and caps?
thanks and yes this will be my first BP gun, so I'm a rookie.
thanks

[Unsilenced]

Powder: Pyrodex works, real BP is better. Pyrodex is much easier to obtain however, especially if you don't want to join a BP shooting club.

Bullets: Casting is a huge money saver. Otherwise, make sure they're bigger than the actual diameter of your chamber. You should be shaving off lead every time.

Patches: Don't bother.

Borebutter: Not necessary, but can make it easier to clean. You can use Crisco, premade bore butter, or any number of home made recipes with beeswax, tallow, etc. All up to how involved you want to get with the process.

Caps: Buy a bunch of different ones, find one that fits snugly (sizes are not at all standardized) and doesn't fall off. #10's are probably a good place to start, Remington or CCI. Then bulk order them online. There are hazmat fees involved, but you can older 5000 at a time and never run out again.

[smle-man]

Ok so i am buying a ruger 45 old army. What should i order to load it? recommendations on powder, bullets and caps?
thanks and yes this will be my first BP gun, so I'm a rookie.
thanks

I use Pyrodex pellets, 30 gr equivalent of 3F

https://www.sportsmanswarehouse.com/sportsmans/Hodgdon-Pyrodex-Cap-and-Ball-Revolver-Propellant-Pellets/productDetail/Powder-and-Primers/prod9999006424/cat100011

Hornady .457 round balls

https://www.hornady.com/muzzleloading/browse/45-cal-457-lead-balls#!/#features

Winchester #11 caps - more sure fire than the CCI product as I believe Pyrodex is harder to ignite than traditional black powder

http://www.cabelas.com/product/WINCHESTER-MAG-BLK-POWDER-PERCUSSION-CAPS/2278326.uts

I use Crisco to cover the chambers once loaded to prevent chain firing.

[870classic]

What should you order to load it?
A Kirst Konverter Kit. http://www.kirstkonverter.com/ruger-old-army.html

Old Army's are great guns. Enjoy the experience.
Best regards,
870classic.

[mtnman]

What should you order to load it?
A Kirst Konverter Kit. http://www.kirstkonverter.com/ruger-old-army.html

Old Army's are great guns. Enjoy the experience.
Best regards,
870classic.

thanks all, and yes, it comes with a conversion cylinder already.So, I'll be shooting BP loads and cowboy 45lc ammo

[MajorSideburns]

Find some ballistol for cleaning if you can, it also works great for preventing fouling buildup or cut with a little water for mid-session bore swabs. Seems like you got all the other bases covered, the only thing I would add is find the smallest lead ball size that still leaves a full ring of shaving when seated into the chamber. I don't know the chamber size of the Ruger but .457 like someone else recommended seems too large and the bigger the ball, the harder you will work to seat it. In my Pietta I use .451, even .454 seemed excessive. Get some felt wads and spray them with ballistol or buy them already lubed. The bore butter way works as well but is much messier. Always make sure the nipples are screwed in all the way, but never over tighten them or you will damage the threads. You don't want one flying backwards into your face, so periodically check them to make sure they are in good shape. I recommend putting a dab of some anti-seize (the kind used for spark plugs) on the threads after cleaning and reassembly. If rust sets in, they can be difficult to remove. There are a lot of little tools that go along with black powder shooting, some necessary, most not but will make your life infinitely easier. Get a nipple wrench, don't use pliers. Like someone else mentioned, the cap brands have some variation in sizing. The #10 CCI caps don't fit the same as the #10 Remington ones. The nipple wrench will be invaluable the first time you forget to put a powder charge and plug the cylinder with the lead ball. Just remove the nipple of that chamber and sprinkle in a bit of powder and reattach it to shoot out the ball. Much easier than trying to pull it out from the front with a corkscrew. Rugers are known for their strength, go by the manufacturer loading recommendations but you should be fine starting at 25-30 grains of powder. ALWAYS seat the ball all the way down to the powder. You never want air space between the powder and the ball.

Thinks you will need:

-Caps
-Lead balls
-Powder (black powder, or substitute)
-Powder measure (if using loose powder, disregard if using premeasured pellets)

Things you will really want to make life easier:
-Nipple wrench
-Powder flask
-Felt wads (great to use as a placeholder as well while loading. you can pour your powder, and put the wad leaving it at the top of the chamber as a marking so you know you already loaded that chamber, then when you load all 6 chambers with powder and wad, start putting the ball on top. that will save you from looking down the cylinder to see if you loaded that chamber)
-Nipple pick (any sort of sturdy wire that can fit in the hole will do, helps you clear out gunk at the range)
-Anti-seize
-Some sort of lube to reduce fouling
-Patience

[mtnman]

Well i went into Sportsmans Warehouse today and bought hornady balls, patches, no 11 primers, butter and this powder. They salesman sounded very knowledgeable and said this powder is the lowest in corrosiveness out of all of them, including 777 and other.s And its half the price or 1/3 of 777

https://www.sportsmanswarehouse.com/sportsmans/Alliant-Black-MZ-Muzzleloader-Powder/productDetail/Powder-and-Primers/prod99999030268/cat100011

[smle-man]

Well i went into Sportsmans Warehouse today and bought hornady balls, patches, no 11 primers, butter and this powder. They salesman sounded very knowledgeable and said this powder is the lowest in corrosiveness out of all of them, including 777 and other.s And its half the price or 1/3 of 777
https://www.sportsmanswarehouse.com/...0268/cat100011

Don't forget a powder measure and never pour directly from a flask into the chambers. Have a great time!

[mtnman]

Don't forget a powder measure and never pour directly from a flask into the chambers. Have a great time!

You never see a cowboy in the movies pouring from a powder measure! lol. The guy at SW said there is no way you can overload an old army, even if the ball is all the way to the end.
Ya i have one

[smle-man]

You never see a cowboy in the movies pouring from a powder measure! lol. The guy at SW said there is no way you can overload an old army, even if the ball is all the way to the end.
Ya i have one

What you can do is not be able to seat the ball far enough to rotate the cylinder if you have too much powder in it. I personally like the pellets, less fuss and muss.

[mtnman]

What you can do is not be able to seat the ball far enough to rotate the cylinder if you have too much powder in it. I personally like the pellets, less fuss and muss.

Yes but the pellets are very corrosive and you cant adjust your load for accuracy. I am sure you can get more than 30 grains in there if desired.

[THBailey]

You might want to buy or build a loading stand. For example:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Folding-Pine-Cap-and-Ball-Black-Powder-Revolver-Pistol-Loading-Stand/182991522697?hash=item2a9b250b89:g:Hs0AAOSwEeFVTUhC

[THBailey]

You never see a cowboy in the movies pouring from a powder measure! lol. The guy at SW said there is no way you can overload an old army, even if the ball is all the way to the end.
Ya i have one

Overloading is not the point. If by some freak of nature a glowing bit remains in the chamber and you start pouring in from your one pound container you just might become an up close participant in an event that shakes windows a half mile away. Unlike smokeless, real black burns as fast outside the gun as in.

For the same reason you don't want to leave your powder jug open on the bench while you are shooting. I am not familiar with the powder you bought so I can't speak to it, but when you shoot real black or pyrodex after dark you will see a bunch of little red hots floating around in the smoke cloud. I would suggest a powder flask with a measuring spout. For example:

https://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/201/1/FLASK-COLT

[smle-man]

Yes but the pellets are very corrosive and you cant adjust your load for accuracy. I am sure you can get more than 30 grains in there if desired.

30 gr is enough for me but to each his/her own.