Bullet Dia.

poline · January 31, 2013, 07:14 AM

I'm wondering if I can use the .452 dia.
Guardian Gold Jackted pistol bullet in 185gain JHP
in the 45 colt. (New Ruger Vaquero) My concern is the Dia of the bullet because it is Jackted.This would be a self defense load. What do you think?
Any replys are appreciated.

SL1 · January 31, 2013, 02:13 PM

A lot of the new Rugers will not allow .452" diameter bullets to enter the cylinder throats. Mine allowed .450" gauges until it had been fired about 100 times, then allowed .451" bullets.

But, so long as the bullets are seated deeply enough so that they do not have to have their full diameter actually enter the cylinder throats, they will work fine. When fired, they simply swage down to throat diameter.

With a 185 grain bullet that is designed for a .45 ACP auto-loader, it should be easy enough to seat the bullets deeply enough to work just fine.

SL1

GeauxTide · January 31, 2013, 08:41 PM

Ruger still makes a convertible Blackhawk. Mine measured .4515. My Bisley Blackhawk measures .452. I don't see how firing cast or jacketed bullets will open a cylinder throat .001.

SL1 · February 1, 2013, 03:39 PM

Gauxtide,

As I posted before, the throats opened enough to accept the next sized plug gauge. Whether that is more or less than 0.001" is hard to say, since the gauges are graduated in steps of 0.001".

But, it was darned clear that the cylinder throats opened some with firing less than 100 rounds of Federal "Champion" .45 ACP ammo. That is the Walmart cheap stuff with thick-plated 230 grain TMJ bullets (that turned out to be as much as 0.004" out-of-round) and cases with small pistol primer pockets.

Another 100 rounds did not get them to 0.052, so I am assuming that I was polishing-off some surface roughness, and maybe peening the surfaces a bit. I usually do this with revolvers to make sure that the barrel threads are fully forced-out into the frame threads before I start looking for any barrel constriction to remove.

SL1

Edward429451 · February 2, 2013, 11:08 PM

Send it to Cylindersmith. They'll open the chamber throats up to .4525 and life will be good then.

http://www.cylindersmith.com/

January 31, 2013, 07:14 AM	#1
poline Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2009 Location: Richmond,Va Posts: 292	Bullet Dia. I'm wondering if I can use the .452 dia. Guardian Gold Jackted pistol bullet in 185gain JHP in the 45 colt. (New Ruger Vaquero) My concern is the Dia of the bullet because it is Jackted.This would be a self defense load. What do you think? Any replys are appreciated.

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January 31, 2013, 02:13 PM	#2
SL1 Senior Member Join Date: November 8, 2007 Posts: 2,001	A lot of the new Rugers will not allow .452" diameter bullets to enter the cylinder throats. Mine allowed .450" gauges until it had been fired about 100 times, then allowed .451" bullets. But, so long as the bullets are seated deeply enough so that they do not have to have their full diameter actually enter the cylinder throats, they will work fine. When fired, they simply swage down to throat diameter. With a 185 grain bullet that is designed for a .45 ACP auto-loader, it should be easy enough to seat the bullets deeply enough to work just fine. SL1

January 31, 2013, 08:41 PM	#3
GeauxTide Senior Member Join Date: April 20, 2009 Location: Helena, AL Posts: 4,423	Ruger still makes a convertible Blackhawk. Mine measured .4515. My Bisley Blackhawk measures .452. I don't see how firing cast or jacketed bullets will open a cylinder throat .001.

February 1, 2013, 03:39 PM	#4
SL1 Senior Member Join Date: November 8, 2007 Posts: 2,001	Gauxtide, As I posted before, the throats opened enough to accept the next sized plug gauge. Whether that is more or less than 0.001" is hard to say, since the gauges are graduated in steps of 0.001". But, it was darned clear that the cylinder throats opened some with firing less than 100 rounds of Federal "Champion" .45 ACP ammo. That is the Walmart cheap stuff with thick-plated 230 grain TMJ bullets (that turned out to be as much as 0.004" out-of-round) and cases with small pistol primer pockets. Another 100 rounds did not get them to 0.052, so I am assuming that I was polishing-off some surface roughness, and maybe peening the surfaces a bit. I usually do this with revolvers to make sure that the barrel threads are fully forced-out into the frame threads before I start looking for any barrel constriction to remove. SL1

February 2, 2013, 11:08 PM	#5
Edward429451 Junior member Join Date: November 12, 2000 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 9,494	Send it to Cylindersmith. They'll open the chamber throats up to .4525 and life will be good then. http://www.cylindersmith.com/