Handled a 'new Vaquero' today.Liked it!!

[SASS#23149]

any sixgun fans lurking here?
I looked at a blued .45lc New Vaquero in a gun shop today,and the new slim,trim design is long overdue from Ruger for us cowboy action shooters.The Italian clones were my choice for a long time because of their Colt-like feel,but the Italians had better take notice...this gun is NICE.And only 417.00 plus fees.
It pointed very naturally for me,and the action was new and the trigger ok.I"m sure they would break in just fine over time.
Is it a ginuwine colt??no.
I sit a fourth the price and still american made?YES.
THANKS,RUGER!!

 

[zahc]

What makes it different than the 'old vaquero' (which I have)?

 

[Preacherman]

From Ruger's press release:

The New Vaquero incorporates Sturm, Ruger’s slimmer pre-1962 “XR-3†style grip frame and a smaller cylinder frame with a unique reverse indexing pawl, which positively aligns the cylinder with the loading gate cutout for easy loading and unloading of cartridges. The New Vaquero also features a recontoured hammer and new hammer spring for the smoothest, easiest cocking ever. Other new features include a beveled cylinder for easier holstering, checkered “hard rubber†grips, and a crescent-shaped ejector rod head. The New Vaquero family will include both“color-case†blued and stainless steel models in .357 Magnum and .45 Colt calibers, with barrels lengths of 4 5/8â€, 5 1/2â€, and 7 1/2â€.

 

[fastbolt]

I've always been a Ruger SA owner, and always plan to be one.

I spent many enjoyable trips out into the forest and back hills toting Rugers along for some enjoyable plinking. I learned long distance revolver shooting with some of my father's older Rugers. The first handgun I bought on my own, the day I turned 21, was a Ruger .44 Magnum. I'd already been given a 4 5/8" Ruger (3-screw) convertible .357/9mm by my father.

A Vaquero has been on my wish-list for a while, and it's been working its way up the list. I think after I get a stainless Colt Government early next year, I may just have to handle one of the new model Vaqueros in .45 Colt ... although .357 Magnum has been a handy backwoods companion for me, too, especially in the shorter barrel length.

 

[Bill B.]

The new changes on the Vaquero sure do sound good! Are they going to offer both versions or is the old one dropped? Most of the shooters I used to shoot CAS with went with the Eagle Gunfighter grips to slim the grip and it did make for a more "Colt" like grip even though the guns weight was still quite a bit heavier than the Colt. Ruger makes a very, very good SA in the Vaquero!

 

[snubby]

Does anyone know whether the Vaquero can handle the +P 45 LC loadings that Corbon puts out? I'm considering the Blackhawk for that reason, but think the Vaquero might be a handier woods gun, if up to the heavy stuff.

 

[JNewell]

No, if you put the blah blah blah on CB's website together with the info on the Ruger website, you'll come to the conclusion that CB would not recommend firing the .45 Colt Magnum loads in the new Vaqs, which are built on a mid-sized frame and not chambered for .44 Mag.

People are going to do this, however...

If you want a Vaquero that will be safe with the "Ruger & T/C" or similar loads in the manuals, and equivalent factory ammo, you should probably buy that Vaq now, because the factory has already stopped making them and what's in the supply line is all there's going to be. It looks like they'll still be making the .45 Colt Blackhawk on the .44 Mag SBH frame, though, so if fixed sights aren't a must-have, you'll still have the Blackhawk option.

 

[Cosmoline]

I believe they are also being made in .357 Mag., which is a good option for those who want the smaller frame size with magnum force.

 

[P. Plainsman]

And since the New Vaq's cylinder is large enough to encompass six fat rounds of .45 Colt (albeit with thinnish walls), it should fit six .357 holes with plenty of cushion to spare, which will permit the use of feisty loads. Obviously we'll have to wait and see what the Ruger manual says, but I suspect folks will have a pretty free hand in loading the .357 New Vaq.

I'm going to start with a blued .45 Colt, however, in 5.5" or 7.5" barrel. Rawhide!

 

[Dienekes]

Just curious as to what it is people need to shoot with the .45 that, say a 250 grain Keith SWC at about 900 fps won't handle.

Maybe it's the same syndrome that has people driving diesel pickups to urban Wal-Marts. You gotta be ready.

Personally I think a people-sized Vaquero is a heckuva good idea. Not that I am going to dump my Blackhawk convertible which has become an excellent shooter with .45 ACP (another wimp load). If I want a slick handling SA I can always haul out the 1882 Colt SAA and load it up with the anemic 40 grains of black powder.

 

[fastbolt]

Yeah, I have a "new model" 4 5/8" convertible Blackhawk with .45 Colt & .45 ACP cylinders that is a very nice handling, accurate field gun. 4 5/8" has always been my favorite barrel length for Ruger SA revolvers.

While we used to "magnumize" .45 Colt handloads when I was younger, I haven't felt the need in many years. There are some decently potent .45 Colt loads within the bounds of reason & sanity.

My .357/9mm convertible Blackhawk has provided me with many hours of pleasurable shooting, too, especially in the back country ... although the 9mm cylinder gets very little use.

I might have to get one in each caliber, I suppose ... again.

 

[tulsamal]

If you want to read about all the differences and see a bunch of photos, head over to gunblast and read his review. I love the idea of these guns and I'm going to get one of the 50th Anniversary Flattops for sure. I'm tempted by a new Vaquero but I would really prefer something other than _another_ .357 or .45 Colt. Wouldn't this be a great chance to bring out a long requested wildcat? Ruger could get together with one of the ammo companies and introduce the .41 Special. I would buy at least one for sure! (If that's impossible for some reason, let's at least get .44 Special!)

http://gunblast.com/Ruger-NewVaquero.htm

Gregg

 

[Gunnutz13]

My Vaquero

I own a Ruger Bisley Vaquero with a 5 1/2 " barrel in stainless steel, chambered in .357 magnum. I liked the fact that I could shoot the cheaper .38 wadcutters when just punchin paper...yet had the magnum power at my disposal should I need it. It resides in a "Texas Gunslinger" rig with a beautiful dark brown finish, single holster, 18 bullet loops, and leg tie down for quick draw practice. I'm gonna look into CAS in the Pennsylvania area as soon as the holidays are over...here's the rig makers' address:

Texas Gunslinger
PO Box 171861
Arlington TX 76003-1861
1-877-668-4440

http://www.texasgunslinger.com/

price for my rig was $129.95 & s/h
I highly recommend his work...

 

[Kramer Krazy]

Just picked up a used 2001 Vaquero in 357 Mag and stainless for $275 "out-the-door" from a local pawn shop. Thing looks like new. I haven't shot it, yet, but am looking forward to it. Looks to be a pretty well made firearm. I've never had an interest in this type of revolver, or most revolvers in general, but this one just beckoned for me to buy it. They put the gun on display the day I first walked into the shop and then after looking at it for three days in a row, I bought it. I think I'll shoot it on Monday. I can't wait.

 

[ScottsGT]

I sold my Vaquero because all of the "legaleze" crap stamped on the side of the barrel. Last thing I want is some gun mfgr. telling me how to be safe with a gun, over and over and over....
I bought the gun because Dad has a Colt series I .45 that I will never see, my brother was smart enough to name his kid after Dad, so the gun goes to my nephew. And I'm the &@*! gun collector in the family :banghead: After fondling it for a few weeks, I got tired of all the crap stamped into the barrel and realized I was not as happy with this gun as I thought. I guess I need to look into one of the Italian jobs, or maybe a real Colt.

 

[Mannlicher]

I picked up a Bisley Vaquero last summer, in .45 Colt. It is fairly trim, but I have to say, I am looking forward to getting one of these new, smaller ones. I guess I am about the last person left, that uses a SA for a CCW gun.

 

[SouthpawShootr]

I picked up a stainless Vaquero in .357 two days ago. It is the old frame and that's the way I wanted it. The shop had 2 .45 (one with an additional ACP cylinder - I was momentarily tempted, I'll admit). I already have a 45 Colt Vaquero that has had alot of work done on it and I don't think I'll be getting rid of it. I wanted the .357 b/c I shoot alot of .38s. I like the idea of grips and other accessories fitting both guns, otherwise I probably would have went with one of the very nice Uberti guns in the case and left the Rugers to collect dust.