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The Ruger New/ Old Army

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I once noted on these pages, many moons ago, that if the cartridge had not been invented, the ROA may well have been what the percussion revolver might have ended up like in the1970s.

It's hard to say why it become such a hit in the USA, given to obvious - to me - antipathy of the original poster, although he says otherwise. He is unlikely to be alone in his opinion.

It begs the question why people buy what they perceive as either a replica, or a vague lookalike, of a familiar-looking gun at all. Just how much like a real Hawken does the any modern version look like? I've read enough here over the years I've been here to know that to many American shooters they some of them are as much like a Hawken as they are a M16.

However, we are talking about the ROA, which is not, as some note, a copy of anything, although it owes much to one particular gun whose name momentarily escapes me, and it's NOT the Remington NMA.

I guess it was such an obvious take on a generic 'old gun' but in modern format, using modern materials and a massive coil spring instead of a flat one, and looking as solid as Mt Rushmore, and it was going to appeal to people who wanted the feel of a old-style pistol, but the convenience of stainless steel - as soon as it arrived made in that material. It looked like it would last for ever, maybe longer, and certainly my own, bought on my birthday in 1986, cleans up well enough to be taken for one maybe a couple of years old. Nevertheless, it has had, MUST have had, 20,000 shots down it since that day. Maybe more.

I know that for most of you living in the US of A, the rationale behind the relatively huge sales is vague. Not so here in UK, where 99% death of our pistol shooting took place by October of 1997, by which time we had all handed in our cartridge-firing handguns, except in Northern Ireland, where they were exempted. The crazy rush to have ANY kind of a replacement big-bore handgun, even a muzzleloader like the ROA, was hard to resist, and for a while, nobody in the world outside the US bought more of them than the shooter on Mainland UK. Even today, with a good second-hand ROA STILL costing way more than almost any other BP handgun, sales are strong, and would undoubtedly be even stronger were it to come back into production. Indeed, I have waiting list of around ten or more people if and when mine comes up for grabs.

I'm sure you can see why any handgun that LOOKS like a proper handgun, as we know it, Jim, is going to take preference over an abortion, no matter how well it shoots.

View attachment 80495
the scary part of this, unless you missed it, was when we were REQUIRED TO HAND IN our firearms.
As a subject there was no option and my heart goes out to you.
As a CITIZEN I will not comply and a majority will follow me.
Sorry Zonie but I would not let this pass
Bunk
 
well, i certainly hope that they do start up again ... the prices of the ones on the used market are astounding! (and i've always wanted one with a shorter barrel)
 
the scary part of this, unless you missed it, was when we were REQUIRED TO HAND IN our firearms.
As a subject there was no option and my heart goes out to you.
As a CITIZEN I will not comply and a majority will follow me.
Sorry Zonie but I would not let this pass
Bunk
Interesting comments. Also interesting how guns were exempted in an area that has so much potential for mayhem. (N. Ireland).
 
BACK ON THREAD!
Realizing that will surprise some people but anyway here we go!
With any and all suppository guns selling like hot cakes I seriously doubt Ruger would devote time , labor, and materials for a gun that has such a relatively small market as the Old Army.
I had one in stainless and sold it years ago. Odd caliber ball. and a loading lever arrangement that had to be designed by Rube Goldberg.
I was seriously not impressed by it, but what do I know my specialty is just a can rolling and plinking. Perhaps an NMLRA target shooter would go for it, but how many of them are there?
Admittedly it is a very well made gun ready at unboxing, unlike the Italian kit guns, but just not my cup of black coffee, (or tea for people in UK) thank you very much.
Respectfully,
Bunk
 
True Ruger will not re-introduce it. Bill Ruger was upset at the conversion cylinders and
powder combinations being tried in it. He saw a major legal liability in it. Now, what is
likely is that Ruger will License the rights to it with release of liability, to another maker
such as Beretta/Uberti or Pedersoli for a special run. There is a growing market all over
the World for good cap and ball pistols due to less regulation and the fact that the larger
cap and ball calibers can serve for home defense. We will see.
 
The 2nd Generation ROA if ya want to call em that I mentioned in a previous post sold for $1175 on GB this morning. Info on it advised it was made in 2017 part of the 2017-18 remake of the ROA to be sold by Talo in a 'limited quantity. This one was a blued fixed sight model. The info advised it was part of Rugers factory collection and was being offered by 'Ruger Auction', what ever that is. new, unfired, in the box. Funds designated for 'Fund the Light' (?). Evidently Ruger must keep a collection of its product as there are other guns listed for sale by the Ruger Auction. I tried to do a link showing the auction info on GB, but as many computer functions go, beyond my paygrade. Maybe the Mrs. can do and I'll get it posted.
 
Perhaps an NMLRA target shooter would go for it, but how many of them are there?
I'm a target shooter, not NMLRA but MLAIC, not important actually : I'm just a target shooter...
The ROA is not authorized for target shooting (now not authorized at all in the country in fact) by the FFTir and the MLAIC, before it was by the FFTir, but that was before, before that the MLAIC exists in France.... ;)
With a bullet from a Lyman 452389 mold, the accuracy is impressive and the weapon very pleasant in hand... ;)
 
Good price if selling today, I'd buy one for that, but that auction ended in June of 2009. I seem to recall that Talo special edition. In a way I don't care for all those Talo/Davidson special buys. It does get Ruger to produce some firearms, but it seems that firearms from those two outfits always command a higher price than some of the same guns Ruger sells through normal channels at the regular MSRP.
 
At what distance are you speaking of? More accurate than RB?
For us the minimum distance is 25 m or ~27 yards, less is not possible and forbidden in shooting club except for some disciplines like Fun shooting but only with modern weapons type 1911.
My usual discipline is the Malson which is shot at 50 m. At this distance those bullets are much more effective than the round bullets of .457, but the mold must not be very easy to find now: I bought it at the same time as my ROA in 1976 ...
 
I had one back in 1976. Liked it but ended trading it for a Marlin 1895 in 45-70. Well, I just bought one at auction. It's blued and new in the box with all papers and the nipple wrench. I'm glad to have one again as they are great shooters. During these trying times, some like that you can obtain a conversion cylinder and shoot 45 Colt in it. No problems with any government paper work!

Lock and Load!
 
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