New ROA

Sootburner · Feb 25, 2018

Was in a local sporting goods store prior to this past Christmas. I wanted to check out what they had for cap&ball revolvers and what was sitting on the shelf, 2 brand new ROA one with fixed sights one with adjustable. Both were 7 1\2 in blued. Right then I slapped some money down on the adjustable model. I was able to pick it up yesterday and couldn't be happier.

Honestly I thought Ruger had stopped making these a few years back? Wonder if it was a limited run to test the waters?

Anyhow, for those that like the ROA keep your eyes peeled, you just might come across one.

Clickwhoosh

AZbpBurner · Feb 26, 2018

Ruger was a moron to quit building the ROA like he did; especially with no replacement parts inventory.

Compare your serial number with the Ruger list & see if it gives a manufacture year/date.
https://ruger.com/service/productHistory/RE-OABP.html

I didn't see anything in the online catalog mentioning reintroducing the ROA.

zimmerstutzen · Feb 26, 2018

The ROA was one of the best things going for those wanting to hunt with a cap and ball gun. There have been some internet buzz about a limited number production run, but I have never seen anything I thought credible. Heck just parts are rare as hens teeth, ruger could make a fair amount just selling parts.

ZUG · Feb 26, 2018

Clickwhoosh said:
Was in a local sporting goods store prior to this past Christmas. I wanted to check out what they had for cap&ball revolvers and what was sitting on the shelf, 2 brand new ROA one with fixed sights one with adjustable. Both were 7 1\2 in blued. Right then I slapped some money down on the adjustable model. I was able to pick it up yesterday and couldn't be happier.

Honestly I thought Ruger had stopped making these a few years back? Wonder if it was a limited run to test the waters?

Anyhow, for those that like the ROA keep your eyes peeled, you just might come across one.

Clickwhoosh

Chances are that those two were in someones safe as "collector guns" and the old fellow passed and his family sold them. I have two one S.S. and one blue. I shoot the blue one and look at the S.S. one. Someday when I'm gone my family will sell my guns and someone will buy my unfired S.S. R.O.A. and be VERY happy :thumbsup: !

don hepler · Feb 27, 2018

Someone else, will be happy when they get mine, but it will have been shot, but in perfect condition.

No more safe queens, for me.

I have the stainless, 7 1/2 ROA. I just use Black MZ powder, in it. Cleans up nice.

Sootburner · Feb 27, 2018

AzBpBurner,

Thanks for forwarding me the link to the serial numbers. According to that list, this ROA was manufactured in 2007. I looked it over really well and don't see any evidence of use :hmm: . So it must have been in someones safe or buried on the back room self of some distributor

Either way, I was very fortunate to have come across this one. I shoot GOEX out of my rifles, so I intend to use FFF GOEX in this as well.

Cant wait for this weekend :grin:

Clickwhoosh

Sootburner · Mar 4, 2018

Took the ROA to the range for the first time yesterday, man what a fun time that was. I will eventually get some GOEX FFF but for this trip I used some Triple 7. To say the least I was pleased with the outcome. The first picture is of the first 6 rounds out of the old army. I made some adjustments to bring the POI. The steel swinger are the final 4 shots for the day. The shots were all taken at 25 yards off a carpeted v-block. The load was 40gr of under a felt wad and a Hornady .457 ball.

First%206%20out%20of%20Box_zpsxdcqj3ty.jpg

Does anyone have any cronograph data using tripple 7?

Clickwhoosh

Smokey Plainsman · Mar 4, 2018

Like "he" did?

Do you mean Bill Ruger?

He's been dead since 2002, 6 years before the ROA was cut from the catalog in 2008.

But I agree, they shouldn't have gotten rid of them. The recent production ones were a small batch collector's run only from what I've gathered. There won't be any more made for a while and as of yet they are not going to be a regular production item anytime soon.

rodwha · Mar 4, 2018

You might find this interesting (6 parts):
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4WNYGs2_UZw

rdstrain49 · Mar 6, 2018

AZbpBurner said:
Ruger was a moron to quit building the ROA like he did; especially with no replacement parts inventory.

Compare your serial number with the Ruger list & see if it gives a manufacture year/date.
https://ruger.com/service/productHistory/RE-OABP.html

I didn't see anything in the online catalog mentioning reintroducing the ROA.

Ruger stopped production of the ROA in 2008, Bill Ruger died in 2002. So how is He a moron for quitting production "like he did"?

Just wondering.

Zonie · Mar 6, 2018

"Ruger" can be used either as the name of the man (Bill Ruger), or the name of the company he (and Strum) founded.

I'm sure AZbpBurner was using it as the name of the company when he made his comment although it is a bit strange to call a company a moron.

TFoley · Mar 6, 2018

I understand from another US forum that a VERY small run of ROAs was made for just one dealer - they sold out instantly at around $1400 a pop, and there will be no more.

Mine was my birthday present in 1986, and my widow will be selling it, but I won't.

tac

FishDFly · Mar 6, 2018

I understand from another US forum that a VERY small run of ROAs was made for just one dealer - they sold out instantly at around $1400 a pop, and there will be no more.

Can you quote more details on your knowledge and Forum???????????

M. De Land · Mar 6, 2018

I have one of the blue centennial models with 7.5 inch barrel and adjustable sights.
It's a shooter and not for sale.
All I had to do to it was give it a trigger job as nothing else could be improved from what I could see except perhaps squaring the bottoms of the chambers for a bit more powder capacity.
I'm told they are made of 4140 chrome molly which gives them the same strength as their cartridge revolvers. Of course the design is not adequate to any propellant but black powder or equivalent substitute powder.

BullRunBear · Mar 6, 2018

I wonder if a number of ROAs were gifts that never got fired. All of mine were 'used' but two of them were pristine. They were either never shot or received the best cleaning and care in the history of firearms.

Glad you like your new toy. They are superb and my favorite C&B. I would choose them over almost any modern revolver.

Jeff

BigAl52 · Mar 6, 2018

I just bought 2 ROA off GB both were with boxes. One blue and one stainless. Did I pay to much, maybe in some peoples opinion but in others I paid the going price for what they bring now. While searching and bidding on the ones I bought Davidsons has some for around 1200 if you want one bad enough. I didnt pay that much for mine not even close to that. But Ruger did a special run of them for Davidsons and that is what there are selling theres for. There a great gun and to me its all a matter of how bad you want one. Al

M. De Land · Mar 6, 2018

Wow, 12 to $1400.00! I paid $175.00 for mine in used condition about a decade ago and it was in excellent condition.
I never dreamed they would go that high!

TFoley · Mar 7, 2018

Well, I've been looking for the past half hour in the fora I frequent, and since I know roughly how much they sold for, the fact that they came in and went out almost instantly and that it was a big [?] name store, I'm not likely to have imagined it, even at my advanced age.

I'll carry on looking anyhow, just to satisfy my own curiosity.

Edit - here y'are - when all else fails, try looking on the manufacturer's own web-site, but they DID go out to just one dealer, and they DID get sold instantly...
https://www.impactguns.com/ruger-o...in-barrel-bluse-finish-736676014057-1405.aspx

tac

BTW - there are two in my local gun dealer, both used but in VGC, for $1200 each.

Rifleman1776 · Mar 7, 2018

Very fine shooting there. :thumbsup:
And, yes, you were very fortunate to make that catch.
I have had three ROAs. Two were only 100 special NMLRA numbered and inlaid auctioned for fund raising in the 70s. I had #69 and #10. The 69 went to my son and has been a safe queen since then unused. I traded the #10 for a Ruger Redhawk and another ROA that was a as new limited edition for 1776 Bicentennial. I shot that for many years then sold it. I don't know why. :doh:

Big misteak.

Wish I had it back.

mahd776 · Mar 8, 2018

My very first purchase on Gun Broker was a ROA. New in box stainless steel with the fixed sights. Think I paid $350 to $400 shipped to my door. That was probably 10 years or so ago. Its a great shooter!

New ROA

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