Best caliber for a Ruger Vaquero

[Gary A]

For a non-reloader, my vote is for the 4.62 inch stainless New Vaquero in .45 Colt with a second cylinder chambered in .45 acp, available through Davidson's. The best of all worlds, available and less expensive .45 acp loads with the ability to still shoot .45 Colt, and the better weight and balance of the big bore.

.45 acp is an excellent caliber for the single-action revolver. Good big bore performance for most uses, and the short case and lower pressure makes for an easy extracting case. Often it just drops out.

If you went for the Blackhawk, same suggestion applies only then you could really ramp up both calibers if you wanted.

 

[CraigC]

327 federal magnum. Good luck finding one.

Especially considering they never made one.

 

[shafter]

357 Magnum will be both cheaper to buy new and reload for but I prefer 45 Colt in a cowboy gun. Although absolute robbery to buy new ammo, reloading is pretty affordable and it's just 'right" in a frontier style revolver.

 

[RealGun]

CraigC- The .44Spl.

Did Ruger ever make one (Vaquero)?

 

[RealGun]

From your uses, sounds like there might be an occasional shot with no hearing protection. That would make me go .45 Colt hands down. I shot my .357 without protection once and my left ear rang for over two months. Even went to the doctor over it. Of course you could just shoot .38 in it all the time, but that is a big step down in performance. .357 and .45 Colt aren't too far apart as far as terminal performance goes, at least in my mind.

I think if you reloaded subsonic velocity, you would be fine and on par with the 45 Colt report.

 

[RealGun]

I'd choose the .357Mag model to have the .38Spl option.

I'm thinking that the gun doesn't need to be softer shooting than 45 Colt.

 

[RealGun]

oldcelt - I have a Vaquero 44mag bisley and a vaquero 357 both 5,5 in. and real fun guns, am looking for a 327 fed mag but no high hopes. I don't know about yotes but mine work well on deer.

The SP101 was in 327 mag at one time, and there is one around the auctions right now.

 

[RealGun]

The blackhawk is going to be better for dialing in as it has adjustable sights.

The NV is going to hit differently based on what you shoot out of it. As it just has a notched groove rear sight and a fixed blade front, you have to do a fair amount of Kentucky windage.

The BH can be easily adjusted based on full hose or powderpull loads and distances.

Not the topic, but Blackhawks to me are caricatures in appearance with that big old blade on the front. I would want to put a vented rib on it to balance it out.

 

[RealGun]

I would go with the .357. 45LC is great but pricier to feed.

I don't believe I would own one at all, if I didn't reload. Then it would definitely be 45 Colt for me.

 

[RealGun]

I have one in .357 magnum and shoot cheap .38 Specials out of it.

I would consider that "cheaper", since .38 Special ammo is still 50 cents a shot.

I'm being annoying now. Sorry, but at least I'm interested, if not interesting.

 

[RealGun]

acman - Would also like to know about grips and holster for it, barrel would be 4.62 inches or 5.5 inches long.

My holster is a beauty from Cochise Leather Company, LA Flair. Grips are handsome wood with Ruger logo directly from Ruger's web store.

 

[CraigC]

Did Ruger ever make one (Vaquero)?

Yes, for Lipsey's.

I would consider that "cheaper", since .38 Special ammo is still 50 cents a shot.

Yep. I don't think I'd characterize .38Spl as "cheap" any more. Cheap-er than some but not "cheap".

 

[RealGun]

On the Ruger site, I see the NMBH listed as .44 Special exclusive for Lipseys but not a Vaquero.

 

[CraigC]

Pages 6 & 7.

http://www.lipseysguns.com/?page=6

 

[RealGun]

Lipseys had so many great ideas that are out of production. That Ruger GP100 Wiley Clapp Edition 357 Magnum 3" though is one I think I am going to have to own.

 

[Dudemeister]

No Ammo is cheap anymore.

Check out the prices for .22LR. I've seen 100 round CCI MiniMags going for $25. I mean this stuff used to cost about $6-7 just a year ago, now it's impossible to find, and the speculators that have it in stock, are asking those crazy prices.

Heck, if you reload is cheaper to make .45's than to buy .22's.

 

[sappyg]

Not sure there is a best caliber for a Vaquero. Especially if you reload.
Had one in 32 mag. It was a real sweetie. Someone made me an offer I couldn't refuse and that was that. Traded off a pair of 357's after I stopped shooting SASS and kept the 44's.
If I were choosing a new model I'd go with 357. Old model I'd lean toward the 45 for no particular reason I suppose. Sure would like one of those new models.
El Paso saddlery use to turn out some great leather for a single action. A nice Three Person rig would be a good choice for the casual cowboy.

 

[LT.Diver]

I'd go with .45 long colt. If you're going to reload cost won't really figure into your caliber choice.
On a side note, maybe I'm getting crotchety in my old age but why don't people use question marks when they ask a question?
The OP asked a bunch of questions but didn't use a single question mark.
I guess no one cares but the whole internet grammar thing drives me nuts. We all make typos, me especially, and some folks out there don't know the difference between "to, too and two", or "there, their and they're", "your and you're" and so on. But the new trend seems to be dropping the use of question marks. Drives me nuts! But I guess that's my problem.
Whew! Done ranting.
Back to the point. I think the .45 long colt is a great old round, and with reloading and bullet casting it can be very versatile, very powerful and very economical.

 

[Flatbush Harry]

I use .45 Colt in mine. You'll note that the Old model Vaqueros can tolerate hotter loads, per the Hornady manual, and I use those when I'm hunting for my back-up gun. For CAS shooting, most use "Cowboy" loads (800 fps with a 250-255gr bullet). That is very comfortable to shoot. A .357 can use light .38 spl loads and the gamers in CAS like those as they have little recoil. I'm an old fart so authentic is better than just trying to win.

That said, I shoot Frontiersman and Silver Senior so there are fewer competitors in my classes.

FH

 

[Hagen442]

I also shoot Cowboy Action using 5 1/2 New Vaqueros in 45 Long Colt when I Shoot in
Frontier Cartridge Catogory (Cartridge Black Powder)
For what you have described , I would say the 45 or the 357 will get the job done for you.
I am parcial to Mernicke and Galco for leather. Both have provided me great quality and service for a number of years with my Shooting and Hunting Requirements.
My Old 2 Cents

 

[LOLBELL]

327 federal magnum. Good luck finding one.

Ruger made a Vaquero in 327 Federal Magnum ???????

I see CraigC beat me to the punch

 

[PJSprog]

Considering a New Vaquero as well, and with the same conundrum. I already have a DA .357 and a DA .38, and am looking at the Rossi 92 in same. The Vaquero in .357 would make great sense from a handloading standpoint, but the .45LC sure does make a great argument for a SA revolver (and maybe yet another lever?).

Decisions, decisions.

 

[ZVP]

I chose the .357 Mag in my NM Vaquero simply because of the sheer power of the ,357 Mag and the versitality of the .38 Special/ .38 Colt option. It adds an immense versitality to this very sturdy snd reliable platform! Reloading costs and even Factory ammo prices are lower with the ,357 as a base.
No doubt Muzzleblast is ear splitting with full power .357 loads but preformance is tops!
My main ammo is the .38 Special as it coensides with my 3 other .38's giving only one ammo to have reloading equpt for.
Plus reasons for the .45 LC are Tradition, power, ease of handling cartriges and easy to mark targets!
However the additional cost of the .45 keeps it out of a retiree's budget. 10 years ago I would"ve jumped all over the .45! I AM a traditionalist deep down but need to be pratical these days.
Gor tradition, I shoot large bore Remington and Colt Copies.. The only problem is that I admire the .36 caliber BP very much! It's a very adequate and decisive caliber in itself! So I own both BP calibers.
The weight of the 357 Vaquero is more than just a passing point. The additional metal adds much weight which really aids in taming recoil and adding steadiness!
Quick-draw artists often choose the .357 I suppose because of ammo costs. The additional weight dosen't seem t slow them down...
My vote goes to the .357 for these reasons.
ZVP

 

[theotherwaldo]

My favorite Vaquero is in .45acp. That's what I shoot and reload - and it can share loads with my other five .45s.

 

[BLU]

PJSprog: I wish I would have stuck with just a few calibers!! Over 40 years I've collected way too many. LOL. I use and sometime CC the Vaquero in .45 Colt. I sometimes use a shoulder holster but stumbled across a Bianchi #8L 'Shadow' for a Colt .38/.357 that actually allows high on the hip wear. I shortened the holster with a Dremel tool and around town it's a good carry. In the field... a Cowboy rig. I get such good use out the .45 Colt round and still adhere to tradition without having to go five rounds in my Peacemaker. They are more expensive to shoot, of course, so something has to give in the budget. Probably something that wasn't as healthy anyway!