We Get Letters

"In the Box of Truth area where they test the cowboy guns why do they use the old Vaquero against the new Stampede? ...and why do they test old target ammunition hollow points against modern lead buellts? ...are single actions that slow to shoot?"

Stupidity, mostly. Modern top of the line hollowpoints are far better for defensive purposes than CCI Blazers, that, as you rightly state, are pretty much nothing more than target ammo. But they're cheap. He spends the money from "Box" on new toys then skimps on bullets. This is also his infamous cherry-picking in order to reinforce 100 year-old+ ballistic theories. New stuff isn't any better than the old stuff, etc, etc.

And as far as the old versus new Vaquero, yes it's apples and oranges when including the Berreta Stampede as a reference. The New Vaquero is far more gracile than the old, specifically made for Cowboy Action Shooting, and can be fanned. A good fanner is fun to watch, and a lot of them are amazingly accurate as well. I know a few who can empty 6 into a pie plate at 30 feet in around 2 seconds, or take out multiple targets just as quickly. Just remember though; the "Box" fat guy holds a gun like he's post-hole digging and wouldn't know fanning a .45 from flying to the moon, so of course he'd comment on how "slow to shoot" they are.

I've tried out the New Vaquero and have mixed feelings. It IS much quicker from the draw, but pays for it when using stout loadings. Cowboy shooters themselves aren't interested in a defensive firearm and employ low power munitions because to them it's all fun. And that's great. Shooting SHOULD be fun. Just don't try to do a "scientific" experiment with such guns, particularly when you know nothing about shooting or what type of ammo does what.

.45 Colt (NOT Long-Colt as Box likes to call them as there is no such thing) hollowpoints should expand to nearly an inch in diameter. And penetrate something along the lines of 14" in ballistic gelatin. For giggles and grins, there's nothing wrong with range-ammo, as long as you switch to the real McCoy when employing the weapon for defensive purposes. And as always, never, ever, pay any attention to anything posted in The Box O' Truth.