A question for you guys knowledgable about pressures and such. Ruger from time to time offered the original Vaquero in a 45LC/45ACP convertible. Now that the Vaquero is somewhat downsized, I read that it can take .45 Colt loads up to 20,000 psi but not the 32,000 psi loads of the original Vaquero. Did the downsizing mean Ruger will not ever offer the Vaquero in 45/45 convertible since the SAAMI limit for .45 ACP is 21,000 psi and 23,000 for 45+P? Just curious. I used to have a Blackhawk convertible and have been thinking of getting one again and then thought a slightly smaller Vaquero in .45 acp would be pretty handy but I wonder if Ruger would built it on the downsized frame and cylinder.
45 ACP Revolver Question
- Thread starter Gary A
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rcmodel
Member in memoriam
It's not a matter of pressure, it's a matter of cylinder diameter and chamber size.
The new smaller Blackhawk/Vaquaro is perfectly capable of handling .357 pressure, but when you drill the holes out to .45 caliber, the cylinder wall thickness is getting awful thin over the bolt-cuts.
About the same as an old Colt SA in fact.
SAAMI pressure limits:
.45 LC = 14,000
.45 ACP = 21,000
.45 ACP +P = 23,000
With Ruger being so high on building hell-for-strong guns, I would be very surprised if they ever offer a .45 ACP chambering in the down-sized SA's.
rcmodel
The new smaller Blackhawk/Vaquaro is perfectly capable of handling .357 pressure, but when you drill the holes out to .45 caliber, the cylinder wall thickness is getting awful thin over the bolt-cuts.
About the same as an old Colt SA in fact.
SAAMI pressure limits:
.45 LC = 14,000
.45 ACP = 21,000
.45 ACP +P = 23,000
With Ruger being so high on building hell-for-strong guns, I would be very surprised if they ever offer a .45 ACP chambering in the down-sized SA's.
rcmodel
BlindJustice
Member
I discussed converting a Ruger SA to .400 CorBon, and the
very knowledgeable pistolsmith who I won't name said the
best platform would be the older RUger Flattop in .357 Mag as a
starting point, rebarrel it with a .38-40 Bbl. and
then give a cylinder for .400 CorBon a try. If case
backout was a chronic problem at least you could
revert to a .38-40 cylinder and have a working pistol
very knowledgeable pistolsmith who I won't name said the
best platform would be the older RUger Flattop in .357 Mag as a
starting point, rebarrel it with a .38-40 Bbl. and
then give a cylinder for .400 CorBon a try. If case
backout was a chronic problem at least you could
revert to a .38-40 cylinder and have a working pistol
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