Another New Old Varquero

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DMK

DMK

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Another New Old Vaquero

Last month I went into a local pawnshop looking for a .357 K-frame. Well, I came out with a .357 SP101, which I'm very happy with. But also in the Ruger section, next to my little 2" pocket blaster was a pair of lovely NIB stainless Vaqueros with black micarta grips and both also chambered in .357. One was a 5 1/2" with the regular grip frame, but the other was a 4 5/8" bird's head. I had the girl take it out for a closer look. I loved how it felt and looked. Just what I was looking for, a big, heavy, 43 oz hunk of polished stainless steel ready to soak up the recoil of hot magnums. But at the time I was looking for a practical gun and I couldn't justify buying both on the same paycheck.

So a whole month went by and I swooned for that bird's head. A little research told me that Ruger doesn't make a New Vaquero with the bird's head grip. I just knew they'd sell it and I'd never see another one (never saw one before). Well, at long last, today's payday. I ran out at lunch, hit the bank for cash and swung by the pawn shop. Sure enough, the Vaqueros were both there (luckily folk in this town are all enamored with automatics!). After a quick negotiation, the owner scooped up his cash, I scooped up my new gun and ran home to clean it and grab a quick bite before going back to work. I felt like a kid on Christmas all afternoon. :D

I always wanted a cowboy gun. I'm glad I waited for the right one to come around. :)

Here's a quick and dirty pick taken with my scanner.
Vaquero.jpg
 
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You know, it's possible to put an aftermarket bird's-head on a NewVaq. The brass ones Brownell's sells would be easy to fit.
 
birdshead

Nice gun, looks like my ruger stainless 3 1/4 birdshead 45lc :D They shoot great.:D If you don't mind me asking how much did you get her for?
 
If you don't mind me asking how much did you get her for?
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$490

It wasn't cheap, but guns around here never are (come to think of it, everything is expensive here). I always pay way more than everyone else posts even after shopping around and haggling. I did get it under list price though. :p

You know, it's possible to put an aftermarket bird's-head on a NewVaq. The brass ones Brownell's sells would be easy to fit.
Click to expand...
Yea, I considered that. But this is exactly what I wanted. I actually didn't want the lighter gun. This one weighs right about the same as my 6" barreled Model 28 Highway Patrolman which is perfect for turning hot .357s into fun, loud, but expensive plinking rounds.

I'm still thinking about an aftermarket brass frame for my Single Six though.
 
DMK,

Hold on to it. I've been looking for a 357 BH Vaquero for quite a while. I know where there's one but I need a pair for cowboy shooting. A NIB BH vaquero in .357 recently sold on gunbroker for $900. I was afreak auction but you got a good price.


:) BTW , If you change your mind and ever want to part with it..... I make you a sweet deal.


Ravenor
 
Thanks Ravenor. That does make me feel better about the price.

I think I will be holding on to this sixgun for a while. I've been wanting one like it for a long time.

Now I just need to find the Marlin 1894 in .357 that I've also been looking for to complete the set. :)
 
Nice! I really like the birdshead grips. Always thought the lr frame was just to large for them proportionatly but they feel and look about perfect on the Single Six frame. Got a pair of .32 mag birdsheads myself. Very comfortable.
 
Ruger is getting too confusing. I still think of the "Old" Vaqueros as a NEW MODEL, since they were in fact part of the new model series with the new model, big frame and the TSB. But now they have a "New" Vaquero that's actually more like an "OLD" blackhawk frame-wise, except it has the TSB. I prefer to call the "new new" vaqueros "retro" vaqueros.
 
I haven't fired it with Magnums yet. But, it would be hard for me to say. I don't have a standard framed SA except for a Single Six. It's also so heavy that the weight alone will absorb much of the recoil. This thing weighs as much as my 6" barreled N frame and that gun is a pussycat with heavy .357s.

Maybe someone else who has both grips can comment on a comparison.
 
Recoil depends on what you shoot of course. I had a pair that I used for SASS and shot .38s through them. In gunfighter style it was smooth...
 
DMK,

If you want to shoot .38s out of that Marlin .357, it gets a bit finicky at times, dpends on OAL of the particular bullet you use. If you stick to 357 you should be just fine. Don't forget to have a gunsmith take the burr of the MArlin carrier, they all have it abd eventually it creases the carrier.
 
Thanks Lucky Strike!

I'm very happy with it. It's about perfect for what I want. The only thing I might change is maybe a SBH hammer or Power Custom Bisley hammer/ Vaquero trigger combo I think.
 
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