best kept secret of revolver world

I'm really really liking the new post '05 Vaquero. It's truly an improved SAA. Very well made and dead accurate with the fixed sights. I picked up one in .45 Colt with the .45 ACP cylinder and both cylinders will shoot 2" 15 yard groups to the same point of aim.

But there still seems to be confusion about them and I don't see them very often. The older big Vaqueros are far more common.

Beat me to it Cosmoline.

I have a pair of New Vaqueros in .357 and .45LC. Each shoot to point of aim with factory ammo using a two-hand grip, and are exceedingly accurate with my hand loads.

My .45 loads are on the light side (7.8gr Unique, 255gr cast round nose) but will bust a hog nicely. I want to use the .357 on a deer but won't get a chance till next year.

Both of these are my first choices for camping, woods walking and generally trekking around in the hills. Most folks consider these guns to be made for playing cowboy with powder puff loadings. Not the case at all. The .357 will handle any 'legal' loading without a whimper, and the curved grip takes out the sting of recoil. The .45, at any reasonable load, packs a powerful punch and works well for both hunting and defense.

I prefer the ergonomics of the New Vaquero to the more popular Blackhawk, and do not find the fixed sights to be a handicap at the ranges I shoot.

Ron in Texas

Does it have to be still on the new gun market? Does it have to be a secret?

I doubt if there is a revolver currently for sale and realistically available that is anywhere near a secret. As for underrated, I think when one considers the amount of love S&Ws get, Rugers generally are underrated.

The Dan Wesson was the one! You could buy one gun and have an 2in 4in 6in 8in 10in 15in barrel for the one gun that you could change in about 5mins.

I know I'm going to draw some flames for this one but . . .

The Taurus Model 85 series of revolvers. I have 2, an 85 and an 850 (concealed hammer). Then have an excellent trigger, good accuracy and a low price. The "safety lock" is unobtrusive, and easy to remove. They have been flawless for me.

Also include me in the Ruger New Vaquero crowd. Well balanced , accurate , reasonably priced and a great platform for later custom work.

Smith and Wesson Model 10 . . .but I don't think it's a secret anymore.

I discovered some time ago that old S&W 2nd Model Hand Ejectors in .455 British Eley were quite often rechambered for our .45 Colt cartridge. This required little change, barely visible, and resulted in finely crafted revolvers that sell for WAY less than they should (potential buyers avoid them because they think they need hard to get ammo), and the resulting revolvers are light, perfectly functional, an extremely accurate (the bore is perfectly suited to the .45 Colt). I have two, and got them for about half of what they would go for if people knew how good they are. My only change was cutting the barrels to 4" and having ramp sights installed.

Since Al Gore invented the internet, I think most of the secrets have been spoiled. Used to be you could get Old Model Ruger Blackhawks and Single Sixes real cheap. Used to be that you could get the old Six series DA's real cheap. Used to be that you could get surplus Mausers real cheap. Used to be you could get S&W 28's and .38-44 pretty reasonably. Hell, everything used to be cheaper and easier to find. Only 15yrs ago I bought both a model 18 and a 6" model 17 for $200 and $265 respectively. Only 13yrs ago I walked into a shop that had a bunch of new-old-stock S&W's and Rugers from the `70's and bought a brand new model 14 for $285. He had brand new model 19's for well under $400. Bunch of Security and Speed Sixes for under $300. Brand new Blackhawks for $300-$350. Unfortunately, I wasn't in the financial position to buy a bunch of what he had. Try finding deals like that today. Nowadays everybody either knows exactly what they have and they want a premium for it or they 'think' they have something high dollar and want a premium anyway. Trying to get rich off every sale.

Ruger GP100 6" stainless. Tack drivingest revolver I ever owned. Paid $375 for it back in 1998. Trigger is not as good as smith or colt but never affected accuracy. I can shoot poker chips at 30 yards.

Medusa model 47. Shhhh.... still looking for one.

Model 19

Smith & Wesson 25-5. Bought mine, which was in near Mint condition, 2 years ago for $500. Now the 686 gets little use.

Don

I agree with CraigC, the Six series Rugers were available at great prices everywhere 20 years ago, not anymore.

I wish I had used my money wiser when I was young, but then again, I did have fun.

Still, a collection of "Sixes" would be great today, certainly if I had less than $200 into each one.

adelbridge said:

Ruger GP100 6" stainless. Tack drivingest revolver I ever owned. Paid $375 for it back in 1998. Trigger is not as good as smith or colt but never affected accuracy. I can shoot poker chips at 30 yards.

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Amen! Though mine is the blued version.

I'm pretty impressed with some old Charter Arms Undercover .38's I've discovered recently. Bought a 1980 and 1978 2" .38 in the last two days and waiting a few days to save anotehr couple hundred bucks to get the 3" barreled one I saw.

Dan Wesson for sure. Why their amazing, forward thinking designs were never wildly successful is a true mystery.

I got a used and abused Taurus model 82 a while back for $125. It was mechanically perfect, but all the blue had been stripped off. One $40 refinish later, and it looked excellent and shot better.

Recently these have been imported from south America where they were used often as police service revolvers, much like our Model 10's. These can be found for $200 or so if you look around a little.

Armored car company trade in S&W Model 64's. The ultimate "carried lots, fired never" that I've run into. I'd love to find another one.

Armored car company trade in S&W Model 64's. The ultimate "carried lots, fired never" that I've run into. I'd love to find another one.

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Lots of them were at JGsales

I second the trade-in model 64s. Picked mine up at J&G a year or two ago, and although it's the most inexpensive handgun I own, it would probably be the last one I'd trade away.

Mine was carried a lot, and probably fired/dry-fired a lot, too, judging by the smooth action.

(Edit: I guess I "third" the M64...)

Rossi revolvers of all sorts. They're cheap and a lot better than people give them credit for.