Need help choosing big bore Ruger. 44 or 45

Which big bore Ruger

  • New Vaquero 45 Colt with long barrel (7 inch or so)

    Votes: 7 10.3%

  • Vaquero in 44 mag (4 inch)

    Votes: 3 4.4%

  • Stainless Vaquero in 44 mag with ivory grips (4 inch)

    Votes: 8 11.8%

  • Super Blackhawk 44 mag (7 inch or so)

    Votes: 50 73.5%
  • Total voters
    68
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C-grunt

C-grunt

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Ok so I am finally going to be buying my sought after big bore single action soon. I have a few choices at my local store that are all very close in price.

1 is a New Vaquero 45 Colt with about a 7 inch or so barrel (all barrel lengths approx, dont know exact length). The other three are Rugers in 44 mag. 1 is a very good looking stainless Vaquero with white (fake ivoy I think) grips and the turned down Bisley style hammer. It has a 4 or so inch barrel. 2nd one is a 4 inch blued Vaquero and the third is a 7 inch Super Blackhawk (I think. I didnt look at it closely but it had the squared trigger guard).

So given the choices its kind of a decision between the 45 and 44. I dont really hunt so I dont need the super 45 Colt loads that the New Vaquero isnt supposed to fire. But I like having the option. How is the bright stainless going to weather the elements when Im camping?

This gun will be used mostly for fun at the range and long range plinking. I decided to buy one after shooting 300 yard gongs with my friends Blackhawk 44 mag. Are the standard pressure 45 colts going to be able to do that as well as a 44mag?

44mag is a lot easier to find than 45 colt, but I will be reloading either soon as I get some dies (sp?) for my Lee press.

I know you guys will say get which one I like, but I like all of them. Im really split here. Any of them will do well for me but I need some good expert advise here. 44mag or 45 Colt?
 
44 mag ammo is much easier to find than 45 colt ammo. Hence, my recommendation is the super blackhawk.
 
I second all the above. I would go with the Super Blackhawk in .44M,
ammo is cheaper with a lot more choices in bullet weight.
 
Those are actually several very different guns. So the question is "What do you want it for?"

If you are looking for a good gun for hunting, long range plinking, etc. then the Blackhawk is the obvious choice.

If you are looking for a "cowboy" gun, casual plinker, etc. then the Vaquero in .45 Colt is the obvious way to go.

Judging by a "mission" that includes target shooting and long-range plinking, the gun with the adjustable sights is the obvious one to buy.

A Vaquero in .44 Magnum, BTW, is a bit of an odd duck as far as I am concerned, but I'm sure there are people who love them...
 
Obviously, it a personal preferance thing, but----You said you're going to reload (obvious decision!), so ammo availability means nothing. Don't limit yourself to the 4 on this one guys shelf--there are several other options while staying in Ruger (another good choice). Personally, I greatly prefer the .45 Colt to the .44 Rem (I've had both). In a Ruger, you can load the .45 Colt to actually be stouter than than the .44 Rem Mag, and your long range shooting is not a problem. As others, I think the adjustable sight thing is important, i.e. stay away from the Vaquero. Have you tried a Bisley? Many folks like them, some don't. I suggest you try one. Of all I have shot, I personally like the Bisley (which is a Blackhawk) in .45 Colt, 7.5" barrel, best. But you may not. But I do suggest that you try one. A Vaquero looks kind of neat, but they really don't shoot nearly as well as a Blackhawk, be it a Bisley or a standard. I find the .45 Colt more versatile than the .44 Rem. Of course, someone will say "get 'em both, get 'em all"!
 
I just used my...

Super Blackhawk with Hornady 300gr. mag loads to bag a deer at @ 50 yd. This is gun season in Illinois! The Ruger is the best boomer in my bag for more than plinking. I have a 2x Leupold to aid my old eyeballs and it's still a rush to put one thru a moving target that is also tasty.:D
 
If you're talking long range shooting, and reloading, then a Blackhawk would serve considerably better than a fixed sight gun. That way, it's easy to get the point of aim and point of impact the same, so you're not trying to use kentucky windage at long ranges. You can also adjust the sights for other loads, which you can't with the fixed.

~~~Mat
 
Everyone's comments about the adjustable sights are right on. If you are talking about plinking and long range fun, adjustables are a necessity.

I'm a little confused about the guns you have listed. The new Vaquero and the Super Blackhawk I understand. Are the other two the original Vaquero? If so, they can handle the hotter loads, but they don't have the advantage of adjustable sights. I have an original Vaquero in .44 and .45 and they are great guns, but it took be quite a long time to find loads they liked and that they would shoot to point of aim at any distance.

If you are sure you want a .44 or .45, the obvious choice is the .44 Super Blackhawk. By the way, Rugers standard barrel lengths are 4 5/8", 5 1/2", 6 1/2" and 7 1/2". Not all barrel lengths are available in all calibers. If the squared trigger guard on the longer barreled Super Blackhawk bothers you, there is a version with a 4 5/8" barrel and round trigger guard. I have one and it is pleasant to shoot. It is my most used heavy handgun.

Unless you are committed to the .44 and .45, don't forget the Blackhawk in .357. Considering how you plan on using the gun, the .357 Blackhawk would be a lot cheaper to shoot in the long run, even if you reload.
 
Last edited:
The gun store opens back up on Tuesday and will be purchasing the gun then. Right now Im leaning strongly towards the SBH 44 mag. Also, Yes the other two 44s are original Vaqueros.

I looked at the Rugers in .357 and they have a couple there for good prices, but my heart is set on a big bore right now. I have a 3 inch SP101 right now and I will buy another longer barreled .357 in the future.

So Tuesday night I will post up some pics of what I ended up choosing. Im buying it before work and bringing it in to show the squad so pics will have to wait until late night.

Thanks for all the replies and help as always guys.
 
I could, then again the 400 dollar budget is the problem.

I had a roommate back in the Army who had one in .480 Ruger and it was a VERY nice cannon...I mean revolver.
 
Good question, tough decision!

I once made the stupid remark that I would never own a .44, then my son bought a .45 colt (Ruger of course) and I began looking at the .44 vs .45 and was completely amazed at what I found. I will not go into great detail here, but I decided on the .44 which my wonderful son bought for me. I have never had a bad day with my .44 at the range. It is a great revolver.

The only thing that bothers me is I have to eat my words about never having a .44 every time I look at it. Now, I would not trade if for a .45 or anything else. Do not get me wrong, I would love a .45 now also, but not at the expense of my .44.

I suppose I am trying to say this, both are great rounds and either will make you a great revolver.
 
Why don't you hold out for a Blackhawk in 45 Colt with a convertible 45 ACP cylinder. If you are going to be reloading anyways, you can jack that 45 colt up to near 44 mag energies in the Blackhawk and ACP ammo is plentiful and cheaper for plinking.
 
I vote .45, but not in that New Vaquero. I'd also get a Bisley SBH grip frame so you can handle the recoil of those heavy loads, and it comes with a 7-1/2" barrel and adjustable sights. The 45 LC can be loaded to near .454 power, the 44 is, well, so generic ;-)
 
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