Well I bought a birdshead Vaquero about a year ago, which has been setting in my safe. I was cleaning up today and came across the box with the spent shell from Ruger firing the gun. So I though why not give it a look, well you can imagine my surprise to find out it was 45 ACP. I have a number of Vaqueros and they are all 45LC and I thought that is what I bought. Wrong 45ACP. I have never owned a 45ACP revolver but an guessing it need half moon clips. Should they have come with the gun? If not is Ruger the only supplier?
Vaquero 45ACP Help
- Thread starter 5card
- Start date
Ugly Hombre
Blackhawk
You have a good gun 45 ACP Vaquero is great- seems they sent you the wrong one?
No clips needed- operation is just like a 45 Colt.
Try it you will like it..
No clips needed- operation is just like a 45 Colt.
Try it you will like it..
Jimbo357mag
Hawkeye
I'm speechless. :?
What confuses me is the cylinder is undercut all the way around not just each hole
I tried the empty and it fell way deep, I know the bullet is not in place but I am considering with different ammo the over all length would of course vary.
I tried the empty and it fell way deep, I know the bullet is not in place but I am considering with different ammo the over all length would of course vary.
charlesappel
Single-Sixer
Those moon clips are for a Redhawk double action revolver.
In a single action revolver, the 45acp headspaces on the case mouth.
In a single action revolver, the 45acp headspaces on the case mouth.
"the 45acp headspaces on the case mouth" as I said I thought this might be the case but when I put the spent shell that ruger shot in the cylinder it fell the dept of the now gone bullet. Which means the firing pin would not be able to strike the primer if it were just a primed case or maybe a semiwadcutter type bullet
Jimbo357mag
Hawkeye
What does the gun say (stamped on the frame) is the caliber and what cartridges fit in the cylinder? This just gets more interesting.5card said:
You know When I got it I never looked close as I have a couple of others. It was not until I found the shell that I got the gun out of the safe and checked it says 45 ACP it is marked on the left side of the frame. I did a little checking as I didn't remember Ruger Birdsheads made in just 45 ACP. Seems a run made for TALO. The cylinder being undercut is what has me a little perplexed, it would seem it would need a half moon clip to work. But I have found no mention of one for this gun and thought someone might have one and knew how it functions. I attempted to call Ruger but they are close all week for the 4th of July.
Have you tried to put in a .45 long Colt in the chamber?? maybe the cylinders got switched, or one is "missing:' if it was a convertible??? all depends on what the end label says, and just what fits the chambers...as said above single actions head space on the mouth of the case, for the 'spare' cylinder,both in the 9mm or the 45 acp...as for the "spent case" in the envelope won't be the first time we've heard of the WRONG case in any particular envelope (test fire) seen shops mix up cases, envelopes, cylinders and on and on.....is it BRAND NEW?? or from another owner.....ask the shop you got it from.................safety first :wink:
Hondo44
Hawkeye
I'm waiting for the "2nd shoe to drop" on this.
You can shoot the ACP in a 45 Colt cyl with moon clips, if that's the cyl you have. The rear cyl surface will need to be faced off a small to make room for the clip. AND of course the cyl must be removed to load and unload (actually faster than one at a time). The good news is, you'll still be able to shoot 45 Colt in the same cyl because the case mouth will headspace on the chamber shoulder, instead of the rim.
You can shoot the ACP in a 45 Colt cyl with moon clips, if that's the cyl you have. The rear cyl surface will need to be faced off a small to make room for the clip. AND of course the cyl must be removed to load and unload (actually faster than one at a time). The good news is, you'll still be able to shoot 45 Colt in the same cyl because the case mouth will headspace on the chamber shoulder, instead of the rim.
I took out the cylinder and tried the case from Ruger and it sits correctly. I then put in live ammo and it fall through. I guess I did try the case at first as I was in the safe and live 45 at hand/ I have included two pics if you look close you can see the shallow under cut in the cylinder
charlesappel
Single-Sixer
That is very strange. I have a 45 acp birdshead stainless. It is clearly marked 45 ACP on the frame. I've never handled a 45 Colt version so I don't know how they are marked.
It is clear from the photos that the cylinder is not for a 45 acp. My guess is you have a 45 Colt which was shipped with the wrong fired cases.
Thirty or so years ago I encountered a Colt SAA marked 45 Colt with a .38 special cylinder and a 45 Colt barrel. It was in a display case at a local gun dealer. The dealer had not noticed the mistake.
It is clear from the photos that the cylinder is not for a 45 acp. My guess is you have a 45 Colt which was shipped with the wrong fired cases.
Thirty or so years ago I encountered a Colt SAA marked 45 Colt with a .38 special cylinder and a 45 Colt barrel. It was in a display case at a local gun dealer. The dealer had not noticed the mistake.
Chuck 100 yd
Hunter
It looks like you have an ACP revolver with a Colt cylinder. Ruger will fix that pronto. Call them!
I plan on calling them and sending that pic to them. I have a 45lc version of the same gun. The cylinders are different the 45lc is flat an has no under cut. This is a new gun. I compared the fired case with the loaded ammo and it is the same case although of course the fired case has expanded. I do not see how the firing pin could contact the primer, there is and undercut in the cylinder hole and that is where the loaded bullet sets. I will try 45lc ammo and see if it will fit in but it looks like it will be too long as I compared it to the 45lc cylinder. I am glad other think this strange as I thought maybe I missed something
Bob Wright
Hawkeye
O.K. One more guess: The chambers are counterbored for .45 AutoRim cartridges?
I cannot read the headstamp on the red dyed cartridge shown in the second photo. Looks like it may say .45 AR?
Bob Wright
I cannot read the headstamp on the red dyed cartridge shown in the second photo. Looks like it may say .45 AR?
Bob Wright
Hondo44
Hawkeye
charlesappel is correct. The fired case only appears to fit correctly because it's not resized.
Timbo22
Single-Sixer
I have one of these Vaqueros as well. Looking at the chambers of my cylinder (removed from the gun) shows well a defined step in each chamber where the ACP round would headspace upon. Does your cylinder have these too?
Just brainstorming here but....that the fired case that came with your gun chambers properly but your live ammo does not COULD mean that the live ammo MAY have a roll crimp holding the bullets in place and not a taper crimp that would leave the leading edge of the case to rest on the step.
Try another brand of 45 ACP ammo that is standard FMJ hardball. See if that makes a difference.
Timbo
Just brainstorming here but....that the fired case that came with your gun chambers properly but your live ammo does not COULD mean that the live ammo MAY have a roll crimp holding the bullets in place and not a taper crimp that would leave the leading edge of the case to rest on the step.
Try another brand of 45 ACP ammo that is standard FMJ hardball. See if that makes a difference.
Timbo
charlesappel
Single-Sixer
I am now thoroughly confused. :? (A not uncommon occurrence.)
What brand of ammo were the 45 ACP loads that sank too deeply?
I'm asking because I've never encountered factory 45 ACP with a roll crimp.
What brand of ammo were the 45 ACP loads that sank too deeply?
I'm asking because I've never encountered factory 45 ACP with a roll crimp.
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