shooting the ruger old army

flintforever · October 10, 2010, 06:57 AM

I drag the ruger with me yesterday to the range came up with a outstanding load
Triple 777 35 Gr. a wonder wad and a grease cookie top of ball ( 60/40 mix beeswax,lard no salt, 2 tablespoons of olive oil)
The target 20 yards 6 shots maybe a 1 1/2" one hole group : but high just breaking the top of the black on the bullseye between 11 and 12 o'clock
I find the father I shoot it 50 yards I run out of the rear sight adjustment to try to lower the rear sight .she still shoot high
I have to say the gun can shoot

Rifleman1776 · October 10, 2010, 09:11 AM

congrats,they do shoot

zippy13 · October 10, 2010, 10:28 AM

Your sight adjustment problem is typical with the ROA if you use anything hotter than a basic mild ball load. I first encountered the problem years ago when I tried conical bullets in my ROA. My simple fix was to get a taller front sight blade from Ruger. Some folks think the higher front sight is unsightly and opt for lowering the rear sight.

ClemBert · October 10, 2010, 10:46 AM

Yup, I'm one of those rear sight lowering kind of guys.

On the left, a factory original rear sight blade. On the right, a rear sight blade where the top and the notch have been filed down 1/16".

The modified rear sight blade sitting on top of a factory un-modified one. If you don't like the result then it'll only cost you $2.99 for a new Rear Sight Blade.

This solution gave me more than enough room to adjust for the issue of my ROA shooting high at 25 yards.

flintforever · October 10, 2010, 10:57 AM

I would like to change the front sight but as far as i can see it is not pinned
or is it?

zippy13 · October 10, 2010, 12:17 PM

Mine was pinned. Have you looked under magnification?

zippy13 · October 10, 2010, 12:19 PM

ClemBert,
You make it look so easy, next time I'll try it your way.

Andy Griffith · October 10, 2010, 01:01 PM

Does the adjustment screw need to be thinned down too?
I've had to thin the top of the elevation screw on another Ruger (not an Old Army) before though...

Doc Hoy · October 10, 2010, 04:11 PM

On mine I had to remove the adjustment screw and take some off the bottom. The screw was slightly long and bottomed out before the sight got to its lowest point.

flintforever · October 10, 2010, 06:03 PM

I did look at the option I could remove the complete rear sight and grind down the base of it were it con tacks the frame above the hammer.

prob · October 16, 2010, 12:36 PM

I too have filed the rear sight on my Rugers to get a bit more adjustability. I think it beats the heck out of fooling around with the front sight.

cyberrman · November 21, 2014, 08:13 AM

the front sight blades i have used are for a Ruger new model black-hawk. these work for the ss adjustable sight old army. part number mr03600 and mr03611(this is the higher one of the two). i recommend getting both to test to see which you need. you can ether get them from midway for like 6 bux each or call Ruger and they will give them to you for free. you will also need a 1/16" drill bit to fit the blades and posibly a new role pin (part # KE-26). i used my old one.

October 10, 2010, 06:57 AM	#1
flintforever Member Join Date: July 31, 2010 Posts: 83	shooting the ruger old army I drag the ruger with me yesterday to the range came up with a outstanding load Triple 777 35 Gr. a wonder wad and a grease cookie top of ball ( 60/40 mix beeswax,lard no salt, 2 tablespoons of olive oil) The target 20 yards 6 shots maybe a 1 1/2" one hole group : but high just breaking the top of the black on the bullseye between 11 and 12 o'clock I find the father I shoot it 50 yards I run out of the rear sight adjustment to try to lower the rear sight .she still shoot high I have to say the gun can shoot

October 10, 2010, 01:01 PM	#8
Andy Griffith Senior Member Join Date: May 14, 2009 Location: Macon Co. NC Posts: 591	Does the adjustment screw need to be thinned down too? I've had to thin the top of the elevation screw on another Ruger (not an Old Army) before though... __________________ Barney Fife: "Nip it, nip it, nip it!" Andy Griffith:"Oh now Barn'...."

October 10, 2010, 04:11 PM	#9
Doc Hoy Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Naples, Fl Posts: 5,440	In a different way On mine I had to remove the adjustment screw and take some off the bottom. The screw was slightly long and bottomed out before the sight got to its lowest point. __________________ Seek truth. Relax. Take a breath.

October 10, 2010, 09:11 AM	#2
Rifleman1776 Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2010 Location: Arkansas Posts: 3,309	congrats,they do shoot

October 10, 2010, 10:28 AM	#3
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	Your sight adjustment problem is typical with the ROA if you use anything hotter than a basic mild ball load. I first encountered the problem years ago when I tried conical bullets in my ROA. My simple fix was to get a taller front sight blade from Ruger. Some folks think the higher front sight is unsightly and opt for lowering the rear sight.

October 10, 2010, 10:46 AM	#4
ClemBert Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2009 Location: Orlando Posts: 936	Yup, I'm one of those rear sight lowering kind of guys. On the left, a factory original rear sight blade. On the right, a rear sight blade where the top and the notch have been filed down 1/16". The modified rear sight blade sitting on top of a factory un-modified one. If you don't like the result then it'll only cost you $2.99 for a new Rear Sight Blade. This solution gave me more than enough room to adjust for the issue of my ROA shooting high at 25 yards.

October 10, 2010, 10:57 AM	#5
flintforever Member Join Date: July 31, 2010 Posts: 83	I would like to change the front sight but as far as i can see it is not pinned or is it?

October 10, 2010, 12:17 PM	#6
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	Mine was pinned. Have you looked under magnification?

October 10, 2010, 12:19 PM	#7
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	ClemBert, You make it look so easy, next time I'll try it your way.

October 10, 2010, 06:03 PM	#10
flintforever Member Join Date: July 31, 2010 Posts: 83	I did look at the option I could remove the complete rear sight and grind down the base of it were it con tacks the frame above the hammer.

October 16, 2010, 12:36 PM	#11
prob Member Join Date: August 2, 2009 Posts: 37	I too have filed the rear sight on my Rugers to get a bit more adjustability. I think it beats the heck out of fooling around with the front sight.

November 21, 2014, 08:13 AM	#12
cyberrman Junior Member Join Date: November 20, 2014 Posts: 1	the front sight blades i have used are for a Ruger new model black-hawk. these work for the ss adjustable sight old army. part number mr03600 and mr03611(this is the higher one of the two). i recommend getting both to test to see which you need. you can ether get them from midway for like 6 bux each or call Ruger and they will give them to you for free. you will also need a 1/16" drill bit to fit the blades and posibly a new role pin (part # KE-26). i used my old one.