Author Topic: Ruger Vaquero cylinder diameter smaller than bore diameter (Read 1419 times)

carpediem · « **on:** December 20, 2004, 04:29:11 PM »

Hello All:

I have a pair of stainless steel, 7 1/2 inch Ruger Vaquero's.

I was messing around with my dial calipers and my pistols the other night and discovered that Each of the chambers in both cylinders are smaller than the bore diameters.

Average cylinder diameter was .440 inch. Bore diameter on both pistols are .452 and .4525 inch.

Any suggestions as to how I can ream out the chambers in my cylinders to match bore diameter?

Kindest regards,

Max

Prof. Fuller Bullspit · « **Reply #1 on:** December 20, 2004, 06:08:47 PM »

I believe Brownells sells a reamer to take care of this situation.

KN · « **Reply #2 on:** December 20, 2004, 06:11:47 PM »

I'll assume you are refereing to 45 colt pistols. If so you better check those dimensions again. You'd never get a 45 round in that cylinder at .440 dia. If you are talking about the cyl throats then .450 would be more realistic. And yes they probably do need to be reamed out to the correct bullet dia. I don't know why ruger is so set on doing this. KN

Duffy · « **Reply #3 on:** December 20, 2004, 07:39:32 PM »

You will get a better measurement by using a sized bullet to check your cyl throats with. It's difficult to get a good reading with a caliper on a round hole. It's better to have them undersized than over mainly because you can size them to your bbl. See if a .451 bullet will easily pass through, even if a 452 is a bit snug it wont hurt. I use a sandpaper bob in a drill press to even them out, if you are careful you can get them very precise.

Glanceblamm · « **Reply #4 on:** December 21, 2004, 02:43:06 PM »

Agreed with dial caliper being a tough measure in the round hole.
I too thought my Vaquero cylinders were undersized until I slugged the barrel & throats. Turns out that the barrel slug was just about a perfect fit when placed into any cylinder throat. My final measure ended up being
.4515

carpediem · « **Reply #5 on:** December 27, 2004, 08:25:49 AM »

Thaks for the advice guys. I will SLUG the cylinder and compare to the bore.

Merry Christmas:

Carpediem

RCL · « **Reply #6 on:** December 27, 2004, 11:34:50 AM »

This guy will do a good job of reaming the throat on that cylinder, and part of the money goes to a very good cause.

http://www.cylindersmith.com/

Dusty Miller · « **Reply #7 on:** December 27, 2004, 04:16:18 PM »

My new Vaquero Bird's Head has the same problem. Fer crissake you'd think RUGER, of all companys, could get it right with a SA revolver!

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #8 on:** December 27, 2004, 11:28:56 PM »

What he said. He does a nice job and is very reasonable and turn over is real quick.

Quote from: RCL

This guy will do a good job of reaming the throat on that cylinder, and part of the money goes to a very good cause.

http://www.cylindersmith.com/

Dusty Miller · « **Reply #9 on:** December 28, 2004, 09:20:04 AM »

I just got back from the post office where I mailed off my Vaquero cylinder to CylinderSmith.com. I figure it makes more sense to just cut to the chase and get the job done and be done with it rather than spending the next six months jawboning about it on the i-net! So, When that puppy gets back I'll fire lap the bore and I should be set to rock and roll.

PA-Joe · « **Reply #10 on:** December 28, 2004, 10:24:39 AM »

Dusty - Did you slug the bore and send the slug to him witht he cylinder. How does he know how much to ream out?

Dusty Miller · « **Reply #11 on:** December 28, 2004, 05:58:29 PM »

He knows because I TOLD HIM how much I wanted it bored to!