Ruger Vaquero revolver 45 Long Colt Caliber??

instructor · Mar 23, 2025

Was gifted the revolver day or two ago and it is not marked "new vaquero" and curious is this revolver suitable for stout loads??
Have a "birds head" New Vaquero w/ 3.5" barrel and understand that those marked "new" are not intended to shoot super warm loads.
This gifted Ruger has the color case hardened frame and would estimate barrel length is somewhat longer than 4" and the case ejector rod housing is same length as the barrel. This revolver appears to be in like new condition and have yet to shoot it but with it's weight the recoil should be very manageable in 45 Colt caliber. I also have a Super Blackhawk w/ 10.5" barrel in 44 magnum and shoot 44 Special more than the magnum rounds for even with the long barrel recoil is definitely noticeable. All input appreciated.

gunman42782 · Mar 23, 2025

Compare the cylinders of your New Vaquero with the one you where gifted. If it is larger than the New Vaquero then it is the original and can handle stouter loads, although for the life of me I don't understand why anyone would want anything more stout! LOL!

G2 · Mar 23, 2025

2 digit prefix SN#, your Large Frame & good to go…

3 digit prefix SN# Medium Frame, NO Ruger only loads.

instructor · Mar 23, 2025

Thanks for your suggestion and even though did not use my caliper to gain an exact measurement the New Vaquero's cylinder is definitely smaller in diameter than the gifted one. I totally agree that I see no real reason
for super stout loads in a 45 Long Colt. I did check the serial number, and it was shipped in '97.

G2 · Mar 23, 2025

These are a little spendy, it is factory ammo, however the BARNES all copper hollow point and the +P of Corbon really make a deadly round, great for the walk in the woods. Try a box, I will bet you will buy another…

Box says 1200 fps, but no barrel length, but they are zingers out of my gun.

https://grabagun.com/corbon-dpx-45lc-225gr-brns-x-20-500.html

My similar gun is Stainless with the 3.75" barrel.
Second gun from the top.

rugerjunkie · Mar 23, 2025

This would be an awesome thread…in the revolver section…

hittman · Mar 23, 2025

Good call

Timbo23 · Mar 23, 2025

It sounds like you have an original large frame Vaquero since it has a two digit serial number prefix. That prefix should be somewhere between 55 and 59). The New Vaqueros are built on a medium frame and have a three digit serial prefix of 510 or higher. The original Vaquero was built on the New Model Blackhawk/Super Blackhawk frame and the cylinder and frame can handle 44 Magnum pressures.
It also sounds like you may have more than one 45 Colt chambered handgun. If that is the case and you want to shoot high velocity (hence higher pressure and higher recoil) ammo. It would be a really good idea to differentiate or segregate that ammo so that it can NOT get loaded into a gun that could not handle it.
I have both Vaqueros and New Vaqueros plus a USFA Colt SAA clone and some S&W DA revolvers that chamber the 45 Colt. I don't have or load anything beyond 'cowboy' loads, but I'm a plinker not a hunter or worried about bears.

Rclark · Mar 23, 2025

The loads I use for my .45 Colt revolvers can be run in both frame sizes. No need to segregate loads. Remember the medium frame is rated for Tier 2 loads (23K) but not Tier 3 (30K+). My woods load is Tier 2. Most shooting of course is done with Tier 1 loads.

Don Lovel · Mar 27, 2025

If you try to shoot heavy +p 45 Colt in your birdshead, the recoil damage to your hand or forehead is a bigger chance than hurting the gun.

WV460hunter · Jun 25, 2025

gunman42782 said:
Compare the cylinders of your New Vaquero with the one you where gifted. If it is larger than the New Vaquero then it is the original and can handle stouter loads, although for the life of me I don't understand why anyone would want anything more stout! LOL!

Yes especially in a 3.5" ouch

JackBull · Jun 26, 2025

gunman42782 said:
Compare the cylinders of your New Vaquero with the one you where gifted. If it is larger than the New Vaquero then it is the original and can handle stouter loads, although for the life of me I don't understand why anyone would want anything more stout! LOL!

They are so much fun to shoot!

JackBull · Jun 26, 2025

Don Lovel said:
If you try to shoot heavy +p 45 Colt in your birdshead, the recoil damage to your hand or forehead is a bigger chance than hurting the gun.

Used to shoot very hot loads Ruger Only in my " BH. The gun would role in my hand, lessening the recoil quite a bit.

Durango Dave · Jun 26, 2025

Buffalo Bore Ammo has an excellent article on this topic here: https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_list&c=153

In 2005/2006 Ruger started making 45 Colt revolvers in a smaller (357 Mag) frame. These revolvers had no designation to indicate they could no longer handle the higher pressures that the previous revolvers could.

Ale-8(1) · Jun 29, 2025

Ruger recommends only standard .45 Colt ammo, nothing else. Your gun, your call.

chet15 · Jun 30, 2025

Ale-8(1) said:
Ruger recommends only standard .45 Colt ammo, nothing else. Your gun, your call.

Where can I buy .45 Long Colt ammunition?
Just being sarcastic.
Chet15

powder smoke · Jun 30, 2025

G2 said:
These are a little spendy, it is factory ammo, however the BARNES all copper hollow point and the +P of Corbon really make a deadly round, great for the walk in the woods. Try a box, I will bet you will buy another…
Box says 1200 fps, but no barrel length, but they are zingers out of my gun.

https://grabagun.com/corbon-dpx-45lc-225gr-brns-x-20-500.html
View attachment 69021

My similar gun is Stainless with the 3.75" barrel.
Second gun from the top.

Nice looking Revolvers enjoy !!!!

Ale-8(1) · Jun 30, 2025

Interestingly enough, Ruger's manuals point out that "45 Colt" ammo is also known as "45 Long Colt" ammo.

Hankus · Jun 30, 2025

instructor said:
Was gifted the revolver day or two ago and it is not marked "new vaquero" and curious is this revolver suitable for stout loads??
Have a "birds head" New Vaquero w/ 3.5" barrel and understand that those marked "new" are not intended to shoot super warm loads.
This gifted Ruger has the color case hardened frame and would estimate barrel length is somewhat longer than 4" and the case ejector rod housing is same length as the barrel. This revolver appears to be in like new condition and have yet to shoot it but with it's weight the recoil should be very manageable in 45 Colt caliber. I also have a Super Blackhawk w/ 10.5" barrel in 44 magnum and shoot 44 Special more than the magnum rounds for even with the long barrel recoil is definitely noticeable. All input appreciated.

I have the same model Vaquero. It’s a 5-1/2” barrel. Mine might become a “project gun” due to some rust and pitting on the right side of the barrel, frame, and cylinder. It will most definitely handle stouter loads, and it does so very well due to the Bisley grip frame.
I also have a LNIB SS birdshead New Vaquero, a 5-1/2” SS Flattop convertible, and a 4-5/8” NM blued Blackhawk with a slicked up action that’s tricked out with a Super Blackhawk hammer and trigger, and a Belt Mountain base pin. Yeah, I kind of like my .45 Colt Rugers …

codebreaker · Dec 6, 2025

When woods bumming, revolvers chambered in .45 Long Colt go well with lever actions also chambered in .45 Long Colt.

seasterl · Dec 6, 2025

G2: tell us about the birds head top right SS adjustable sight.

Terry Baird · Dec 8, 2025

instructor said:
Thanks for your suggestion and even though did not use my caliper to gain an exact measurement the New Vaquero's cylinder is definitely smaller in diameter than the gifted one. I totally agree that I see no real reason
for super stout loads in a 45 Long Colt. I did check the serial number, and it was shipped in '97.

I have the large frame Bisley

Vaquero but I am not one to see just how hot I can load. I did buy some Underwood +P, I think 250 grain bullet at 1500 FPS. Well, now I know what they feel like to shoot and I do not care for them at all. On the other hand, Cowboy loads are too light. I find 900-950 FPS to be to my liking.

Rclark · Dec 8, 2025

I find 900-950 FPS to be to my liking.

That's the beauty of reloading. You get to design the loads 'you' want to shoot. For general shooting .45 Colt, 850fps to 950fps (250-255gr bullet) is where I want to be.

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