Feeding a Ruger Old Army

[Mustang]

I Recently glommed a Ruger Old Army and am looking at my options for shooting it.

Are there any advantages of real BP over the substitutes? Substitutes over real BP?

I'm looking at Black MZ because it appears to be almost non-corrosive. Anyone with Black MZ experience in a revolver?

I received several suggestions so far...one was 30 gr pellets. Anyone use these in a BPR?

Some use Goex 3F, which appears to be real BP.

What are my options for charging the cylinders. Member Beetle Baily uses a measurer. Any other suggestions?

How critical are the uniformity of individual charges to accuracy in a ROA?

Thanks, guys.

[tuolumnejim]

I use only black powder, I tried that pyrodex crap in the 70's and hated it.

[Hardwarejunkie]

I'm also interested in other's experiences.
I've only used Goex BP and Pyrodex, I much prefer BP mostly due to the smell.
Pyrodex also stained the brass black on my Trapdoor.

OP - my understanding is that BP substitutes for pistols are designed to equal BP by volume not weight, hence the common use of measuring tubes.
All the pellets I've looked at seemed to be for single shot 50 cals, would be interested if there are any for .36.

[1859sharps]

Are there any advantages of real BP over the substitutes? Substitutes over real BP?

depending on the fine print of the substitute... the real deal can be safer. safer in that it is more tolerant of too much powder.

I'm looking at Black MZ because it appears to be almost non-corrosive. Anyone with Black MZ experience in a revolver?

this is another advantage...BP isn't quite as corrosive as people think. learned this doing civil war reenacting when I would forget to clean my rifle or pistols. sometimes weeks later. hot soapy water...all good. no damage to the rifle.

now, it is always better to be prompt in cleaning, because damage can happen, but BP is amazingly forgiving when things are dry.

Some use Goex 3F, which appears to be real BP.

it is real BP.

What are my options for charging the cylinders. Member Beetle Baily uses a measurer. Any other suggestions?

measure by volume. any source that sells blackpowder shooting supplies will have the tools to do this.

How critical are the uniformity of individual charges to accuracy in a ROA?

Thanks, guys.

Not as much as it is with modern smokeless. close is close enough, provided you aren't being sloppy by entire grains worth of measurement.

if you measure out 30 grains with a typical powder measure...but then took each charge and had a precision measure done and it turned out...

1 = 30.3
1 = 29.7
1 = 30.5
1 = 29.5
1 = 30.1

you would never notice the difference on paper.

[smle-man]

Being the contrarian that I am, I use Pyrodex 30 gr pellets due to ease of use. Long ago in a place far, far, away I was attempting to load my first ROA at the range with a stiff wind blowing. Much of the powder blew away before I could get it in each chamber. I had to walk to my car, sit in the seat with the door closed to load it each time.

When I got another ROA I switched to the pellets. I also found CCI caps to be worthless with Pydrodex. I use Winchester caps which ignite the pellets just fine.

[Tom-ADC]

If you are new to BP remember no air gap between the powder and the ball.

[kenl]

And grease the top of each load to prevent chain firing

[wild_weasel]

Being the contrarian that I am, I use Pyrodex 30 gr pellets due to ease of use. Long ago in a place far, far, away I was attempting to load my first ROA at the range with a stiff wind blowing. Much of the powder blew away before I could get it in each chamber. I had to walk to my car, sit in the seat with the door closed to load it each time.

When I got another ROA I switched to the pellets. I also found CCI caps to be worthless with Pydrodex. I use Winchester caps which ignite the pellets just fine.

I have had great performance in my ROA/Vaquero with the 30gr Pyrodex pellets topped with a Wonder Wad and .457 Hornady lead ball.

[Beetle Bailey]

Target was shot at 10 yards with a full .44 magnum case of Goex 3F (approximately 35 grains) with a lubbed felt wad and a .457 roundball. I used CCI #11 caps. The load chrono'ed at about 900 FPS.

[Beetle Bailey]

Another target with the same load. Note: that is about as well as I can shoot with a single action revolver. I mainly use my ROA to shoot reactive targets like steel plates - it is a fun gun to shoot, but I hate having to clean it right after a long day at the range. Hope this helps.

[Mustang]

Thanks everyone for all the feedback.

I saw 1859's advice regarding soap and hot water for cleanup. Any kind of soap? Dish soap, ok?

Anyone else have any clean up suggestions?

[Beetle Bailey]

I use Ballistol and have heard of people using Dawn dish soap. I suspect the lub on my wads help keep the fouling soft. So while there is a lot of gunk on the gun after a day of shooting (60 shots is a good day), it comes off pretty easily.

[kenl]

Ditto on dish washing soap. If you use black powder, the old times recommend staying away from any dino oil. It helps produce a hard to clean mess. I use clp, others use vegetable oil or slick 50.

[Mustang]

Thanks guys.

My ROA appears to be in perfect shape and I'm a little nervous about shooting BP in it without having a good plan for cleaning it up afterwards

[Tom-ADC]

I use Dawn dish soap clean cylinder and barrel. I rinse in very hot water it dries fast.