Hot Ruger Vaquero LOAD!

[ZVP]

I bought some+P .38 Specials for testing in my Ruger Vaquero. I had never shot a +P and figured the Vaquero would be more than safe to try them in.
Much to my suprise, the _P generated a brisk recoil and a loud muzzle report from the Vaquero!
The muzzle flash didn't seem to bright in full daylight.
I am of the opnion that owners of airweight Snubbies are in for a real suprise touching their first +P off in the small wheelguns! Perhaps a bit too much for small or weaker shooters?
Maybe owners of the airweight revolvers should stick with loads like Horniday XTP's in these light revolvers?
As a sidenote, I found these +P loads to be superbly accurate (Remington Golden Sabres) fired from the Vaquero. Generating a .357-like recoil from the heavy Single Action and a suprising Muzzle report even from the 4 5/8" bbl!
I intend to use these Goden Sabres as a GP trail load in the stainless Ruger Vaquero. where you may not need the full power .357 Magnum rounds.
I'm glad I ran the test and discovered this data!
The +P's shot POA at 20 yaeds with the Ruger fixed sights.
It pays to experiment!
BPDave

 

[wanderinwalker]

Hmmmmm... must be different .38 +P specs than I've tried before. Though looking at the Remington page it doesn't seem any wilder than the 125gr .38 Special +P Winchester Silvertips I've tried. Though it does reinforce the point, one should put a few rounds of your carry ammo through your carry gun so you know what to expect.

One thing I found with the Silvertips is due to the low recoil and increased velocity, they shoot quite low if your revolver is sighted in for standard 158gr .38 Special ammo.

 

[gibble888]

About 14 years ago when i bought my vaquero i bought 2 boxes of bullets and one box was cor-bon+p marked 45 lc mag. WOWEEEE!! I couldnt hit the broad side of a barn with those loads...really. It almost seemed like 3 times as much recoil vs cowboy loads imo

 

[Baba Louie]

The .38+P of today just about equal the older pre '72 .38 spls as SAAMI changed things a bit around then.

That's what I keep in my 442. With the small OEM grips it is a little snappy but nothing to worry about at my end. With different grips, it's just a .38.

I did try shooting one round of .357 in a friends 340pd, once. Not for me. In my 60, sure. Not in the airlite thankyouverymuch. My mother raised an ugly child, not a stupid one.