Ruger New Vaquero cylinder convertible question

Neal_G. · April 13, 2018, 03:46 PM

Hey guys, I'm thinking about picking up a couple Ruger New Vaqueros to scratch my single action itch. If I have two different guns, one in .45 Colt, and the other in .45 ACP, are both of them 'convertible' to the other caliber by swapping the cylinders? Wasn't sure if only certain models could do that.

robert1804 · April 14, 2018, 09:17 AM

The cylinders might swap between those two Vaqueros. I'd guess one chance in three. Ruger S/A cylinders are fitted to each frame individually. Some machining is needed to set the headspace and barrel/cylinder gap. Plus, timing has to be set. It's easy enough for Ruger to fit two cylinders to the same frame to make a convertible model but not to make any cylinder to fit two frames.

Bob Wright · April 14, 2018, 04:07 PM

I have two .45 Colt Blackhawks with .45 ACP cylinders. The cylinders will not interchange between the two guns. But on one, a 4 5/8" model, that cylinder will interchange between another Blackhawk .45 and an early Vaquero, neither of which was made as a convertible.

In my experience, if the cylinder fits another frame, it will work in it without further fitting.

Bob Wright

**44 AMP** · April 14, 2018, 04:26 PM

Quote:

In my experience, if the cylinder fits another frame, it will work in it without further fitting.

Work, probably, but how well??

The cylinder from gun A might drop into gun B and work flawlessly. Or, it might not. It might work well enough to fire, but shave lead badly, being very slightly out of time for the frame it was not made to fit.

if the stars line up, you're golden, but you can't count on the stars all lining up right. There are many different factors involved, which is why factories fit individual cylinders to individual frames in the first place.

You should not expect to be able to drop in "any old cylinder" of the right size and have it work properly. it might, but if it does, that is serendipity, be happy with it, but don't depend on it.

Neal_G. · April 14, 2018, 10:13 PM

Duly noted then. Thanks everyone!

Screwball · April 15, 2018, 06:59 AM

There are a few gunsmiths that can fit conversion cylinders for you... just need to look around for guys that work on Rugers. Ruger will not do it for you, unless the gun you send in was a convertible from the factory.

I eventually want to get a Birdshead to match my 5.5” New Vaquero, but they are only offered in .45 Colt or ACP... not a convertible. So, I’ll get a .45 Colt, then have the conversion cylinder fitted (also will have it bead blasted to match, as I did the same to my New Vaquero).

Neal_G. · April 15, 2018, 04:55 PM

Screwball, is there a way to just buy the convertible cylinder without buying a whole other gun? I'd love to have a spare .45ACP cylinder for the Birdshead I want in .45 Colt.

Just would feel weird to get the .45ACP version by itself. 45ACP does NOT say 'cowboy' to me, but it is cheaper!

Bob Wright · April 16, 2018, 11:34 AM

This .45 was returned to Ruger for fitting a .45 ACP cylinder, Ruger not offering a convertible at the time I bought the gun:

The ACP cylinder for this gun will not fit into any other Ruger .45 I have.

This .45 was bought as a convertible:

Its .45 ACP cylinder fit, and worked very well with this .45 Blackhawk:

And has worked equally well with this Vaquero:

I have yet to try it in the .45 which is a former Bisley:

So now I've got a new avenue of exploration!

Bob Wright

jackmoser65 · April 16, 2018, 12:41 PM

It's not like Ruger is meticulously fitting cylinders to these guns. It's not a line bored Freedom Arms. The parts are in a big bin and they find one that fits. If it fits, that's what it gets. No reason why the educated end user can't do the same.

April 13, 2018, 03:46 PM	#1
Neal_G. Senior Member Join Date: October 1, 2010 Posts: 226	Ruger New Vaquero cylinder convertible question Hey guys, I'm thinking about picking up a couple Ruger New Vaqueros to scratch my single action itch. If I have two different guns, one in .45 Colt, and the other in .45 ACP, are both of them 'convertible' to the other caliber by swapping the cylinders? Wasn't sure if only certain models could do that.

April 14, 2018, 09:17 AM	#2
robert1804 Member Join Date: May 5, 2015 Posts: 53	The cylinders might swap between those two Vaqueros. I'd guess one chance in three. Ruger S/A cylinders are fitted to each frame individually. Some machining is needed to set the headspace and barrel/cylinder gap. Plus, timing has to be set. It's easy enough for Ruger to fit two cylinders to the same frame to make a convertible model but not to make any cylinder to fit two frames. __________________ They'll have to pry my Illudium Q36 Explosive Space Modulator from my cold dead gripping appendages.

April 14, 2018, 04:07 PM	#3
Bob Wright Senior Member Join Date: July 10, 2012 Location: Memphis, Tennessee Posts: 2,989	I have two .45 Colt Blackhawks with .45 ACP cylinders. The cylinders will not interchange between the two guns. But on one, a 4 5/8" model, that cylinder will interchange between another Blackhawk .45 and an early Vaquero, neither of which was made as a convertible. In my experience, if the cylinder fits another frame, it will work in it without further fitting. Bob Wright __________________ Time spent at the reloading bench is an investment in contentment.

April 15, 2018, 06:59 AM	#6
Screwball Senior Member Join Date: May 16, 2012 Location: ME Posts: 771	Ruger New Vaquero cylinder convertible question There are a few gunsmiths that can fit conversion cylinders for you... just need to look around for guys that work on Rugers. Ruger will not do it for you, unless the gun you send in was a convertible from the factory. I eventually want to get a Birdshead to match my 5.5” New Vaquero, but they are only offered in .45 Colt or ACP... not a convertible. So, I’ll get a .45 Colt, then have the conversion cylinder fitted (also will have it bead blasted to match, as I did the same to my New Vaquero).

April 16, 2018, 11:34 AM	#8
Bob Wright Senior Member Join Date: July 10, 2012 Location: Memphis, Tennessee Posts: 2,989	This .45 was returned to Ruger for fitting a .45 ACP cylinder, Ruger not offering a convertible at the time I bought the gun: The ACP cylinder for this gun will not fit into any other Ruger .45 I have. This .45 was bought as a convertible: Its .45 ACP cylinder fit, and worked very well with this .45 Blackhawk: And has worked equally well with this Vaquero: I have yet to try it in the .45 which is a former Bisley: So now I've got a new avenue of exploration! Bob Wright __________________ Time spent at the reloading bench is an investment in contentment.

April 14, 2018, 10:13 PM	#5
Neal_G. Senior Member Join Date: October 1, 2010 Posts: 226	Duly noted then. Thanks everyone!

April 15, 2018, 04:55 PM	#7
Neal_G. Senior Member Join Date: October 1, 2010 Posts: 226	Screwball, is there a way to just buy the convertible cylinder without buying a whole other gun? I'd love to have a spare .45ACP cylinder for the Birdshead I want in .45 Colt. Just would feel weird to get the .45ACP version by itself. 45ACP does NOT say 'cowboy' to me, but it is cheaper!

April 16, 2018, 12:41 PM	#9
jackmoser65 Senior Member Join Date: October 11, 2014 Posts: 754	It's not like Ruger is meticulously fitting cylinders to these guns. It's not a line bored Freedom Arms. The parts are in a big bin and they find one that fits. If it fits, that's what it gets. No reason why the educated end user can't do the same.