Considering First Revolver (Ruger New Vaquero 45 ACP)

O

oneloudvous

New member
Hello,

I currently only have semi auto handguns but am considering a revolver. It will not be used for self defense (S&W Shield and Springfield TRP have that covered), but for the range. I have looked at smith and wessons and rugers primarily. For some reason Im drawn to the single action guns.

Im leaning toward a Ruger New Vaquero in 45 ACP. Im mainly looking at the 45 ACP version because I already have a 1911 in 45 ACP so I wouldn't have to add another caliber(s). I also do not reload at this time so 45LC would get expensive quickly.

Im a little hesitant because the birds head grip is so much different than what Im used to. Unfortunately, I cannot rent one locally.

Any input would be appreciated

Thanks in advance
 
I'm a cowboy action shooter so I certainly understand the attraction of a SA revolver. Some folks find that the birdshead grip looks better than it shoots, but that's subjective. The Ruger New Vaquero is a good, solid revolver so no problems there.

You might also consider one of the "flattop" Blackhawk convertibles in .45 Colt with the .45 ACP cylinder. The flattop version, which I think may be a distributor exclusive, is built on the same "medium" frame as the New Vaquero which in my opinion gives the gun better proportions than the "standard" Blackhawk. You get a little longer barrel and adjustable sights with the Blackhawk. It is not a birdshead grip, though.
 
You get a little longer barrel and adjustable sights with the Blackhawk.
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For a range gun I really appreciate adjustable sites but the New Vaquero does have more 'cowboy appeal'.

Plus one to everything Crunchy Frog said.

Pity you can't find some way to try the variations you might find one that suits you to a T or maybe you could eliminate some you know you hate.
 
I've got the .45 LC version...a great shooter with handloads (250 gr FPRN with 8.0 gr of Unique) but I had to ream the cylinder throats out to .4525" as they were seriously undersized out of the box. The gun is now good for 2" or a bit less grouping at 25 yds..too...it was sighted 2" left and 2" low at 20 yds from the factory. I managed to zero it by widening the rear sight notch on the right side by 0.015" and adding a touch of cold blue. Hope yours works out well, I really like mine. Rod
 
I have the flat top .45 Colt/.45 ACP convertible with a 4 5/8" barrel. It is a Lipsey's exclusive. If you go their website you can get a list of dealers that order from them. That is the one I would recommend to you. You have the ability to use .45 ACP until you chose to start reloading (.45 Colt factory loads are darned expensive) and the ability to zero the gun to your loads. In my case I use .45 Colt for my full power loads and the .45 ACP for light loads.
 
Have you shot any single actions before?
I prefer revolvers for shooting at the range, but single action just doesn't do it for me. They look cool but reloading them is kinda of slow.
 
I have a Ruger 45acp/45LC covertible and like it very, very much. For a "range toy" I much prefer the big adjustable sights of a regular Blackhawk.
 
Howdy

Grip shape is a big decision. I would not buy anything with a grip I was unfamiliar with unless I had tried it personally. At the very least, comparing the grip of a birdshead and traditional plow handle grip together at the same time in a gun shop.

Looking at the Ruger website I see the only options they have for a 45 ACP Vaquero is the Birdshead grip. Personally, I think you will be limiting yourself if you go with that because it is the only choice of grips in that caliber. If you open up your selection to a 45 Colt/45 ACP convertible revolver, then you can get it with either a traditional plow handle grip, or Ruger's version of the Bisley grip.

Don't limit your caliber choices to what you are shooting today. I bought this 45 Colt/45 ACP convertible Blackhawk brand, spanky new in 1975. I had no use for the 45 APC cylinder and really did not want it. But that was all that was available in the store at the time, so I bought it anyway. It was over 30 years before I actually fired any ACP ammo in it. Never regretted buying the convertible model. I too agree, for your first Single Action revolver you might be better served with the adjustable sights of a Blackhawk rather than the fixed sights of the Vaquero.

turnlineBlackhawkSNmodified_zpse91b1bf1.jpg
 
First revolver? Like CFrog said, get the Blackhawk with adjustable sights if you
want to do serious shooting. There is very little chance you Vaquero will shoot
to point of aim. If you just want a toy buy Vaquero. The handle is not the problem. You can get use to it. The sights and trigger are the main thing. Guys
not used to big hammer swing will have to get use to it. I have several Rugers
all old models with super tuned triggers. In SA it don't get better, including
Colts.
 
I think it worth mentioning if you want the cowboy look and .45 acp and do not want the birdshead grip, Ruger offers the New Vaquero on the same frame with fixed sights in a .45 colt/.45 acp convertible that comes with two cylinders. They are offered through Davidson's Gallery of Guns in Arizona in 4 5/8 and 5 1/2 inch barrel lengths but currently only in stainless steel. Blued has been offered in the past. Currently Davidson's shows no inventory of 5 1/2 but has a fair number of guns in 4 5/8 inch. It is the same gun as the birdshead sans the birdshead grip and with a bit longer barrel. (Oh, and a different, higher, longer hammer.) I have both and you won't go wrong in your choice. I do find the birdshead grip is fine for .45 acp power levels and its feel really grows on you, on me at least.
 
After reading yall's posts and doing some more research Im leaning toward a blackhawk convertible in 38/357 and 9mm. Mainly because of the adjustable sights, and the ability to shoot 3 calibers. Im going to go to my LGS Tuesday, handle a few, and see if they have one to put on layaway. Although, Im tempted to see if they can locate a stainless one for decent price...

Anymore input would be appreciated!
 
Yup, Ruger has offered the stainless .357/9mm Blachawk in 4 5/8 and 6 1/2 inch barrel length convertibles built on the full .44 frame through the distributor Williams Shooting Supply. Don't know about current availability. Lipsey's in Louisiana is offering the .357/9mm flattop Blackhawk on the smaller Mid-frame in blued steel and stainless steel in 4 5/8 and 5 1/2 inch lengths. I have a blued (alloy grip frame - the standard catalogued version) full size and also a stainless flattop. You won't go wrong with either, in my view.
 
Don't expect anything better than mediocre accuracy from the 9mm cylinder. If you get better than that, count your blessings. The Ruger is a .357 with an extra cylinder for 9mm. Shooing 9mm through a .357 spec barrel seldom gives stellar accuracy.

The New Vaquero is "Colt sized". IF the traditional cowboy look matters, its a good choice. If you want the best gun you can shoot in that class, get the Blackhawk. And if you want .45ACP, get the convertible.

Don't get a .45ACP only version. There are two reasons I say this, first, is that having the .45 Colt cylinder gives you the option, even if you don't use it for decades, someday, you might change your mind.

Second, if you decide later that the .45SA isn't for you, resale will be much easier with the convertible. People looking for either .45Colt or .45ACP will be interested in your gun. IF you get only the single caliber version, your potential market goes way down.

I bought my first Blackhawk in 83. A .45 convertible, 7.5" barrel. I had a .45acp, and bought the Ruger with the intent of using the .45ACP cylinder, so I could plink with my ACP ammo without having to find my fired cases in the weeds. (I am a handloader)

I made one small "mistake". The "mistake" was getting a box of Winchester .45 Colt ammo (the traditional 255gr full power load, NOT "cowboy action ammo), and shooting it first.

WOW!! What an experience! The gun bucked, and roared and the muzzle pointed at the sky! it was sooo cool!! I was hooked!!!! In the decades since, that gun has had many thousands of .45 Colt loads fired through it, including the "Ruger only" level loads. only about 300rnds of .45ACP have been through the gun, some ammo I wanted to burn off that did work well in the semi autos.

Shooting .45ACP through a Blackhawk (especially the heavier long barrel ones) is a pussycat.

Personally, the only way I would consider a birds head grip is if the gun was cheap enough to add in the expense of changing the grip frame. It looks neat, but it is NOT good for shooting anything with serious recoil. .45ACP might be tolerable but heavier than that, it gets very uncomfortable.

A friend got a Vaquero (the original) in .44 Mag with a short (4.5") barrel and birds head grips. He has small hands, he loved the feel of it. Until he shot it. Then it was rather painful. AND, he didn't even shoot it with full house loads, either. I gave him a box of midrange handloads, a 240gr SWC loaded to about 1000fps. THOSE were too much to shoot comfortably in the birds head grip gun.

They look neat, but they are lousy to actually USE.

Your opinion might be the opposite, it is rare, but has been known to happen,:D
 
Well y'all after reading through the responses here and watching some videos I went to LGS handled vaqueros and Blackhawks in different calibers, barrel lengths, and finishes. I put a Ruger Blackhawk convertible Stainless 4 5/8" barrel in 38/357/9mm on layaway. Should pick it up in about a month. Thanks for the help yall, can't wait to pick this one up!
 
I put a Ruger Blackhawk convertible Stainless 4 5/8" barrel in 38/357/9mm on layaway.
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That's great. Did you get the large-framed Blackhawk or the slightly smaller Flattop? Not that it matters. They are both great revolvers.
 
44 Amp - you said
Personally, the only way I would consider a birds head grip is if the gun was cheap enough to add in the expense of changing the grip frame. It looks neat, but it is NOT good for shooting anything with serious recoil. .45ACP might be tolerable but heavier than that, it gets very uncomfortable.
Click to expand...

I am quite sure you have forgotten more than I know and I agree with just about everything you wrote except that I have a couple of the .45 acp birdshead Vaqueros and am not worried about resale because I'm not selling them. I would have bought them as convertibles but that is apparently not the arrangement that Lipsey's has on that variation. Standard pressure 230 grain .45 acp is quite easy to handle and soft shooting from these smallish single actions. And I am no recoil junkie. I can see that stouter loads might be different but in my view the birdshead Vaquero in .45 acp is a wonderful match and the platform is perfectly suited to the caliber.
 
That's great. Did you get the large-framed Blackhawk or the slightly smaller Flattop? Not that it matters. They are both great revolvers.
Click to expand...

Its the flattop model. I'm really looking forward to shooting it.
 
I put a Ruger Blackhawk convertible Stainless 4 5/8" barrel in 38/357/9mm on layaway.
Click to expand...

I hope you'll be happy with it. I like the Blackhawk model because it's strong, well made and there's a lot of folk available that will 'slick it up for you' if you're not satisfied with it out of the box. And I appreciate the adjustable sights...makes the gun more fun for me.

Ruger themselves have videos on their site that, in detail, show you how to completely disassemble and reassemble them. (IMhO you shouldn't do this until you have shot the gun for at least a couple months in its stock configuration.)

Folks my age have a soft spot for the guns because we grew up watching Saturday morning cowboy shows but whether you saw those or not the single action six gun still has a unique mystique about it.

Good luck.
 
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