Ruger Vaquero revolver 45 Long Colt Caliber??

[instructor]

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]

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]

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

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

 

[instructor]

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]

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.

Cor-Bon Duplex 45LC 225GR BrownS X 20rds

CorBon Deep Penetrating X Bullet, 45LC, 225 Grain, Barnes X DPX45C225

grabagun.com

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

 

[rugerjunkie]

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

 

[hittman]

Good call

 

[Timbo23]

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]

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]

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.