Ruger New Vaquero and hot loads?

[ZVP]

I have a Stainless, 4 5/8" New Model .357 Vaquero which has mostly seen .38 Specials through it, with a few full Factory .357 Magnums fired just to check the recoil results?
I was wondering, has anyone used full Factory. 357 Magnums exclusivelly in one of these Vaqueros? How did they hold up?
I know the Vaquero is supposed to be rated for full factory loads but was wondering how the consistant hammering of Magnums affected the revolver?
Hell. the .38's I shoot are rated at or around the CAS requirements and I seriouslly doubt the revolver even feels em!
I have never even tried a .38+P in my Ruger, so you KNOW it is not abused.
I fully expect a couple lifetimes use from this revolver!
ZVP

 

[LightningMan]

I've shot some pretty hot loads in mine, max loads in my manuals with no problems. I don't think you will have a problem with a new Vaquaro in .357, just be sure to clean the cylinder chambers after shooting .38 specials before putting some .357's through your gun. BTW If you were asking about the new Vaquaro's in .45 Colt would be a different story as I would stick to standard loading for it. LM

 

[CraigC]

Even a medium framed .357 single action like the New Vaquero (or Colt SAA and replicas) is going to be stronger than any S&W K or L frame or the GP-100. You'd be hard pressed to hurt one.

The .45's are another matter.

 

[zxcvbob]

I shoot full-CIP (European standard) .357 Magnums in my Taurus Gaucho and it handles them just fine. Your New Vaquero has the same thick cylinder walls, except yours are actually heat treated, and the frame is probably stronger.

You can't hurt a .357 SAA unless you do something really stupid. (.45's are another matter because their cylinders are so thin)

 

[BCRider]

With the thick cylinder walls you would never have to worry about cracking or blowing up a cylinder even with a steady diet of .357. Shooting the timing loose is another issue though. It may take a while but over some time it's likely that it would happen sooner with the .357's than it would with .38Spl.

If you mix and match between .38Spl and .357Mag keep in mind that your sights are going to be wildly off for one or the other. If you trim the front sight to suit the slightly higher shooting .38Spl then you can expect the .357's to impact about 3 inches lower at 10 to 15 yards. And vice versa if you trim the front sight to suit the magnums.