Tallinar
Member
Hi folks,
Over the years, I've read a number of threads where folks have described that Ruger's .45 Colt Vaqueros, New Vaqueros, and Blackhawks have a notorious tendency to come with undersized chamber throats. A complaint looks something like cylinder throats being something around .4505 or .451, with bore diameter at a proper .452. This, of course, tends to cause severe leading.
I've owned a number of Ruger Vaqueros and Blackhawks over the years, in various calibers, and went slightly bonkers trying to solve leading problems on a couple of them.
Interestingly though, the New Vaquero that I bought a couple years ago -- shipped from Ruger in 2018 -- has been clean as a whistle with all the bullets I've put through it (.452 or .454). I have not slugged the chambers, but experience is leading me to believe that the cylinder throats are a perfect match in this gun.
This gets me to thinking, I wonder if Ruger has actually up'd their game in recent years on these guns. Does anyone else have any experience with New Vaqueros or Blackhawks of recent manufacture to compare?
I'm considering one of those newer .45 Colt Blackhawk Hunters (model 0866), but the only thing that has me hesitating is that I was driven slightly insane by leading problems in my last Blackhawk -- I believe a 90's-made Super Blackhawk -- and I really just don't want to play that game again.
Thanks!
Over the years, I've read a number of threads where folks have described that Ruger's .45 Colt Vaqueros, New Vaqueros, and Blackhawks have a notorious tendency to come with undersized chamber throats. A complaint looks something like cylinder throats being something around .4505 or .451, with bore diameter at a proper .452. This, of course, tends to cause severe leading.
I've owned a number of Ruger Vaqueros and Blackhawks over the years, in various calibers, and went slightly bonkers trying to solve leading problems on a couple of them.
Interestingly though, the New Vaquero that I bought a couple years ago -- shipped from Ruger in 2018 -- has been clean as a whistle with all the bullets I've put through it (.452 or .454). I have not slugged the chambers, but experience is leading me to believe that the cylinder throats are a perfect match in this gun.
This gets me to thinking, I wonder if Ruger has actually up'd their game in recent years on these guns. Does anyone else have any experience with New Vaqueros or Blackhawks of recent manufacture to compare?
I'm considering one of those newer .45 Colt Blackhawk Hunters (model 0866), but the only thing that has me hesitating is that I was driven slightly insane by leading problems in my last Blackhawk -- I believe a 90's-made Super Blackhawk -- and I really just don't want to play that game again.
Thanks!
