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Ruger Old Army...legal in UK?

PostPosted: Thu Jan 17, 2019 10:39 pm
by Calfed
I just glommed a Ruger Old Army revolver at an estate auction and wondered if black powder revolvers are legal in the UK

Re: Ruger Old Army...legal in UK?

PostPosted: Thu Jan 17, 2019 11:32 pm
by Matt H
Yes, subject to usual FAC rules. If you want black powder, subject to an explosives licence.

Matt

Re: Ruger Old Army...legal in UK?

PostPosted: Fri Jan 18, 2019 12:42 am
by Calfed
Matt H wrote:Yes, subject to usual FAC rules. If you want black powder, subject to an explosives licence.

Matt



So treated just like any other pistol? Has to have the 20" coat hanger welded to the butt?

Re: Ruger Old Army...legal in UK?

PostPosted: Fri Jan 18, 2019 9:21 am
by Les1066
Calfed wrote:
Matt H wrote:Yes, subject to usual FAC rules. If you want black powder, subject to an explosives licence.

Matt

So treated just like any other pistol? Has to have the 20" coat hanger welded to the butt?


No - the coat hangers don't apply to BP guns. Just another example of the stupid rules concerning handguns in different parts of the UK. Have a look at the Henry Krank catalogue (online) .... there are some really beautiful BP revolvers and pistols available, all without stupidly long barrels and coat hangers. Perhaps they are not scary enough to attract special attention. :hmm:

Re: Ruger Old Army...legal in UK?

PostPosted: Sun Jan 20, 2019 10:44 am
by Bushdog
Yep, muzzle-loaders are the only "real" pistols we are allowed under Section 1.
I have a Ruger Old Army Stainless, which is a very reliable performer. Whenever we have a club shoot with muzzle loaders, it seems the Rugers are head and shoulders above original designs in terms of reliability.

Re: Ruger Old Army...legal in UK?

PostPosted: Sun Jan 20, 2019 5:32 pm
by Calfed
Les1066 wrote:
Calfed wrote:
Matt H wrote:Yes, subject to usual FAC rules. If you want black powder, subject to an explosives licence.

Matt

So treated just like any other pistol? Has to have the 20" coat hanger welded to the butt?


No - the coat hangers don't apply to BP guns. Just another example of the stupid rules concerning handguns in different parts of the UK. Have a look at the Henry Krank catalogue (online) .... there are some really beautiful BP revolvers and pistols available, all without stupidly long barrels and coat hangers. Perhaps they are not scary enough to attract special attention. :hmm:


Checked the Krank catalogue...there are some nice BP revolvers listed.

Re: Ruger Old Army...legal in UK?

PostPosted: Sun Jan 20, 2019 5:34 pm
by Calfed
Bushdog wrote:Yep, muzzle-loaders are the only "real" pistols we are allowed under Section 1.
I have a Ruger Old Army Stainless, which is a very reliable performer. Whenever we have a club shoot with muzzle loaders, it seems the Rugers are head and shoulders above original designs in terms of reliability.


I wanted a stainless version, but this blue steel version popped up at an auction and the price was too good to pass up. I grabbed it because of the low price and it appeared to be unfired. Found out after it arrived that it is some kind of "1 of 100" special edition.

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Re: Ruger Old Army...legal in UK?

PostPosted: Tue Jan 22, 2019 9:31 pm
by Coldfinger
That's a nice looking Ruger, my buddy sold one (without the decoration) last month.

Here's what I currently have in .36

IMG_1207 (1).jpg

Re: Ruger Old Army...legal in UK?

PostPosted: Fri Jan 25, 2019 2:27 am
by Calfed
Nice, CF!

Do you use real BP or one of the substitutes?

Re: Ruger Old Army...legal in UK?

PostPosted: Sat Jan 26, 2019 5:39 pm
by Coldfinger
I use Pyrodex rather than BP

Re: Ruger Old Army...legal in UK?

PostPosted: Sun Jan 27, 2019 1:14 am
by Calfed
Coldfinger wrote:I use Pyrodex rather than BP


Is pyrodex non-corrosive? How do you clean your revolver after firing it?

Re: Ruger Old Army...legal in UK?

PostPosted: Sun Feb 03, 2019 12:37 am
by Coldfinger
I strip off the woodwork and trigger, remove the cylinder and loading lever assembly then scrub with boiling water. A spray with "Mr Muscle with Vinegar" then a scrub with a bore brush.

Nipples get brushed out using dental bushes.

A toothbrush then cleans around the frame for those delicate little places around the firing pin hole, hammer, forcing cone, barrel end etc.

When everything is sparking clean another wash with the boiling water.

The hot water helps the drying but, especially since I have no other use for it, a hair dryer helps dry the gun. When all nice & dry everything gets reassembled.

That's why I wanted stainless and not blued.

Re: Ruger Old Army...legal in UK?

PostPosted: Sun Feb 03, 2019 6:21 pm
by Haggis
You could get the cylinder modified to use shotgun primers for a slighter cleaner revolver.

Re: Ruger Old Army...legal in UK?

PostPosted: Mon Feb 04, 2019 10:09 pm
by Coldfinger
A friend had that done, not a good advert for the process though.

He had an offset pin punch made to push out the primers because of the sticking but he had a lot off issues with primers not going off properly. Also, the dent in the primers sometimes disappeared proving that they were being pushed back against the frame. He chatted with the guys from A & A Gunsmiths who told him the best combination of powder, load and make of primers for the gun to function well. He is still experimenting but he's not totally happy with the performance.

If it had worked well I would have been more convinced and followed him, especially with the problems I have had with primers falling off and jamming the hammer. That's not good when shooting timed exposures.

Re: Ruger Old Army...legal in UK?

PostPosted: Tue Feb 05, 2019 3:03 am
by Haggis
I would only deal with Anvil for these conversions. Seen some of their work and it's top notch.

http://www.anvilconversions.co.uk/index_files/Page13768.htm