Old Army capacity

[Glenn]

I have a stainless Old Army.  I keep reading about stuffing 40-45 grains of black into these things and I'd really like to know what's going on.  If I fill mine up to the brim,it holds 35 grains of FFFG and there is no way I could get a ball in there if I used a jack hammer.  So what gives?  Were the older steel ones bored differently?  Has someone been doing unmentionable things behind the barn with a Dremel tool?

[Angel_Eyes]

Glenn, both my stainless ROA's are from 1976,(American 200th year of Independence) #'s 2868 & 5118 and both will comfortably hold 40gr fffg and a ball.
My favorite load, for accuracy is 32.5gr fffg, no wad and a smear of grease over the ball.
Why yours are different, I cannot imagine, unless they have been changed in the intervening years.

Best of luck, UKshooter.

[Pettifogger]

I have a stainless Old Army.  I keep reading about stuffing 40-45 grains of black into these things and I'd really like to know what's going on.  If I fill mine up to the brim,it holds 35 grains of FFFG and there is no way I could get a ball in there if I used a jack hammer.  So what gives?  Were the older steel ones bored differently?  Has someone been doing unmentionable things behind the barn with a Dremel tool?

Are you talking real black or the subs?  The subs all weigh less so will fill up the cylinders quicker.

[Glenn]

Regular GOEX FFFG, the real thing.  This is a 145- series, if that helps.  And yes, I've checked the scale too!

[knucklehead]

I put 30 grains of 2f by volumn in  my ruger old army and have to use a .38 cal bullet to finish compressing the round ball on top of the powder cause the rammer does not compress far enough.

doing this tells me that 40-45 grains by volumn will work in my old army. never done it cause 30 grains is a good load for me. i hit the targets every time and recoil is very light as well.
also this load saves me about 10 grains per shot, thus more powder to load more often.

[Outrider #72622]

I have 4 of the 5.5, fixed site models.  One set SS, the othe is blued. 
I can put 40 gr of 3F goex in mine and it is a pain to get the ball in...with NO wad!
There is a company that sells cylinders that, they say, holds 10 more gr.  I can't see why you would ever need the extra space.  40 gr is more buck than I really want to deal with but hey, I had to try it...

[Dalton Masterson]

Glenn  just to be sure, you are using a volumetric measure right? A 40 gr weighed charge would be different than a 40 gr. volumetric charge. I dont know if it weighs more or less, but doubt it would weigh the same.
DM

[Glenn]

You may be on to something.  I have a volumetric but I've never used it.  I've always considered them sorta a cheap and crummy substitute for a scale.  About like using those little dipper things.  I've been reloading since I was 12 and guess I'm kinda set in some ways.
I will check it with that thing and let you know.

[Dalton Masterson]

That may be your problem indeed then. Remember that black powder is measured by volume not weight. Hope I helped ya and good luck. DM