Author Topic: Old Model Ruger Vaquero 45 Colt (Read 13927 times)

heyjoe · « **on:** 10 »

I picked up this Old Model Ruger Vaquero 45 Colt a couple of weeks ago now. It has a 3 3/4" barrel. It balances beautifully in the hand. After inspecting it and cleaning it thoroughly I have come to the conclusion that even though it was made in 2000, it was never fired except for the test rounds done by Ruger. Ive been buying as many different rounds for 45 colt that i can get my hands on. 45 Colt is relatively easy to get compared to most other calibers right now. I also bought some heavy +P ammo for it. Im going to buy a nice shoulder holster for it. It will be my woods gun. Im very happy with it.

MR_22 · « **Reply #1 on:** 10 »

Nice. That looks a lot like my Vaquero .45ACP, with the same length barrel, but mine is stainless and has a birdshead grip.

I like it a lot, although I need to send it back to Ruger, because 4 of the 6 cylinders weren't reamed out enough to allow rounds to seat all of the way down in. I can only use of the two cylinders without it jamming. Still a cool gun. Congrats!

heyjoe · « **Reply #2 on:** 11 »

sorry to hear about the cylinder issue.
i would like to get an extra 45 acp cylinder for practice. Ruger wont sell one or time one.

doc_stadig · « **Reply #3 on:** 15 »

I've got a Ruger Blackhawk in 45 Colt that I traded a 1911 that hated my guts, I know, guns don't hold grudges, but, if I took it to the range, and fired it the bullet was lucky if it would hit the board, my son-in-law, however, could hit dead-center every time, he could stack 3-4 under a quarter. My other 1911 I could write my name with at 21 feet. So, it wasn't that just 1911's hated me, just that one?!?
My Rugers, the 45 Colt, and the 357, both Blackhawks are my absolute favorite revolvers, my Rock Island Armory 1911 being my favorite semiautomatic. I think you will have a great deal of fun with your Vaquero, don't let it sit in a holster all the time, they are great fun to just shoot.

Doc

cfsharry · « **Reply #4 on:** 16 »

That is a sweet looking piece. My old model Blackhawks are excellent revolvers but I really like the color case hardening and the short barrel. The only thing that has held me back from buying the Vaquero is the lack of adjustable sights. Let us know how this one shoots.

MR_22 · « **Reply #5 on:** 16 »

Quote from: heyjoe on 11

sorry to hear about the cylinder issue.
i would like to get an extra 45 acp cylinder for practice. Ruger wont sell one or time one.

Yeah, I bought the .45ACP version instead of the .45LC because I liked the idea of the more available and cheaper ammo. Besides, it's cool to have a revolver chambered for an auto round.

Here's my Ruger Vaquero, Talo Edition. Note the top picture where the two right rounds are seated correctly (with space for a moon-clip, I guess, although the gun didn't come with any and it doesn't seem to need any) and the other 4 rounds that ride high. The cylinder won't rotate with those high rounds. It's a bummer, but maybe I can just send the cylinder in for repair--unless I need a new cylinder, then they'll need the Vaquero for timing.

I've seen Ruger Vaqueros that came with both the .45LC and .45ACP cylinders, but I'm afraid that buying them that way is the only way you can get them.

TwoGunJayne · « **Reply #6 on:** 17 »

Every time I see one of those, I have forgotten how good they look!

MR_22 · « **Reply #7 on:** 17 »

Quote from: TwoGunJayne on 17

Every time I see one of those, I have forgotten how good they look!

And they look suh-WEET!

OV-1D · « **Reply #8 on:** 18 »

Those shopkeepers are tempting aren't they , they look sooo good in a side holster , even that shoulder harness Joe was talking about , with those smmmooootttthhhhhh birdshead grips just kinda roll back a little when its fired lots of nice size fat furniture to hang on to , simple power in that long colt 45 , I just messed myself AGAIN !!!!!! HaHaHaHa

Just gotta get one there MR22 .

MR_22 · « **Reply #9 on:** 18 »

HAHA!

I really love this gun. It would be nicer if it was more than a two-shot, but I'll get it fixed. I was going to call Ruger today, but the time got past 3pm before I noticed, so it was too late (they close at 5pm Eastern and I'm in Mountain). Dang it.

The kick on this .45 baby is pretty stout, but it doesn't hurt. It's fun to shoot. Last time I had it out, it was jamming up, before I realized I could get the cylinder to spin with only two rounds inserted into the good chambers, so that kind of clouded my shooting experience, but I can see it's going to be fun once I get it fixed.

I bought some of the Liberty Ammunition Civil Defense unleaded ammo to try in it. Can't wait to Chrony that and see what that 78-grain bullet is gonna do!

heyjoe · « **Reply #10 on:** 18 »

those birdshead grips appeal to me as well. the new ruger vaqueros come with birdshead grips, the old model doesnt. i got the old model though because of the ability to use really hot ammo.

OV-1D · « **Reply #11 on:** 19 »

I can see that hot ammo not work so well with those birdshead grips just that standard ammo packs one heck of a punch and one needs all the grip you can get . Now Joe that +P is going to work on your wrists and even elbow after a while but myself find that caliber simply amazing and a pleasure to shoot , like a giant 22 shell ha , a little expensive except in bulk a little cheaper , don't buy reloads of course unless you know the guy not sure if I trust that cylinder with an extra hot loads even +P 's that stuff is spooky . My only wish is that mine had a big fat beaver tail hammer .

MR_22 · « **Reply #12 on:** 21 »

The birdshead grips are one of the main reasons I bought the Talo Vaquero, as opposed to something else. It's just nice package. Plus I also really like the black laminate grips that came stock with the Talo special edition. I often replace stock grips, but these are there to stay.

And having shot some hot self-defense rounds from this gun, I don't think it's too bad at all. It's stiff, sure, but it doesn't hurt.

heyjoe · « **Reply #13 on:** 23 »

which rounds have you shot?
i have everything from 225 to 330 gr. OV after decades of moving 2 1/2 line, a firm grip is one thing i do have.

MR_22 · « **Reply #14 on:** 23 »

I forget which hollow points. I'll have to get out the box. I've tried two FMJ's. But I haven't shot it much. A jamming cylinder kind of ruins the shooting experience.

doc_stadig · « **Reply #15 on:** 12 »

I ran across a 22 conversion cartridge which makes it very inexpensive to shoot, found them on Ebay, they're fairly expensive for 5, I think they were $75+shipping, but they work with all my 45 Colt handguns, my Bond Derringer is much easier on my hand in .22 than it is with the Colt ammo, lol. Now if they'll ever get anymore .22 ammo in, I'll be much happier!

Doc

MR_22 · « **Reply #16 on:** 12 »

Wait, you can shoot .22LR in a .45 revolver? How does that work? Do you have pictures of that?

OV-1D · « **Reply #17 on:** 14 »

Quote from: heyjoe on 23

which rounds have you shot?
i have everything from 225 to 330 gr. OV after decades of moving 2 1/2 line, a firm grip is one thing i do have.

Joe I haven't shot any in my 45 because what I've shot in my 44 mag those +P's are just too uncontrollable to stay on target quickly with that muzzle flip , too jerky I think for what little extra one gets . Besides I want my stuff to last a very long time and I figure all that plus ammo is just abuse to the designs of any gun probably just my imagination at work . Don't pay much attention to weights of bullets neither just compensate for any differences while shooting , I should say when I was shooting regularly .

cfsharry · « **Reply #18 on:** 14 »

Yes, more info please. Are you talking sleeves that insert into the cylinder of a revolver. If so, is the .22 bullet fired through a sleeved barrel or just winging it through the .45 tube? Definitely need more info.

doc_stadig · « **Reply #19 on:** 17 »

For some reason my tablet isn't letting me pull up my Ebay account, go to EBay's search engine and type in 22 conversion that should pull up several different versions from barrel conversions, to the inserts I am talking about. They are, as CFS Harry determined, an insert with an offset hole chambered for .22, it is a well designed cartridge and it didn't make any difference which direction the cartridge adapter was rotated and it went bang every time. The adapter is the size and dimensions of a 45 Colt cartridge, and chambers in all of my 45 Colt weapons., derringer, Leinad, as well as my Ruger.

Doc

TwoGunJayne · « **Reply #20 on:** 17 »

Do those have to be rifled?

MR_22 · « **Reply #21 on:** 17 »

I'll be danged:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/22-lr-conversion-kit-Ruger-Vaquero-Bisley-Blackhawk-Revolver-10-410-45-colt-45-/331049241268?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4d14128ab4

To be legal, I'm sure they MUST be rifled. The eBay ad says they don't work for my .45ACP cylinders, tho--probably too short. But I could use 'em in my Judge.

EDIT: From this ad "These actually have mini rifled barrels internally, so accuracy is surprisingly good."

heyjoe · « **Reply #22 on:** 20 »

had an interesting experience yesterday while looking for a holster and other leather goods for the ruger vaquero. i was looking at the simply rugged website at the doc holiday type shoulder holster, they call it a chest puller, anyway they had selection pull downs for 3 1/2" barrel and 4 5/8" but not the 3 3/4" that i have. it also wasnt clear to me if the holster straps would be long enough being 6'3" 235 lbs. i also wanted to know if the 3 week completion estimate was current, especially with all of the panic buying. so i call and get an immediate attitude, it was obvious that they were annoyed by my questions. so, i looked around some more called El Paso Saddlery, was treated like a customer, they answered my questions, so i ordered two holsters, one a shoulder, one a belt holster and a belt slide ammo holder. Obviously Simply Rugged doesnt need customers and so I obliged them.

MR_22 · « **Reply #23 on:** 20 »

Wow. Glad you gave your money to those who deserved it.

cfsharry · « **Reply #24 on:** 22 »

I had wondered how the center-fire firing pin would make contact with the rimfire .22 cartridge. Off center bore is an unexpected solution.
I imagine whatever rifling is there is for legal reasons only as it is apparent from the key-holing that there is too little to provide stabilization of the bullet. Would also expect velocity to drop dramatically as the bullet is out of the bore well before total ignition and pressure is developed. Because the bullet is fired off center of the bore and because of the lack of bullet stability I would be concerned with the bullet striking the bore especially if fired from a revolver with a longer barrel.
Sounds cool on the surface but for me it does not seem to have much practical application. I would rather put the $75 toward ammunition that I will continue to use in the guns it is designed and optimized for.

MR_22 · « **Reply #25 on:** 00 »

Actually, using these chamber adapters wouldn't be much different from my Leinad 6-shot revolver, which has no barrel. The rifling is in the cylinder. The area beyond the cylinder is just open and looks kind of like a shotgun barrel.

Accuracy for this Leinad isn't that bad.

Dinadan · « **Reply #26 on:** 14 »

Heyjoe - I like that Vaquero. I prefer the shorter barrel lengths. I have a 3 3/4" barrel Vaquero in .357. It shoots pretty accurately, but after the first couple of trips to the range I decided that it was not quite as accurate as my 3" SP101. Then my daughter shot it and proved that in the right hands that Vaquero is at least as accurate as the SP101, so it was just me. I keep meaning to get some nice wood grips like yours to replace my plastic grips, but so far I have not got around to it. I opted for a cross draw holster. Just something practical to wear. My fingernails have worn the leather finish when I practice fast drawing: I guess a better quality leather would hold up better.

MR_22 · « **Reply #27 on:** 16 »

Nice Vaquero! Looks almost like my .45ACP, except for the grip. We NAA'ers have great tastes!

TwoGunJayne · « **Reply #28 on:** 16 »

The Vaquero and the New Army stainless are some of the best looking guns ever made, I think.

MR_22 · « **Reply #29 on:** 17 »

Designs that would probably make Sam Colt proud.

heyjoe · « **Reply #30 on:** 17 »

i would think that most who like NAA minis would like Vaqueros.
Birdshead grip Vaquero in 357 would be nice

Dinadan · « **Reply #31 on:** 18 »

Quote from: heyjoe on 17

i would think that most who like NAA minis would like Vaqueros.
Birdshead grip Vaquero in 357 would be nice

Heyjoe - if Ruger made a .357 or .38 with birdshead grips and a 3" to 4" barrel I would sure get one. I have drooled over the .45s, but I just did not want to add another caliber. I have a Single six with birdshead grips and it looks just like MR_22's .45 Vaquero. I guess it is partly a love for single actions and partly a love for good looking revolvers.

MR_22 · « **Reply #32 on:** 18 »

Very nice, Dinadan. I wouldn't mind having one of those myself! How much does it weight? My Vaquero is 37 ounces. A bit heavy, I bet, compared to that one.

OV-1D · « **Reply #33 on:** 18 »

Those classic lines are what we all fall for it seems , we all kinda grew up on westerns right with a little bit of military thrown in . And here we all are gravitating together and feeling and looking good .