Reaming Cylinder Throat in Ruger Vaquero?

[texagun]

I have read that reaming the .45LC cylinder throat to .4525 will improve accuracy somewhat. My question is: Will reaming the cylinder throat oversize, relative to the barrel dimension, cause the gun to spit lead? I called Ruger and they told me factory cylinder throat dimensions are .450-.451 and barrel dimensions are .450-.452. They would not comment on reaming out the cylinder as long as it is within "factory specs." Will reaming the cylinder throat to .4525 improve accuracy significantly without causing any "lead spitting?"

 

[Old Fuff]

Presuming that the job is done correctly, opening the throats to .4520 -.4525 should result in better accuracy and less lead spitting, not more. Excessively smaller or larger throats relative to bore size is not good, but it is better to be .0005 over rather then under sized.

 

[JNewell]

FWIW, my recently-purchased new "old" Vaquero has several cylinders that are only .4490", a couple that are .4495" and one that is .4500". So, in addition to being tight, they aren't even very consistent...none of which is likely to be conducive to maximizing accuracy in this gun.

 

[Old Fuff]

JNewell:

Your results are consistant with what I've seen in Ruger .45 Colt cylinders, and your observations concerning accuracy are also correct. The company needs to correct this flaw in what are otherwise fine revolvers.

 

[texagun]

I sent off 4 Vaquero cylinders to Cas at Cylindersmith on the 10th, and received them back this morning, on the 15th. Great turn-around time. I hope to get out to the range next week and hopefully see some improvement in accuracy and more consistent groups. I'm very happy with his service...and it's well worth the price of a couple boxes of ammo to have it done.

 

[Wedge]

I sent my Ruger Blackhawk cylinder to Cas at www.cylindersmith.com. Great work. I noticed a huge improvement...I started getting "groups" instead of "patterns".

 

[texagun]

How are the cylinder dimensions in the New Model Vaqueros? Are they more consistent than they were in the Old Model Vaqueros?

 

[usp_fan]

My understanding--this is not first hand knowledge--is that Ruger is correctly sizing the new Vaquero cylinder throats at the factory.

Good luck,

--usp_fan