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Offline coyotejoe

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Vaquero accuracy?
« on: February 07, 2009, 05:46:19 AM »
 A friend recently got a 4 5/8" New Vaquero in .45 Colt and is ready to get rid of it because after trying a wide variety of cast bullet loads he cannot get consistant groups under two inches at 25 yards. He is a very good shot and says he has owned several Ruger .44 mags that would go into one inch and feels the .45 should do as well. I feel his expectations are just too high. I've owned a lot of revolvers and few would hold under two inches with iron sights and many would not even with a scope.
 What do you all think?
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Offline Ahab

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Re: Vaquero accuracy?
« Reply #1 on: February 07, 2009, 08:49:22 AM »
Off hand, or rest?
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Offline Hank08

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Re: Vaquero accuracy?
« Reply #2 on: February 08, 2009, 10:10:31 AM »
2" is about normal at that distance for most handguns ,benched ,with good shooters especially with that length barrel.  There's probably some load that will do better .  2" is just 1" off either way from your POA and with that length barrel (and a Vaquero rear sight )a few thousands will move it that far.
H08
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Offline coyotejoe

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Re: Vaquero accuracy?
« Reply #3 on: February 09, 2009, 04:00:23 AM »
Thanks for the replies. Yes, we are speaking of groups from the bench and that is something I've told him, take away the bench and I doubt you could tell the difference between a one inch gun and a two inch gun. I really think his main issue is that the sights on the Vaquero are just not as distinct as on the Blackhawks, and Redhawks he is used to shooting. But he wanted the Vaquero expressly because it is not so bulky as the adjustable sight guns. You just can't eat your cake and have it too. ;D
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Offline Steve P

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Re: Vaquero accuracy?
« Reply #4 on: February 09, 2009, 08:34:36 AM »
My Vaquero has the 5.5" barrel.  8.0 grains of Unique, WLP primer, RCBS Keith type 245 grain SWC sized .452 with Hornady gas check and Lyman Orange Magic lube gives me consistant 2" groups at 25 yards.  I am a silhouette shooter.  I shoot several hundred handgun rounds a month with revolvers.  If you can shoot a Vacquero with fixed sights into better groups than this, my hat goes off to you.  I have revolvers that will do better, but they have Bomar rear sights and adjustable post front sights.  There is no question when lining up these specialty sights, that is why they cost so much.  You just don't have that kind of sight picture with the Vacquero.

Steve :) 
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Offline Redhawk1

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Re: Vaquero accuracy?
« Reply #5 on: February 12, 2009, 04:50:11 AM »
Shooting from a bench with my open sighed handguns, I get bad groups, I shoot my open sighted handguns better off hand. It has to do with how I hold the gun, and how my head is positioned.
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Offline coyotejoe

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Re: Vaquero accuracy?
« Reply #6 on: February 14, 2009, 05:02:00 AM »
Talked to my buddy again yesterday. He had been shooting an 1860 Army Colt cap & ball replica and getting one inch groups from rest. The sights on a Colt style cap & ball make the Vaquero seem like a flat out competition gun! Anyhow, I got him a Blackhawk .45 Colt and he gave me his Vaquero to sell, he's over it. Personally, I'd be quite satisfied with the groups he got out of it but it still doesn't meet his standards. I sure hope he has better luck with the Blackhawk, bore and chamber dimensions check out on the money, whereas the Vaquero does have some constriction at the forcing cone, a common revolver problem.
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Offline Hickok

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Re: Vaquero accuracy?
« Reply #7 on: February 22, 2009, 01:34:48 PM »
Tell your friend his revolver is a piece of junk and you will give him $100 for it.

You will have an excellent revolver!
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Offline Rangr44

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Re: Vaquero accuracy?
« Reply #8 on: February 26, 2009, 04:45:42 AM »
Vaquero's (NOT New vaquero) in .45 Colt had cylinder throat size issues, which could be the cause of inaccuracy in some revolvers with some ammo.

.
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Offline dpe.ahoy

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Re: Vaquero accuracy?
« Reply #9 on: February 28, 2009, 03:44:38 PM »
I agree with Rangr44, I had to have both my 45 SA's throats opened up.  Think I may have to the redhawk as well.  I sold the Bisley but the super blackhawk is a better shooter than the redhawk after haveing the throats done.  DP
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Offline Lee Robinson

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Re: Vaquero accuracy?
« Reply #10 on: May 03, 2009, 04:43:50 PM »
My bisley vaquero is 45 colt and it shoots so well I got rid of my Freedom Arms...easily shooting less than 2" at 25 yards...I would say about 1 and 1/4" or so. I shoot 270 grain Keith over either H110, 2400, or 4227 most of the time.
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Offline stubshaft

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Re: Vaquero accuracy?
« Reply #11 on: May 03, 2009, 05:16:45 PM »
Quote from: Rangr44 on February 26, 2009, 04:45:42 AM
Vaquero's (NOT New vaquero) in .45 Colt had cylinder throat size issues, which could be the cause of inaccuracy in some revolvers with some ammo.

.

I have to agree wholeheartedly with this.  I bought a Blackhawk from one of the fellows at the silly wett club.  He sold it for a song as he couldn't get it to shoot properly.  Took it home and sligged the chambers and throat.  The chambers were sized at .4512" and the throat was .4534".  Opened up the cylinder to .4541" and it holds 1 1/2" @25yds. w/ 255Lee and 7.5gr Unique.  The guy I bought it from just offered me $550.00 to buy it back (more than twice what he sold it to me for).
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Offline russianblood

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Re: Vaquero accuracy?
« Reply #12 on: May 06, 2009, 06:47:30 AM »
I noticed the narrow cylinder openings on my Ruger Vaquero. I just got it in a trade. I thought it might be lead build up.  I took it out for the first time today, and with my first test loading I shot 3 1/2"-4" groups at 25yds.  The windage is on but I'm shooting 6" low. Luckily if it stays that way, it's an easy fix. Now to try different loading and see if I can't shrink those groups.
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Offline Rex in OTZ

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Re: Vaquero accuracy?
« Reply #13 on: May 07, 2009, 02:07:59 PM »
I bought a "New Vaquero" back in 2004 (through Davidson's) in .45 colt shoots as good as I could expect to shoot it has the birds head grips and 3.3/4" barrel
What year did they address the throught constriction problem?
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