New Vaquero .45 In-Bound

[Brentona]

Happened across a New Vaquero at a swell price…now I don’t typically like to do so, but I went ahead and snatched some money out of my savings that I’ll pay back in a couple weeks…

I watched a real nice looking case hardened vaquero go for $750 cash on GB and kicked the dirt.

Then I stumbled across this -

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$600 for a really good condition New Vaquero in .45? I felt like I “had” to…

In any event, I have been in good communication with it’s owner in Ohio. We came to an agreement and had an enjoyable phone conversation. He likes to talk to the person he is dealing with, as do I, truly! Seems like a nice gentleman.

Sometimes I’m in the right spot at the right time. Hardly often. But this time it lined up!

Came across these guys a while ago and wanted to give them a shot…

https://www.boonetrading.com/collections/ruger-simulated-ivory-pistol-grips/products/copy-of-american-ivory-ruger-blackhawk-single-six-vaquero-old-army-pistol-grips

I also ordered some leather for the new Six Shooter, what good is a gun you can’t carry with you? Unfortunately the belt I ordered didn’t exactly match what was online. And my
Holster therefor needed some touching up…

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It was a nice saddle brown, yet the belt came dark and more of a burgundy. That’s nothing a little shoe polish can’t set straight …

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There, that will serve our purpose a little better…here’s what it looks like so far :

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Don’t be scared of the spooky “ghost gun” it will soon take shape. The head gear is an Akubra Kinadra hat. Believe it’s a rabbit felt. Great hat, performs splendidly in all weather.

After a lot of waiting on the shop in Ohio, it looks like they finally got it in the mail. Should be my way Thursday evening, hopefully the latest it’s in my grubby paws will be Friday afternoon after work.


I’ll be sure to post so glamor shots when it comes in…in the mean time, enjoy some old pictures I have of a .357 Smoke Wagon Deluxe :

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Sure excited!
- Brent


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[Maven]

As well you should be, Brent. That's a beautiful revolver!

[Brentona]

As well you should be, Brent. That's a beautiful revolver!

Thanks brother! She’ll get a night’s rest then it’s up early to the hunt club and after, a little chootin’


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[Hickok]

Happy for ya!

I have a New Vaquero stainless 4 5/8" in 45 Colt.

One thing you need to check is the cylinder throats. I have had 4 Ruger .45 Colt revolvers over the years, and every single one of them had tight chamber throats that didn't do well with cast boolits. I had them opened .4525". My New Vaquero is now at .4525" and it shoots great!

[littlejack]

Very nice piece. Enjoy.

[44MAG#1]

I had a New Vaquero stainless a
45 Colt and made the mistake of coming on here and posting a load I used in mine recommended to me by John Linebaugh and the Load Data Police (LDP) got all over me.
Liked the one I had but found something I liked more so down the road it went.

[Hickok]

Just like to add that the .45 Colt with a cast 250 SWC @ about 900 fps. will drive right through a whitetail's shoulders and out the other side!

[35 Whelen]

Very nice, congrats!!


Happy for ya!

I have a New Vaquero stainless 4 5/8" in 45 Colt.

One thing you need to check is the cylinder throats. I have had 4 Ruger .45 Colt revolvers over the years, and every single one of them had tight chamber throats that didn't do well with cast boolits. I had them opened .4525". My New Vaquero is now at .4525" and it shoots great!

This for sure. I had one of the NV's in 45 Colt and it wouldn't shoot cast worth a flip until I had the cylinder throats reamed and lapped the tight spot out of the barrel where it screwed into the frame.

35W

[DougGuy]

My eyes tell me this is a large frame Vaquero (2 digit prefix). If so you would be good to go with the 30kpsi Ruger Only load data..

[35 Whelen]

My eyes tell me this is a large frame Vaquero (2 digit prefix). If so you would be good to go with the 30kpsi Ruger Only load data..

Definitely a New Vaquero(zoomed in on photo), but still good for 20-22K psi loads.

35W

[DougGuy]

Definitely a New Vaquero(zoomed in on photo), but still good for 20-22K psi loads.

35W

Aha! I stand corrected! NV = 23kpsi same as 45ACP+P.

I thought all of the medium frame guns had the lawyer warning on the bottom of the barrel. Blue/CC guns were early production so I wonder when it was moved?

[contender1]

The lawyer warning was moved several years ago on all models due to the addition of an offering of engraving by the engraving studio. Nobody wanted to try & have an engraved gun with the work AROUND the warning. So, Baron Technologies had Ruger move the warning, and as such, it was a permanent change. While Ruger no longer has the engraving options, it did allow us the cleaner looking firearms we so enjoy. And that ugly warning is not as easily seen.

The .45 Colt is a fine caliber, and Kudos to getting you a nice one!

[FergusonTO35]

Anybody know if the hammer for the original Vaquero will work in the new Vaquero? I really don't like the design of the new hammer.

[DougGuy]

Anybody know if the hammer for the original Vaquero will work in the new Vaquero? I really don't like the design of the new hammer.

They will interchange without issue afaik.. So will a SBH hammer. The Montado model? Vaquero with Sheriff barrel length and SBH hammer.

I actually like the taller spur of the newer Vaquero hammer and kept it on mine. It's higher, but much more artistic.

[Brentona]

Well, Hell.

ATF is really putting a heaving strain on FFL’s down here. What typically is a cash and carry scenario is a 1 Day jail sentence.

Here is a teaser for tomorrow’s promo -

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Also it is not a free spin gun to answer an above question!


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[Brentona]

Well the whole gang is here, now! Turns out my ole Boker Arbolito sheath matches everything nicely…that’s a damn hard working blade, I’ll tell you!

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[contender1]

Nice!

[DougGuy]

What grips are on it?

[Brentona]

What grips are on it?

Posted up thread. There’s a link in the OP I believe. They’re from Boone Trading Company.


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[FergusonTO35]

They will interchange without issue afaik.. So will a SBH hammer. The Montado model? Vaquero with Sheriff barrel length and SBH hammer.

I actually like the taller spur of the newer Vaquero hammer and kept it on mine. It's higher, but much more artistic.

Thanks, will remember that. Ida know, just something about the new Vaquero hammer doesn't look right to my eyes.

[FergusonTO35]

Definitely a New Vaquero(zoomed in on photo), but still good for 20-22K psi loads.

35W

They make the NV in .357, which is alot more than 22k. So, does that limitation only apply to the .45 Colt?

[DougGuy]

They make the NV in .357, which is alot more than 22k. So, does that limitation only apply to the .45 Colt?

Cylinder wall thickness is a LOT more than the same size cylinder in 44 or 45 caliber. The 357 can handle much more pressure because it is stronger. The cylinder walls are thicker, the barrel is thicker.

The 44 Special cylinder is thicker than the 45 Colt, so we speculate it should be good to 25kpsi, whereas the 45 Colt cylinder is factory rated to 23kpsi, which is 45 ACP+P pressure.

[FergusonTO35]

Did not know that, thanks.

[Brentona]

Ok well life had truly gotten in the way of range time. Finally got it to the range yesterday. It is HORRIBLY out of time. It would strike the horizontal edge of the casing (read : rimfire). At times after a “click” I could rotate the cylinder counter clockwise, one position, after the misfire. Sometimes I would “click” through all five cartridges, open the loading gate to verify, and maybe fire three of the five cylinders after. Zero degree of reliability and frankly had to wait ‘til this morning to post because of my frustration.

I don’t really want to go through the multiple transfer fee process in going back to Ruger, though I may.

Again, in the light of a new day I can say “Good”. Now I can learn something new.

Where to begin, where to start…any and all help is appreciated. Thanks, crew.

- Brent


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[FergusonTO35]

Unless your state law differs, you can just contact Ruger and they will send a prepaid label to you. You send the gun off to them, they fix it, and return it back to you directly. No transfer or need to involve an FFL required under federal law since it is a repair.

[DougGuy]

Where to begin, where to start…any and all help is appreciated. Thanks, crew.

- Brent


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Call Ruger's customer support 1-800-784-3701 and describe the problem exactly as you typed it here. They will probably send the brown truck, the driver already has the label, box it up with all the stuff you got with it, they will pick it up, they will call you when it's ready to ship back and make sure you will be there to sign for the return. It's pretty easy really, and 99% of the time there will be no charge to you.

[35 Whelen]

Ok well life had truly gotten in the way of range time. Finally got it to the range yesterday. It is HORRIBLY out of time. It would strike the horizontal edge of the casing (read : rimfire). At times after a “click” I could rotate the cylinder counter clockwise, one position, after the misfire. Sometimes I would “click” through all five cartridges, open the loading gate to verify, and maybe fire three of the five cylinders after. Zero degree of reliability and frankly had to wait ‘til this morning to post because of my frustration.

I don’t really want to go through the multiple transfer fee process in going back to Ruger, though I may.

Again, in the light of a new day I can say “Good”. Now I can learn something new.

Where to begin, where to start…any and all help is appreciated. Thanks, crew.

- Brent


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I didn't want to say anything earlier and rain on your parade. I bought NV in 45 Colt several years ago and and from a shooters standpoint it was a basket case. Throats were too small and had to be opened, the thread choke in the barrel had to be lapped out and among others things the bolt popped ridiculously early, scoring the cylinder. After I addressed these problems and got the revolver like I wanted it, it was just so-so accurate.
I finally sold it and replaced it with a later model 4-click Uberti. Like my other Uberti's it's very well built, trigger was nice at 4 lbs., it handles the same loads as a NV, timed perfectly, very well fitted, and shoots palm-size groups at 75 yds. with the right loads. Win-win.

35W

[Brentona]

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#42 the Pawl needs to be checked out I reckon

I’d really like to try to LEARN the issue and it’s resolution. I feel it’s my duty to learn the arm and it’s troubleshooting procedures. If it all seems too much I’ll send it in. The few rounds that did go pop? First call it ten shot roughly 3.5-4” high. The scant few that came out while I continued my frustrations all began hitting POA. And accuracy was enjoyed, but the inconsistency of boom or click was throwing me.


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[DougGuy]

Somebody could have gotten hold of it and tried to make a free spin pawl, the new guns have that from the factory. The issue was to make it easier to align the chamber with the loading gate so Ruger beveled off the edge of the pawl to allow this. Prior to that change, the pawl was cut square on the end and you had to roll the cylinder all the way around to access one hole the other direction.

OR.... Somebody could have replaced the pawl and never bothered to file fit the top of it resulting in over rotation.

You can get a free spin pawl from Brownell's or Midway, or you may just call Ruger and sweet talk them into sending you one free of charge.

[Brentona]

https://youtube.com/shorts/dgGhG8xQpqw?feature=share

Well now it has a new trick. I took it down to clean and snap some pictures of my findings…now it’ll lock up at random! Back to the factory for this one.

[Woodtroll]

Try that same maneuver with the cylinder base pin installed. It looks like the transfer bar may be hanging on the back of the firing pin. There is a spring-loaded plunger in the base pin that pushes the transfer bar back to clear the firing pin as the bar rises. That won't fix your timing/cylinder latch problem, but I'm betting it will fix the binding-up problem.

Good luck!

[Brentona]

Try that same maneuver with the cylinder base pin installed. It looks like the transfer bar may be hanging on the back of the firing pin. There is a spring-loaded plunger in the base pin that pushes the transfer bar back to clear the firing pin as the bar rises. That won't fix your timing/cylinder latch problem, but I'm betting it will fix the binding-up problem.

Good luck!

Yessir! Same sentiments echoed on another forum. Thank you kindly!


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[Rodfac]

Really nice Brent....like the case hardening...hope it shoots well for you. My NV had to have the throats opened up to 0.4525" to shoot lead alloy. Cylindersmith did the work 8 yrs ago. Too, my NV shot low and left by 2-3" in both directions. I corrected the elevation by lowering the front sight, and opened the rear notch ~0.015" on the right side. With my standard .45 Colt load of 255 gr 454190 backed by 8.0 gr of Unique, it centered right up.

BTW, good lookin' pooch in your avatar...here's mine...'Molly'. Best regards, Rod

https://i.postimg.cc/634KNvxK/IMG-E9452.jpg (https://postimg.cc/dkFp2D0N)