New SA Ruger Vaquero or Blackhawk ?

[Bartojc]

I've decided it is time for my first SA revolver. I know it took long enough right ? I've always like them for their simplicity, and of course they've been around for years. I have a couple lever rifles that I love for similar reasons.
I'll use them primarily for paper punching, and occasional carrying in a back pack while in the woods. Maybe someday I'd hunt with one, but not right now.

For various reasons I've decided on Ruger. I think I'd rather go with 45 Colt vs .357. I'm stuck on fixed sight Vaquero vs Adjustable sight Blackhawk ? I'm also aware of the frame differences in size between the two. I do not plan to use any Ruger Only loads on either. I will however most likely hand load for either.

Barrel length I'd like to go 5.5, really not interested in anything much longer. Just too much to tote around.

Does anyone see a lot of flaws in my logic ? Got any words of wisdom ? I'm just struggling with Vaquero vs NM Blackhawk as well as to a lesser extent caliber and barrel length.

Thanks for your help. I already feel myself wanting both.

-Jeff

 

[adcoch1]

The 45 is more pleasant to shoot due to flash in the 5.5" from the Blackhawk, but truthfully either caliber is fine in either frame size. Get whichever one you prefer and be happy. Or even better, get both...

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[savit260]

My personal opinion is that I would go with the New Vaquero if for no other reason than the grip frame and ejector rod housing will match the rest of the gun. A blue full size 45 or 357 BH will have these parts in aluminum with a finish applied to them that won't really match the rest of the gun. It's nice for weight savings and all but not pleasing to the eye. Also the grip frame will likely fit better on the New Vaq. The aluminum grip frames are notoriously ill fitting. The SS full size Blackhawks use SS grip frames and ejectors and made of SS and usually better fitted too.

 

[exbrit49]

Get the Blackhawk 45

Owning both, the Blackhawk wins on a couple of counts. My latest Blackhawk was bought as a combo with the 45 ACP and 45 Colt cylinders. Load it up with the 45 Colt and its one of the most accurate handguns I own. As I also range shoot, I find lots of 45 ACP brass and I load it up and it makes for a fun gun for offhand target shooting. Its very accurate with both the 45 Colt and the 45 ACP, (The 45 Colt is just a tad more accurate)
I shoot a lot of .357 caliber too,but from my Smith and Wesson's . Love them and the caliber, but that beefy old 45 Colt Blackhawk is a hard one to beat.
I am comfortable with both SA and DA so no problems there.
As you can guess I am totally for the Blackhawk, but do consider the dual cylinder version.

 

[bannockburn]

I went with .45 Colt with my Vaquero as I wanted to pair it up with a Rossi Model 92 carbine in the same caliber. As to choosing between the two I would say get one or the other because eventually you know you're going to have to have both of them anyways!

 

[BobWright]

I prefer the Blackhawk and Super Blackhawks for their adjustable sights.

Adjustable sights are not something I'm always fiddlin' with, but sighting in is much easier, and for all practical purposes become fixed sights when sighted in. But then if you should happen to switch loads re-adjusting for that load is much easier.

But the biggest advantage with adjustable sights is the improved sight picture. The squared off flat top and the post front make holding elevation much more precise. Many men who buy the Vaquero end up installing adjustable sights on their revolvers.

As to the aluminum parts, they are easily swapped out for steel.

One of my Blackhawk .45s with steel grip frame and ejector rod housing:




Bob Wright

 

[ADKWOODSMAN]

I have a pair of 45 colts vaquero's for SASS and a pair of .357 SS vaquero's and two Blackhawks. One in .44 and one in .41.

I don't care for the way the Blackhawks recoil compared to the .45 colts vaquero's with stiff hunting loads. The fixed sights do not take away from the accuracy or versatility.

 

[cpt-t]

Bartojc: Listen to what ((( Mr Bob Wright ))) says, and you will be doing yourself a big favor. I could`t agree with him more. I agree with your choice in choosing the 45LC, it is my favorite Handgun Caliber and most of my Rugers are in 45LC. I bought my first Ruger Blackhawk in 1971 or 1972, it was a 45LC/45ACP 71/2 inch barreled Convertible. And it has always been my favorite Ruger Single Action, and I still have it and still shoot it alot. I prefer the 7 1/2 in barrel length, I just shoot them better. And I have bought several other Blackhawk`s, Super Blackhawk`s, Vaquero`s of different finishes and barrel lengths over the years. I am a real Ruger fan and I prefer them. I have never had any type of problem with any of my Rugers. And they all shoot very well and I am very proud of each and everyone of them. I just don`t think You can do better than choosing a Ruger Single Action. Good Luck To You.
ken

 

[Vern Humphrey]

For a reloader, adjustable sights are a real asset. Sooner or later you'll be handloading a lighter or heavier bullet, or a heavier or lighter charge. Point of impact can change even between lots of identical factory loads.

 

[Shane in MT]

Tough decision, but I don't believe you can go wrong either way.

I have an older Super Blackhawk 44 Mag I bought back around 1977. Along the way cut it down to 4 5/8", plussed it up with steel ejector rod housing, Belt Mtn pin, and Bowen rear sight. Great revolver.

Just recently decided I wanted a 45 Colt/45 ACP convertible. I went back and forth between the New Vaquero and the New Model Blackhawk. Eventually my practical nature prevailed and I went with the Blackhawk for the beefy cylinders and adjustable sights. With the Aluminum grip frame, weight comes in about equal to the New Vaquero. But I gotta say, the New Vaquero is a real looker, probably going to need one too someday.

Here's a few pics of the Blackhawk. I'll be putting some cocobolo grips, and a couple other changes (pin, rear sight), but it's a really nice revolver.

 

[Bartojc]

I guess the Blackhawks make more practical sense. The Vaqueros just look so nice to me. maybe I should have just asked which one to buy first [emoji6]. I'm glad to hear the thoughts on 45 Colt. My logic was that I wanted a lever rifle in 45 Colt some day as well. Any real advantage to stainless other than its shines and looks nice ?

Jeff


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[yugorpk]

Ive got 4 Vaquero's in different ( 2 old 45, one new 45, one sort of new 44 mag ) configurations and Ive owned quite a few Blackhawks over the years. To me the blackhawks are way too clunky with the adjustable sights. the extra baggage on top not being worth the better sight picture.

My 4 3/4" SS 45 colt old Vaquero is a sweet, sweet gun.

 

[J-Bar]

I have owned more than one Vaquero that did not shoot to point of aim. Very frustrating to buy a brand new gun and find that the barrel has to be turned.

Go with the adjustable sights and keep your blood pressure down.

 

[Crunchy Frog]

If you don't care about having a revolver that will handle the "Ruger only" loads, let me suggest that you consider a "flattop" Blackhawk. The flattop is built on the same "medium" frame as the New Vaquero which (to my way of thinking) makes for a better proportioned gun. I believe the flattops are all steel as well.

These may be distributor exclusives so a little research may be required.

 

[yugorpk]

I have owned more than one Vaquero that did not shoot to point of aim. Very frustrating to buy a brand new gun and find that the barrel has to be turned.

Go with the adjustable sights and keep your blood pressure down.

Just do what Ruger does. Knock the front sight blade over a bit. Yep. Thats what they did to my 44 mag Vaquero. I'd care if it wasnt my most accurate Vaquero.

 

[bannockburn]

yugorpk

Just do what Ruger does. Knock the front sight blade over a bit. Yep. Thats what they did to my 44 mag Vaquero.

Not always. A friend of mine had a .44 Magnum Vaquero that had an improperly installed barrel on it. Long story short Ruger ended up building a brand new barrel for it and then polished the whole gun (stainless), so everything would look the same.

 

[tubeshooter]

I ended up with both, and you may very well also. There isn't really a "wrong" answer.

I got the BH first. Adjustable sights are nice, but Vaquero has a more classic look. A lot of it is a matter of pure personal preference.



The only thing I want to add is that unless you are going to be reloading a whole bunch, the .357 shooting cheap .38 Spl is probably a better choice "primarily for paper punching".

 

[Bartojc]

If you don't care about having a revolver that will handle the "Ruger only" loads, let me suggest that you consider a "flattop" Blackhawk. The flattop is built on the same "medium" frame as the New Vaquero which (to my way of thinking) makes for a better proportioned gun. I believe the flattops are all steel as well.

These may be distributor exclusives so a little research may be required.

I looked into that. It seems as though if I want 45 Colt my choices would be limited to Stainless in 4.5 or 5.5 barrel with ivory grips. At least at Lipseys, have not checked anywhere else. I'm not sure about stainless or ivory. I like the idea of a flattop though, and its a thought.

Either 357 or 45 I'd be reloading for it.

-jeff

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Just do what Ruger does. Knock the front sight blade over a bit. Yep. Thats what they did to my 44 mag Vaquero. I'd care if it wasnt my most accurate Vaquero.

Ouch!

Ruger does not do that. Ruger will rotate the barrel slightly to change the alignment of the front sight. Trying to bend the front sight might result in the braze letting go and you will be holding the gun in one hand and the front sight in the other.

 

[yugorpk]

Ouch!

Ruger does not do that. Ruger will rotate the barrel slightly to change the alignment of the front sight. Trying to bend the front sight might result in the braze letting go and you will be holding the gun in one hand and the front sight in the other.

Yeah, they do. Ive got a fresh, new out of the box "new" vaquero birdshead 44 mag with canted front sight . It was like that when I pulled it out of the factory wrap.Not by much but its definitely not straight up and its the only Vaquero Ive ever shot that is 100% point of aim. I see it every time I look down the barrel and I see it hit what I'm pointing at every time I pull the trigger . I could tempt fate and send it back in to get it shooting somewhere around the point of aim like my other vaqueros.

 

[OilyPablo]

I just think everyone's first SA revolver should be a classic Blackhawk.

Then dial it in with some new grips.

 

[Paladin7]

You've just started an addiction believe me...

I'll add my +1 to what everyone said about the Blackhawk's adjustable sights and sight picture. That combination will make a world of difference.

I love my single actions, they really make you slow down and concentrate on getting accurate hits by focusing intently on the basics of shooting. From my personal experience, the guys I know who favor Single Actions tend to be able to hit what they are aiming at with much higher frequency than the auto chucker crowd I run into.

You won't ever regret buying a Ruger Single Action.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

I went with a Blackhawk a few years ago when I was faced with this choice.
While I don't have experience with a Vaquero to draw a comparison, I will say that I have never regretted my choice of the Blackhawk.

The only thing I may do differently is go with 5.5" barrel instead of 7.5". Maybe.

 

[Shane in MT]

I'll offer more 'help' .....grin

Here's a pic of my old SBH 44. Hard to believe it's been 38 years since I bought it new, my first handgun.

You can see I've cut it down from 7.5", but it retains the telling Dragoon grip frame. Also added a steel ejector rod housing, locking cylinder pin, and Bowen rear sights.

Load is a 310gr from Oregon Trail, with 20.5gr H110, 1250 fps. It's kind of snorty, but shoots well.

As you can tell, this revolver shows some wear. Lots of use and good memories over the years.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Originally posted by Bartojc

I looked into that. It seems as though if I want 45 Colt my choices would be limited to Stainless in 4.5 or 5.5 barrel with ivory grips. At least at Lipseys, have not checked anywhere else. I'm not sure about stainless or ivory.

Do you want the gun to shoot or just to look at. Many stainless steel guns have stainless steel front sights -- which are an abomination unto the Lord if you actually shoot them.