Are the Vaquero .45 Colt/.45 ACP Combos Good?

[Kestrel]

Are the Vaqueros with the .45 Colt and .45 ACP cylinders as accurate as the regular .45 Colt model?

Thanks,
Steve

 

[Josey]

Yes. They still need the throats opened and forcing cones recut to 11 degrees in the 45 LC cylinder. I know one guy who has a BP recipe for 45 ACP. They work fine. You could shoot CAS or hunt with the 45 LC. You can carry the 45 ACP cylinder for SD or a back-up to a 45 ACP semi-auto. You can have plenty of 45 LC and 45 ACP on hand. I have heard nothing negative except that locking base pins are nice additions.

 

[45crittergitter]

Pretty accurate, but mine doesn't hit point of aim. This will be compounded by the lack of adjustable sights when you change loads.

 

[Dienekes]

My experiences with the standard Blackhawk .45 Convertible are that the points of impact from the various loads (250 gr .45 Colt, 185/200/230 gr .45 ACP) vary enough that adjustable sights are important. Quite a bit of vertical spread there. I think it would be a problem with the fixed sight Vaqueros unless you really knew what load you wanted to settle on for good.

Did not need to do anything with the chamber throats for .45 ACP but did have them uniformed out to .4525 or so for use with a .454 dia. cast bullet.

 

[Tom C.]

I have several NMBHs in .45 Colt with spare .45 ACP cylinders. I have opened both cylinders with the .4525†reamer, and they both shoot fine. I prefer the adjustable sights of the Blackhawk. I do know one guy who had his .45 ACP cylinder trimmed so he can use .45 AR brass. He uses those little cases for light CAS loads.

 

[Wedge]

I have a convertible Blackhawk in .45 Colt/ACP and I love it. The cheap .45 ACP makes for great plinking and you can really hotrod the .45 Colt.