used ROA problems?

M

mucduc

Inactive
hey yall

im new to this form. i have been here a bunch looking up info about all sorts of guns, but this is the first time that i couldnt find what i was looking for so i thought i would register and ask.

im looking at a used ruger ROA blued with the long barrel. when i was holding it the cylinder seemed to be loose. is this normal in BP? (this is my first BP by the way) it just doesnt seem like it locks up tight at all, not even when the hammer is cocked compared to my modern revolvers. can anyone tell me if this is normal for this gun or should the cylinder lockup just as tight as a modern revolver does?

is this a easy fix if i find the parts needed? the price of the gun is $225

thanks everyone
 
My ROA is tight. Me thinks he is selling it for that price because it is worn out. Any decent shape used ROA is gonna bring north of $400 and maybe $450-$500 if in NICE+ shape. Unless you know what you are doing in repairing them, I would steer clear of this one.

just my two pesos
 
End shake (back & forth) or side to side wobble?

At $225, I think it's worth buying and sending back to Ruger for repairs.
 
A small amount of end shake is not much of a concern. Side to side motion is not a good thing, indicating severely worn, perhaps even damaged parts depending on the amount of travel. Yes, it can be repaired; 4v50Gary's suggestion of sending it back to Ruger would be the best idea if you're not a competent gunsmith. It won't be expensive; they might even do it gratis.
 
As Ronald Reagan always said, "Well...."

Went to a gun show here in Hampton Roads, VA. Guy had a stainless ROA-7 1/2 adj sights, that would not remain cocked (or even half cocked to my recollection) Price was $400.00. He was not budging off that price. He still had it at the end of the show. (I left Sunday at about 2:00. Maybe he sold it in the last two hours) I'd buy it for two and a quarter.
 
I bought a used Ruger Old Army for a little less than $200 along with a bunch of BP supplies.

The ROA was sold as non-operational because the cylinder would not latch and stay in position then fully cocked. It would be cocked, but i could spin the cylinder, which obviously is not good.


I sent it off to Ruger, which is what people here said to do, and Ruger fixed up like new and shipped it back without charge. It works like a new gun and i am very satisfied with Both the gun and Ruger's customer support.
 
well then it looks like im buying a ROA tomorrow. other than the cylinder play the gun looks to be in good shape. they took the rear sight off and put a scope on it. how can i tell how old it is? i found 1 website but it had a bunch of years missing.

mykeal- it is side to side wiggle. i have to move the cylinder so that the ram rod will line up with each cylinder. and it still wiggles side to side when full cocked.

im far from a gun smith. but if its simple part replacements im fairly good mechanically. i have a ruger p95 but never had any problems with it so i have never talked with rugers customer service, are they easy to deal with?
 
Cap and ball revolvers tend to get a lot of powder fouling inside the lockwork and if it is not cleaned out, it can eventually keep the small parts inside from working normally. Maybe it only needs to be taken apart and have everything cleaned and freed up again.
 
yeah i am going to look at it tomorrow and from what yall have been saying that its a good price i think i will pick it up and use it as a slow project for a change. (i usually get an idea and im full throttle til it gets done.) thanks everyone for the help.

one more thing. what do yall think about refinishing older guns like this. some people say to refinish the gun, and others say the worn finish adds character and value. what do yall think?
 
Go to Rugers web site and they have a drop down menu and it will tell how old the gun is. As far as the refinish, it depends on how bad it is and what caused it.
 
i dont believe the finish was real bad at all but just figured i may freshen it up. i will be going to look at the gun again today in about an hour
 
I don't think the ROA is that much of a collector's item yet so reblue it if you want to.
However, never reblue or refinish the wood on a genuine antique unless you want to ruin its collector's value. Collectors want old guns to look old.

I find the normal wear and patina of years of use somewhat attractive myself.
 
A worn finish on an ROA is not an enhancement. It's simply a used gun. The only 'collectable' ROA's are NIB, unfired, unturned with original boxes an paperwork.
 
well bad news. i went there yesterday morning to buy it and someone had bought it friday while i was at work. disappointed. but i will keep looking around. thanks everyone for there help.
 
Not to worry

Mucduc,

Stay tuned to Gunbroker. There are occassionally deals there that are almost as good as the one you described. Most will be on pistols which are in better condition and therefore start at $350 or $375. But buying a pistol at $225 that needs work is about like buying a pistol for a hundred and fifty more that is in at least 95% condition. Plenty of these ROAs go unsold.

What is important to know is that once you get the ROA, you will be happy you did.
 
ive looked on gunbroker.com a lot but have never been to sure about buying anything cause i wasnt sure about the quality of the guns. that whole "buyer beware" thing is what is stopping me from buying a gun online. does anyone have any bad results from buying from gunbroker?
 
I have bought three pistols and a bunch of parts.

No problems as yet. Many sellers will give you three days to inspect with a no fire agreement. I would ask about it if it is not mentioned in the ad.
I have an 1863 Remington for sale right now and I think I forgot to include it is the ad but of course it would be acceptable. I sell stuff on eBay and Gunbroker for fun. It isn't fun if the buyer is not happy.
 
You can safely buy a gun unseen from an online source. All that's required is a no-questions-asked money back return guarantee with a reasonable expiration period - a minimum of 3 days and a maximum of 5 days from receipt of the gun by the buyer. You should expect to pay shipping at least one way, and sometimes both ways.

Print this out in large, bold type, frame it and put it right over your computer monitor:

NEVER, EVER BUY A GUN UNSEEN WITHOUT A MINIMUM 3 DAY INSPECTION PERIOD AND A MONEY BACK, NO-QUESTIONS-ASKED GUARANTEE. NEVER.
 
mucduc, look at the sellers feedback, that well give you a general idea and like mykeal said a inspection period well protect you, at most you may be out shipping cost.

I would say 95%+ of the sellers on Gunbroker are honest people. Study photos closely, load them in photoshop and enlarge them. Don't buy the story about the gun, buy just the gun.
 
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