Vaquero .45lc recoil

J

jlflegal

New member
Thinking about a Ruger Vaquero in stainless with a five inch barrel.

I have a K framed Smith .38 model 15 which I like and my model 60 .38. I tried a guy's .44 mag snub once at the range and after two shots I gave it back!!

I do not like heavy recoil in rifles, heavy to me is an '03 Springfield or 8mm Mauser, or, really, even a .308 M1A. I've tried all these thinking I'd buy one and after shooting decided not.

Would I enjoy shooting such a revolver or should I perhaps consider scaling down to the .357 model of this gun and shoot .38's in it?

This is for fun shooting, cans and targets.
 
why not scale down if you have questions about your tolerance? i think it would be wise for you to go with the 357,and like you said,shoot 38's.
it's a wise move,and it's refreshing to see someone admit it.
 
No, stick to your plan of a .45 Colt Vaquero. It's a great gun and a great cartridge. Most commercial ammo for it will be relatively light loads unless they specifically state otherwise. It will shoot with light recoil. Light, that is, compared to a .44 Magnum in a "normal" .44 Magnum gun. (.44 Mag in a snubby!!! Not me.)

If you reload, you can tune the .45 Colt to your likeing. Very light or hot enough for a good hunting round. Of course, all of the above can be said for a .357 magnum model and shooting .38 Spcl. But, the Vaquero just seems to be bastardized in that caliber to me.

Please don't base a decision based on firing a different caliber in a different gun.

[Edit]
I was composing my note while lefty was posting. The initial "no" above is directed to jlflegal and not lefty's opinion. :)
 
Standard factory 45 loads are designed to be safe in vintage firearms, all the way back to 1873.

With the heft of the Vaquero, std 45 loads feel about like 38 specials.

But, unless you handload, 45 gets really pricey - the 38/357 would be a lot cheaper to shoot if you buy all your ammo.

45 colt can be loaded up to 44 mag specs when used in strong modern guns like the Vaquero and Blackhawk. Shoot a couple of those, and the std 45 will feel like a 22 :)
 
45LC, especially the cowboy loads, are easy to handle. Cost, however, is a big factor (about double the price of 45ACP... go figger).

-0-
 
"about double the price of 45ACP... go figger"

Simple answer - volume.

That's why 12 gauge shells are cheaper than 16, 20, 28, or .410

And 22 long rifle is cheaper than 22 short.

Edit: of course, people buy more of the cheaper calibers so they can make them in greater volumes and they get even cheaper (comparitively) so people buy more of those and ....
 
.45LC price

I get .45LC loads from Miwall Ammo up in Northern California. Good loads with consistant quality. I find it more accurate then many of the factory "white box" loads I have shot.

50 rounds for $10.95 or 250 for $50. Not .38 cheap, but certainly not the $20/box I keep hearing folks spout off about.

.45LC can be a stout load, but I find it much more comfortable to shoot then .357 or .44 magnum. I find the magnum loads to be whippy while the .45LC and .45ACP is more of a push. IMHO.
 
Actually something good to be found in CA ... ? :)

Around here, $20 gets you a HALF-box - 25 rounds of 45 LC. (with a couple bucks change, big deal). 50 rounds about $25.


Still, anyone who shoots 45 colt should try reloading. I find them easier to reload than 38 special because everything is so much bigger to handle for my clumsy fingers. And you get to see how BIG those chunks of lead are before you seat them in the case. :cool:
 
I have a Ruger Vaquero in .44 magnum with the 7.5 inch barrel, and it handles recoil very well. The Vaquero is a very large, heavy gun. I should think that most .45 LC ammo would be less energetic than the .44 mag, so I don't think you would have any problems. The sights on the Vaquero are minimal (groove on top of frame) and the trigger is a little heavy, but the gun is surprisingly accurate.
 
I got the bird's head sheriff's model in .45 colt and just love it.
Of course, if the harder to find .357 mag sheriff's model was available in bird's head config, I'd have bought that, too.
 
I have the 4 5/8" model in Stainless and having shot it, can tell you there is hardly any recoil. So, I loaded up another 500 rounds to play with.
 
As has been said, with factory equivalent loads, the .45 Colt Vaquero is very pleasant to shoot.

My best loads in mine are the 300 grain bullets around 850 fps.

I've gone up to 1100 fps with 300 grain bullets in mine, and it is still manageable with Pachmayr rubber or Hogue wooden grips.
 
I recommend the .357 version. .38 special ammo is dirt cheap, and you will be able to shoot it more than a .45 Colt Vaquero (assuming you do not reload).
 
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