Finally took my Vaquero off layaway and to the range. Yes, I think I am in love!!! Feels totally natural in my hands and points much better than my SBHH.

Never owned a fixed sight anything, so I am real paranoid about taking the file to the sights. I was wondering if you folks could give me an idea on what kind of changes I would have in POI at 25yds. and 50yds. using different bullet weights and speeds ranging from 1000fps to 1200fps. IE,, What would you expect the difference in POI would be between a 270gr. and 325gr. bullets both traveling at 1100fps?

The cylinder is at CylinderSmith getting reamed so I want to start reloading since I can't get to the range.

Feel free to ramble on anything even closely related...I NEED as much info as possible.

Thanks,

Jim

Not a giant Vauero shooter, but have played with one and have a lot of fixed sight handguns. Got a 95% chance it will shoot pretty high with either of those bullet weights...with he heavier slug shooting noticably (like 3 to 4")higher than the lighter one.

Just the way handguns work. Iron sights actually align the barrel well UNDER the target (can see this with a straight edge alinged on top of the sights and one alinged along the center line of the barrel). Idea is that recoil starts before the bullet exits..this recoil pivots the barrel up...and if all goes well, bullet exits as the pivoting lines the barrel up with where the sights were.

(Aside here: Moving barrels, like on Browning type locked breech semi-autos, are more difficult to predict...have the much greater motion of the barrel rising or falling in and out of lock.)

Heavier bullet...more barrel pivot...more likely for the barrel to rise past the point were the sights were aligned when that bullet exits.

I like fixed sights...but my serious use of the guns with fixed sights is with ONE load (becasue only one load will be sighted in perfectly). Will shoot toher loads, but not for serious use...with those other loads you just have to aim low, or aim high, or aim a bit left or right to get dead-on hits.

Wouldn't think of any sight modification until I've found that one load i'm going to settly on...can shoot whereever it pleases in testing, just want to catch groups and get other readings.

Once I find that one load, will shoot it a LOT to be sure it's the one this gun will be married to for a long long time..then modify the sights.

Unlike many, just cann't stand a leaning ront sight...so I will not bend them or screw barrels in or out. I can always detect it, and it irritates me (besides, will tend to can't the gun in order to get that front sight standing vertical...not good).

So if I need windage, am most likely to build up the front sight's thickness and then file/polish/reblue one side or the other to get the windage AND keep a vertical standing front sight.

Advice: be careful with the file...is a WHOLE lot harder to get metal back on than it is to take it off.

Ribbonstone,
Thanks for taking the time to reply to my post. That's exactly the kind of stuff I was looking for! If you think of any other tips, let me know.

Thanks,

Jim

I wouldn't recommend filing the Vaquero... find a load and bullet that work for you and stick with it. Mine works great with the 250 grain cast and mid range load of Unique, and a 300 grain cast with a max load of H110. As far as I know, these guns are more accurate with a cast bullet than a jacketed one... not sure why, but thats my experience and what I've read from other sources.

Replacing the front sight with a dovetail type will help you sight in the Vaquero. To answer you question about the POI, from my 4 5/8 inch 44 mag Vaquero the differnce in a 250 gr at 1200 and a 325 gr at 1200 is about 16 inches at 25 yards. If you want to use the heavy bullets then you will probably need a higher front sight. Recoil from the short barrel and short gripframe of the Vaquero will get your attention. The 250 is much more managable.

Finally took my Vaquero off layaway and to the range. Yes, I think I am in love!!! Feels totally natural in my hands and points much better than my SBHH.

Never owned a fixed sight anything, so I am real paranoid about taking the file to the sights. I was wondering if you folks could give me an idea on what kind of changes I would have in POI at 25yds. and 50yds. using different bullet weights and speeds ranging from 1000fps to 1200fps. IE,, What would you expect the difference in POI would be between a 270gr. and 325gr. bullets both traveling at 1100fps?

The cylinder is at CylinderSmith getting reamed so I want to start reloading since I can't get to the range.

Feel free to ramble on anything even closely related...I NEED as much info as possible.

Thanks,

Jim
Jim, one thing we do to our Bisley vaqs is to file a flat on the front blade to take away that light "glare" on the rounded "corner" of the blade. Something about that glare usually makes our targets look like modified choke pattern. Once we file that flat,(about 45 degrees, and then use a stipiling file, to groove that surface) group settle down and it can change point of aim a fair bit. We never change the height of the blade untill we've shot at least 500 rounds of our selected load, to prevent doing something we might regret.
KK

check out Taffin's articles:
http://www.sixguns.com/range/rugervaquero.htm
http://www.sixguns.com/range/Adjust.htm
I've been shooting 250 gr RNFP .45LC ahead of 9 gr Unique that are printing in the lower left quadrant of targets at 25 yds. According to the wheel of misfortue ( I think a copy is on this site somewhere), I'm jerking, tightening my fingers, or not placing my trigger finger correctly. So, I need a consistent grip. I've actually just about figured out that I need to hold my sights (on a 5 1/2 " barrel) about 4-5 inches to the right of where I want to print for correct windage. My elevation is acceptable to me. When I'm convinced I've figured out the windage, I'll have a smith adjust my barrel slightly to the left for closer POA shooting.

Silly question, DakotaElkslayer, is this a new model Vaquero, if so my understanding is that you shouldn't be firing high velocity loads out of it, could be detrimental to you well being. Is it a 45LC, if so just get a regular black hawk if you plan on firing high velocity loads. Got this info over at Ruger Forums, I was going to try the same thing and was strongly advised against it. Like everybody else, I am a firm believer in finding the load then adjust to it.

Silly question, DakotaElkslayer, is this a new model Vaquero, if so my understanding is that you shouldn't be firing high velocity loads out of it, could be detrimental to you well being. Is it a 45LC, if so just get a regular black hawk if you plan on firing high velocity loads. Got this info over at Ruger Forums, I was going to try the same thing and was strongly advised against it. Like everybody else, I am a firm believer in finding the load then adjust to it.



Just thought someone out there may like to know; I've been shooting .45 Colts out of Rugers for many years. . . . Best load to date has been 20.0 grains of Hodgdons Lil gun powder behind a 300 gr. LBT WFN bullet. Amazing accuracy at about 1,200 FPS!
Good shootin

Just thought someone out there may like to know; I've been shooting .45 Colts out of Rugers for many years. . . . Best load to date has been 20.0 grains of Hodgdons Lil gun powder behind a 300 gr. LBT WFN bullet. Amazing accuracy at about 1,200 FPS!
Good shootin

It is not a good practice out of the Ruger New Vaquero's, the old modle is fine for that, it is built on a full size Blackhawk frame, but the New Model is a smaller lighter frame, I just found this out myself. Les