What options for .45acp in a SAA style gun?

[TheVirginian]

Since you say the Blackhawk is "reportedly 20% larger than an SAA", I gather you haven't handled either a Blackhawk or an SAA.

I have both, a Blackhawk Convertible 45 Colt/45acp and a Uberti 1873 Cattleman. I don't find the Blackhawk to be that much larger and I definitely like the adjustable sights.

BTW, the 45 Colt/45acp is a hoot. Unlike the 357/9mm, same accuracy with either 45 cylinder

Actually, I have handled all of those revolvers. I used the word "reportedly" in reference to the 20% larger figure as I wanted to make it clear that I was unsure about that number and that it was not my own. I can say that they feel different and that the BlackHawk, even the 50th anniversary Blackhawk is larger than the Vaquero, and again, it is reported to be a bit smaller than the standard Blackhawk or Super Blackhawks.

Two dealers had all three models and I checked them out again just yesterday. I didn't put calipers on them, so it is just subjective but you don't need to measure anything to notice the large difference between the Vaquero and the Blackhawk of any variety. I also handled a Uberti at two out of a total of four dealers visited. The Vaquero is very closely modeled to the Colt and the only one that I really liked the feel of. The action on it is much better IMO than the others as well. It's most similar to the 50th anniversary Blackhawk for sure. They actually had a pretty swanky looking and limited edition 50th there that I would have been more interested in if it wasn't for the edition. It was a Texas Sheriff's Association model in a display box. It looked to be a really nice gun at a fair price. Not being from Texas, I didn't quite consider it to be the tipping point in my decision. It desreves some more consideration though as it did look sweet and I believe it was "new". It was also chambered in .45LC and that may not be a deal killer either afterall.
-Bill

 

[edrice]

Several years ago, I picked up the Ruger Bisley Vaquero in .45 Colt. This is older larger model. I scouted around for a .45ACP Blackhawk cylinder. They used to crop up occasionally on ebay and I ended up getting one. Ebay allowed that sort of thing at the time.

Anyway it just required some minor refitting by a gunsmith ($25) to make a Ruger Bisley Vaquero in 45LC/45ACP. Works very well and also have the full-power "Ruger-only" capability of the larger Vaquero model.

Ed

 

[TheVirginian]

That would be a nice find. All that, and in CA too!

 

[edrice]

That would be a nice find. All that, and in CA too!

Indeed... and mere minutes from the home of the Single Action Shooting Society -

http://www.sassnet.com/

Ed

 

[Roper1952]

like water on a hot skillet...

Bill, you've bounced around a bit here, let me suggest something. Unless you already have handguns in other calibers that you would like to reload, don't get all wound up about reloading just yet.

If the Vaquero seems to suit you the best, pick one up in 45 Colt. Shoot off the shelf ammo, but be sure to save the brass.

45 Colt can do a lot of different things, punch paper, CAS shooting, even hunting if your area game department allows it. You can load it light or very heavy.

Down the road if you think you'd like to reload, look at Dillon's 550. I've owned on for over twenty years and have loaded thousands of round for pennies on the dollar. That was after recouping the original investment. I now load 32/32mag/32/20, 38/357, 9mm, 45 ACP and Colt. With individual die holders I can change heads and calibers in about 10 minutes.

If you decide you want to shoot 45ACP, turn that corner when you get there. No need to jump into that right away, you might not even like single action shooting after all. But the Vaquero will hold it's value well if you decide to sell it.

Have fun above all, Roper

 

[edrice]

Roper's advice is really good advice. That's what I would do if I were laying out a path and it makes good sense.

Of course, like most everything else I've done, I had no intention of getting a .45 acp cylinder when I picked up the Bisley Vaquero. That was an idea that just cropped up and evolved along the way and everything else just fell into place.

But I certainly agree with saving brass. I was a reloader for about 10 years and then gradually got away from it and sold my equipment. Ammo was cheap. But along the way I still never got over the habit of saving brass and have boxes out in the garage. Ammo prices went up and I had all this brass, so guess what... here I go again and I'm really looking forward to getting involved again. I realize now that I miss it and it is almost as entertaining researching and reloading as it is shooting the finished product in the first place.

The Dillon is excellent top-of-the-line equipment, no doubt. When I previously reloaded, I was all RCBS. This time I'm trying to go with a little less output, so I'm doing Lee this time at more minimal cost and storage space. If you're going to do high volume, the Dillon would certainly be first rate.

Ed

 

[amprecon]

Here's another option:
http://www.usfirearms.com/cat/lendlease_prewar.asp

 

[Superlite27]

I just picked up a used Ruger Vaquero in .45 LC several days ago. As I was writing the check, the salesman said, "That's the first convertible I've seen from the factory."

Huh? Convertable?

He opened the box, and sure enough, there's a cylinder for .45 ACP in a little cutout for it.

I never knew such a thing existed. I was wondering why the box had a little "Special Edition" placard on it.

BONUS! I've got tons of .45 ACP and can now shoot to my hearts content instead of eating up the .45 LC shooting up tin cans.

 

[Gary A]

I used to have a couple of convertible Vaqueros that I inexplicably traded away for something or other to my regret. They were a distributor special, either Davidson's (I think) or Lipsey's.

I hold out hope that Ruger will see fit to offer the New Vaquero 45 with a .45 acp cylinder as some sort of distributor special. Other medium, SAA-sized frames are available in .45 acp (Cimarrron, USFA) so the New Vaquero should be amply strong to do so.