Howdy, Ladies & Gents,
Guess I qualify as a RAT!
Shoot two .44-40/.44 Magnum convertibles, depending on what ammo I've got loaded on a given day. (I prefer the .44-40!) No, I'm not a DIRTY RAT. Seldom have time to clean up after a match. Clean the smokeless once or twice a year, whether they need it or not!
Now, there has been some confusion, and some discussion over on The Other Wire about how best to distinguish between the mid-frame size Vaqueros, which have just come out, and the "old" Vaqueros. I am in favor of calling a Vaquero a Vaquero, and the mid-frames, "Vaquero Lites" or Vaquero II's. Any thoughts on this?
BTW, speaking of the Vaquero Lites, if you have leather already, you can probably make do nicely with holsters that fit the OM Vaquero. The Lites sit a little deeper in most of my holster line, but just enough to compensate for the longer, higher hammer spur (most of my holsters cover the hammer spurs completely). I'm waiting on some dummy guns to use in forming holsters for the Vaq Lites, so I can adjust my patterns if necessary for new orders.
Another thing...anyone got any more information on the one incident involving the blowup of a Vaq Lite? Seems the thread got deleted or buried on TOW. I do NOT fault the guns, nor do I think the Vaq Lite is as weak as the Colt's or the clones. The mid-size guns are NOT as strong as the Blackhawk/Vaqueros, but they can stand any SAAMI-standard loads you can put in them, with margin to spare. But you can blow up ANYTHING if you mess up badly enough in handloading. I never got enough data to give any clues on this one.
Ride easy, pards, but stay alert! Godspeed to those in harm's way in the defense of Freedom! God Bless America!
Trailrider
Capt., Cavalry, Detailed Ordnance,
Dept. of the Platte,
Grand Army of the Frontier (GAF)
Owner/President
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