New Old/New Vaquero

[yugorpk]

I picked up , or at least ordered, a new birdshead Vaquero in 44 magnum today. Yep. Looks like Rugers done a limited run of large frame birdshead 3 1/2" stainless Vaqueros in 44 mag. The small frame guns are nice and I have a few already but not everyone is a Colt SAA fan and I prefer the big Blackhawck grip and cylinder . Ive been trying to find a 45 Colt old model Vaquero SS birdhead for years because I usually load at 44 mag levels. . This is even better. Weird thing is they marked then New Vaquero and used the big frame.

 

[Old Fuff]

If it's a .44 Magnum they would have to use the large frame. I presume they would use the current "New Vaquero" mid-frame if it was a .44 Special.

 

[yugorpk]

I know I was shocked when I found out they did a run of them. It will complement my 4 5/8" and my 7 1/2" old vaqueros.nicely. Going to need a new holster.... with silver.

 

[CraigC]

Ruger really stepped on their wieners with this one. As if the whole Vaquero/New Vaquero debacle wasn't bad enough. Now we have a large frame .44Mag marked "New Vaquero".

Cool sixgun though but I'd have to change those checkered grips before shooting it with full loads.

 

[yugorpk]

Yeah. I'm looking for grips right now.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Ruger really stepped on their wieners with this one. As if the whole Vaquero/New Vaquero debacle wasn't bad enough. Now we have a large frame .44Mag marked "New Vaquero".

Yup. What are they going to call the next version? New and Improved Vaquero? Why the heck they didn't do something smart like they did with their standard 22 Semi-Auto; Mark I, Mark II, Mark III, is beyond me.

 

[bannockburn]

So let's see we have the original large frame Vaquero (or "old" Vaquero if you will), then the "new" smaller frame Vaquero and now a "newer" large frame New Vaquero!

Just a little bit confusing, isn't it?

 

[eldon519]

Has anyone ever shot one of those? How is the birdshead for recoil control? I like it but looks like it might be a handful.

Hopefully when yours come in, it will have better metal-to-wood fit on the grips. That is some of the worst I have ever seen.

 

[yugorpk]

Ive shot the old birdsheads in 45 colt with 340 grain 1400 ish fps loads. Nothing you'd want to try in a New Vaquero. I didnt think it was all that much to write home about but I'm not recoil sensitive .

The birdsheads all seem to have a funky grip fit for some reason. Part of it is that the front of the grip swells out a little and from side pics it looks like the grip doesnt go all the way to the edge but you are seeing the front swell of the grip frame. That pic up top is a stock pic of onee. I BELIEVE this is the one I'm actually getting...Could just be a little smeared up and oily but it looks like its going to take a little work with some simichrome to get the shine up.

 

[CraigC]

Ive shot the old birdsheads in 45 colt with 340 grain 1400 ish fps loads.

That load sounds like five-shot territory.

 

[yugorpk]

1400 may have been a bit of an exaggeration. 1250 more likely. In any case once yoou are past 1000 ft/bbs they all feel the same. I have shot some loads through a 45 oolt blackhawk that flat locked up the works. Those Ruger transfer bar sytems like a little grease every now and then.

Ive got one actual "new vaquero" with the small frame/cylinder I may trade off or sell just because I have this overriding feer that I'm going to put some hot loads in it some time and blow it up.

 

[Gary A]

I'd have to change those checkered grips before shooting it with full loads.

No kidding!

One of the things I like about the .45 acp bird's head is its mild recoil and ease of extraction of those stubby little cases. They usually fall out. Certainly less power though.

 

[Dr.Rob]

Not sure I would want to launch my favorite ammo (Prvi 300gr softpoint) for my 7.5 inch 44 mag Vaquero out of that but I like the looks of it.

 

[yugorpk]

So I got the birdshead vaquero and the grip fit was atrocious. Wasnt all that bad shooting full power 44 mags with the checkering though. I contracted a guy to build me some birdshead grips I have this firm belief that grips need to be fitted to the frame so I pulled the grip frame off and picked up a new grip frame from Brownells to use in the months the other one is gone. Spent a few hours today draw filing and making it fit and working on a preliminary 1200 grit sandpaper polish. Goes well with short barrel I think. Might be my new favorite Ruger. Maybe I'll finish polishing the thing one of these days when I get bored.

I do like the Montado hammer . Ive got a Bisley hammer Ive been meaning to put on one of my other Rugers so I pulled the gun apart while the grip frame was off and contoured the Bisley hammer to fit the Vaquero grip frame.

 

[bannockburn]

yugorpk

I like the look of the new grip frame, along with the Montado hammer.