[def]

Hello all,

I've become quite enthralled by Ruger single action revolvers and I wanted to perhaps get your opinions on these two specific firearms. I know some of the differences, but would like your personal opinions on which one you like better and also the reasons why you like one over the other. If you've only fired one, then I hope you can share what you like and dislike about the one with which you are familiar. Comments like "it depends on what you're getting it for" are irrelevant- I'm just hoping that your comments can paint a picture, so to speak, of each firearm and their strengths, weaknesses, and differences.

Thanks to all who reply

[Brian Williams]

One is fixed sights and the other is adjustable.
I prefer fixed sights for a carry/work gun and adjustable for hunting/target.

[Rexster]

Adjustable sights will wear holes in your cover garments, unless a holster like the Sparks 200AW is used. But, adjustable sights are MUCH more visible, which I am really noticing more as I get older. It is easier to focus past the rear sight, concentrating on the front sight, if the rear face of both sights are flat, vertical, and matte black.

[BlkHawk73]

ALL current Ruger single actions are "New Models". You have the New Vaquero and the Blackhawk both of which are New Models. That said, the New vaquero is a medium framed fixed sighter single action. the Blackhawk is a lg framed adjustable sighted single action and share the same cylinder frame as the Super Blackhawk. You have more variants to choose from with the BH.
Since it'll become an isue in this thread eventually I'll mention it and get it out of the way. The BH will hanlde the higher pressure loads known as "Ruger only loads" where as the smaller New vaquero will not. My thinking is if you need above SAAMI spec loads, buy a more powerfully chambered gun i the first lace.
Go to Ruger's site look at the different models and decide on the bbl length, finish and chambering you want. Easy.

[Jim March]

It's a bit more complicated than that :).

The NewVaq is built on a new mid-size frame. The ONLY Blackhawk built on that same size frame (at least since 1973) is the 50th Anniversary 357 Blackhawk. There were large numbers made and they're still available.

If you're going to buy a 357, the 50th Blackhawk 357 is a damned fine gun.

The Ruger mid-frame SAs are very well built, with better average quality control and accuracy than...well, basically *any* other Ruger revolver made since '73. They're very good guns.

The NewVaq is available as a 357Mag or a 45LC. In 357Mag, both of the mid-frames can take wild-child factory loads running up to 800ft/lbs energy, which means heavy hardcast of 170+ grains at speeds up around 1,400+ feet per second. In 45LC the cylinder walls are too thin for that sort of horsepower, so you top out with 255gr hardcast @ 1,000fps or 200gr jacketed @ 1,100ish, for about 500-550ft/lbs energy.

My take:

I wanted a mid-frame 357, with better sights than a NewVaq but not that huge rear sight of the Blackhawk. So I started with a NewVaq 357, had a custom windage-adjustable dovetailed front sight put on and had the rear sight channel hogged out to match. Sight picture is close to Blackhawk grade, but lower profile and tougher. Elevation was dialed in perfect for 135gr loads so it shoots well with anything from 125gr to 145gr and does 158s tolerably well.

[Lafeswede]

Hi,
Imagine a CAS style application, fast firing a classic type SA. Is this what you seek? Then it could be the Vaquero. Or a very sturdy, reliable and accurate but more slow-fire wheelgun? Then we speak a Blackhawk. In my view, even though they were initially made from the same frame, the guns are very different. Before my Vaquero was blown to pieces, I couldn't hit anything with it. And certainly not after. Gunsmith's guess is a double powder charge. (LeePro 1000). Mine was an early, big frame Vaquero. I know for certain that the Blackhawk I bought after that incident can handle a double charge of the powder I use. Both guns are .45 LC.

[Virginian]

Okay, just to get straight here, there is the New Model Blackhawk, built on the large frame with adjustable sights, there is the (old) Vaquero, also built on the large frame, with fixed sights, and there is the New Vaquero, built on a new medium cylinder frame, and with the old/new XR3 grip frame (which is for all intents and purposes the same as a Colt SAA grip).
I have two Blackhawks, and two (old) full sized Vaqueros, and I have probably owned several more of both over the years
The Blackhawks can be adjusted to hit the exact point of aim with any but the wimpiest of loads in my experience. I cannot get the elevation right on my 357 Blackhawk with Super Wimp loads - still low. Horizontal, dead on, and today the new 44 Blackhawk was right on with 2 loads.
I have adjusted both Vaqueros to be right on for me and my favorite loads. And I am not talking CASS accurate, I am talking kill a feral cat at 50 yards accurate.
The Blackhawks can be right on for me or my wife, with any reasonable load, in just a few minutes and a few clicks.
The New Vaquero to me is a CASS toy, straight and simple. That is not a disparaging comment, as I have seen lots of multi-thousand dollar CASS toys. It's lighter than a Blackhawk, looks more like a Colt, and as long as people stick to SAMMI loads in the calibers it comes in, it will likely outlive them. Every loading manual (almost) has some souped up 45 Colt loads for Ruger and Contender ONLY. They are referring to the Blackhawk/(old) Vaquero framed babies, ONLY.
I have played around with sights, grips, springs, gripframes, and anything else if I can think of it, and I don't think you can find a series of guns that you would be better served by anywhere. The adjustable sights are a lot more likely to hang up when getting into action in 12 degree weather, if you wear as many clothes as I do.
You need to handle a few, and shoot a couple if you can, and decide which one suits you best. Almost any indoor range that rents guns will have a Vaquero and a Blackhawk. Do not worry about accuracy, as range guns can be crudded up, but concentrate on the feel. Whichever gun you get will almost certainly be able to outshoot you, and they are equally accurate in my experience. Starting out with the adjustable sighted Blackhawk might deserve an edge, since if you can read, and shoot, you should be able to be nailing anything consistently, pretty quick. I remember when the kids were little, I took a buddy out to shoot on some big cutover land in North Carolina. When I walked out there with that brown bag and started setting out baby food jar tops he got pale. But he had a 357 Blackhawk, and with some 38 wadcutters I had him hitting caps fairly quick. He was amazed. All he had ever shot was BIG targets with stout 357s, and he was already starting to flinch a little before those 38s.
Good luck.

[foghornl]

I have one of the 'old' Vaqueros, 2003 vintage, built on the large frame, and one of the 50th Year .357 Blackhawks on the slightly smaller 'mid-size' frame with the XR3 grip.

As much as I like the Glossy Stainless Vaquero as a "show gun", or as some folks would say..The Fancy Dress-up Barbeque/Dinner Party gun, I slightly prefer my 50th Year .357 Blackhawk for 3 reasons...

1. 4-5/8" barrel vs 3-3/4" or so for the Vaquero...longer sight radius.

2. 'Reverse Index' loading gate/pawl assembly..when it clicks, you are exactly lined up to unload/load, where as on the Vaquero, when it clicks, you are past the proper unload/load alignment.

3. Adjustable sights on the Blackhawk.

[Virginian]

I just got a new Blackhawk 50th Anniversary 44, and I am working my way up load wise. I love the gun, but I already changed the plastic grips out for a set of old walnut Blackhawk grips with white medallions (all the coating is long gone). Way too skinny for me. I have never liked the "gunfighter" grips either. I am seriously contemplating switching it over to a regular New Model Blackhawk gripframe. I have a feeling the smaller XR3 gripframe and heavy loads may not be my cup of tea, but we shall see.