Shane in MT
Member
I shot my brother's polished stainless Vaquero on a sunny day, nearly tore my eyes out trying to look at that glare.
New SA Ruger Vaquero or Blackhawk ?
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200Apples
Mojave Lever Crew
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^ ^ ^ Hahaha... no doubt. And Vern's "abomination" comment... too funny.
Thank you Shane for posting that photo of your Super Blackhawk. What a magnificent piece.
So that we my heal ourselves of the blindness caused by a polished stainless Vaquero reflecting high mountain sun, I will repost this fine image:
^ ^ ^ Hahaha... no doubt. And Vern's "abomination" comment... too funny.
Thank you Shane for posting that photo of your Super Blackhawk. What a magnificent piece.
So that we my heal ourselves of the blindness caused by a polished stainless Vaquero reflecting high mountain sun, I will repost this fine image:
Shane in MT
dickydalton
Member
Keep in mind the whole new/old vaquero thing just got totally screwed up with Ruger releasing large frame new vaquero's and is likely to get more screwed up in the future. I hope they release a new vaquero large frame 45 Colt. This is my "New Vaquero" in 44 magnum ! ....
35 Whelen
Member
I had a 4 5/8" New Vaquero 45 Colt. I bought it because I'm of the opinion that adjustable sights aren't necessary on something that's typically used at 25, no more than 50 yards. Anyhow, the thing was a complete pain to get to shoot. After fire-lapping, having the cylinder throats opened, fitting a Bisley hammer (the factory hammer is similar to a fence post protruding from the holster), replacing the hand rending grips, dealing with a POI left of center, I was finally able to get it to shoot pretty decent. I finally sold it and bought a Uberti 45 Colt. Ahh....what a sweetheart of a shooter!
ANYHOW, I toyed with the idea of getting a 4 5/8" Blackhawk convertible distributed by Lipsey's. Being built on the same frame size as the New Vaquero, they weigh but 36 oz., and you have the advantage of an adjustable sight in case they don't shoot where you want.
And by the way the New Vaquero and the Lipsey's Blackhawk are not capable of handling "Ruger Only" loads, but will easily handle loads in the 21,000-22,000 psi range, which translates to a 285-ish gr. bullet running around 1100 fps. PLENTY of power for anything that needs to be shot at with a handgun.
35W
Tallball
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I love all five of my Ruger SA revolvers. I prefer the Blackhawks for the slightly larger frame and adjustable sights. If you are thinking 45, the "convertible" is well worth it. Mine is equally accurate in 45colt and 45acp, but the latter is cheaper and easier to find. I am so spoiled by my SA Rugers that I find myself shooting my DA revolvers less and less.
AlfonsDeWolf
Member
Some feel the vaquero is more 'classic'. I dissagree. I feel that the Ruger Blackhawk is THE classic in its own catagory. Fixed sights are for quick and short field usage. Adjustable sights are for long field and precision. That would include hunting. For some insight check out Linebaugh'wise' and understand why .45 over .44mag. .357 may not be wisest for o.p........ http://www.customsixguns.com/writings/common_sense_handgun_hunting.htm
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bannockburn
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Vern Humphrey
Never had a problem with the sights on my polished stainless Vaquero, even shooting it at an outdoor range on bright sunny days. The gun pretty much shots to POA at 15 yards with handloads and factory ammo.
Never had a problem with the sights on my polished stainless Vaquero, even shooting it at an outdoor range on bright sunny days. The gun pretty much shots to POA at 15 yards with handloads and factory ammo.
200Apples
Mojave Lever Crew
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Dang, that *is* a great-looking Vaquero, there, bannock.
Dang, that *is* a great-looking Vaquero, there, bannock.
OilyPablo
Member
Suddenly I like "white" grips.
Geez... So now we have a "Large Frame New Vaquero" to throw into the name game???? What's wrong with the folks at Ruger? So let's see if I've got this right.... The Rugers marked "New Vaquero" are mid frame guns... except for the 44 Special mid frame which is just marked "Vaquero" not to be confused with the Large frame 44 Magnum "Vaquero" and now the Large Frame 44 Magnum "New Vaquero". All others marked "Vaquero" are Large Frame versions (except for the previously mentioned 44 Special Mid Frame Vaquero". Non of which are "Old Models" because they all have transfer bars. YIKES!!! Did I miss anything here?
Vern Humphrey
Member
A hundred years from now, collectors will be tearing out their hair by the handfuls, trying to sort out all the Ruger Blackhawk names and variations.
I was coming over here just to ask that question.
I had heard that at one time there were two sizes of blackhawk frame...one for 357 and one for 45 colt/44 mag.
Doesn't seem to be that way in the Ruger Catalog now. I didn't think to look at distributor exclusive. How do you spot a flat-top>?
Vern Humphrey
Member
Look closely at the rear sight of a Blackhawk. You will see protective "ears" rising up out of the frame to protect the front portion of the sight. The early Blackhawks did not have these "ears" -- the rear sight was simply screwed onto the frame, not "inletted" into the metal.
bannockburn
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akodo
Older 3 screw Blackhawk in .357:
Newer Blackhawk Flattop in .44 Special:
Older 3 screw Blackhawk in .357:
Newer Blackhawk Flattop in .44 Special:
But let's not forget that not all "Flat Tops" are mid frames. The original 44 Magnum Large Frame was a Flat Top, as well as the 50th Anv. 44 Magnum, and I believe there was also a small run of 41 Magnum Large Frame Flat Tops. Also, not all 357's are Mid Frames. as there are Large Frame 357 Blackhawks too.
Example. 50th Anv. Large Frame 44 Mag Flat Top (custom work by Alan Harton)
Example. 50th Anv. Large Frame 44 Mag Flat Top (custom work by Alan Harton)
200Apples
Mojave Lever Crew
Dang. Another home run.
Did Harton make the grips, too?
Thanks!
Not so far as I know. I bought the gun second hand and asked the original owner a while back and he told me they were done by Patrick Grasshorn. They are very well fitted to the grip frame.
The Harton work included
Douglas barrel
Taylor throated
Two gold bar front sight
Black powder chamfer
Hammer narrowed so it doesn't rub frame
Action job
Polish Blue
No. 5 stlye locking base pin
minimal cylinder/barrel gap
etc.
A real great shooter with a sweet sweet trigger.
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200Apples
Mojave Lever Crew
Ah. Grashorn's Gunworks in Wyoming. They have many admirers!
Holy Toledo, Ohio; that's quite a long list of superior smithin'!
Congratulations on acquiring such a great revolver!
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AlfonsDeWolf
Member
@savit260.....that 50th anniv .44 has been chopped down 2", right?
bannockburn
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savit260
Wow that's some custom work on your Blackhawk! Looks great and a real tack driver too! Mr. Grasshorn and Mr. Harton do some very nice work.
Wow that's some custom work on your Blackhawk! Looks great and a real tack driver too! Mr. Grasshorn and Mr. Harton do some very nice work.
+1 paladin, absolutely true. the love and addiction for ruger single actions is not just a cowboy action thing. it is like the difference between quietly savoring a fine single malt whisky or pounding down group tequila shots (not while carrying of course!). each has their place.
one ruger s.a. in 45 or 357 leads to the other, then to 22 single six & bearcat, then to different grips/frames/barrel lengths, then to a heritage roughrider for rough plinking, then even to bond arms derringers. please consider yourself duly warned, and enjoy.
Yeah, I figure it's a lost cause now. When I started reloading I started so I could feed a couple 9MM autoloaders easier. That turned into buying a couple more rifles just so I could reload for them. Now looking for a SA revolver which I've always wanted. I actually expect to buy a second before I've ever bought the first. And of course I say "Well, I can reload so it's no big deal to have a different caliber"
Thanks for all the suggestions. Somewhere buried in these replies I've actually found a couple good points that I had not thought of.
-Jeff
Armybrat
Member
My stainless SBH has the blued sights. Shoots just fine.
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