[Grayrock]

I saw a Vaquero in .45 LC that also comes with a .45 ACP cylinder. Just curious- how does .45 ACP work in a SA revolver? I can see using moon clips in a DA revolver, but how do you use a rimless round in a Vaquero?

[MatthewVanitas]

Rimless rounds aren't a problem in a single action. Instead of headspacing on the rim, they headspace on the case-mouth.

On many types of rimless-cartridge revolvers (Ruger 9mm SP101, for example), the rounds will load just fine without moonclips. In those revos, the cylinder is reamed to fit the round, and the cartridge headspaces on the case mouth. However, if you don't use moonclips, you have to use your fingernail or a pencil to eject the brass, as the extractor has no rim or moonclip to grab.

Since a Ruger SA ejects brass with an ejector-rod which slides into the brass, there's no extractor, ergo rim is not necessary.

The downside of headspacing on the case-mouth is that only the exact round the cylinder is bored for will fit. No 38Spl/357Mag interchangeability with rimless rounds.

Hope that clears that up.

[Jim March]

There's some advantages to 45ACP in an SA:

With no rim, the total diameter feeding into the loading gate is less, speeding reloads a tad.

You can also thumb rounds in from semi-auto magazines :).

[Stainz]

Years ago, before I started reloading and could afford lots of .45 Colt ammo, it was nice to be able to use the then $7-$10/box discount store (Wally World, etc) available .45 ACP ammo.... I really miss my old blued Blackhawk .45 convertible! BTW, I sold my blued Blackhawk (They are still available...) convertible to buy a limited production SS version - it turned out to be the Vaquero you mentioned. I waited... not fond of fixed sights... then, they ran out of them! Buy it - it is a 'Good thing...", to quote Martha...

Stainz