Ruger Vaquero questions

[Dimis]

i recently aquired a vaquero and had a few questions
its a SS .357 with 5"+ barrel


how do i tell if its a new vaquero or an old one?

ive seen vaqueros with the bisley hammer (which i like very much) if i purchase a bisley hammer will it fit the vaquero without smithing?

i found that power custom makes a free spin pawl and half cock hammers are these products anygood?

is there any place to get a birds head grip frame and is it just that simple to replace the grip frame and grips to change the style?

thanks in advance

 

[madcratebuilder]

how do i tell if its a new vaquero or an old one?

The frame well be stamped "Vaquero" or "New Vaquero"

ive seen vaqueros with the bisley hammer (which i like very much) if i purchase a bisley hammer will it fit the vaquero without smithing?

You have to remove metal from the back side of a Bisley hammer to get it to fit a non Bisley frame. As far as sear fit it may or may not be a drop in, I've seen both drop in and file to fit.

i found that power custom makes a free spin pawl and half cock hammers are these products anygood?

It's a quality product, kind of spendy. The free spin can be a DIY mod that cost $1.

is there any place to get a birds head grip frame and is it just that simple to replace the grip frame and grips to change the style?

You can buy oem or aftermarket BH grips, they do require fitting to the frame for width.

This is a aftermarket brass birdshead grip with a Bisley hammer on a anniversary NMBH.

Before.


After

 

[BlkHawk73]

Quote:
ive seen vaqueros with the bisley hammer (which i like very much) if i purchase a bisley hammer will it fit the vaquero without smithing?
You have to remove metal from the back side of a Bisley hammer to get it to fit a non Bisley frame. As far as sear fit it may or may not be a drop in, I've seen both drop in and file to fit.

is there any place to get a birds head grip frame and is it just that simple to replace the grip frame and grips to change the style?
You can buy oem or aftermarket BH grips, they do require fitting to the frame for width.

The hight of the "ears" is a common need to have touched with files too. Not really hard, just tedious. Then of course final polishing or blueing is needed.

You can also remove material from the hammer slot on the grip frame itself. 6 of 1, 1/2 dozen of the other.
Now...with the NV's if it has the internal locking system, you'll also need to purchase a new hammer strut, hammer spring and the strut support along with the trigger retaining pins and grip locator pin.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I bought an original Bisley Vaquero in .45 Colt a while back and I can tell you it's a great revolver.

 

[Dimis]

thanks for all the info guys

madcrate any info on that cheap free spin mod would be greatly appreciated
and your blackhawk looks great

btw mine is an old vaquero according to the fancy distinquishing marks lol (i shoulda seen that one coming)

is there anything i should know about the old models?

 

[ArchAngelCD]

is there anything i should know about the old models?

Considering it's an original Vaquero and not a New Vaquero you can fire those "Ruger/TC Contender Only" loads in it. (not that I know why you would) Other than that, it's just a very good SA revolver that's slightly larger and heavier than a Colt SAA revolver.

 

[Dr.Rob]

New Vaquero you can fire those "Ruger/TC Contender Only" loads in it. (not that I know why you would)

Because you can? Those old models are pretty tough hombres.

 

[Sport45]

Considering it's an original Vaquero and not a New Vaquero you can fire those "Ruger/TC Contender Only" loads in it.

But his is a .357mag Vaquero. The "Ruger Only" business really only applies to the .45Colt models.

That said, his Vaquero should nicely handle any published .357mag load he can find.

 

[gb6491]

...any info on that cheap free spin mod would be greatly appreciated...

Making Your Own Free-Spin Pawl

I'm a fan of the Vaquero in all three grip configurations; my "Three Amigos!":



Regards,
Greg

 

[Dimis]

HAHA GB you realize your final birds head vaquero is the reason i started this project in the first place lol

thats exactly the picture i found online and started thinking "man i want a birds head grip and a bisley hammer"

oh the irony lol

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Those are 3 very nice revolvers you have there GB, really!!

 

[millertyme]

Nice engravings. I have an older Vaq that I would love to get some started on.

 

[SleazyRider]

Forgive the slight digression ...

But I was wondering, assuming the barrel lengths are identical, would the Ruger Bisley, Ruger Vacquero, and Colt SAA all fit the same holster? I ask this question because I'd like to get into cowboy action shooting with a pair of Ruger Vaqueros (.38), and wonder if they'd fit my Colt SAA holsters (.45). I'm assuming the frames of the Bisley, Vaquero, and SAA share the same dimensions, with the difference being in the grip. True?

 

[gb6491]

ArchAngelCD and millertyme,
Thanks

But I was wondering, assuming the barrel lengths are identical, would the Ruger Bisley, Ruger Vacquero, and Colt SAA all fit the same holster? I ask this question because I'd like to get into cowboy action shooting with a pair of Ruger Vaqueros (.38), and wonder if they'd fit my Colt SAA holsters (.45). I'm assuming the frames of the Bisley, Vaquero, and SAA share the same dimensions, with the difference being in the grip. True?

The New Vaquero and it's Bisley variant should fit fine in a Colt SAA holster as they are closer dimensionally to the SAA than the older slightly larger Vaqueros. That said, the older Vaqueros generally work fine in generic SAA holsters; form fitted holsters may be problematic. The Vaqueros and their Bisley variant do indeed share the same frame (within the same Vaquero <> New Vaquero family trees).
Regards,
Greg

 

[SleazyRider]

Thank you, sir.