Single action Cowboy Revolver

[Cocked & Locked]

Cocked & Locked,

What a nice lookin' Ruger, those grips "make" the revolver! Shoot pretty good?

Yes it shoots great but a little high. With 255 grain hardcast lead or 250 grain Hornady XTP's (both over a healthy dose of 2400) it shoots cloverleaf groups 2" high at 20 yards.

I have the rear sight adjusted as low as it will go. I guess I need a shorter rear blade or file the existing one down some.

I've had earlier three screw Blackhawks, Super Blackhawks and old model Vaquero's and several of the New Model Blackhawks with the transfer bar. The latter ones are my preference.

I recently sold this .45 Vaquero. Nice SA, but I like the short Blackhawks better.

 

[Gary A]

Cocked and Locked - I like the short barrels the best also and of my single-actions, all are 4 5/8 except for one 5 1/2. I am picking up an anomaly, though. I just bought a 7.5 inch Blackhawk 45 convertible. I hope I like it and think I will in its place but I suspect it might be a bit of an unwieldy beast. It's a rare enough version I just had to get it though.

 

[snooperman]

What are you going to do with it?

For hunting I use the Ruger Blackhawk 357 magnum and the Ruger super Blackhawk 44 magnum. For just plain fun shooting I like my Colt SAA the best. Recently I bought a US Firearms for my grandson and it is well made and accurate.

 

[76shuvlinoff]

I have the Ruger 4 5/8 convertible in 357/38/9mm. I do not do competitions (except against myself) and I have not hunted with it but what a fun gun!

Paired up with my .357 1894c it's a great afternoon of plinkin' and plenty adequate to hold it's own in the line-up for HD.

 

[BullRunBear]

Gary A,

Like you I prefer the shorter barrel Blackhawks and new model Vaqueros, they sit so comfortably in the hand. But I've had a 7.5" Blackhawk convertable in 45 Colt for over twenty years and it is great. Not as unwieldy as you might think and capable of terrific accuracy. I have used it on steel targets at 100 yards. The gun is quite capable of hitting them even when I'm not (which is often enough). Also, the 45 Colt cartridge is great for reloading.

Jeff

 

[Styer1886]

I have had a few different revolvers, the one i have come to love is my BlackHawk .30 carbine. I liked the .357's, 38-40, 44, and 45. but it is something about that 30 that just is fun to shoot (unless some one moves in with a M1 carbine that is full auto, and you can't find any shells in the town you at)

Seth

go armed go well armed

 

[Dudemeister]

I'm surprised no one mentioned any of the Italian made replicas just yet. Here are mine, from left to right: Pietta 1851 Navy Percussion .44, Armi San Marco (EMF New Dakota) .45, Ruger Vaquero .45 and Uberti 1873 Cattleman .357

Granted the 1851 is not a really a SAA, but it's the precursor to the 1873 models, and very popular in Cowboy Action Events.

 

[garyhan]

When I had a similar jones, I went to the LGS specifically to buy a Ruger Vaquero. Looked over what they had, and came home with a Uberti Cattleman. Have never regretted it.

gary

 

[Fiv3r]

I just picked up a used but well cared for Blackhawk in .357. It's got a 6 (or is it 6.5"?) inch barrel, stainless steel, rosewood grips, and is just a beautiful chunk of steel.

I also shoot an 1858 Remington cap and ball (for cheap) and one of those cheapy .22 Plinkertons that have the look and heft of the SAA.

I felt I "needed" a practical SA revolver

 

[Gary A]

BullRunBear - thanks for that feedback on the 7.5 inch Blackhawk. I must admit I am quite anxious to pick it up and hope it will be in on Friday. I'm really looking forward to shooting it.

 

[goodtime]

"I'm jonesing for a Single-Action cowboy revolver. Any suggestions?"


Yes -- Buy one.

I have a bunch of Blackhawks, and they're hard to beat. Say no more about Ruger Blackhawks, they have plenty of witnesses.

I have a bunch of Ubertis, also. They're a different animal, but I will testify that all 4 of my Uberti Cattlemen, my one Beretta Stampede, and my one Cimarron Model P are all very good rovolvers with great fit, finish, function, and feel. They do improve immensely from the $8.00 wire-type trigger/bolt spring and the $12 reduced power main spring. Uberti quality and function is not the least bit suspect imho.

 

[bannockburn]

While I enjoy my Ruger Blackhawks immensely, I prefer the Uberti SAA's to the Ruger Vaquero. My Beretta Stampede has great mechanicals and a very nice overall fit and finish to it. Eventually I would like to get a nice set of grips for it; possibly birdseye maple or american holly if I can find them.

 

[snooperman]

I also have a Uberti 45 Colt and An Italian Pietta...

and both are excellent guns for the money, and the fit and finish is better than my Rugers. The pietta has the best action and trigger of the import guns I have.

 

[Leaky Waders]

I have an older stainless 4 5/8 vaquero with a free spin pawl kit, trigger spring kit, and hammer kit so it clicks 3 times.

I also have a colt saa that was prettied up by nutmeg.

Both are 45 long colt. I like them both. But, the Colt SAA seems less clunky. The new smaller framed vaqueros and clones should feel the same as a colt. But they will lack a pony, so it depends on how important that aspect is to you.

A Colt and true clone will have 4 hammer clicks and no transfer bar limiting you to five rounds.

 

[Red Cent]

I did not delve into the Super and all the mutations of the original Blackhawk. People are confused enough with the models. They still call the orignal Vaquero sized Blackhawk as the "New Model Blackhawk" and have attached the same title to the 2004 introduced NM Blackhawk. While not complete, which was intentional, I believe my statements about the Blackhawks described are factual.

From their introduction in 1953 to the intoduction of the Vaquero in 1972 and culminating in the 2004 Blackhawk, the best single action pistol in the world remains to be referred to as simply as the Blackhawk.

I have always found that owners of the Supers, Bisleys and Old Armies specify their particular model.

 

[CraigC]

I did not delve into the Super and all the mutations of the original Blackhawk. People are confused enough with the models. They still call the orignal Vaquero sized Blackhawk as the "New Model Blackhawk" and have attached the same title to the 2004 introduced NM Blackhawk. While not complete, which was intentional, I believe my statements about the Blackhawks described are factual.

Sorry but your statements are incorrect. All post 1973 Blackhawks are New Models and the vast majority of them are built on the large frame. The only exception is the 50th .357 and the new .44Spl's. These were new additions to the lineup, not a redesign of the whole product line. All other Blackhawks are built on the same large frame as the Super Blackhawk. Period. I don't know why you keep saying 2004, for the 50th .357 came out in 2005 and was the first mid-frame New Model.

As far as Vaqueros, there is the original large frame version, built from 1992-2005 and the New Vaquero, a mid-frame Colt-sized version built from 2005-present.

 

[Hammerdown77]

My real 4-click cowboy gun is a Cimarron Model P in .45 Colt. Great shooter, but had to go back to the factory to have the barrel turned, as the front sight was canted right making the gun shoot many inches left. I have several Ruger Blackhawks, and love them, but nothing handles and points like the original SAA.

Still, I'd like to get a Vaquero.

 

[_N4Z_]

I'm surprised no one mentioned any of the Italian made replicas just yet.

Mentioned my Model P on the first page of this thread, hello.

 

[jr4521]

I own a Ruger Super Blackhawk in .44 mag, 4 5/8 , I love it.

 

[Red Cent]

"The typical 3-screw Blackhawk (so called because of the three screws in the side of the frame) was a blued steel revolver built on a flat top frame roughly the same size as a Colt SAA.
Colt size
1953"Ruger’s first frame was the XR3. It was introduced on the Single-Six, same size as Colt SAA, marked “XR3.”
10% bigger than Colt. You cannot get a 1st gen Vaquero into a tight holster for a Colt SAA.
1972 "Redesign of the Old Model 1962/63 XR3-RED for the New Model to accommodate new trigger spring and safety transfer bar".
Colt size
2004 "The NEW XR3 style grip frame is very similar to the original Ruger Single Action, Colt SAA style, introduced in 1953".

 

[Red Cent]

"The Ruger Vaquero is a 6 shot single-action revolver manufactured by Sturm, Ruger based on the .357 Magnum New Model Ruger Blackhawk frame that was introduced in 1973".

"Two major variants of Vaqueros exist. The original Vaquero was marketed from 1993 until 2005, and was slightly larger than the Colt Single Action Army".

"The original Vaquero was built to safely fire higher pressure 45 Colt ammunition than the Black powder chamberings, having significantly thicker cylinder walls than other revolvers."


"In 2005, Ruger introduced the "New Vaquero" which incorporated a smaller frame, based on Ruger's XR-3 grip frame, making the pistol closer to the size of the Colt Single Action Army revolver of 1873. The New Vaquero will accept two-piece stocks made for the Colt Single Action Army."

"With the arrival of the New Model in 1973 the .357 Magnum Blackhawk joined the rest of the centerfire Rugers on the .44 Magnum-sized frame. The balance mentioned by Keith was gone."

".......the Anniversary Model has a true Flat-Top frame the same size as the original with no protective ears around the rear sight as well as the original grip frame size...........

 

[stanmo]

I like my US Firearms Sheriff Model in 45 Colt, 4 inch barrel. Has all the clicks and a sweet trigger. No I don't miss the ejector.

 

[CraigC]

Red Cent, I do not wish to get into a lengthy peeing contest over this and I'm not sure what point you're trying to make with your last two posts. Your initial post is still incorrect and I stand by my previous responses.

Your introduction of "generation" nomenclature is not common or accepted practice and only makes it more confusing for the uninitiated.

 

[Cocked & Locked]

healthy doses of 2400

As a a replay of post #26 (mine) I prefer the Blackhawk because of the "Ruger Only Loads" I can hand load for it.

I've had the Italian guns as well and they are nice and lovely to look at. My favorite was a Beretta Stampede Marshal .45 with the birds head grip and 3.5" barrel. It scored high in fit and finish.

The Blackhawk can perform out the muzzle in a way the others can't...just my preference. It all depends on what one wants to do with the gun I suppose.

 

[Red Label]

How about a Ruger Single Six for just having fun? Cheap to shoot.