I've got an order in for a Ruger New Vaquero. Shot a buddy's and just fell in love with the smaller framed gun. They seem to be making the 7.5" bbls. right now, so don't know when my 4 5/8 incher will arrive. Already have dies, brass and some Hornady 200 gr. LSWC's and 250 gr. RNFP's, but want a mould. Had a .45 LC Ruger 4 5/8" about 15 years ago, and it wouldn't shoot for spit. Probably the small cylinder throat problem, but didn't know then, so traded it off. My buddy's gun is shooting 6 into as little as 1" at 25, depending on loads. I had a Saeco "250 gr." SWC mould that actually cast using WW's at 276 gr., and it was a good mould, but naturally sold it too.
Have looked at the Lees in 200 RF, 250 RF and 255 SWC. Already have the Lee 190 SWC and 230 TC, and a Lyman 452460 and will try them, but really want a 250 and a 200. How does the 200 RF shoot for you guys, compared to the 250 and 255's?
Have also looked hard at the RCBS 270 Kieth style SWC. Would probably have to drive it pretty hard, for that mid-size frame, to get POI near the 200's and 230's. My buddy's gun is shooting the 200 LRNFP's and 230 JHP's pretty darn close at 50 yds., no more than 2" apart, vertically, using 9.5 gr. Unique with both bullets. Vel. in his gun is 1050 with the 200's and 1020 with the 230's. I think the 230 JHP's will work better than the 250 jacketed slugs for our smaller southern whitetails. They're designed for .45 ACP and should expand well on them at 1000-1100 fps.
I presently plan to work up a 200 gr. load and a 230 gr. load for most of my shooting, but I think a hotter 250 gr. lead bullet load with big flat point would be useful. Some old load books I have indicate that I may be able to get enough velocity from Blue Dot and maybe some other powders with the 250's to get the POI close enough to be useful for me on deer or pigs.
Anyone have any experience with the 200 gr. Lee RNFP's, and if so, how did they perform. Same for the Lee 250 and 255 gr. RNFP and SWC, and the RCBS 270 gr. Keith type bullet. Any experience with any others would also be appreciated. Will stick with the softer recoiling 200 gr. loads for most of my shooting, with the 230's and 250's being reserved for more "special" applications, but DO want those loads when they appear called for.
Thanks for any advice and experience you can offer. Have little experience with the .45 LC, and that's been some years ago. BTW, will often be shooting small stuff with these loads, so accuracy will be my primary criterion in bullet selection. No substitute for putting them right where they need to be. Thanks.