Questions on 45ACP in a Colt SAA/NewVaq-size gun

[jimmarch]

Folks,

Does anybody know if the Ruger New Vaquero is strong enough to handle 45ACP? I know the cylinder wall thickness will be fractionally less than with the straight-walled 45LC, and the ACP will push 21k PSI. Thoughts? I'm assuming 45ACP+P would need to be avoided?

Also...it occurs to me that when an SA wheelgun is chambered in a rimless cartridge like 45ACP, 9mm or the like, it should be possible to put a pretty radical chamfer on the cylinder bores to act as "funnels" when loading rounds quickly (possibly from a tube?). If I understand this correctly, the narrow area ahead of the abbreviated "rim" where an ejector pokes into in an autoloader doesn't need to be supported by a chamber wall. If so, we could do a fairly massive "funnel" effect, right?

[tek4260]

I believe there are some distributors that had Ruger make convertable New Vaqueros, so I'd say it would be fine.

[CraigC]

Not only is it strong enough but Ruger produces them. Davidson's shows them but none are in stock.

[dale53]

>>>If so, we could do a fairly massive "funnel" effect, right? <<<

This is a BAD idea! I wouldn't do more than slightly bevel the edge of the chamber - in other words, just break the square edge.

Dale53

[cas]

Due to the design of the cartridge, that part of a .45 ACP case is unsupported anyway so you really can't hurt anything with a big chamfer job.

This is the 625 I shoot USPSA with.

[jimmarch]

Cas, that's exactly what I figured. In fact I suspect it's possible to go even wilder than that in an SA, because I wouldn't be weakening the ejector star like your gun's mod does somewhat.

Look at this pic here:



We can see the point at which we need to start the full support, and it's DEEP. Cas's gun is actually cut very conservative, again, probably because of the ejector star.

[cas]

Yeah, mine's about as far as you can go on a DA Smith, and that's only 'cause it's an older one with the pins. The newer style setup you can't go anywhere near that far.

I don't see doing a giant chamfer (or maybe even any for that matter) as being a real benefit on a single action, it's not going to be the make or break factor in what's slowing down the reloads.

[jimmarch]

>>it's not going to be the make or break factor in what's slowing down the reloads.<<

Right, getting 'em in there is only half the battle.

The other is the powered automatic ejector . I'm torn between using a CO2 cannister and push-release nozzle to blow the shells out as I spin it with my forearm, or a solenoid affair that triggers automatically as the cylinder is spun.



And yeah. I'm that crazy.

[tek4260]

I thought the speed issue was figured out about 100 years ago with the introduction of the 1911

[CraigC]

I think just a mild chamfer will be plenty. Since you can pretty much just drop the round into the loading port, just knocking off the edge will keep the case mouth from catching. Should work pretty well.

As far as unloading, isn't there a picture of Jim Taylor emptying his sixgun, showing three empty cases in the air before the first one hit the ground???

[jayhawker]

The SA speed reload is a second gun.
Jayhawker Bob