Ruger New Vaquero vs Colt SAA clone

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albertacowboy

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I am considering a Ruger New Vaquero 5.5 inch-.45 Colt blued for purchase as a plinker-no cowboy action. I had a Cimarron 5.5 inch .45 Colt 15 years ago, and the quality was not great. The hammer nose would dig filings out of the hole in the frame, as there was no recoil plate as would be found on a real Colt, and then jam the cylinder after about 3 5-round cycles. I know the Ruger lacks the romance and the 4 hammer clicks, but it strikes me as a better-made product than the Italian clones. Does anyone have experience re quality with the Ruger New Vaquero or the current-production Uberti or Cimarron clones? I would still like a brand-new Colt SAA, but it will take a while to save the dinero.

All info welcomed.

Happy trails, Albertacowboy
 
i've got the NM Vaquero in .357. They're pretty solid shooters. There's no half-#### like the true Colt SAA and it uses a transfer bar safety. You can load the gun with the hammer down and the cylinder is not free-spinning ie if you miss extracting a spent case, you need to rotate the cylinder a full revolution. There a several mods that can get you the free-spin cylinder and the half-####. The trigger is nice and crisp 3.5lb.

If you really want something closer to a true Colt SAA, you can check out the Pietta's. The'yre pretty solid shooters as well.

For a few $ more, I'd go for a factory tuned Uberti El Patron or Evil Roy or even a Taylor&Co.

If it's just plinking and the half-#### doesn't matter, the Vaqureo is hard to pass up.

Good luck.

Edit: Here's a couple good deals in the EE. http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1133170-Ruger-New-Model-Vaqueros
 
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The Uberti El Patron is VERY nice. smooth, not at all cheap feeling, and full C.O.L.T cocking, half ####, spinning cylinder.

I recently played with both the Vaquero and the El Patron, and when I get one, as much as I like my other Rugers, I will be getting the Uberti.

The Ruger does have the transfer bar so it can be safer if you are going to carry it around with 6 rounds in the cylinder, but just for plinking and fun, I really like the old style one better
 
I have a Uberti SAA 45 Colt and it is a great shooter,it is almost the same as the old Colts in terms of the mechanics so is easy to fix, not so much with the Ruger.
I would not rule out a Pietta SAA in 45 Colt as they are a respected Italian maker, never shot one but I have other guns by that maker and they are great.
I will include a picture of my Uberti SAA with the Antique finish:

 
I would say that your previous experience is the exception. Uberti has made perfectly good SAA clones for many a decade at this point. And if Pietta was a step down in times past I would say that has changed and that Pietta is now as good a gun as you'll find anywhere. A good number of us cowboy action shooters have used both Uberti and Pietta guns for many thousands of trouble free rounds. So more than likely you had a bad example that should have been serviced under warranty instead of being tolerated while it beat itself up.

My two Pietta 1873's have been exemplary in ever way since I got them about 5 years back. Both have seen likely up around 4500 to 5000 shots each at this point and only keep getting better and better.

Now having said that Ruger makes a lovely gun. You won't go wrong if that is the direction you want to go.

You don't say what sort of ammo you will want to shoot. Keep in mind that the fixed sight guns need to be matched up to one or at most two very specific loads. Anything else will not shoot to point of aim. For example you can work at finding a 125gn and 158gn combination of .38Spl loads that shoot to the same POA. But there isn't a hope in hell that you'll find a .357Mag and a .38Spl load that will shoot to matched elevations.

Even choosing to shoot one handed vs two handed affects the elevation of the POI. So you need to choose what style of hold you're going to use as well.

To avoid all this and allow setting the sights up to handle a wide variety of ammo you would be best off with considering one of the Ruger Blackhawk models. With the lumpy looking sights the guns don't look as sleek and classic but they are a lot more adjustable as a result.
 
x 2 with the Blackhawk recommendation. Good luck finding a new Colt SAA and as you wrote the old ones are very expensive. Romance? Plinking? I find when plinking I like something that will shoot just about anything. My favorite option if you can find it is old stainless Ruger Bisley Vaquero ( the 3 screw )in SS with 5 " barrel in 45 Long Colt. Rare, but solves the problems you mentioned and you will love it!! If you don't like Bisleys or Rugers and can afford more Freedom Arms Model 83 a fine SA revolver but again is more pricey.
 
7.5 to 8 inches is the true classic for me ;)

I won't buy a shorter one. They just don't look right.

For the OP. My Pietta was a fairly inexpensive gun, and it's nicely fitted. The only thing I don't like is the trigger, which creeps and creeps and lets go without any real sense of where the break is.

I like my Blackhawk. It's a solid piece and shoots amazingly straight. The transfer bar lends to a somewhat creepy trigger, but it does have a decent break.

I have a couple Uberti revolvers and I love them. Excellent triggers. Only issue is they do not shoot to POA. One is high and right, actually. Not a big deal for plinking.

If you're just plinking, go with any of them. The Blackhawk with the adjustable sights might be the best all around single action for informal shooting, though.

I've not had a vaquero and I don't intend to buy one. If I want a Ruger, I'll buy the Blackhawk. If I want a nostalgic single action, I'll buy a Uberti.
 
Melnibonean said:
Not to derail (too much), but what is considered the "classic" barrel length on these 1873 clones?
Click to expand...

7.5" was the original barrel length design for the Colt SAA and chambered in 45 Colt using blackpowder loads. It was shortened to 4 3/4" and 5 1/2" for a quicker draw for gunfighters and civilians. Eventually a sub 4" barrel model was released called the Sheriff or Banker model.

Ruger makes a really cool "Sheriff" model but we'll never see 'em up here...

5126.jpg


Ruger%20VAQ%20SS.jpg
 
The current Pietta & Uberti qualities are both excellent.

I'm not a big fan of the transfer bar and being able to rotate the cylinder without being on halfcock so I would recommend the clones. Either is a good choice.
 
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