Ruger Vaquero 45 Colt Regulated to?

[Ru4real]

I’m looking at getting a Vaquero. I prefer to shoot 255 to 335 grain bullets at 900 to 1200 fps. I’m thinking both the shortest and longest Vaquero will both shoot high. Stainless steel.

What load is the standard front sight regulated to?
What options do I have to make POI = POA at 25 yards excluding changing the load? Front sight replacements / method?
Are the front sights the same on both 7.5” and 4-5/8” Vaquero? Appears so. So would 4-5/8 be closer POI = POA?

Ideally, I’d set the 4-5/8” Vaquero up for a coated 335gr MBC Slammer over 20gr of H-110 at 1050fps which is super accurate in the guns I already own. Likely need an older thicker cyl Vaquero.

When I get older (smarter? ) I will file the 4-5/8” front sight down and shoot a coated 255gr SWC over 13gr of HS-6 at 1050fps which is also super accurate in guns I already own.

All of my existing 45 Colts have adjustable sights. I’d prefer the 4-5/8” because I only have one 4” S&W Mountain Gun.

I did a search and couldn’t find this info. Thank you for any help!

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[CraigC]

They're not regulated. The front sight is left extra tall so you can zero it.

 

[Ru4real]

They're not regulated. The front sight is left extra tall so you can zero it.

Thanks Craig. So 335gr bullet at 1050 fps out of the 4-5/8” Vaquero with factory front sight will shoot high at 25 yards?

 

[.38 Special]

I only have one - 5.5" barrel - and it was regulated perfectly, out of the box, at 25 yards with 250 grains at 900 FPS. May just have been luck of the draw, but there you go.

 

[Seedy Character]

I have a New Vaquero 4 5/8"
I load 200gr @ 750 for CAS
It shoots low @ 10 yards

Lots of filing and that SS is hard

 

[Ru4real]

Thanks all, good info!

But does anyone shoot a 4-5/8” Vaquero using a heavy 315 to 335 grain bullet at 1000 to 1100 fps? Looking for a direct comparison.

 

[Seedy Character]

My "heavy" bullets are for rifle only.
Don't want to

 

[.455_Hunter]

My 7.5" Old Vaquero shoots the Buffalo Bore 325 gr @ 1325 fps load very low, but pretty much on the sights with a 250/255 gr @ the 750-900 fps range.

 

[Pat Riot]

I wish I could help you @Ru4real but the max weight I have tried in mine is 255 grain.
Glad to see you posted original Vaqueros. I wouldn’t try heavy loads in a New Vaquero. Definitely not at those pressures.

 

[Ru4real]

It’s looking like not many people shoot 335 grain heavies out of Vaquero.

Seems most are shooting cowboy type loads, as I guess it was designed for.

 

[buck460XVR]

So 335gr bullet at 1050 fps out of the 4-5/8” Vaquero with factory front sight will shoot low at 25 yards?

Being such a heavy load with heavy recoil, I'd suspect it would shoot high as opposed to the cowboys loads. At least that's been my experience with heavy recoiling loads outta my revolvers. Here's a good reference.......https://www.chuckhawks.com/handgun_bullet_velocity_trajectory.htm

 

[Ru4real]

Being such a heavy load with heavy recoil, I'd suspect it would shoot high as opposed to the cowboys loads.

Agree. And the front sight wouldn’t be tall enough. So far, nobody’s offered insight to making the front sight taller, or replacement.

 

[LaneP]

In my experience with Ruger big bores, the heavier/slower the higher POI at typical target ranges. This was a benched 50 shot, 25 yard group with my 5-1/2" Vaquero .45 Colt using a commercial cast 250 gr lead FP and 5.8 gr Trail Boss. This load clocks 720 fps from my pistol. 6 o'clock hold on the black.

 

[ontarget]

Agree. And the front sight wouldn’t be tall enough. So far, nobody’s offered insight to making the front sight taller, or replacement.

To my knowledge the front sight is not replaceable. So you would either need to add metal by welding and then reshape it or try to rig it up with JB weld or something and reshape it. Or I suppose you could try to source a completely new taller front site and silver solder it in place of the original.
Making them shorter is easy, taller.... not so much.

 

[Sacramento Johnson]

These might work to make the sight taller:

http://www.surehitsights.com/store.html

 

[Riomouse911]

Having owned a stainless old Vaquero 4 5/8” since the 1990’s, it’s been my experience that my gun is pretty much regulated for 255 gr loads at roughly 900 fps. I’ll move the front sight blade up or down in the notch depending on the load I’m shooting.

Since the sight radius isn’t large, and the shiny stainless finish on the sights isn’t the recipe for bullseye quality shooting, this gun isn’t one I’d pack if shots are going to be very long. For that type of shooting/hunting I’d opt for one with adjustable sights like a Blackhawk or Redhawk.

For packing as a close-in (under 30 yards) fanged critter defensive gun, the stainless old Vaquero using the loads you’re asking about would be great in a chest rig or similar set up.

Stay safe.

 

[Ru4real]

These might work to make the sight taller:

http://www.surehitsights.com/store.html

Good find. Thank you!

 

[Weflyfast]

I have a pair of OLD vaqueros -4 5/8 SS - 265 WFN hard cast with heavy load of H110 or Lil'gun shoots just a touch high at 25 yards 2" to 2.5 inches....

New models are not really made for super heavy loads - be careful-

 

[Tallinar]

I’ll add to the anecdotal evidence and say 250-255gr bullet at about 800-900 FPS has shot about point of aim for me at 7-10 yards in both my 4 5/8” New Vaquero and formerly my 7 1/2” New Vaquero with no sight modification.

Can’t speak for Old Vaq, but do agree you should look for an Old Vaq for the kind of load you’re wanting to push. General consensus is that New Vaq can handle up to neighborhood of 21,000-23,000 psi (i.e. .45 ACP territory). Beyond that you’re starting to flirt with trouble.