Howdy,

Picture this:
The loading gate is open on my .45 LC Vaquero.
When I rotate the cylinder, I hear the normal "click", then I stop the rotation to load a round.
Here's what puzzles me...the point at which the "click" occurs places part of the chamber just below the lip of the loading gate, requiring me to rotate the cylinder back a bit so that I can clear the lip to load a round.
Now on my Colt Cowboy, when the "click" occurs, the cylinder chamber is properly lined up.
My question is this: Is the proper for the Vaquero?
I just got it as for a Christmas present, so I am unfamiliar with the operation of the gun.



(Edited by TQ at 9:16 am on Dec. 25, 2001)

Yes this is normal.  Rugers with the transfer bar safety are a little different than the traditional Colt SAA and copies.

In some calibers you can't even rotate the cylinder back far enough to load a cartridge if you hear the click (44's, 45's, etc.).

Gotta watch closely when you load.   This may drive you nuts for a while till you get used to it!

Congrats on your Christmas present!

Thanks for the response, Mike. I think. <!--emo&:)--><img src="http://beartoothbullets.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'><!--endemo-->
I do love the gun. Always wanted one. It is a bit odd to have a click that means &quot;oh, you've just rotated the cylinder a bit farther than necessary, back off just a tad, will you?&quot;.
Anyway, thanks for the post, my friend, and have a happy new year.

TQ; I know what you mean, when I sent my SBH to David Clements for some work I had him free wheel the cylinder. Now I can turn the cylinder both ways while I'm loading it with no click.

TQ,

I have a .45 NM Blackhawk &amp; a Vaquero that Jim Stroh has installed half cock conversion kits on. They now have half cock and chambers line with the gate for loading/unloading just as OM Rugers and SAAs. If you'd like to know more about it go to his website - http://www.alphaprecisioninc.com/
It makes a huge difference in the gun; the conversion also moves the trigger back in the trigger guard so the gun looks more like a SAA. He also does a great trigger job to smooth things up and lighten the trigger pull and remove creep.

Intruiging. I think I'll follow that link right now. Thanks, Jim.