New Vaquero - .45 Colt or .45acp?
- Thread starter Joe_Pike
- Start date
Skeeter wrote "I thought you could by one that had cylinders for both rounds? 45
LC are very expensive so I would go with the 45ACP if I had to do it again "
In the case of the new run of Birdshead Vaquero, it is a limited production run, and only offered in 45LC OR 45 ACP.
I'm sure it wouldn't be too difficult for a gunsmith to fit a cylinder of whichever caliber you wanted......but for me, the ACP will be a good choice.
LC are very expensive so I would go with the 45ACP if I had to do it again "
In the case of the new run of Birdshead Vaquero, it is a limited production run, and only offered in 45LC OR 45 ACP.
I'm sure it wouldn't be too difficult for a gunsmith to fit a cylinder of whichever caliber you wanted......but for me, the ACP will be a good choice.
Magnum Wheel Man, you have had since March to try that. I bet it didn't work.
The .45 Auto Rim has a very thick rim, since it is the thickness of the normal ACP rim plus the thickness of the famous half-moon clip. The revolvers that shoot .45 ACP with clips have extra room from the back of the cylinder to the recoil plate on the frame.
The normal .45 Colt revolver doesn't have this extra room, and the .45 Auto Rim will not fit.
Bart Noir
Who gets great joy out of firing his blued birds-head New Vaq with .45 Colt rounds.
Master Blaster 2
Moderator
45Colt
Nice collection, Master Blaster!
But let's talk about those grips. The ones on the left (very attractive) replace the laminate ones from Ruger, I believe. I find the laminate ones to be shaped just right for me although I can see how other people may not.
The laminate birdshead grips allow the gun to recoil up and give me a very fast re-cock with the thumb on my firing hand.
But with my 5&1/4 inch New Vaq, which has Ruger checkered grips similar the one on the right (except plastic), the gun does not recoil up. It just sits snuggly in my hand and smacks the trigger guard into my middle finger. It doesn't take many shots until that hurts
Yes, I'm talking about more or less standard power loads.
Do you get your finger smacked by the gun on the right?
Bart Noir
But let's talk about those grips. The ones on the left (very attractive) replace the laminate ones from Ruger, I believe. I find the laminate ones to be shaped just right for me although I can see how other people may not.
The laminate birdshead grips allow the gun to recoil up and give me a very fast re-cock with the thumb on my firing hand.
But with my 5&1/4 inch New Vaq, which has Ruger checkered grips similar the one on the right (except plastic), the gun does not recoil up. It just sits snuggly in my hand and smacks the trigger guard into my middle finger. It doesn't take many shots until that hurts
Yes, I'm talking about more or less standard power loads.
Do you get your finger smacked by the gun on the right?
Bart Noir
Master Blaster 2
Moderator
MyVaquero Birds head came with smooth white plastic grips with a ruger logo. I like the elk better. Now the Taurus in the middle has a fax plastic stag grips-plastic, and the Montado came with checkered black plastic. I came across these wood ones I liked better.
On their handling I have only put 12 rounds thru each and this has been a long while ago. I never really shot enough to get sore. (I have a lot of guns.)
On their handling I have only put 12 rounds thru each and this has been a long while ago. I never really shot enough to get sore. (I have a lot of guns.)
Just put the initial 120 rounds downrange last night!
I love the 45 ACP round in this Birdshead revolver...
The shape of the Birdshead grip allows for the gun to roll up in my hand, under recoil, and makes it so easy to thumb the hammer back for subsequent shots.
Been awhile since I have owned a 45 ACP, so it was fun to see the big ol' holes in the paper!
Daylight was fading, so couldn't take pics last night.....soon as possible, I will post pics of this accurate, handsome revolver!
I love the 45 ACP round in this Birdshead revolver...
The shape of the Birdshead grip allows for the gun to roll up in my hand, under recoil, and makes it so easy to thumb the hammer back for subsequent shots.
Been awhile since I have owned a 45 ACP, so it was fun to see the big ol' holes in the paper!
Daylight was fading, so couldn't take pics last night.....soon as possible, I will post pics of this accurate, handsome revolver!
QuarterHorse
New member
Just to bring this current. I have a New Vaquero Convertible in a 5 1/2 SS model. Last weekend at the range I was shooting my Ruger with factory Remington 45 colt and ran out. I happened to have some hand loads for my 1911 in the range bag. I swapped cylinders and ran it through. Flawless.
I plan on running the same jacketed bullets in colt brass and going through my Lee dies so I don't have any worries of leading or differences in anything. If I plan on going more than 230 grain bullets or want to hand load some hunting rounds, I'll come up with a different load spec, or buy Buffalo Bore factory ammo for hunts I may go on.
Bob Wright
New member
If I may inject one little tidbit overlooked so far: the .45 ACP cases eject more easily than the longer .45 Colt empties. Sort of like punching out .22 Shorts from your Single Six. And this gun in question has a shorter ejector throw.
If ya'll can stand another picture, here's a couple of my short barrel Ruger .45s, both .45 Colt:
Bob Wright
If ya'll can stand another picture, here's a couple of my short barrel Ruger .45s, both .45 Colt:
Bob Wright
QuarterHorse
New member
Good call Bob, didn't even THINK about the ejector rod length.
I own both, or all three
I own a Ruger Vacquero shiny stainless that came two cylinders 45 Colt and ACP. They both feel the same in recoil and accuracy is comparable. The ammo is easier to find for the ACP, and smokless. If they filled a 45 Colt cartridge with smokeless it would be in the area of a 44 Magnum and would damage the cylinder. The old Vacqueros could handle "hotter" loadings, but definitely not the new ones. I buy ammo online and have no problem finding reasonably priced Long Colt. The LC ammo does smoke a bit(nowhere near as much as a percussion cap)...but thats the fun, isn't it?
Now the cons:
The 45 ACPs feel short and stubby loading into the cylinder...akin to trying to find the right end of a tater tot. In a combat situation the LC load blindly easier, eyes on the target I can orient the LC's faster. I have a Colt 3rd Gen in 45 LC as well and I like the Ruger better for carry, because it has the ability to carry a full six rounds safely, and has less clicks to cock, 2 while the real Colt has 4.
I hoped this helped and update us as to what you decided on.
Kevin
isotop235 is online now Report Post Edit Message
I own a Ruger Vacquero shiny stainless that came two cylinders 45 Colt and ACP. They both feel the same in recoil and accuracy is comparable. The ammo is easier to find for the ACP, and smokless. If they filled a 45 Colt cartridge with smokeless it would be in the area of a 44 Magnum and would damage the cylinder. The old Vacqueros could handle "hotter" loadings, but definitely not the new ones. I buy ammo online and have no problem finding reasonably priced Long Colt. The LC ammo does smoke a bit(nowhere near as much as a percussion cap)...but thats the fun, isn't it?
Now the cons:
The 45 ACPs feel short and stubby loading into the cylinder...akin to trying to find the right end of a tater tot. In a combat situation the LC load blindly easier, eyes on the target I can orient the LC's faster. I have a Colt 3rd Gen in 45 LC as well and I like the Ruger better for carry, because it has the ability to carry a full six rounds safely, and has less clicks to cock, 2 while the real Colt has 4.
I hoped this helped and update us as to what you decided on.
Kevin
isotop235 is online now Report Post Edit Message
Dusty Wheeler
Inactive
Wheelyfun,
Nice looking outfit! I may have missed it earlier but what is the make of the holster? I really like the high ride and forward cant.
Thanks,
Dusty Wheeler
Nice looking outfit! I may have missed it earlier but what is the make of the holster? I really like the high ride and forward cant.
Thanks,
Dusty Wheeler