Searching for a little help please?

[ostadoc]

Here at home, we have a 5" limit on barrel length for hunting whitetails. I'm wanting a SA to shoot and play with (probably a Vaquero at really close range), while having the possibility to shoot a deer with later on.

Here's my problem. A 5.5" gun just doesn't look right to me. I love the 4 & 5/8 balance, feel, and looks. I have to have the ERH all the way to the end of the barrel. Period.

That being said, how do I get there without breaking the bank? Looking at Ruger's website, I can buy a steel 5" ERH for a 10" Super Blackhawk. If you installed that one, how long would the barrel be? See where I'm going?

I suppose I'd have to start with a 5.5" Vaquero, have the barrel cut to whatever length it is with the longer ERH, and have the front sight remounted?

Would you choose the .45 Colt over the .357 Magnum? I'm trying to get to a fun, COMPACT shooter, while still having a deer gun. Is the .45 Colt cylinder/frame the same size as the .357 Mag cylinder/frame on a Vaquero?

Also, will a Bisley hammer and trigger "drop in" to a Vaquero?

Any and all help is appreciated. Thanks......Doc

[November]

I don't like Vaqueros. I would buy a 7.5" Blackhawk in .45 (cat. no. BN-45L) so that you can chop it to 5.1" cleanly without messing with front sight removal. I would then tap the barrel for a new ERH screw hole so it will accept the 5" SuperBH ERH. You can then put any front sight you like on there.

The .45 is the same size frame as the .357 plus it is lighter than the .357 due to there being less metal on the cylinder and barrel. You can load the .45 from light Cowboy loads all the way up to Hammer of Thor loads.

That's a fun, compact shooter.

I've thought of doing this mod myself so it must be good!

[tek4260]

If the 44 is acceptable, then why not just find a 10" Super and cut it down? I am as much of a 45 fan as anyone, but to be honest, the 44 will do all 45 will do in a 6 shot cylinder.

[Aggie01]

the 5" ERH will line up just about right with a 5.5" barrel.
The last half in of barrel is inside the frame.

this is a long ERH on a 6.5" barrel:

[dougader]

I love the way the Vaquero looks, but I just can't see the sights. Me, I might be able to plug a deer at 20 feet with a Vaquero... but that's it. I have to have bigger, easy to see sights. I'd go with a BH or SBH and cut it back to 5"... or have Alan Harton put fancy sights on it for me.

[kaytod]

Ostadoc,

First question is regarding your regulations.

Some states word the barrel length on revolvers the same as a single shot (which includes the chamber), and measure just the barrel only and not the chamber. ( Illinois is one) I'm told that other states measure the barrel length with this clause, "barrel length is the distance from the firing pin to the muzzle". This takes into account the Chamber on the revolver which is missing from the measurement. So the barrel length is measured the same as a single shot thus giving a 4 5/8" barrel another 1.7" thereabouts.

As November stated you could shorten the longer barrel and add the longer ejector rod housing. A 5 " barrel looks good with one.

I think I've posted this pic before. However the top gun is a 5" with full length ERH
The lower left is a 6.5" barrel with a long ERH
The lower right is a 6.5" barrel with a standard ERH

Here is another view, Middle Left revolver

[ostadoc]

Well, thank you all for your input. I appreciate it. I'm not sure exactly sure what I'm going to go with, but I REALLY like the Vaquero. It will probably get the nod. I've always wanted a gun in .45 cal and maybe I'll even go with the 4 & 5/8" because that's the gun that turns my crank, so to speak.

You all make some solid points, I'm just stuck on the Vaquero, and maybe I'll just forget the hunting end of it and look at just having a fun shooter. I went to my local shop tonight and put a deposit on "A Gun". When I get close to having it paid for, I'll decide exactly which model I go with.

Thanks again for your responses..............Doc

Also, Great pics!.......Thanks for sharing.

[rawly]

Talk with your fish and game folks about changing the law? Why 5 in?
Rawly

[ostadoc]

Rawly,

I remember when the state brought in handguns for deer season. I guess it was that they just had to start somewhere. I wasn't at the game hearings though. Can't really say for sure how they came up with the 5" limit. I wish that they would have said 4 & 5/8 inches though.

[ostadoc]

But, maybe I need to check out the hearings this winter, after season.

[blueroan]

I'm shooting Original Size VAQUEROS/BISLEY VAQUEROS in 357 and 44 with 5.5 inch barrels...got a 7.5 inch 44 also. They just take a little longer to find THE LOAD that shoots to point of aim/point of impact. My 44s like 260 grain +/- boolits. If you don't load your own, you will need to with this project.

I think you are headed the right way with the longer ejector rod and housing. I'm going to have that done when some guns go to visit Jim Stroh (ALPHA PRECISION) for much needed trigger jobs.

You might consider modifying the front sight to .125 width replacements from POWER CUSTOM and opening up the rear sight channel to match.

I replace the factory XR3-red grip frames with either a DRAGOON or a HUNTER model. A BISLEY is seldom a bad idea either. If you want a lower and more accessible hammer, get a SUPER BLACK HAWK hammer and try it before investing in the BISLEY parts that will require some fitting if factory and some yankee dollars if you get them from POWER CUSTOM.

A 357 WILL kill a deer; a 44 or 45 will do a better job. With guns of the same frame size and barrel length, the 357 is heavy...less metal removed!

[ostadoc]

blueroan,

The catalog shows a three ounce reduction on the 45. So it is a bit. From what I hear, the sight channel on the new (recent) Vaquero has already been opened up? Or is that just on the SASS guns?

[tek4260]

Here is a 5" super that dad picked up for $125. It was originally one of the 10.5" heavy barrels. It had been cut with a hacksaw and the crown was left as cut! Notice the dremel tool cuts on the topstrap for the poor boy Weaver style base and that custom phillips head screw!

At least it gives an idea of what a 10.5 looks like cut down



I need to post more recent photos with the wood grips and the correct ERH screw installed

[ostadoc]

I called the Ruger offices about 3:30 this afternoon and heard an automated recording that the offices were closed today due to unforseen circumstances. Maybe because of Irene? Is that possible?

Anyway, I just had a few questions for them. But, I did get to play with a 4 & 5/8 blued Vaquero today in .357 and it was SWEET! It felt great in the hand. Have not been able to find one local with the short barrel and .45 cal.

So for you handloaders, how much cheaper would it be on average to load .357 as compared to the .45? If I decide to just use it for a shooter, I would feel more comfortable with the .357, if the reloading was considerably cheaper? Just have a bunch runnin' through my little bitty brain.

[edk]

Sept 2, 2011 17:43:47 GMT -5 ostadoc said:

So for you handloaders, how much cheaper would it be on average to load .357 as compared to the .45? If I decide to just use it for a shooter, I would feel more comfortable with the .357, if the reloading was considerably cheaper? Just have a bunch runnin' through my little bitty brain.

How hard do you want to work? Do you want to chase down your own scrap lead and get into casting? How much do you plan to spend on reloading gear which is another factor?

I'm sure you don't only want an reply in the form of more questions though...

Discounting the reloading gear which must be amortized equally over either caliber:

• The cost of brass is higher with the 45 but depending upon your loading technique and if you are reloading mild-moderate loads in a revolver and thus are able to recover all of your brass, you can re-use many times. How many? 10, 20, maybe more. Thus the effective difference in cost of brass is small.
  
• The cost of primers is the same
  
• The cost of powder will be almost double in the big bore but it is one of the least expensive components: $20 of Unique will get you through 700-800 rounds of 45
  
• The bullets are probably the biggest difference although that can be controlled. For example the difference between Hornady XTPs is significant but the difference between Leadhead's 38 vs 45 Keith plain base bullets is a meager $10/500 - not much.
  

My conclusion is that provided I'm handloading and using lead I do not let cost drive what caliber I choose to shoot.