Ruger Vaquero in 357mag or 45LC??

S

sgtar15

New member
I am planning on buying one of these soon with the standard grip and 5 1/2" barrel, but can't decide on the caliber. The 357 has higher velocity and higher muzzle force than the 45, however I like the idea of the large grained 45LC. I will be reloading for either. I will be using it mainly for plinking and protection while hiking.
My one concern is which will produce more felt recoil? This is important because the grip bottoms rest on the middle of my pinky finger.

Suggestions? Opinions?



------------------
ALL CRIMES ARE HATE CRIMES.

SGTAR15
 
Do yourself a favor and get the .45 blackhawk cnvertible (5 1/2 w/adj. sights). I did and it is one of the most enjoyable centefire pistols I own. Although probably not recommended I even reloaded both with the acp dies.

------------------
"Keep shootin till they quit floppin"
The Wife 2/2000
 
Why not get the best of both worlds and go with a 44 Magnum?
 
The Vaquero has its own appeal of classic appearence with modern innards. I can relate to one who chooses it, even at expense of giving up adjustable sights. My only reservation would be if getting it with the extra .45 ACP cylinder. Is this option even offered in Vaquero?

If classic lines are a factor, I'd say, certainly, get Vaquero in .45 Colt caliber. The smooth top makes it easier to holster wihout tearing up your clothing and skin.

I've killed several deer with .45 Colt and one wth .357. I doubt any of them could have discerned the difference. Had tracking been required, the sharp-shouldered .45 LSWC might have left a better blood trail. All the .45s went through-and-through, where the .357 stopped on far side of chest.

Effect of a fairly stout .45 load is, subjectively, BOOM (roll up in hand.) With a full house .357 mag, it is sort of CRACK (SMACK in the hand.) The classic single action, plow handle grip frame allows the big bores to roll in the hand, and tames the recoil for me. I cannot understand those who claim the Bisley-type frame helps them control recoil. I find it easier to shoot a .454 Casull than a .44 mag Bisley/Ruger.

I really prefer shooting with pinky beneath the grip frame--It allows for pressing back into sight line while cocking hammer for repeat shot.

Intended use--Plinking, protection. If you handload, little difference. If not, light .38 Spl loads are cheaper than .45s. I could make a case for the .45 being more intimidating than the medium bore, to a two-legged predator. If you hike where BIG bears, Brown or Grizzly, may be encountered, you need a whole 'nother strategy--heavest .44 mag loads or a .454 Casull, or a .45-70 carbine.

Hey, you asked for OPINIONS, huh? I realize how subjective all this is.

Whatever your choice, best of luck.
RR

------------------
---The Second Amendment ensures the rest of the Bill of Rights---
 
Rocky Ridge,
Yes, you can get the Ruger Vaquero in 45LC/45ACP combo, it's about $50 more.
You gave me alot to think about, especially the bears. I hike in northern Ca., we have bears and mountain lions here.
I like the idea of 38 specials in the 357, but I also like the bigger bores.

Question, I like the balance of the 4 3/4" barrel but think the 5 1/2" will have better sight line and looks better. I also think the 5 1/2" will be better for recoil. What do you think? I just might have to get one of each caliber. :D :D:

------------------
ALL CRIMES ARE HATE CRIMES.

SGTAR15
 
Why on earth would the .44 magnum be the best of both worlds? There is no question that the .45LC can be quite a bit more powerful than a .44 magnum, depending of course on how it is loaded. The vaquero is the perfect gun to shoot hot .45lc out of, due to its strength.
 
I purchased the Vaquero in 45LC about 5 years ago and love the thing. My wife even loves it. She only refers to it as Big Daddy and she can control it very well. You're right, when the trigger is pulled it goes BOOM not CRACK and just rolls up in the hand, then settles back down for the next shot. Mine is the 7½ inch barrel so that probably tames some of the recoil.

I've read several articles that rate the .45LC as being much more effective than the .44 Magnum with lots less pressure. My only experience with it's destructive power was shooting a toilet once at about 15 yards with 300 gr. JHP. The thing disintegrated completely into fragments.

If it is possible to shoot the .45ACP in the vaquero I'd get the extra cylinder. One thing that I think I read somewhere is that once you buy the gun they cannot make another cylinder for it so if you don't get the extra one when you purchase then you're out of luck. Again, I'm not sure about that but seems like I read it somewhere. Might want to check it out.

Having said all that I'll sum it up this way. The .45LC is much more enjoyable to shoot than the .357 mag any day of the week.

Best of luck,

sks

------------------
The best weapon for self defense is the one you have when the need arises!
 
The .45 Colt can do anything the .44 Mag can do, and typically do it in 1/2 the barrel length, and at lower pressures. It's all about trajectories. Get the .45 Colt, and check out www.sixgunner.com and go to Linebaugh's page.
 
Tony Z - the .45 convertible Vaquero was not a catalogued item. I had recently purchased a Blackhawk .45 convertible when one day my dealer told me about the availability of the convertible Vaqueros. I had to have one. Not sure but I think they were through Davidson's. As an aside, I found a Vaquero Sheriff's model (3 5/8 inch barrel) which I pick up this weekend. I would love to get a .45 acp cylinder for it but have been led to believe Ruger will not do that. Gonna call them anyway.

------------------
Lazarus
 
The .45 Vaquero 4 5/8 inch bbl will be my next pistol purchase.

I love the .357 and it has been a tough call for me too. But it is time I owned a 45LC. There is just too much history in it, not to have one.

I also recommend these sites. http://www.sixgunner.com/ http://www.milesfortis.com/ http://www.realguns.com/archives/newarc.htm http://www.sixguns.com/ http://www.shootists.com/ http://www.beltmountain.com/



------------------
so he cocked both his pistols, spit in the dirt, and walked out into the street.
 
I have a Ruger BlackHawk in 45LC and it is a shooter. However I think my next revolver will be a Vaquero in .44 mag. Wider variety of bullets available, and shot shells available for snakes are a good thing.

If it was to be my only Big Bore revolver I would stick with the LC. In my opinion it is the absolute best cartridge out there for revolvers. 'Course that's my opinion....

------------------
**P.P.L.L.**
 
If you decide on the .45 LC you should check the cylinder throats. Unless Ruger has changed manufacturing policies the throats are several thousandths undersize and this will swage the bullets down to the point where they do not engage the riflings properly and accuracy will suffer.
Due to customer requests, one of our local gunsmiths has invested in a reamer to correct this on-going problem.

I have never had a problem with recoil on the pinky under the grip frame. It is the proper position for that digit, because it helps index the pistol in your grip.




[This message has been edited by William R. Wilburn (edited July 11, 2000).]
 
45 colt.
yes 357 mag can do alot of damage, i dont know but i have heard about what it does to engine blocks, but i would be willing to bet that 45 would do enough damage to get the job done. besides everbody has .357 be an induvidual get a 45 long colt.
 
Whiskey--
Your tag line,
"so he cocked both his pistols, spit in the dirt, and walked out into the street."

Robert Earl Keen, right? I don't recall the song name, but a goodly ballad. "In an alley in Abilene, with all but four shells spent . . . ."

the dude wrote--
"yes 357 mag can do a lot of damage, I dont know but I have heard about what it does to engine blocks, but I would be willing to bet that 45 would do enough damage to get the job done."

When I was in second of third grade, early '50s, Dad commented on the .357 magnum being able to "break a car engine block." In later years, I learned, to my disappointment, that this took a special set of circumstances to hold true.
1) Special early loads--The 150 to 158 metal piercing, high-speed load. One of these was the Remington "Highway Master," rated at 1510 fps from 8-3/8 inch barrel.
2) Use of at least a six-inch barrel, to get the benefit of the above load.

The soft lead SWC loads, especially from the popular 3-1/2 inch S&W (later known as model 27) would seldom punch through the water jacket of a car engine.

I imagine my heavy .45 Colt loads with very hard 454424 bullets would do as well for such purpose as most modern .357 loads. But, then again, I'm not afraid of or mad at many engine blocks nowadays.

sgtar15--
I prefer the shorter 4-3/4 barrel, both from appearance and portability standpoint. Of course, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, etc. I would agree that the longer barrels would burn more powder, more efficiently, but I respectfully disagree with comments about longer bbls helping tame recoil. I think it is like unto the length of a lever--Longer lever moves the load more efficiently. Check with those who ever had aftermarket barrel venting done, as with the old Mag-Na-Port trapezoidal slots. They hardly worked at all with the snub magnums, worked far better on the four-inch guns, and only really became efficient with the six-inch or longer barrels. For a more modern comparison, compare a ported short Glock in .40 with a long-slide, ported .40.

Best regards--
RR

------------------
---The Second Amendment ensures the rest of the Bill of Rights---
 
Get the 45 Colt! There is nothing that the 357 can do that the 45 can't do better, from the cute little cowboy loads that are suitable for your Grandmother to shoot to the warm reloads that will do anything the 44 Mag will do. I have had a Blackhawk in both calibers and only have one of them now. The only advantage for the 357 is for non reloaders shooting cheap 38 Special loads. If you reload this isn't an issue. If you get the chance to hold both the 45 and the 357 at the same time I believe the balance and weight alone will point you to the 45.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top