Which Ruger single action .45 do I want?

[ScottsGT]

New Vaquero has "New Vaquero" stamped on the frame on the left side just under the cylinder.

 

[jondar]

Scott and McGunner - thanks. Mine has only Vaquero so I have the old one, for better or worse.

 

[bakert]

Not old, just a bit bigger and heavier. Nice to have with a .44 because those suckers do kick a bit regardless of what some say!!

 

[jondar]

Yes they do. I once traded with an older gent who had one of the first Ruger .44 Mags. IIRC it was made in 1957. Along with the gun was a box of the ammo he had purchased. Elmer Keith admitted this early ammo was way overloaded, I think it was Remington. Anyway when I fired it the gun rocked straight up and the hammer spur gouged the web of my thumb till it bled. Correct me if wrong but I think this revolver was built on the .357 frame. No wonder it rocked and rolled. This Ruger Bisley makes my Colt SAA look like a cap pistol.

 

[BluesBear]

but I have a Bisley in 44. Mag marked Ruger Vaquero... How can I tell if I have a new or old Vaquero>

There is no, nor will there ever be, a .44 Magnum New Vaquero.
Like the Colt SAA, it isn't strong enough.

The New Vaquero debuted in 2005. Anything older than that is a plain Vaquero. WHich debuted in 1993.

The New Vaquero has a lock in the gripframe, hidden beneath the stocks.

The New Vaquero has the detent ball to assist in aligning the chambers for loading.

The old Vaquero was built on the same size frame as a .44 Blackhawk.
The New Vaquero is built on the same size frame as the pre-1972 .357 Blackhawk.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Correct me if wrong but I think this revolver was built on the .357 frame. No wonder it rocked and rolled.

Blackhawks of that era came in two frames -- a .357 and a .45 frame. All .44 Magnums were built on the .45 frame, which later became the standard and Ruger dropped the .357 frame. They just brought it back as the "New Vaquero."

 

[KINGMAX]

I just got a new Bisley Vaquero in .45 Long Colt

During the past week I purchased a New Bisley Vaquero chambered in .45 Long Colt w/ a 5.5 in barrel. It feels great in my hand. I can't wait to shoot it. I hope it shoots as good as it looks, if so I will be double happy. It has great balance w/ the 5.5 in barrel. Does anyone know something about one. I paid $400, is that a bargin ???

 

[BluesBear]

Blackhawks of that era came in two frames -- a .357 and a .45 frame. All .44 Magnums were built on the .45 frame,

Actually there was no .45 Frame since Ruger didn't introduce the Blackhawk in .45 Colt until long after the frame size had been used for the .44 Magnum.

Just like S&W. The N-Frame was originally designed around the .44 Special cartridge.

Thankfully both companies overengineered their original products.

 

[Onty]

Important deference between stainless New Model Blackhawk and a blue one; on all stainless models ejector rod housing and grip frame are from stainless steel also, on blue ones are from anodized aluminium thus making them lighter guns. Also, blue Bisley has aluminium ejector rod housing.

All blue NM Super Blackhawk models have steel ejector rod housing and grip frame.

As for 45 S&W M25/625, here is that article; http://www.handloads.com/articles/default.asp?id=12