Gaucho vs Vaquero

[wheelgun43]

Over the years I have come to enjoy shooting my single action Blackhawk more and more. It is really a joy to shoot and reloading ammo for it just adds to the fun. Now I am looking into getting another SA revolver. I have narrowed it down to either a Taurus Gaucho or a Ruger Vaquero. I am looking for input from you shooters who have had any experience with them. I am not considering price difference I know the Ruger is more expensive. All replies are appreciated.
Thanks, Gene

 

[ScottsGT]

Reading lately about Taurus, I'd shy away from them until they get their QC back in order. If you have a Ruger, you know the quality. I have two Ruger single actions, and love them.

 

[ZeSpectre]

I have two Taurus Gaucho's that I use for Cowboy action shooting. I'd LOVE to tell you how great they are but it was a rocky road getting to the point of having a good pair of pistols.

I ran a poll a while back over on the SASS webpage and the end result was pretty dissapointing where Taurus was concerned. Poor quality control and lots of absolutely unacceptable factory mistakes.

The guns that were good, were great! But it was an utter crapshoot as to what you'd get and factory repair was becoming an...adventure... with the Gaucho. Bottom line is that I -reluctantly- tell you to go with the Rugers

 

[Jim March]

The "Vaquero" is based on the same 44Mag-size frame you have now, and will feel similar. It can also take rockin'-hot loads same as your gun. If that's what you like, cool.

The Ruger "New Vaquero" is built on a new smaller frame, similar in size to the Colt SAA. The grip frame is also reduced likewise.

It is NOT as strong but it's very well built in terms of fit'n'finish. On average these appear to be better-made guns than any prior Ruger SA, showing good accuracy and fit. Ruger altered their manufacturing techniques a bit. Mine is a 357 with modifications:

Mine is getting slowly turned into a "street creature" CCW SA.

As you can see, a lot of parts from the previous larger frame series can swap over to the New Vaq, such as my SuperBlackHawk hammer. Other hammer/trigger group parts fit, and the entire grip frame can be swapped to Bisley, SuperBlackhawk, Bird's Head or XR3-RED (standard Blackhawk) as long as they're "new model" and you also swap the mainspring, mainspring strut and mainspring keeper.

Ruger also fixed the New Vaq cylinder bore alignment issue with the loading gate - the "click" now happens right as the bore lines up with the gate.

Base pins on the New Vaq are shorter but Belt Mountain is already making them. Grip support for the new smaller grip frame is already in evidence among several makers.

The Taurus Gaucho is "sorta the same gun" as the New Vaq, as it's also Colt SAA-sized and has a transfer bar safety. I believe the quality of the Ruger will be better and I know for damnsure that the possibilities for parts-swapping and tuning the feel of the New Vaq will greatly exceed the Taurus and the other transfer-bar SAA, the Beretta Stampede.

I would keep the gun I've got for high-power loads and get a New Vaq for fun.

 

[wheelgun43]

Thanks for the replies guys. I went to the gun shop this morning and handled both the Vaquero and Gaucho. Both guns were nice. The Taurus seemed lighter and narrower. The Ruger heavy and "tank" like, just like my Blackhawk. The case harding finish on the Taurus was so dark it looked liked it was blued. The Ruger on the other hand looked real nice. After reading your replies and the posts on other forums I will probably go with the Ruger. Just for camparison sake the price on the Ruger was $439 the Taurus was $379. I'll have to give this purchase a lot more thought
Gene

 

[Jim March]

The "New Vaquero" models like mine seem to be going for more money than the "old Vaqueros" (actually called just plain "Vaqueros").

Ruger should fire their whole marketing team for the term "New Vaquero" as a model. It should have been "Cowboy Vaquero" or anything else but "new" since all Ruger SAs since 1973 have been "new model" series.

So in case you don't get it yet: there's a Ruger critter out there that will look and feel a lot like the Taurus, 'cept it's better .

 

[Texfire]

I've got two Gauchos that I use for CAS. Both had problems with QC when they showed up to the shop and had to be sent back to Taurus for repair. However when they came back they had the sweetest trigger and action I've felt on a non-tuned factory gun. They've also been extremely reliable and I've shot hundreds of rounds through them. So I'll give them a cautious thumb's up. Check the function at the shop, and if they work then give them a shot.

On the other hand I've also heard nothing but good things from my pards who shoot Rugers about their guns, so it's really a matter of personal taste. I love the case-color hardening and the four click action on my Gauchos.

Tex

 

[Sistema1927]

I also have a pair of Gauchos in .45 that I use for CAS. They have very slick actions, and have held up very well.

 

[SouthpawShootr]

The case harding finish on the Taurus was so dark it looked liked it was blued. The Ruger on the other hand looked real nice. After reading your replies and the posts on other forums I will probably go with the Ruger.

Just remember that the color case on the Ruger isn't genuine color case hardening (according to Taurus' ads, their finish is real case hardening). It seems to be a quite delicate finish. Mine rusted on the blue colors in Ruger's so called color case finish. Didn't pit, but left white spots in the finish. I stored the gun in a humidity controlled safe with several other guns having high quality blued finishes close to it (most were older S&Ws with color case hardened hammers and triggers). Eventually, it bugged me so bad, I had the local gunsmith just reblue the whole gun, since Hamilton Bowen's real color case hardening would have cost nearly as much as I paid for the gun. Yes, I know I could have returned the gun to Ruger and had the finish reapplied for $25 (+ shipping at least one way), but I'll be damned if I'm going to pay to have that same sorry finish reapplied and have the same thing happen again. The gun is accurate and very well made. I even bought a stainless .357 Vaquero a couple years back and like it very much. But, the next SA, I get is going to be one of the Cimarron guns with that royal blue cylinder and barrel. I love it.

I have no experience with the Taurus offering. However, enough people complain about QC to give me pause. Especially since SA revolvers is uncharted territory for Taurus. I think it will take a while for them to get their house in order (assuming they're even trying).

 

[Jim March]

Yeah, Ruger's "fake color case" process is a bad joke.

The first version appears to actually attract rust. The second variation on the New Vaquero and possibly other later guns appears to at least hold up better but it's the one thing about my gun I could do without.

My gun's finish is a smoky gray all over with almost no blue or red. Looks OK but it's not even close to traditional.

My plan is, at the first sign of rust I'm going to strip and re-blue the whole thing.

 

[ReadyontheRight]

"Cowboy Vaquero"

I agree with you sentiment about Ruger's marketing, or lack thereof, but "Cowboy Vaquero" would mean "Cowboy Cowboy".

"Vaquero Potro" or "Vaquero Bayo" might have described the new model well.

Or perhaps "Vaquero Solo Accion Ejército"

 

[Dr.Who]

How about the Vaquero Amigo (SP?)? The Cowboy's Friend....

 

[Jim March]

You know, I knew years ago what "Vaquero" translated to. Went and forgot. Sigh.

"Vaquero Classic?"

"Vaquero With Big Nuts"...doesn't matter, *anything* would have been better.

What we've got now like like an old comedy routine:

"Hey, I bought a new Vaquero!"

"Cool"

"Yeah, it's in .44Magnum"

"Wait, they don't make a New Vaquero in 44Mag!"

"Sure they do...this one is brand new. Been on the dealer's shelf a few years, but it's still new..."

 

[rtl]

I lmust have lucked out with a 5.5" CCH Gaucho in .357. I bought it to be used as kind of a beater gun to carry doing chores and for lower elevation trail rides and it's been absolutely reliable and surprisingly accurate. I've taken coyotes, skunks, countless moles and field rats and even a few barn swallows in flight with snake shot. Almost bought another in .45 'til I too read of QC issues.

Because of that possible QC issue, between the two, as much as I like my Gaucho, at this time I'd go for the Vaquero.

 

[Texfire]

About the QC problems, I've haven't heard of a Guacho that has broken after functioning correctly. All the ones I've encountered and heard of seem to be final assembly problems that didn't get caught before being shipped.

Both of mine were lockup problems with the locking pawl failing, one where the cylinder didn't lock up totally when cocked, and the other where the cylinder would freespin when cocked. Both have run flawlessly since they came back. Not trying to excuse it, but put it in perspective.

Tex

 

[SwampWolf]

Re the case hardening vs. case coloring question, I'm wondering if it's even possible to case harden a cast frame?

 

[Gaucho Gringo]

My experience with my .357 Gaucho mirrors RTL's. No problems and I love that hammer and trigger feel.

 

[SouthpawShootr]

Re the case hardening vs. case coloring question, I'm wondering if it's even possible to case harden a cast frame?

From the Ruger Single Action Revolvers section of Hamilton Bowen's website (Bowen Classic Arms)

No. B450 Color case hardening A beautify, traditional finish for revolver receivers and loading gates. Also applicable to hammers (specify no. B451) and, in some cases, triggers. Does not include freight to Turnbull Restorations.

B450 $250
B451 $35

So, the answer is yes, but it is expensive (I understand the work is first rate, though).

 

[wheelgun43]

I too liked the action of the smooth trigger and hammer of the Taurus. But if I'm spending hundreds of dollars I want QC before it leaves the factory. I put a Wolf spring in the trigger of my Blackhawk which made it real nice. Could do the same for the Vaquero if need be. Didn't know about the poor case harding though, some what disapointing.
Gene

 

[gaucho1]

Speaking from vast personal experience........



Gauchos easily reduce vaqueros to tears simply by force of presence.

Hence the phrase vaquero...vaqueero often hear on the pampas.

 

[wooderson]

I've shot most of the big manufacturers (pops is a lazy cowboy shooter - loves the guns and the history, doesn't compete and doesn't dress up funny), though not extensively. His Gaucho was pretty good out of the box, but IMO, ugly as sin. The stainless looks like a toy cap gun. Maybe if I had grown up on the Lone Ranger... The various Ubertis had good feel, looked right and sounded right (Cimarron, Navy Arms and one other importer that slips my mind). The Old Model Vaqueros looked and felt stout - if I were keen to shoot hot loads of 45 Colt or .357 Magnum, I'd go there.

My favorite is actually a Navy Arms (Uberti) top-break. Long barrel, well-balanced and it just looks cool.

Can't really go wrong with any of them, but I'm looking hard at a US Firearms Rodeo for myself. Love the plain look, USFA quality is supposed to be top-notch, and you can get one at a gun show or off gunbroker for about $100 more than a New Vaquero.

 

[shu]

Yes, Ruger thoughtlessly presented us with an anomolous nomenclature. One of these days somebody's gonna blow their 45colt Newvaq up with a 'Ruger Only' load.

That said, I've got a Newvaq in 45colt, and I love it.

 

[Geno]

Gauchos & Vaqueros...why doesn't make a "Huaso"?

Gauchos, Vaqueros... They're both cowboys by different names. Why don't they make a Huaso?

Gaucho - cowboy (Argentina)
Vaquero - cowboy (Mexico)
Huaso - cowboy (Chile)

Psych!

Doc2005

 

[ZeSpectre]

Taurus makes the Gaucho, Ruger makes the Vaquero

They both reference cowboys, and both came about (as far as I know) because of the demand for SAA style firearms for Cowboy Action Shooting.

 

[Geno]

Sorry, I was Not Specific Enough.

I was referring to Spanish vocabulary. My mistake. I thought people would catch it. I used to live in South America when I was a Spanish teacher.

Doc2005