Ruger Vacaro

[dodgestdshift]

I own a old model Ruger Vacaro with a 7 1/2" barrel 45 Colt caliber. I started shooting cowboy lite "spitball loads" and didn't have a problem. I decided to try the higher octane loads in Speer #13, and got very good results. The only fly in the ointment is recoil. I am familiar with handgun recoil (44 mag full house loads in a Redhawk) but the design of this gun hurts the hand. The trigger guard wraps my knuckle hard, and the butt of the gun (wood grips) rubs my hand hard. Has anyone solved this problem? Today, I used a glove and the problem diminished a lot, and I could probably use this method, but I would like to know if there is any "Pachmeyer" grips for a Vacaro. This would have to fill the gap between the trigger guard and the grip, and soften the butt of the gun as it slides during recoil. To make things even more difficult, I like the Single Action Army look of the grip, and would hate to lose that shape.

 

[MCgunner]

The Pachmayrs for the Blackhawk should fit. They worked very well on my Old Army, though I didn't get 'em for recoil reasons. I wanted something I could put in the dishwasher for BP clean up (stainless gun).

BTW, it's Vaquero. Get used to it. We'll all be speaking Spanish in 20 years.

 

[foghornl]

Some folks have put either the very round "Birds Head" or the longer "Bisley Hunter" grip frames on their Vaqueros. The Birds Head is supposed to more easily ''roll' in the hand, reducing felt recoil.

Not sure how that really rounded Birds Head grip would work for a long barrel Vaquero, but would certainly be a conversation starter. IIRC, Ruger didn't use the Birds Head on anything longer than the 4-5/8" guns.

 

[timothy75]

Shooting a bunch of elephant loads through the gun is just going to wear it out. Hunting loads are great but you'll only need one or two in a hunting situation. Power = Recoil plain and simple. Just remember a 250gr at 900-1000fps will kill anything in this country weather we like it or not. The Vaquero is a wonderfull gun and for that I would recomend a set from Ajax Grips. They look like hard ivory but their soft rubber. I have a set on a super blackhawk and they tame very stout loads easily. Plus they wont detract from the beauty of that gun. (please dont put black rubber grips on that piece)

 

[dodgestdshift]

Timothy:

Do the Ajax grips fill the gap between the trigger guard and grip? That's where the problem is.

I intend to use them as a woods carry load. But I don't need getting wrapped on the knuckles every time I shoot the gun.

 

[Poppy270]

Thats the reason I don't own a vaquero,couldn't stand that trigger guard,very uncompfortable.It's a good looking gun,but it just dosen't feel right.

 

[dodgestdshift]

Poppy:

Is the Vaquero trigger guard different from the Ruger Single Action Black Hawk?

 

[timothy75]

Both vaqueros and blackhawks have the same shape grip frame, but the vaquero frame is made of steel and the blackhawk is made of aluminum. No, the ajax grips dont cover the back of the trigger guard. Do standard loads hurt your finger also? If not I'd stick to them, otherwise the gun may not be right for you.

 

[Jim March]

If your hands are big enough, you might want to try a "pinkie under" hold, with the pinkie slung under the grip. This generally prevents knuckle-wack and gives you a way to get the same grip each time. Some pinkie-under specialists switch to either a SuperBlackhawk hammer or the even lower-slung Bisley hammer to reduce cocking stretch with a pinkie-under hold.

I've got the SBH hammer in my 357 New Vaq for exactly this reason.

 

[Wilmot_D]

Vaquero grips

I Have the same problems with the Vaquero grips. I am a regular shooter of a Ruger Super Red hawk 454 Casull Alaskan 300 Gr. Hornady fulley jacketed. So I am not bothered by recoil however the 45 Long Colts with a rather mild load (20 Grains of Blue Dot) the rough grip rub my hands sore and after about 25 to 30 rounds the trigger guard mashes my middle finger between the outer and the middle joint to the point that it gets uncomfortable to shoot. I have been searching the internet for the last 30 days trying to find a pair of Checkered walnut grips to no evil. Any suggestions would really be appreciated.
DW

 

[rcmodel]

Eagle "Gunfighter" checkered grips might help.

http://www.eaglegrips.com/gunfighter.htm


rcmodel

 

[cortez kid]

I've never shot any loads greater than the standard White box stuff. Have a great time shooting my 5" Vaquero. It's my personal favorite. It's got the Ruger faux ivory grips. Never hurt my hands. Now the Black hawks I have, that's a different story. The square grip will make you cry. But as I learned how to shoot , ie, pinky curl and a firm grip. I got my finger out of the way. My 7.5" stainless BH in .44 is the gun I want in my hands when I'm in trouble.
kid