As I understand it the Ruger "Old" Vaquero is built on the same frame as the Super Blackhawk. I'm not positive about this. I would like to know if I can use those hot "for Ruger only" reloads in this piece and still keep all my fingers. By the way, I love this gun, comfortable, accurate and fun to shoot.
Ruger Old Vaquero
- Thread starter alraizuli
- Start date
Yup. But there's a downside: they're not as out-of-the-box accurate as the mid-frame guns or the large-frames produced 2007 forward with the under-barrel warning labels.
All the mid-frames from 2004 forward (New Vaquero and such) have an improved cylinder making process. All the chambers are reamed with the same bit/reamer set in sequence instead of all-six-at-once. This improved accuracy. The process migrated to the large-frames later and can be IDed by the barrel warning label ("read the manual" and such). Under-barrel is what you want.
All the mid-frames from 2004 forward (New Vaquero and such) have an improved cylinder making process. All the chambers are reamed with the same bit/reamer set in sequence instead of all-six-at-once. This improved accuracy. The process migrated to the large-frames later and can be IDed by the barrel warning label ("read the manual" and such). Under-barrel is what you want.
Jim, thanks for your reply to my question. My Vaquero is an older one with the warning label on the left side of the barrel. Mine must have been made on a Wednesday because it is quite accurate, I guess I just got lucky. It's accuracy holds up well next to my S&W 25-5 ( an older model with a pinned barrel ). I won't be shooting "Ruger only loads" in the S&W. The Ruger has done so well with regular loads that I've been wanting to step it up a bit and see how well it does.
Yep, the Old Vaquero can handle the .45 Colt ROL loads. Frame size is same as the Super Blackhawk and standard Blackhawk.
Here is some good reading material for you :
PDF Brian Pearce on .45 Colt
Linebaugh Dissolving the Myth .45 Colt
Ross Seyfried on .45 Colt
Welcome to the forum too...
Here is some good reading material for you :
PDF Brian Pearce on .45 Colt
Linebaugh Dissolving the Myth .45 Colt
Ross Seyfried on .45 Colt
Welcome to the forum too...
I have a big Vaquero too. It's built on the Blackhawk. The Super Blackhawk is a Blackhawk with a larger grip frame. The cylinder and frame are the same.
My Vaquero has been fairly accurate and has allowed me to make hits on bowling pins at 200 yards. It's not easy but it can be done.
If you're going to load it like a howitzer be aware that the gun will rotate in your hands. You will not be able to run follow up shots quickly. Be sure to use a spacer between your grip panels so the screw doesn't break the grips.
My Vaquero has been fairly accurate and has allowed me to make hits on bowling pins at 200 yards. It's not easy but it can be done.
If you're going to load it like a howitzer be aware that the gun will rotate in your hands. You will not be able to run follow up shots quickly. Be sure to use a spacer between your grip panels so the screw doesn't break the grips.
Redhawk5.5+P+
New member
Vaquero
Spanish, from vaca, cow, from Latin vacca.]
Regional Note: Used chiefly in southwest and central Texas to mean a ranch hand or cowboy, the word vaquero is a direct loan from Spanish; that is, it is spelled and pronounced, even by English speakers, much as it would be in Spanish. In California, however, the same word was Anglicized to buckaroo. Craig M. Carver, author of American Regional Dialects, points out that the two words also reflect cultural differences between cattlemen in Texas and California. The Texas vaquero was typically a bachelor who hired on with different outfits, while the California buckaroo usually stayed on the same ranch where he was born or had grown up and raised his own family there.
Spanish, from vaca, cow, from Latin vacca.]
Regional Note: Used chiefly in southwest and central Texas to mean a ranch hand or cowboy, the word vaquero is a direct loan from Spanish; that is, it is spelled and pronounced, even by English speakers, much as it would be in Spanish. In California, however, the same word was Anglicized to buckaroo. Craig M. Carver, author of American Regional Dialects, points out that the two words also reflect cultural differences between cattlemen in Texas and California. The Texas vaquero was typically a bachelor who hired on with different outfits, while the California buckaroo usually stayed on the same ranch where he was born or had grown up and raised his own family there.
Thanks for the links to those articles rclark. They not only gave me good advice on hot loads for my Ruger, but also some good information on loads for my 25-5. I'm not intending to use anything "hot" in the 25-5, but it did show me that I can use loads a little warmer than I've been using.
Thanks also to feets. Can you give me a little more detail on the grip spacers you mention ? Are these commercialy available or something I make myself? Also, if I make them what kind of material do I use.
All you guys have made me feel welcome as a new member to this forum. I think I'm going to enjoy it here.
Thanks also to feets. Can you give me a little more detail on the grip spacers you mention ? Are these commercialy available or something I make myself? Also, if I make them what kind of material do I use.
All you guys have made me feel welcome as a new member to this forum. I think I'm going to enjoy it here.
Shadi Khalil
New member
rc,
That was some good reading, thanks for posting it.
That was some good reading, thanks for posting it.
I would suggest the entire set of John Linebaugh's early writings that he's chosen to put online:
http://customsixguns.com/writings.htm
"Dissolving the myth" is part of a series.
This stuff basically documents John's early work on exploring the 45LC's limits, before he went past that into the 475 and 500 calibers that bear his name and paved the way for the 500S&W.
http://customsixguns.com/writings.htm
"Dissolving the myth" is part of a series.
This stuff basically documents John's early work on exploring the 45LC's limits, before he went past that into the 475 and 500 calibers that bear his name and paved the way for the 500S&W.
