OT-poor ruger..

morgan in nm · Post by **morgan in nm** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 4:18 pm

I recently acquired this from a friend of mine who was helping out another friend's son by reloading some .45lc for his brand new Ruger. Apparently, he wasn't paying attention to his scale and double red-lined the load. I don't know what kind of powder he was using. This is the result.

Sorry for the picture but it is very windy here so I took this photo inside. According to the friend who was doing the loading, it held together for the first 2 rounds but blew on the 3rd. He felt really bad for the kid and bought him a brand new gun and swore he would never load for anybody else ever again. Nobody was hurt other than the ruger. He didn't want to be reminded of the incident so he gave me all of the pieces that were found. I use it as a reminder about being extra careful when I reload and I never reload for other people.

Just thought you folks might want to have a look at it.

Thanks, Morgan

2ndovc · Post by **2ndovc** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 4:51 pm

That still had to hurt!

Good that no onw was hurt!

Thunder50 · Post by **Thunder50** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 4:59 pm

Glad no one was hurt. Kinda looks like a S&W 29 silhouette of mine.

Hmmm--wonder what the velocity was of that load

. First I have seen of a Ruger coming apart

kimwcook · Post by **kimwcook** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 5:02 pm

I wouldn't just throw it away. I'd talk to Alan Harton, a gunsmith guru out of Texas. But then again, the price he might charge to repair it may be more than a new Vaquero. I'd still call him. You can get his information by searching the Single-actions forum; http://single-actions.phpbb3now.com/

neil mitchell · Post by **neil mitchell** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 5:03 pm

I wouldn't fire somebody else's reloads in any gun of mine even if Jesus Christ reloaded it.

Neil

Driftwood Johnson · Post by **Driftwood Johnson** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 5:05 pm

Howdy

Just out of curiosity is it an 'original model' Vaquero or a New Vaquero. The name will be on the frame. If it just says Vaquero it is the original model. If it says New Vaquero it is the more recent, smaller model. Judging from the shape of the hammer spur, I'm guessing it is the New Vaquero.

Ruger went to great pains to stress that the New Vaquero is not built to the same ruggedness as the older, larger model. They stressed that the heavier loads in the 'Ruger Only' sections of many loading manuals are not to be shot in the New Model. SAAMI spec only. Of course, an accidental overcharge is an accidental overcharge, and a double charge might blow up the bigger 'original model' too.

AndyM · Post by **AndyM** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 5:06 pm

this looks to be a newer smaller vaquero - they are known not to be as strong as the older vaquero/blackhawk frame - still a bad loss, but glad nobody was hurt. You have to pay attention when reloading....

Jeff Quinn · Post by **Jeff Quinn** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 5:09 pm

neil mitchell wrote:I wouldn't fire somebody else's reloads in any gun of mine even if Jesus Christ reloaded it.

Neil

If Jesus was loading for me, I would shoot them. I bet that there would be no way to miss with that ammo!

RSY · Post by **RSY** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 5:09 pm

I'll take the "old" Vaquero, thanks.

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 6:09 pm

Live and learn-----------Sixgun

nemhed · Post by **nemhed** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 6:12 pm

Well that proves it, Rugers aren't safe for reloads, I've seen the proof on the internet.

FWiedner · Post by **FWiedner** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 6:52 pm

Back when Bill was alive, Ruger would have replaced it.

Maybe they still will. Have you asked?

morgan in nm · Post by **morgan in nm** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 7:08 pm

It is a New model. He gave it to me because I have an old model and thought I might be able to use it for parts. Of course, nothing will fit from it, not even the grips. Believe it or not, but the guy I got it from sent it to Ruger but they said they were not responsible for the blow-up because of the reloads. They offered to send him another one for cost but he didn't want to do that.

By the way, In my humble opinion, I cannot find fault with Ruger as I don't know of any firearm that can handle a double charge. I blame the reloader for not being careful enough. On my old model, I would not be afraid to shoot my own reloads through it(definately not my friend's reloads.)

horsesoldier03 · Post by **horsesoldier03** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 7:41 pm

Funny how it is always a FRIEND that gets your *** in a sling!

And so goes the saying, with friends like that who needs enemies!!!

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 8:01 pm

Ya know, a friend will bail you outta jail, (or buy ya a new Ruger when HE blows your's up; but a TRUE FRIEND (would still buy you a new Ruger), but tell ya, WHOA, BUT WAS THAT A BLAST OR WHAT!!!!

Post by **Chuck 100 yd** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 8:34 pm

Ya mean I cant use any old powder and just filler up?

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 9:28 pm

horsesoldier03 wrote:Funny how it is always a FRIEND that gets your *** in a sling!

And so goes the saying, with friends like that who needs enemies!!!

Or as my favorite version of that saying goes: If I'd known this is what friends are for, I'd have signed up as an enemy.

Scott64A · Post by **Scott64A** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 10:16 pm

Another great reason to use a powder that fills much of the case.

Couldn't double load with 2400 or Lilgun, nosuh...

-not unless'n you jammed it to compress.

BruceB · Post by **BruceB** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 10:47 pm

Sounds like somebody was using the "Ruger Blackhawk" section of the manual. "But it said for Ruger revolvers!"

BruceB · Post by **BruceB** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 10:51 pm

FWiedner wrote:Back when Bill was alive, Ruger would have replaced it.

If Bill was alive he'd be writing the new Assault Weapons Ban of 2009 for the Demonkrats. He wrote the '94 version!

Post by **Ysabel Kid** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 10:53 pm

That probably left a mark!

Travis Morgan · Post by **Travis Morgan** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 6:38 am

nemhed wrote:Well that proves it, Rugers aren't safe for reloads, I've seen the proof on the internet.

BLASPHEMY!!!