Ruger Vaquero 45 Colt

[CTI1USNRET]

Just bought a NIB Ruger Vaquero (4 5/8", Color Case Blued, Rosewood grips, 45 Colt, manufactured in 2003)

For handloading, is this frame as strong as the Blackhawk? Or should I limit loads to Italian Colt-reproduction levels?

Whose dies do you use?

And, do you recommend using a Lee carbide factory crimp die? (I use it for 38/357 and 45 ACP.)

 

[mec]

The newly introduced vaquero is Colt Single Action size. It should not be used with the loads listed for Ruger and TC in some of the handbooks.

I believe that your Vaquero, having been made in 2003, has got to be the one made on the new model blackhawk frame. It is one of the revolvers Speer specifically lists as being strong enough for their Ruger/TC Only loads.

There may be some confusion about this as a gun authority recently made a statement on another board that sounded like, "THE MANUALS DO NOT LIST HEAVY LOADS FOR THE VAQUERO. THEY ARE FOR THE BLACKHAWK"
The statement is not true and seems to have been intended to shout down an individual who was talking about uploading the revolvers.

Actually, The speer manual specifies the Vaquero. It is also inadvisable substitute components, or load beyond the data presented for Ruger/TC Only. Many people do this and have some fine theories and formulae saying that it is perfectly fine but people are blowing up overloaded .45 Rugers all the time anyway.

 

[steveno]

a Vaquero made in 2003 should be the big frame and not the new frame size that came out this year

 

[fulloflead]

Just bought a NIB Ruger Vaquero (4 5/8", Color Case Blued, Rosewood grips, 45 Colt, manufactured in 2003)

For handloading, is this frame as strong as the Blackhawk?

Yes.

Whose dies do you use?

I like Lee. They seem easiest to adjust and make changes with.

And, do you recommend using a Lee carbide factory crimp die?

Yes. I think they're great. I also like doing the crimping in a seperate step from seating. Ithink it makes it quicker and easier to change your setup for different bullets & seating depths.

 

[BlkHawk73]

Actually it's the cylinder that needs the strength to withstand the pressures. But, yes, they use the same cylinders and basically the same cylinder frame (topstraps are only difference) so should be able to handle the "Ruger only" loads.

 

[TallPine]

The "new" Vaqueros (the smaller, SAA clone) are not supposed to be in stores until after the SHOT show (Feb, I think).

At least that is what I was told last week at the gunstore. And they're planning to run a clearance sale on any remaining "old" Vaqueros at that time (decisions, decisions ... )

Somebody else once told me that the Vaqueros (the current "old" ones) are even stronger than the BHs. Not sure why that would be true, or if it is ...

 

[fulloflead]

Somebody else once told me that the Vaqueros (the current "old" ones) are even stronger than the BHs. Not sure why that would be true, or if it is ...

It COULD be because the Vaqueros have a steel grip frame while the Blackhawks have an aluminum alloy grip frame. I doubt if it would matter regarding what kinds of loads you used, but if you dropped it and it rolled down a mountain...

 

[Lee F]

The "New Vaquero" Rugers have been on the shelf in North Carolina gunshops (Ed's in Vass") for about three weeks now. The price at $425 is higher than early reports thought it would be.

 

[Tony Mig]

$425.00.......I paid $580.00 for a 5.5" stainless Vaquero last summer, and that was the cheapest price I was quoted between 4 other gun dealers.

Everything costs more in New Jersey......