New Vaquero misfire issue

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jhe1956

Bearcat
Joined
May 6, 2022
Messages
11
Location
Comfort, Texas
I recently purchased a .357 new Vaquero from an estate. From all indications it had never been fired. I swapped in a SBH hammer . On my first trip to the range I started having a number of misfires from what I assumed were light hammer strikes.

Since a heavier hammer spring does not seem to be available for the NV, I tried shimming the spring with a washer. At this point I took it back to the range with 3 boxes of factory ammo ( Fed, CCI, and Win.) Still misfiring, with no regard to brand of ammo/ primers. BUT, only on one chamber (I numbered them with a Sharpie on the cylinder face.) This has me baffled. Seems like if the SBH hammer were the issue it would not be limited to a single specific chamber. Or could it?

So do I bite the bullet and send it to Ruger ( knowing they will probably put the high spur factory hammer back in?) Or do I live with it as I use it for SASS matches and can leave the bad chamber empty.
 

jhe1956

Bearcat
Joined
May 6, 2022
Messages
11
Location
Comfort, Texas
Yeah. I had someone do the swap for me. Took him 3 hours. I will see if he is willing to put it back. If that solves the problem I will probably sell the gun.
 

hittman

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Yes, Ruger will return it to factory original and it will work.

Welcome to the forum. (y)
 

contender

Ruger Guru
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Lake Lure NC USA
Welcome to the Forum.
As noted,, first,, I'd try to put the original hammer back in & try it. Plus,, if it takes 3 hours to do that,, they do NOT know how to properly work on a Ruger.
Next,, just a thought. I'd check a few things before sending it to Ruger.
The "safety step" top portion of the SBH hammer vs the original one. Measure the depth they each have. Sometimes,, a hammer can have a longer nose of this portion of the hammer vs others. Next,, sometimes the thickness of the safety transfer bar can be different as well. Measure both.
Just a few thoughts here.
 

Hoofnit

Bearcat
Joined
Jun 17, 2011
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87
Location
Cottonwood, AZ.
Most likely it's the step at the top of the hammer...have installed a bunch over the years and most always have to cut the super hammer a bit. That being said the whole thing shouldn't take 45 minutes start to finish.
For whatever its worth...
 

louiethelump

Buckeye
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Oct 17, 2005
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Webster, Florida
Agree with hammer being the problem. It may be hitting the frame before applying full hit to transfer bar.

I would not be too concerned about it being on one chamber only. Everything has tolerances that is mass manufactured and if a slight low spot on the cylinder happens where a slight too deep chamber is the combination of the two in tolerance things can make that chamber a marginal hit. Normal hammer blow on a Ruger single action is enough to override this, but you changed the hammer. Part of fitting that hammer is to check firing pin protrusion, and if it took your guy three hours he probably does not know to check that, like said above by someone else. Fix it. Don't sell it. They are hard to find these days.
 
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louiethelump

Buckeye
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Oct 17, 2005
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Webster, Florida
I understand the desire for the SBH hammer. It has a lower and wider spur, and I have put them in a few of my guns over the years. But more than half required some reduction in that nose of the hammer that meets the frame to get full firing pin protrusion.

He was trying to make his gun better in a reasonable way.
 

jhe1956

Bearcat
Joined
May 6, 2022
Messages
11
Location
Comfort, Texas
Not trusting myself to take a file to the hammer without screwing it up, and not knowing
of a local gunsmith I would trust to do the work properly, can someone recommend a shop that can make this hammer/gun work. I bought it for SASS matches so would really like to keep the low spur hammer,
 

Biggfoot44

Blackhawk
Joined
Sep 6, 2009
Messages
829
A general reminder - Always function test a new/ new to you firearm in its original ( to you) condition , before changing anything .
 

hittman

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Member here called 2 dogs is from TX too …. Maybe shoot him a message.
 
Joined
Sep 1, 2003
Messages
7,095
Location
Richmond Texas USA
Well you say you have a NEW Vaquero which is the MID size frame. The Super is the LARGE size frame. I have not done this conversion so not sure it will work I assume it will with some work. I have seen a lot of LARGE frame hammers changed out.

There is a SASS club just down the road from you The Texican Rangers. A lot of the SASS Guys have put Super Hammers on their Vaqueros. Check to see when they have a match and go talk to them. I'm sure someone will know how to fix it since it is not that big a deal.


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Onty

Single-Sixer
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Dec 17, 2000
Messages
491
A lot of the SASS Guys have put Super Hammers on their Vaqueros.
I always wanted stainless Bisley 44 magnum with fluted cylinder, so when opportunity came as a large frame stainless 45 Colt Vaquero Bisley, I grabbed it. Soon after I purchased brand new SBH stainless, 5.5" and sent both guns for parts to be swapped. So I ended up with stainless Bisley 44 Magnum with fluted cylinder, and Vaquero with SBH grip, hammer and trigger. Since I didn't need Vaquero, worrying would anybody buy it with SBH parts, I contacted local dealer in Thunder Bay and asked him for opinion. He told me to bring it, put it on his website, and to my amazement, Vaquero was sold within few days. Now I know why.
 
Joined
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Messages
7,095
Location
Richmond Texas USA
Who says you can't put Super hammers along with fluted cylinders on an Old Army :)
1656192936103.png


You might even be able to get them to shoot some of that New Fangled Smokeless Stuff :)
1656193174356.png
 

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