I bought a couple of them back when they were new (late 1980's or very early 1990's) along with a couple of rifles in 44-40. I have mentioned my problems with them (several times). Basically, every dimension was screwed up and it shot 6" to 9" patterns from a rest at 15 yards (handguns). Or, it leaded the rifling solid in a few shots (rifles). I was able to get the rifles to shoot OK, but not the handguns. Ruger refused to fix them, replace them with something that would shoot, or refund the purchase price.
I had some machining work done on the Ruger (not a complete rebuilt) and with a soft lead 0.427" bullet and a small amount of Bullseye, I was able to get the groups down to 2" to 3" from a rest at 15 yards. Not great, but MUCH better than before. Unfortunately, I was not able to get any load that worked well in both the rifle and the pistol. I then put the guns in the back of the gunsafe and let them sit up to about 5 years ago.
I was in a Dicks Sporting Goods store just before the school shooting on the east coast. Dicks was having a sale on AR-15's for $700. This was before they abandoned "scary looking guns" and those who shoot them. They were being sold as "home protection guns". I looked for a while at one of the last ones they had, but could not bring myself to buy something that ugly. I started to hand it back when someone behind me asked to look at it. I handed it to him and he laid it down on the counter with his plastic and bought it without even checking it out.
I went back home and looked at what was in my safes. I realized that my 20 or so years of CAS shooting would make muscle memory automatic for a lever-action and a single-action revolver. I still had my Marlin Model 1894 in 44-40 and one of the Ruger Vaqueros. I decided to try jacketed bullets and higher velocities. I bought a bunch of Remington flat-nose 200gr soft-points and started with increasing amounts of 2400 powder. By the time I got to 15.5gr, the accuracy was equal to the best I had done before and it worked in both the rifle and pistol. I put them and the load into my bedroom closet.
Recently, I pulled them out again and continued experimenting. I took them up to 18.0gr of 2400, which is pretty close to the .44 Special loads used by Elmer Keith. I don't worry about pressure since both guns are offered in the .44 Magnum cartridge. What was interesting was that the accuracy actually got a little better in both the rifle and handgun when I increased the load. They are still not tackdrivers, but both are MUCH better than when I got them. I actually went up to 18.5gr in experiments, but the last 0.5gr only seemed to increase the muzzle flash with no other benefit, so I settled on 18.0gr.
Since I am not going to be using them in CAS, I upgraded the rifle sight with a peepsight. I have always liked peepsights better than buckhorn sights. I'd use them in CAS if I could. I also installed an SBH hammer, Wolff springs, and "gunfighter grips" on the Ruger. The SBH makes cocking the hammer right handed easier than with the original hammer. There seems to be no real difference cocking it with the left thumb (while holding it with the right hand). The hammer really was a drop-in part. The springs are much nicer and so are the grips.
They are all in the closet now, with the new loads. I seem to be making peace with the guns that the manufacturers screwed up. I am still not overjoyed with them, but they serve a purpose now.