Ruger ROA and tape on wheel weights

[Lefty SRH]

I just committed to buy a Ruger ROA .45 cap and ball revolver. Are tape on wheel weights ok to use as casted balls or casted bullets for the gun?

[Boerrancher]

You will be fine with the stick on WW. Depending on what the actual size is when they drop, you may need to add a smidgen of tin if they drop a bit smaller than you would like. I have added tin on occasion to bump up the size a bit for CB Revolvers. I like to shave a nice ring when seating the ball.

Best wishes,

Joe

[Lefty SRH]

Can't wait, I've wanted an ROA for a while. Can you suggest a ball mold and a conical bullet mold for the ROA?

[Coffeecup]

I'm using a Lyman .457" round ball, and recently started playing with a slug from a mould by Lee.

[dualsport]

Lee used to make a combination roundball/conical mold for the ROA, IIRC. Might still do. Either way, they have a mold for the ROA conical that is great. Also, since I got a loading stand shooting the ROA has been more fun, easier to load.

[DIRT Farmer]

+1 on the reloading stand. I have used WW when I had no other lead to use. It was a chore to load and a lot of stress on the gun. Rim fire lead works ok, to.

[Omnivore]

If you decide that your WW lead is too hard, you can still use it up. Get some pure lead and dilute it.

[Lefty SRH]

+1 on the reloading stand. I have used WW when I had no other lead to use. It was a chore to load and a lot of stress on the gun. Rim fire lead works ok, to.

What exactly is a reloading stand?

[DIRT Farmer]

I guess I will have to get a grandkid to stop buy and find the software to install so I can send pictures.
My stand is a 2x4 upright about 12 inches highand a 2x6 base. Set the 2x4 upright on the bench slide the 2x6 in the flat plane, up aginst the 2x4. mark and install a hinge if you want to fold it in your shooting box. I took a spade bit in the drill press and cut a groove to rest the barrel at the top and routed a recess for the butt in the 2x6. I have a marked chamber, when shooting I place a wad in that chamber amd for slow fire use the next chamber to load a single shot at a time for the match. For the limited time fire, I load five shoot then reload and fire for the ten shot string. The 2x6 base has a "dish" routed to hold 10 balls to make keeping track of where I am in the relay.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

here is a google image very similar to one I use

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.zenosincitycustom.com/uploads/3/6/9/9/3699207/252844041.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.zenosincitycustom.com/pistol-display-stands.html&h=333&w=250&sz=22&tbnid=bXPx6hdVXnbUuM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=68&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dblack%2Bpowder%2Bpistols%2Bstand%2Bim age%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=black+powder+pistols+stand+image&docid=aZOnQYtxjdrJeM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=I_t8T5XqFYGNgwe-8siJDA&ved=0CEAQ9QEwAw&dur=0

[Lefty SRH]

I got my ROA today and it looks really nice. Hope she shoots as good as she looks. I'm hoping that me and a friend can go in together and buy a bullet mold that would suite my ROAand his 1860 Pietta. Any mold suggestions besides LEE?

[Alan]

Jeff Tanner will make any diameter RB you want. Generally will ship the same day he gets the _EMAIL_. He prefers paypal. More than Lee, less than Lyman. No sprue cutter, but I just use dikes. VERY fast and easy to use moulds.

[Lefty SRH]

I am considering this one from Accurate Molds

http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=45-180R-D.png

[R.M.]

If it casts to those dimensions, it'll probably be too small for the ROA. You need a .457" RB for the Ruger, and the 1860 Pietta will probably need a .451", or possibly a .454" ball.

[Lefty SRH]

If it casts to those dimensions, it'll probably be too small for the ROA. You need a .457" RB for the Ruger, and the 1860 Pietta will probably need a .451", or possibly a .454" ball.

I know the ROA says use a .457 RB but the cylinder chambers measure .452 (5 out of 6) and the last one measures .451

[docone31]

The Pietta likes the .454. If you use a .454 in your ROA, you will be disapointed. The .457 delivers!
The .457 in the Pietta puts too much pressure on the loading rod. It can be done, but for how long?
The RB will give you the absolute best performance. Smear Crisco on top put on the caps, and it does shoot! A good strong pistol. The RB makes the best load in my opinion also. Faster to load. going with the .457 gives a wider band to grip the rifling.