hello
I just bought 2 vaqueros in 44-40. they are s.s. one made in 1995 and the other in 2000. the one made in 1995 has throat dia. measure .425 with barrel grove dia. of .429. the other one is fine with throat dia. of .430 barrel grove dia. .429. did chamber casting of both and they are the same size. I shot the one with .430 throat using .430 cast 200gr. bullet and 20gr. of 2f black powder and it shot fine no leading.
my question is who reams out these cylinders? I know I could rent a reamer but from what I can tell they start with a .427 pilot. I have read where Ruger does not work on these they stopped making them.
The other question is should the throat be opened up to .432 on both cylinders and go with a .431 bullet? The .430 bullets I am using will not go through the .430 throats without forcing them but they do not lead.
thanks
Bill
I just bought 2 vaqueros in 44-40. they are s.s. one made in 1995 and the other in 2000. the one made in 1995 has throat dia. measure .425 with barrel grove dia. of .429. the other one is fine with throat dia. of .430 barrel grove dia. .429. did chamber casting of both and they are the same size. I shot the one with .430 throat using .430 cast 200gr. bullet and 20gr. of 2f black powder and it shot fine no leading.
my question is who reams out these cylinders? I know I could rent a reamer but from what I can tell they start with a .427 pilot. I have read where Ruger does not work on these they stopped making them.
The other question is should the throat be opened up to .432 on both cylinders and go with a .431 bullet? The .430 bullets I am using will not go through the .430 throats without forcing them but they do not lead.
thanks
Bill