School me on the VAQUERO

[varmint22man]

Could some of you please take the cylinder out of your 45 colt Vaquero and take a picture and post it or email it to me please. There is one @ my local shop that I like but the thickness between the cylinders looks as thin as a sheet of newspaper! Don't know serial # {may get that today}. It's case colored, black grips,4-5/8 barrel,feels good in my hand but, no meat between the cylinders? Are these only meant for really low cowboy loads?
thanks

 

[Dale53]

Apparently, you are talking about a "New Vaquero". The cylinder is only slightly larger than an original Colt SAA revolver. However, being made of modern steels and properly heat treated, they are fine for factory .45 Colt loads as well as factory level reloads.

On the other hand, if strength is your priority, then the Original Vaquero and Bisley Vaquero has a significantly larger cylinder and is good for 30,000 psi loads ("Ruger Only" loads). The original Vaquero is no longer made but they made a bunch and are often found for sale, used, at gun shows and gun dealers.

FWIW
Dale53

 

[JWhitmore44]

Did the frame say New Vaquero on the side? My guess it is and the New Vaquero is built on the mid size frame. It'll take normal Colt loads with no problem. I don't think I would run "Blackhawk only" loads through it though.

 

[goriath]

I asked a gun dealer the other day about being worried about the strength of +p style loads in the "new Vaquero" he told me BS... and I quote "If you can shove the shell in the cylinder... FIRE IT"

Gun dealer is just a couple miles from the Ruger factory so I am guessing he knows what he was talking about.... he knew a ton of stuff about the SA as I questioned him for an hour about various models etc. etc.

 

[Gatorbate]

I asked a gun dealer the other day about being worried about the strength of +p style loads in the "new Vaquero" he told me BS... and I quote "If you can shove the shell in the cylinder... FIRE IT"

Gun dealer is just a couple miles from the Ruger factory so I am guessing he knows what he was talking about.... he knew a ton of stuff about the SA as I questioned him for an hour about various models etc. etc.

Please put me in your will soon !!! Thanks ! :roll:

 

[goriath]

ha ha ha ha Understood...

 

[TiteGroups]

I asked a gun dealer the other day about being worried about the strength of +p style loads in the "new Vaquero" he told me BS... and I quote "If you can shove the shell in the cylinder... FIRE IT"

Gun dealer is just a couple miles from the Ruger factory so I am guessing he knows what he was talking about.... he knew a ton of stuff about the SA as I questioned him for an hour about various models etc. etc.

If that's what he said be careful of what else he has to say. Sounds like he may not be current on some of the newer, 2005 and up, models. Some do use a smaller frame and a smaller dia. cylinder which reduces the amount of metal surrounding the rounds. Living a couple miles from fort knox ain't going to make you rich either.

 

[JWhitmore44]

. Living a couple miles from fort knox ain't going to make you rich either.

There goes my retirement plan

[/qoute]
I'd like a New Vaquero in 45 colt/acp but if I want to throw heavy loads I'll stick with my Vaquero or Bisley :wink:

 

[flatgate]

Whew! That's scary rhetoric emulating from a so called "gun dealer"!

Misinformation is dangerous.

Please learn about the various cartridges prior to "testing" in your Ruger .45 cal. revolver.

flatgate

 

[David LaPell]

I asked a gun dealer the other day about being worried about the strength of +p style loads in the "new Vaquero" he told me BS... and I quote "If you can shove the shell in the cylinder... FIRE IT"

Gun dealer is just a couple miles from the Ruger factory so I am guessing he knows what he was talking about.... he knew a ton of stuff about the SA as I questioned him for an hour about various models etc. etc.

Just because the guy is selling the gun, doesn't means he knows anything about them. The clerk at Walmart can sell me a gun, doesn't mean I want to take his advice on what ammo to use.

A car salesman can sell you a Corvette, but that doesn't mean I want him to try and rebuild the motor.

As far as the Vaquero goes, the original Vaquero's, just marked Vaquero on the left side, will take any .45 Colt load you can put through it. The new ones, treat it just like a Colt SAA.

 

[dakota1911]

Looking at the new ones, I am glad I bought mine back when I did. Of course I'm not involved in the cowboy shooting thing, and I guess those guys like the new ones.

 

[gak]

Looking at the new ones, I am glad I bought mine back when I did. Of course I'm not involved in the cowboy shooting thing, and I guess those guys like the new ones.

There are a whole bunch of us out here who do not CAS and have the newer model, some with both, and prefer the New Vaquero. Then again I shoot .357 and .44 Special mostly To me, the ONLY aspect in which the old is superior is in .45 and then only if you shoot "hot" loads, and of course .44 Mag, "by default" as it is only available in the old anyway.

 

[Hammerdown77]

As far as the Vaquero goes, the original Vaquero's, just marked Vaquero on the left side, will take any .45 Colt load you can put through it. The new ones, treat it just like a Colt SAA.

A new Colt SAA, not an old one...

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

Sorry I don't have a photo of a New Vaquero cylinder chambered for 45 Colt, but perhaps this photo will help.

Left to right in this photo the cylinders are from an Uberti Cattleman, Ruger (original model) Vaquero, and 2nd Generation Colt Single Action Army. All three cylinders are chambered for 45 Colt.

The revolver you looked at probably looked similar to the Colt or the Uberti. On the Colt cylinder, the metal at the thinnest portion between the chambers is about .040 thick. The metal on this Ruger cylinder is about .060 thick. Surprisingly enough, it is not how thin the metal is between chambers on the Colt that limits its strength, it is how thin the metal is between the cylinder locking notch and the underlying chamber. It is less than .040. I measured one the other day, but have now forgotten how thick the floor of the notch was. When one lets go, that is where it usually ruptures first.

No, neither the Colt nor the New Vaquero is meant to only shoot Cowboy loads. Current SAAMI spec for maximum pressure in the 45 Colt is 14,000 PSI, purposely kept low because of some of the old guns out there. There is no official SAAMI spec for cowboy loads, but they will most likely be less than Max SAAMI spec.

There are those on this board who will tell you the New Vaquero can take more, but Ruger is adamant about restricting the New Vaquero to SAAMI max spec loads. But it will digest any commercial loads made to SAAMI standards just fine.

A new Colt SAA, not an old one...

The Colt SAA has been factory warrantied for Smokeless powder since 1900. Any Colt in GOOD CONDITION that was made after 1899 will take Smokeless powder loads that stick to SAAMI specs just fine. From 1873 until 1900, it is recommended they only be fired with Black Powder.

 

[varmint22man]

Thanks for all the info.