Ruger Opinion

[josiewales]

I have been wondering if I should get a ruger vaquaro or a Gp100.
My brother has , And I have shot it, a vaquaro and I love it. Question what is your opinion for a ranch pistol?


Thanks
Josey

 

[Coyote3855]

Get what you love. I shot Vaqueros in CASS for years. For ranch use, I'd opt for a .45 in the 4 3/4 barrel for portability. .45 ammo is expensive unless you reload. Ammo cost would be a good reason to consider the Vaquero in .357. Either caliber will handle anything you need it to do.

 

[DTesch357]

Can't go wrong with a Ruger.

 

[BCRider]

Two very different styles while still being revolvers.

Would the fixed sights be a problem for you? Are you willing to adjust the front blade to work with the stronger ammo than the light cowboy rounds that it comes set up for shooting? I'm not thinking about max power hand blasters here. Just some normal pressure loads for .45Colt or .38Spl instead of the lighter cowboy action loads.

If the idea of taking a file to the front sight blade bothers you then perhaps a Blackhawk would be a better option due to the adjustable sights.

Of course the GP100 has adjustable sights as well.

 

[josiewales]

Thanks alot.

 

[Frank V]

For a ranch gun, I'd get the Ruger New Vaquero. They are a very good gun, reliable, accurate, near the Colt in size & weight, a little stronger than the Colt (not a lot, but a little), And you can carry 6 safely.
I'd go with the New Vaquero.
Frank

 

[Lawdawg45]

I have been wondering if I should get a ruger vaquaro or a Gp100.
My brother has , And I have shot it, a vaquaro and I love it. Question what is your opinion for a ranch pistol?


Thanks
Josey

Personally, I'd look for an old model Vaquero. The frame is beefier (is that a word?) and it will handle the +P+ ammo. If fixed sights are a problem, then look at a Blackhawk.

LD

 

[22-rimfire]

Either is a good choice. So it depends on whether you feel you will be more comfortable with a double action or single action revolver. Honestly for me, it would make no difference what so ever in my usage. If you were talking about a 22, I'd choose the DA every time.

 

[badhabit]

If it is a Ruger you can't go wrong GP 100 is a great gun I love mine and I have 10 different Ruger pistols they love hot loads no fear.

 

[Kosh75287]

Both will do the same job, though in different ways. Ask yourself the likelihood that you might have to make a longer shot (say, over 50 yards) with your pistol. Hits at longer distances can be made with both, though I find it easier to do with out-of-the-box .357 ammo than with .45 Colts. Handloads change this equation, somewhat.

 

[tschmittel]

A name like Josiewales, how could you get anything but a single action.

 

[BossHogg]

A name like Josiewales, how could you get anything but a single action.

My thought's exactly.

 

[bannockburn]

As others have already posted: do you prefer SA or DA in your revolver? The Vaquero has a certain historical uniqueness to it; while the GP-100 is also more than capable (and slightly more versatile with adjustable sights), for use around the ranch. Can't go wrong with either one in .357. Maybe even consider adding a Ruger Blackhawk into the equation, along with the other two. Just thought I would make the choice even more interesting for you!

 

[Trad Archer]

I would go whith the one that fits your hand the best.

 

[Stainz]

I like the ability to just 'squeeze the trigger' when I need a protective revolver. I would choose a DA-capable revolver - and the GP100 is a fine one. If SA is your choice, I'd consider a Ruger Blackhawk in either .45 ACP/Colt or .357 Magnum/9mm - their so called 'convertible' revolvers, admittedly of limited availability. They have two cylinders - the first one will shoot .45 ACPs - any power level/bullet combo - without moonclips. When you need it, you have a .45 Colt cylinder. With the other version, you have .38 Special & .357 Magnum or, slap in the other cylinder, and shoot up 9 mm. Both are blued - with adjustable sights.

I bought the .45 version, some years back (~'98) to shoot up a left over stash of .45 ACPs from my G21 ownership - which it did. Somewhere along the line, I had to try .45 Colt 'cowboy' loads. Oops. 2,700 empties in bags - and I started reloading .45 Colts - 11/02. A new hobby was born. Be forewarned. Once a Ruger aficionado, I soon morphed into an S&W nut.

Stainz

 

[badhabit]

Got my gun - reloading bug from my late dad. he was a wheel gun guy true and true. Of all the pistols he had & now I have, his all time favorite was the convertable 357-9mm 4 5/8 " barrel and it has stood the test of time.

 

[snakeman]

I like both but for a ranch pistol I would go with the blackhawk. I carry my handgun everywhere on the ranch all the time and it has paid off on more than one occasion. I carry a rossi 357 or a ruger single six and every time I have shot anything with either one of them has been in single action mode because I can draw and aim and place the shot more smoothly and accurately in single action than i can in double action mode.

 

[whalerman]

Why would or did Ruger go to a lighter frame Vaqero?

 

[snakeman]

To appease the cowboy action crowd. An easier handling more traditional frame seems to be preferred by competitors. I have handled one right next to a blackhawk and if it weren't for the blackhawk's adjustable sights, I would go with the vaquero because it just feels more natural to me.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Personally I'd go with the GP100. I think DA/SA revolvers are much faster and more useful than any SA. True, you can get really fast with SA's, but I don't have anywhere to relode right now, so that kind of volume and practice is cost prohibitive for me.

SA are almost a novelty to me now. Fun on the range, beautiful to collect, but for a working mans gun, I want a DA/SA revolver, not a SA only. JMHO

Good luck.

 

[badhabit]

One Shot

I'm a fan of semi guns also, and double actions too. But not being on CSI or living in miami I feel confident in my ability to get the job done in one shot as to not injure any other in that area. I do get it. I am not a cop and don't wish to send lead down a busy street. I have shot rapid and timed fire events since I was 12, fun but,
I wish to keep it at the range.

 

[ClemY]

I confess I am one of those somewhat eccentric people who has examples of Rugers in NMBH and GP100, so I like both. In the past I had a couple of Vaqueros, but I was never happy with them. I really prefer sights that I can not only see, but adjust with a screw driver and not a hammer and file. I have also found the 9mm spare cylinder on one of my .357s is actually useful. It seems to shoot pretty well with at least CCI Blazer stuff. I was frankly amazed. I didn’t expect that.

 

[loadedround]

Love Rugers also. Why not save up and buy both? JMHO!

 

[Dnaltrop]

Good thread...

There's a lightly used Blackhawk convertible .45 at the LGS right now that's on my short list. Inexpensive enough that I might be able to squeeze in a RIA 1911 or that used Calico as well and still stay in my Budget this spring.

My Sister is the Ruger shooter in the family at the moment, and she's had a love affair with her .357 Redhawk for some time now. Her husband eventually is going to show me where to find Oregon hogs, prompting my need for a more solid wheelgun for the odd Hunting round.

I already load my own .45 colt, but had myself convinced that I'd need a .44 mag for the little bit of extra strength, until finding an article Mr Linebaugh wrote.

http://www.customsixguns.com/writings/dissolving_the_myth.htm

"The Ruger Blackhawks and Bisley models chambered for .45 Colt are approximately 80% as strong as the same Ruger chambered for .44 magnum. This means we can load the .45 Colt to 80% of the pressure of the .44 Magnum round and still maintain the 100% safety level. 80% of 40,000 is 32,000.

To check our findings we again turned to H.P White Labs and their findings paralleled ours. Ruger Blackhawks in .45 Colt caliber were destroyed in controlled test conditions at approximately 60,000 CUP pressure levels"

I don't think I'll ever load something hot enough to approach his tests, but a very good read for Ruger newcomers like us. I'll get a .44 later, but I can stay within my .45 caliber reloading for now.

 

[lopaka]

Ruger flattop 45 convertible

Can't resist putting my bit in.

I have a Ruger Lipsey's Blackhawk 45 convertible. It's a 5 1/2" barrel, in the smaller XR3 frame, adjustable sights.

I've shot a whole bunch of 45 acp and 45 colt of various loadings, up to the Buffalo Bore standard pressure heavy Keith 255 gr and sure do like it. With a range of loadings, the adjustable sights are a must for me.

I have a 4" GP100 as well and if I could have only one pistol, that would probably be it. But this mini Blackhawk is the one I shoot the most, carry the most, and hunt with.

To the OP, something like this might be a nice compromise.

Bob