Ruger Bisley Vaquero Conversion???

[Camp Cook]

I have 2 consecutive serial #ed stainless steel 5.5" barreled Ruger Bisley Vaquero's in 45 Colt that I would like to get worked on.

My problem is that I can't decide on exactly what I want done too them...

I have considered just getting the extra strength 6 shot cylinder that way I could still use them for CAS or have them converted to 5 shot 454 Casull, 475 Linebaugh or 500 Linebaugh or maybe one in 475 and the other in 500.

I already have 2 Ruger SRH's in 454 Casull one with a 7.5" barrel and the other is getting shortened to a 4.25" barrel right now.

I really like the idea of being able to use my existing 45 Colt and 454 Casull loads.  Trying to find the time to reload for more cartridges and having to buy dies and all the different components is also a consideration.

I guess the best way to ask for help would be to ask other than diameter what does the 475 or 500 Linebaugh's have over the 454 Casull as well as do the barrels get changed if I convert to a 454 Casull or do they just change to a 5 shot cylinder? 

I am loading 395gr Cast Performance WLNGC's @ 1420fps in the 7.5" barreled SRH's and my guesstimation would be about 1150fps to 1200fps in the 4.25" shortened barrel and 330gr Jae-Bok Young's WFNGC's @ 1280fps in my Bisley Vaquero's 45 Colt's now.

Or should I leave them the way they are???

Any thought will be very much appreciated...



 

[fowler]

I guess for me I don't see the draw on the 454 over a 45 colt. At about 1200 fps you basically maxout penetration and driving bullets faster really gets you very little extra. For more penetration go to heavier bullets not faster loads. Also in my never humble opinion faster makes for much less pleasant recoil than heavier does. What would a 5 shot Casull really gain you over your 330 grain load you shoot now? A little velocity to keep the bullet flight a little flatter but certainly not at distances any mortal should be shooting a iron sighted revolver at.

I guess in my thought processes if I want more than I can get from a stock Ruger 45 colt cylinder than going to a 475 Linebaugh or even the 500 Linebaugh (I like the 475 more) so I can get heavier bullets a reasonable velocities makes the most sence. Also if I want to hot rod the 475 will handle far more that I am willing to shoot with any regularity. The idea of shooting a lot of 425gr loads at 1450fps makes me shutter. So the idea is to shoot only a very few each time you go and stop before the flinch really starts in. But a 425gr LBT at 1100fps will stop anything, anywhere and still is reasonable to shoot for more than 15 rounds at a time. Just look at Dustin Linebaugh's Alaskan Grizzly on another post here with a 475 at 175 yards!

Also remember with Vaqueros non-adjustible sights you need to settle on a single load for the gun and regulate it to your chosen load and then leave it with that one load for best results. I have the blued version of the Bisley Vaquero that I am tuning right now. The plan is a 300gr WFNGC bullet at 1000 to 1200fps, what ever hits to the top of the sight at 50 yards when the sight is finished being regulated right or left. It will be my back country all around gun that I know will handle mice to moose and still be pleasant to shoot for me. I do intend to hunt deer and elk with the gun and I know it will perform just fine, and I don't need to be battered by big heavy rounds all the time. And I would love to have Bowen or Linebaugh build me a big 475 but outside Alaskan bears you don't need to for anything in North America, so it is a little down on the priority list right now.