Velocity report for 45 Colt in New Vaquero 5.5"

[greenjoytj]

Test fired my new SASS set of Ruger New Vaquero's in 45 Colt with 5.5" barrels.
My load recipe is:
Cases - Starline. Almost all the starline cases did not require trimming as they were already a few thou shorter than the trim to length of 1.275" as shown in my manuals.
Primers - CCI 350 Magnum primers were used because I read a test were they proved best for BP in the 45 Colt.
Powder - Goex 2fg the charge weight was 35 grains. The charges were weighed on a digital scale.
Bullet - 261 grain LRNFP soft cast BHN ~11 from JetBullets.com. Purchased unsized and unlubed because I wanted to try out my new SAECO lubrisizer. Bullets sized to .452" and lube with SPG bullet lube which added the 1 grain of bullet weight.
The powder was compressed with a powder compression plug installed in the expanded die.
Bullets were seated directly on the powder no wads were used and a roll crimp applied just over the forward drive band, for a COL of 1.565”.
Black Powder Shooting Chrony results for 3 ten shot strings, velocity in feet per second:
String #1) Lo 803.7 Hi 832.2 Av 819.5 Es 28.51 Sd 8.77
String #2) Lo 809.5 Hi 835.2 AV 823.0 Es 25.70 Sd 9.05
String #3) Lo 776.1 Hi 834.0 Av 815.0 Es 57.92 Sd 17.11




I also test fired a smokeless handload made using the same load recipe mentioned above just swapping out the BP for 9.0 grains of Hodgdon's CFE-Pistol powder. This charge weight is a little under the max charge in the Hodgdon's 2017 Annual Manual.
Smokeless Shooting Chrony results for 3 ten shot strings, velocity in feet per second:
String #1) Lo 1002 Hi 1061 Av 1040 Es 58.62 Sd 17.52
String #2) Lo 996.2 Hi 1070 Av 1043 Es 74.55 Sd 23.60




All chrono testing was done with the revolver with the odd serial number.
The even numbered revolver was just test fired for function.
Both guns were first fired with Wolf brand factory ammo made in Kingston Ontario.
The Wolf ammo was made with new Starline cases and have hard cast 250 grain LRNFP bullets.
Wolf Factory load Shooting Chrony results:
String #1) Lo 788.5 Hi 865.0 Av 823.8 Es 76.42 Sd 25.78

[Outpost75]

Have you measured the cylinder gap of your revolver?

That would be another useful metric to put your data in perspective.

.45 Colt rebarreled / recylindered 5-1/2" S&W M1917 vs. 5-1/2" Ruger 5-1/2" .45 Colt Vaquero,
Cyl throats both cyls. .4525", both barrels .4505" groove dia.

Ammunition__________________S&W converted M1917_______________Ruger Vaquero
____________________________New .45 Colt Cylinder________________.45 Colt
____________________________Cylinder gap 0.004"_________________Cylinder gap 0.008"
New Winchester 255-grain lead___852 fps, 17 Sd, 40 ES_________________793 fps, 12 Sd, 32 ES
Old Western 255-grain Lubaloy___866 fps, 20 Sd, 52 ES_________________799 fps, 8 Sd, 21 ES
200-grain FN, 7.2 grs. Bullseye___945 fps, 14 Sd, 34 ES_________________912 fps, 14 Sd, 42 ES