Coffee Pot, I hear you and I do understand what you are saying. But, those gunscribes that you belittle, such as Brian Pierce, John Taffin, and Linebaugh, shoot much more than most of us do. Their reputaions and careers are on the line. That alone would not make me shoot loads that they suggested. However, "Ruger-only" loads have been used for many years and have been demonstrated to be safe in large frame Rugers. Testing was done by Linebaugh and White Labratories. The .45colt Blackhawks blew up at 80% of the pressure needed to blow up the same gun in .44mag. Loading the .45colt to 80% the pressure allowed for the .44mag provides the exact same safety margin.
Saying that shooting "Ruger-only" loads shorten the guns life, while probably true, is slightly misleading. Service life with those loads ought to be the same as the same gun in .44mag. While shooting only .44specials in a .44mag and only cowbow loads in the .45colt may extend the life of the gun, I doubt I will ever be able to afford to shoot enough of them to find out. I have shot many Ruger-only loads out of both my Vaquero and Accusport Bisley. Both guns are just as tight as when new. The Vaquero (that I have had since 1994) has less end shake than my Bisley (purchased last year) and has fired many more "Ruger-only" loads than the Bisley. Both have about the same amount of rotational slop.
I very much appreciate all of those that are trying to clarify the difference between the Vaquero and the New Vaquero. The 30,000cup Hogdon loads and 25,000psi Speer loads are intended for large frame Rugers and center contenders. They have also proven safe in Freedom arms revolvers and Colt Anacondas. One of the previous posters is courting disaster if he is using those loads in the New Vaquero. I am still unclear as to which gun he is saying he has.
I don't have a New Vaquero yet, and probably won't get one. If I did have one, my loading, storage, and marking practices would have to change. Those hot loads need to stay far away from smaller framed guns.
Texas Jack Black, the warm 17,000psi loads that you are using aren't SAAMI spec, as 14,000psi/cup is the only approved spec for the .45colt. I, however, don't think you are courting disaster with your New Vaquero. Loads in that pressure range have been used in modern strength steel, small frame single action revolvers for a long time with no adverse effects. It sounds like you have been reading up on back issues of Handloader magazine. I do trust the info Brian Pierce provides. I think he is one of the most knowledgeable and readable writers out there. However, take that with a grain of salt. I appear to be in the minority here. There are very knowledgeable people, with more reloading and shooting experience than I have, on this forum that disagree with me about warmer than SAAMI spec .45colt loads. Is that 270gr bullet that you are using the RCBS 270SAA? That bullet is turning into one of my absolute favorites for standard and warm loads. I prefer the the heavier wfn bullets that seat out a little further in the case for the upper end Ruger-only loads.
Ruger, along with every other manufacturer that I know of, recommends that only factory ammo be used in their guns. All of us that roll our own, are on our own and have to understand and accept the consequences of our actions.