Vaquero 44mag reloading inquiry

[theNoid]

Moderators, if this needs to be in the reloading forum, please move it. I posted it here because it is very gun specific and figured I might get better results here.

My bud and I are ordering the stuff to start reloading for his Vaquero in 44mag. Is there anyone out there that reloads for this particular gun that has some good starter recipes maybe? We normally shoot factory Winchester through it and it does OK. I would really like to bring the accuracy up a notch or two. I was considering the Hornady 240grn XTP for his house protection and hunting back up rounds, but not sure what to go with for the plinking/target rounds, maybe something a little lighter and easier on the wrist over the course of the day.

Now I know that each and every gun may prefer it's own recipe, but if there are any Vaquero 44mag shooters/reloaders out there, we would sure love to hear from ya.

Thanks,
Noidster

 

[Cosmoline]

For my Bisley-Vaq I like the usual 18 grains of 2400 with 240 grain SWC bullets.

XTP's are excellent bullets for the .44 Mag. They're clean and probably the most accurate standard production bullet out there for the revolver. Here's a load I've been wanting to try for awhile:

One load I am fond of in the 240-grain bullets is an old one: a 240 Hornady JSP (I lucked onto a bucketful at a gun show at a good price years ago) and 9.5 of WW-231. It delivers 1,056 fps out of a 4-inch M29 and is not painful to shoot. When I was offered a drum of HP-38 by a retiring reloader, I looked into loading data for it. I found that, for all intents and purposes, HP-38 and WW-231 are the same, so I've loaded that ever since. I've spent a lot of time on the range plinking at the 100-yard gong with that load, and if I hold at 12 o'clock I'll hit it every time.

http://www.handgunsmag.com/ammunition/44mag_081005/index3.html

 

[Jim March]

That gun is as strong as a SuperBlackHawk and with identical cylinder dimensions. So any load data you find that's applicable to the SBH is a perfect match for your Vaq.

The Ruger SuperREDHawk (and Redhawk) DA wheelguns have longer cylinders and load data that maxes out these guns is NOT safe (and may not even chamber) in your Vaq.

In general, your Vaq44 will eat any normal 44Mag ammo with no problem, and has few if any "quirks" regarding ammo. It's stronger than an S&W 29 or 629, by at least a bit.

 

[theNoid]

Hey guys, thanks so far. Holy crap, I just looked online at the prices of the XTP and many other bullets out there. When compared to my early 2007 Cabella's catalog....OUCH!!! So any cheap but pretty darn accurate suggestions as for the bullets? Not saying we are cheap bastards but...uh...nevermind, we are.

Noidster

 

[Cosmoline]

I feel your pain. And with fuel and raw material prices going up up and up I don't see any daylight. It's a very good time to start casting your own. I'm taking it up this year. The good news is the .44 Mag is pretty forgiving and it's a good one to start casting for. A good 220 or 240 grain Keith with a gas check is what I'm aiming to start with.

Also look around for cheap plated bullets. Ranier makes these and you can buy big boxes for semi-cheap.

 

[zxcvbob]

240 grains cast bullets with about 7 to 8 grains of Red Dot should be a splendid plinking load, and cheap to shoot. No gas-checks necessary (about 1100 fps from a long barrelled revolver.) Maximum is 8.8 grains, but the pressure goes up really fast and gets unpleasant to shoot before you max it out. Start with 7.5 grains and adjust as necessary. (switch to 10 grains of Unique or 11 grains of Herco if you can't get there with the Red Dot)

Bob

 

[bakert]

Most of my shooting is with commercially cast 240 LSWCs. For plinking or target loads in .44 mag. My Super Blackhawk is very accurate with 7.6 grs of Universal Clays and it burns cleaner than the Unique that many favor. For just a bit more oomph, 8.5 grs of Universal seems to be just as accurate and also works very well in My gun. For the heavier loads I prefer slower burning powders. AA9 may not make 'em go as fast as some other powders but it's hard to beat for accuracy.

 

[Shawnee]

FWIW ... I hunt deer with either 180gr. or 200gr. Hornady JHPs.

Obviously not target range loads though.

 

[Mike 3-4]

My Ruger Bisley Vaquero with 4 5/8" barrel will shoot 3/4" groups at 20 yards with 240grn. Oregon Trail 240 grn. RNFP or SWC bullets, 8.1grn. Universal Clays and Fed 150 primers in Starline brass. It chronographs at 1039fps.with a 12.6sd. It chronographs 310 OT w/gc and Speer 240 Gold Dots right at 950 fps. for the same load. The recoil is just fine and all those loads meet my trail gun needs in Arizona.

 

[BigBlock]

That gun is as strong as a SuperBlackHawk and with identical cylinder dimensions.

Be careful - the "new" Vaquero and the "old" Vaquero are two different beasts...the new one is NOT as strong as the blackhawk.

 

[bakert]

"old" Vaquero

Although many use the term, there is no such animal. Only Vaquero and New Vaquero. It's stamped right on the guns.

 

[Jim March]

The gun the first poster mentions is in 44Mag - that means it's the original large-frame Vaquero and my comments regarding it's strength compared to the SuperBlackHawk are valid.

The "New Vaquero" is only set up as a 357 or 45LC from the factory. No responsible gunsmith will set one up as a 44Mag. 44*Special* would work.

 

[Black Knight]

You said you are ordering what you need right? I hope you ordered a couple of reloading manuals from bullet or powder makers. They can give good safe "recipes". In order to be safe start at least 10% from the maximum and work up slowly from there. Read these manuals thoroughly so you can recognize signs of over pressure. Recognizing this will help in keeping a disaster from occuring. Many folks here have good loads that work for them with the components they use, your components may not be the same and have different results. When reloading do so at a time when you wil not be interupted. If you get interupted empty the casings and start over again. To many people have been interupted and then double charged a casing with dangerous results. Remember go slow and be deliberate in your actions.

 

[theNoid]

Between my pop's reloading manuals and the Hogdon webby, I should be good with some safe, tried and tested rounds. I was just looking on here to see if anyone who loads for this particular gun, has come up with a specialty accuracy load is all. Thanks everyone for your input, it has been greatly appreciated for sure.

Black Knight, thanks again for the important warnings. I have reloaded in the past, like 20 yrs ago with my pops. When I do get stuff set-up, it will be on a dedicated bench. Also, I never have more than one particular loads materials on the bench at once. One thing my dad taught me early was to always load for 1 particular round at a time, that way you don't get things mixed up somehow.

Noidster

 

[theNoid]

I am sure it's all going to depend on the cases/loads/gun combo but any advice on how many times you can reload a case before it's time for the recycle bin? What's your average?

Noidster

 

[zxcvbob]

I keep loading pistol cases until they split (usually at the case mouth) or until the primer pocket gets loose (usually means I loaded it too hot) -- or when I crush the case setting up my expander or crimper die.

I know I've loaded some .45 Colt cases at least half a dozen times and it's still OK; .44 Magnums have much tighter chambers than .45LC's, so your brass should last even longer.

I don't think .38 Special brass ever wears out unless you get really aggressive with the crimp and overwork the brass at the mouth.

 

[Cosmoline]

Although many use the term, there is no such animal. Only Vaquero and New Vaquero. It's stamped right on the guns

The confusion is that the "old" vaquero is really a New Model Ruger, and there is no "old model" Vaquero in the same sense that there is an OM Blackhawk. So really the old Vaquero is a new model and the new one is more like the original model Blackhawk, modified and updated. The new one is older than the old one, much like Old Nehampkin is younger than Young Nehampkin.