I will be getting a New Ruger Vaquero this summer and was wonder what caliber most people prefer it in. I will be using it as a woods gun and possibly to keep the coyotes away from the cattle when needed. Which caliber is cheaper to buy new and reload. Which bullets are easier to find. Thanks. Would also like to know about grips and holster for it, barrel would be 4.62 inches or 5.5 inches long.
Best caliber for a Ruger Vaquero
- Thread starter acman
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J-Bar
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I own Vaqueros in .357 and .45 Colt and use both in Cowboy Action Shooting.
The .357 will be cheaper to reload for, and easier to find commercial ammo for, and will also offer you the option of using .38 Specials.
The .45 is just a heckuva lot of fun to shoot even though it will cost a bit more for ammo.
I think either the .357 or the .45 will be effective against coyotes, even though I have not shot a coyote with either one.
To me, its a coin toss.
The .357 will be cheaper to reload for, and easier to find commercial ammo for, and will also offer you the option of using .38 Specials.
The .45 is just a heckuva lot of fun to shoot even though it will cost a bit more for ammo.
I think either the .357 or the .45 will be effective against coyotes, even though I have not shot a coyote with either one.
To me, its a coin toss.
Millamber457
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ok , i'm a 45 colt fan , if you hand load you have a lot of options , and factory loads are about as reasonable as any other pistol round , at least around here .
I recently put a pair of smooth gunfighter grips on mine , and I am really pleased with the way they feel and shoot . I have smaller hands and they worked wonders for the way the gun points .
As far as a holster is concerned, how do you intend to carry it , and what material do you prefer ? I carry mine for hunting and prefer a western style belt and holster for mine , but there are so many choices , styles and materials to choose from . I would only tell you to find one your comfortable with , and get the best quality holster of that style that your budget can afford .
I recently put a pair of smooth gunfighter grips on mine , and I am really pleased with the way they feel and shoot . I have smaller hands and they worked wonders for the way the gun points .
As far as a holster is concerned, how do you intend to carry it , and what material do you prefer ? I carry mine for hunting and prefer a western style belt and holster for mine , but there are so many choices , styles and materials to choose from . I would only tell you to find one your comfortable with , and get the best quality holster of that style that your budget can afford .
Ohen Cepel
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I would go with the .357. 45LC is great but pricier to feed.
bannockburn
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I have an older model Vaquero in .45 Colt and just feel that the cartridge goes perfectly with the gun.
Flash!
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45 Colt is the best for this gun...... especially if you reload to keep your ammo costs down...... I have the new vaquero with birdhead grips. I was really surprised that the kick of the 45 colt round is not as bad as I expected....quite manageable actually.
I've got the 4 5/8" barrel .357 in polished stainless, and I love, love, love that gun.
People will say, rightly so, that the .45 balances better since there is so much extra material in the .357 version.
That said, I don't reload. I like the ability to get a wide variety of ammo for my needs. Mine shoots point of aim at 15 yards with most loads which is probably as far as I would pop off a shot with a handgun. It's my camp gun that either rides in my pack or truck or gets tucked into a shoulder rig on a hike where I feel a full size revolver is necessary.
I love single actions for outdoor duty because they are so robust and I shoot them more accurately. I rather prefer the non-adjustable sights on the NV over my BH simply because they can't get bumped and buggered. I generally pack a box of 50 rounds of misc load out. Usually 6-12 .38+p, 6 snake shot, and the rest .357 soft points.
I DO plan on getting a .45 if ever start reloading, but right now, I just won't get nearly the performance out of high dollar/harder to find CAS powderpuff loads in .45 Colt over the .357.
Edit to add: Also keep in mind that the .357 version of this gun is a TANK. To my knowledge, and please take it with a grain of salt like all things on the internet, there aren't the restrictions of firing hotter rounds through the .357 that there are with the .45 Colt version. The .45 is plenty tough, but you don't want to shoot "Ruger Only" loads through them. They are quite a bit thinner and lighter in build than the Black Hawk. The .357, though, it's pretty doggone robust all over. Probably not Black Hawk strong, but it's a chunk of steel to be sure.
People will say, rightly so, that the .45 balances better since there is so much extra material in the .357 version.
That said, I don't reload. I like the ability to get a wide variety of ammo for my needs. Mine shoots point of aim at 15 yards with most loads which is probably as far as I would pop off a shot with a handgun. It's my camp gun that either rides in my pack or truck or gets tucked into a shoulder rig on a hike where I feel a full size revolver is necessary.
I love single actions for outdoor duty because they are so robust and I shoot them more accurately. I rather prefer the non-adjustable sights on the NV over my BH simply because they can't get bumped and buggered. I generally pack a box of 50 rounds of misc load out. Usually 6-12 .38+p, 6 snake shot, and the rest .357 soft points.
I DO plan on getting a .45 if ever start reloading, but right now, I just won't get nearly the performance out of high dollar/harder to find CAS powderpuff loads in .45 Colt over the .357.
Edit to add: Also keep in mind that the .357 version of this gun is a TANK. To my knowledge, and please take it with a grain of salt like all things on the internet, there aren't the restrictions of firing hotter rounds through the .357 that there are with the .45 Colt version. The .45 is plenty tough, but you don't want to shoot "Ruger Only" loads through them. They are quite a bit thinner and lighter in build than the Black Hawk. The .357, though, it's pretty doggone robust all over. Probably not Black Hawk strong, but it's a chunk of steel to be sure.
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.
CraigC
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The .44Spl.
horsemen61
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Any caliber is a good one in a new vaquero
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.
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.
The simple answer. BOTH. 357 and. 45 colt. Buy both. that said, if you do not reload, get the. 357 and shoot. 38s. I own a 5.5" in 45 colt and a 3.75" in 45 colt with a birds head grip. The 4 7/8ths is next I guess. It will be a great starter.
farm23
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Big holes are good. I would go 44mag but 45lc would be ok to.
cpt-t
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45 LC, I have had a long term love affair with that caliber since I was a child. And I turned 70 last OCT. I guess I will be plaqued with it for ever. But I could sure do a whole lot worse, the way I look at it. A Old or New Vaquero and a 45 LC round are just made for each other, or at least that is the way I see it.
ken
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Dudemeister
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You're buying a "cowboy" gun, so get a classic cowboy load.
When is the last time you hear someone in a western referring to his 357's or even 38's? But I'll bet you have heard them talk about their 45's.
When is the last time you hear someone in a western referring to his 357's or even 38's? But I'll bet you have heard them talk about their 45's.
hAkron
Member
Interesting discussion. The ruger Blackhawk is 'in the style' of the Colt SAA, for which the 45 Colt was developed...but the vaquero was itself designed around the blackhawk in 357...so the 357 is actually more historically accurate for the vaquero.
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Snubshooter
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First choice would be the .357/9mm convertible. Cheaper to feed and more options. Also when you get a convertible, in any caliber, the actions are better than the single caliber guns because a real,live smith fits both cylinders to the frame and tunes the action. I would be open to the .45lc/.45acp for the same reasons.
Dudemeister
Member
Since shooting costs seem to be a big consideration, then I would strongly encourage the OP to pick up another hobby, reloading.
Whether you're shooting .45, or 357, or .38, reloading is the only way to feed the hobby without going to the poor house.
In my neck of the woods, .38SPL reloads go for about $160-180 for a box of 500, and .45LC goes for $30-35 for a box of reloads and $40-45 for factory cowboy action ammo, IF YOU CAN FIND IT IN STOCK.
Reloading it (.45LC), costs about $0.15 a round, so about $7.50 a box. .38 Special is about $.12 a round, or $6 a box.
Bottom line, if you want to shoot in today's economy, learn to roll your own.
Whether you're shooting .45, or 357, or .38, reloading is the only way to feed the hobby without going to the poor house.
In my neck of the woods, .38SPL reloads go for about $160-180 for a box of 500, and .45LC goes for $30-35 for a box of reloads and $40-45 for factory cowboy action ammo, IF YOU CAN FIND IT IN STOCK.
Reloading it (.45LC), costs about $0.15 a round, so about $7.50 a box. .38 Special is about $.12 a round, or $6 a box.
Bottom line, if you want to shoot in today's economy, learn to roll your own.
WestKentucky
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327 federal magnum. Good luck finding one.
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