Ruger Vaquero® opinions please...

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ruger22

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Ruger Vaquero® opinions please...

What is your opinion on the Ruger Vaquero.

I want just a fun gun to shoot a few hundred rounds a week.
May try cowboy action one day.

What caliber?
What barrel length?
 
Since a vaquero isn't authentic anyhow, might as well go with a cheap caliber like .38SPL. They are good, reliable guns - perhaps the most so for single-action six shooters, but they are NOT representative of any vintage gun. 100% modern.

If that doesn't bother you, by all means get one - they are a good gun.
 
The Vaquero is a good accurate reliable gun. I shoot the Blackhawks for cowboy shooting only because I had one and needed to buy only one more. The Blackhack has adjustable sights so it puts me in the modern class.

The calibre issue is sometimes a personal rather than logical issue. For cowboy action shooting I would choose .38 special. The brass is cheap and if you loose cases you don't care. (You typically would have a rifle in the same calibre. Ejected rifle rounds get lost.) The recoil is lighter than a 44 or 45 so you should be able to shoot a little faster.

On the bigger bullet side. It is fun to shoot a big heavy bullet every so often. If you have other revolvers in 357/38 then why not get a 44/45 for something different. If you don't have a 38 yet then I would say there are a lot of good reasons for that choice.
 
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Should mention, I shoot .45LC because it's period, authentic, and cool. But if I shot Vaqueros (I don't - I shoot 1873 SAA's), I would shoot .38SPL. It makes more sense for the reasons stated above.
 
Just a note, since nobody else has mentioned it: when looking, you need to be aware of the difference between the "New Vaquero" - i.e. as currently produced ... smaller frame etc., much closer to a Colt SAA in fit and "feel" - and the "old" Vaquero (same frame as a New Model Blackhawk.) Lots of the latter out there - possibly still some "new" old Vaqueros in stock with dealers, and lots of them on the second-hand market.

Try to examine and "heft" both models - you may prefer one over the other ...
 
I have an older Vaquero (s/n'ed under 1000) and it's built like a brick ####house. 5.5" Blue and faux case hardened.

The Ruger can handle some pretty stout .45 colt loads - so much so as to hurt. No need to load them hot, but just because I can....

With the blued version of the revolver, some people have had problems with faux case finish chipping - mine has not. The ejector rod is aluminium whose finished can be easily worn. Both of these "issues" are not applicable to the stainless version, which would be my preference given the choice.
 
I have 2 .44 Mag Ruger Vaqueros and I love them. One of my Vaqueros broke a transfer bar after firing 20,000 rds. It took 20 minutes to repair after I got a replacement part. You can't go wrong with one.
 
Vaquero's a rugged six shooter for sure & you probably can't go wrong with one. For the purists there is the Pietta SAA's, though. Maybe not as rugged but they sure look like the original deal...
 
Someday I will get either a case hardened vaq in 357 (can chamber 38spl) or one of the flattop blackhawks. Ruger is responsible for the resurection of the single action and deserves the support. It also makes an exellent home defence weapon if your the kind of person who likes to think some before firing.
 
I have a case hardened/blued 5-1/2" New Vaquero in 45LC. I had seen people comment on how the smaller cylinder gap resulted in it jamming when using black powder, but mine works just fine with the smoky stuff. :D
 
Loved the comment about the Vaquero not being "authentic" . wonder what that is in reference to? the fact that it is somewhat larger than a colt, or the fact that the parts don't break? More folks use Vaqueros in cowboy shooting than any other make.
I bought a pair of stainless ones so I could sand off Blackstone's law library they stamp on the barrel. worked a treat.
 
I had an 'old' Vaq in 357. Very agricultural. With a trigger job and some fitting work so the cylinder wouldn't bind after 30 shots, it would make a nice gun, if you like that sort of thing.

I don't.

But, as noted above, there are plenty that do. It's very rugged and I am sure with normal use it would last forever.

Comparing it to a SAA clone, like a Pietta, Uberti, or USFA, is like comparing a Jeep CJ to, if not a Cadillac, then at least a regular family sedan.

TJ
 
I got the stainless Vaquero with faux ivory grips. Shoots exactly to point of aim, works perfect and trigger is a crisp reasonable 4 lbs. I've loaded 328 grain bullets to 1200 fps in 45 Colt. Doesn't hurt to shoot because of the grip shape; recoil is absorbed by the roll back.
 
Everybody needs at least of of them. :D

vaquero3.jpg


vaquero1.jpg
 
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