Ruger New Vaquero in .45 colt

[stonewall308]

Just bought one of these, and I love it. My first SA gun.

I've read that these cannot handle the super hot loads that say "Ruger only." I'm looking for a good round to make this my nightstand gun and possibly shoot a deer or boar with it.

Any recommendations on medium-hot load for this gun? Thanks.

 

[atlanticfire]

This was also my last new gun purchase! Love it! I have been using Universal, but seeing that I can find anymore I moved over to trail boss. I get my lead from Missouri Bullet Company.

 

[20nickels]

Excellnt Night stand gun! A club as much as a gun. Duplicate 45ACP ballistics for indoors. As for magnumizing the Colt, I am not an expert.

 

[calaverasslim]

Do not try to Magnamize the new model Vaquero. Won't handle it. However, any good, modern loading book will give you solid loads that do not go into the Ruger only catagory.

 

[1911Tuner]

Stonewall, you heard correctly. Although the New Vaqueros are a bit stronger than the Italian clones and the Colts...they still aren't robust enough to use the "Ruger Only" data in the loading manuals. That's reserved for the Blackhawks and the original, large-framed Vaqueros.

I have a pair of .45 caliber New Vaqueros, and have greatly enjoyed both. Don't try to hot-rod'em and they'll probably last 2 lifetimes.

 

[EnsignJimmy]

Just bought one of these, and I love it. My first SA gun.

I've read that these cannot handle the super hot loads that say "Ruger only." I'm looking for a good round to make this my nightstand gun and possibly shoot a deer or boar with it.

This is absolutely correct. The New Vaquero cannot take a diet "Ruger-only" loads.

Any recommendations on medium-hot load for this gun? Thanks.

The time-honored 250 to 260 grain hard-cast lead Keith SWC atop 8 to 9 grains of Unique?(*) Produces 900 to 950 ft/sec velocity out of a 5.5" revolver and will poke nice deep holes in deer-sized critters, ventilate range targets, ring steel plates, and will completely ruin the day of most any B.G. you're likely to find going through your valuables at 3 AM.

Of course, this load, with 8 grains of Unique is hardly a "hot" load(*). An inexpensive Italian SAA clone handles it just fine. It is a ballistic replica of the old full-house .45 Colt black-powder load. The beauty of this old cartridge is that you don't really need hot loads.

(* - Standard disclaimer. Always use published load data, start low, and work your way up. What works for my guns may not work for your guns. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK!)

 

[BlkHawk73]

Stay within SAAMI specs and you're all set. There is good hunting stuff as factory loads. You don't need magnumized loads. Game haven't gotten tougher.
I suppose if such hot loads are indeed neded, fore-thought should've been accessed. Not being a wise guy, just saying...

As for the gun itself, great choice!

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

A standard pressure .45 Colt is quite capable of taking a deer or black bear, if you can stalk close enough and shoot. You really haven't lost anything. If you want something more powerful, get a .44 Magnum Super Blackhawk.

 

[owlhoot]

Inasmuch as your new Ruger has fixed sights, it may or may not shoot to the point of aim with a given load.

So your first priority is to find a load the gun likes. You certainly don't want to contemplate hunting with a gun/load that does not shoot to POA.

Rugers are good but they are not all perfect. All too often you'll have to turn the barrel a bit in order to get hunting accuracy.

As Ensign mentioned, Unique is a good powder choice. But you are dealing with a very large case and a small amount of powder so be very careful about double charging.

I load a lot of TrailBoss simply because I can't get a double charge without noticing. TB gives great performance in moderate loads. The Unique gives better accuracy in my guns at the upper end of sane.

 

[harmon rabb]

using a SA revolver as a nightstand gun? i'm not so sure about that...

 

[rcmodel]

And why would that be?

If you practice with a .45 SAA, and get good with it, there is no safer or better gun for bumps in the night.

It simply can't go off unless you cock it, and you shouldn't cock it unless you plan to shoot something with it.
That can all be done in a fraction of a second.

If I shoot someone with a .45 Colt, I expect they will stay shot.

rc

 

[SwampWolf]

If I shoot someone with a .45 Colt, I expect they will stay shot.

Hard to argue with that...

 

[1911Tuner]

A Ruger New Vaquero is doing yeoman service as my nightstand gun even as we speak.

Sometimes a Cimarron Model P .44 Special subs for it.

As for the handload...9 grains of Unique with a 250-260 grain cast bullet is big medicine that prints to 2inches above point of aim at 25 yards in both my New Vaqueros. 8 grains is an accurate practice load that shoots close enough to the same point that you can flip a coin for the difference...and it's easier on the gun. Pressure isn't the only gun-buster that you have to be concerned with. The Ruger is amply strong enough to handle ocasional pressures over the SAAMI standard for the round. Recoil forces and topstrap stretch/stress is where the real problems start with the small-framed Vaqs in .45 Colt firing heavy bullets. Jacketed bullets are harder on the gun than lead, all else being equal.

 

[markush]

Speer Gold Dots! 250 grain at about 750 fps. It's what i have mine loaded with and I've read nothing but good about them.

 

[rishooter]

Try Speer

If you can find it,try the Speer 250 grain JHP,aka"Hollowpoint From Hell"-it is not a fast round,and well within the pressure range for SAA's-it won't overpenetrate and it hits hard enough.
Buffalo Bore also makes a 45 Colt defensive hollowpoint that is very similar and is easy enough to find-expensive though.
Tghe Buffalo Bore website specifies it to be suitable for use in any modern 45 Colt reolver.