[ribbonstone2]

I like the Ruger Old Army, shot one for several years and have no complaint about it's strength or quaility of construction. Howeverm 260gr. at 1000fps just ins't in the cards.

The only "crimp" is the friction of seating the ball or bullet, so if one could load to the 260/1000 level, recoil would unseat the other cylinders. Using a tight fitting bullet and an arbor press comes to mind, but the Ruger's cylinder throats are alrger than most cap-and-ball .45's (which is OK as the barrel is also larger) and finding a .456" bullet tht would work isn't all that easy. While the Ruger is strong, there just isn't enough powder room, even with a bunch of compression, to launch 260 at 1000fps. Can get a round ball up to about that speed.

Tried a Colt Walker replica...which has .451" throats, so normal 255gr. .45 colt bullets were tried. With an arbor press, could seat the bullets over 40gr. of FFFg black. that load locked out at 980, which is close to what you ask for...but that Wqalker has a bunch more powder room (even if the long bullet takes up most of it). With the Ruger, would guess that about 35gr. of powder could be used (if you could find a 260gr. bullet large enough to stay put in the cylinder during recoil)...that should earn about 750fps.

 

[ribbonstone2]

Back about 20 or 25 years ago, Nonte would write about hunting Bear with a .45acp...and once Hogs with cap and ball revolvers (using ball). Think we've become a bit more aware of what it takes to be a reasonable hunting handgun...but if I were hunting with a partner with a .44 or .454 (or name your +1000fpe+ favorite), maight take a crack at it with that cap-and-ball.

Not a giant hog-handgun hunter, but have done it a few times (usually not seeking hogs...they were targets of oportunity). Of all the atributes of a handgun, #1 would be placement and #2 would be penetration, with expansion trailing in 3rd place. The Ruger would have #1 but would be a bit lacking in #2.

As far as the Vaquero, even in 44/40 or 45 LC with factory loads, will beat the penetration of the Old Army.
(as you can tell, I'm a believer in exit holes).

 

[ribbonstone2]

Think the hard thing in any hunt is knowing when NOT to pull the trigger. We all know when to, but some of use lose that little voice that tells us "no...this one isn't quite right".

Hard not to shoot, the pressure to come home with meat is pretty intense, esp. when hunting with buddies...but if he's going to use a light-powered gun, he's going to have to strength to pass anything but a perfect shot. If he can't do that, then by all means beg/borrow a more potent handgun.
He'd have to pass on shots you could take with a round that would reach vitals from odd angles (or from the rear), and some people just don't have the ability to pass.

If he can shoot that old Army well, will pass on anything but a "text book" shot, he can take it hunting..

As for the Vaquero's sights...if they are 'on', don't see a problem. Fixed sights are a royal pain to get shoting on, many need a file to get elevation or even to build up one side or the other with weld and dress it down to fix windage (or weld it higher to fix elevation). Once "on" are married to that one load...but given those limits, a sight that puts the bullet right at the top of the front post is going to work just as well if it's fixed or if it adjusts.

 

[ribbonstone2]

Haven't used it in a .44 (yet) but have been getting some high velocity readings from Triple Seven. When using the same volume of Triple Seven and FFFg, Triple Seven is running way ahead...hav to back down 10percent to equal FFFg.

Could be a slow lot of FFFg and a fast lot of Triple Seven...but figuring there "ain't no free lunch" have to assume more velocity equals nor pressure. Given a good strong Ruger, could be worth 75fps more.

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On the other hand, if I blow the old .36 Navy to Hades, will let you know.