for SA fans-Ruger Vaquero birdshead...

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gumshoe4

New member
Well, the daughter and I wandered through the gun store today. She walked up to the handgun display and was immediately attracted by a bright stainless Ruger Vaquero with the 3 3/4" barrel and birdshead grip in .45 Colt (you know which cartridge I mean-let's not repeat THAT debate!!).

I found this rather interesting, because I hadn't told her about it, but she went directly to the gun I've been eyeballing for awhile!!! My daughter obviously has great taste in firearms and she's helping Dad apply (kind, gentle) pressure to Mom to get the gun.

How about it? Does anyone have one of these? Is it as very cool as it looks? I am having a major Jones for one of these and may have to start saving my nickels and dimes.

Bob
 
Damned fine gun. There's a review on www.gunblast.com - might be in the archives by now.

.45ACP cylinders turn up on the used parts market, typically for around $75. That will reduce your practice costs with cheap mil-surp ball if you're not yet a reloader.

That same grip frame by Qualitas is about $150 with grips; the frame is the same, the micarta grind is slightly different and you won't get the Ruger medallion in the grip. Still, this offers the possibility of finding a new/used 4.6" barrel Vaquero, swapping grips, and ending up with the same sort of gun but with 1" more barrel. And with more caliber choices. There's also a completely different "Lightning Style" grip frame that's pretty dang cool made by North Carolina Ordinance. See also the "homebrew Ruger SA bolt-on parts thread":

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=80872

Upshot: the factory setup isn't the only way to get to that point, basically. Mind you, the factory setup isn't BAD at all, just be aware of your choices.

You'll want to browse that thread no matter what.
 
I bought a Birdshead Vaquero finally a few months ago. My dealer had a hard time finding any that weren't priced sky high. Well, I have pretty much fallen in love with it. Like any Ruger I have had in 45 Colt it needed it's throats reamed, heck one was .4480. It has recieved a steady diet of 255 grain SWC's and is doing pretty good. Had to to try some hotter loads just to see how recoil would be, and I was pleasantly surprised to the point where in my opinion it was more controlable with the Birdshead grip than a Blackhawk grip. I was also concerned with the ability to consistantly index my hand on the rounded grip, but again it surpised me as there have been no problems prsenting from holster. Overall, I would say if you want one get it, or as Mr. March said you could buy a another style and end up in the same place.
 
Let me make myself perfectly clear on this topic. Whatever you do, don't give in to the beauty of this little gun and buy one. Do not give in to all the cowboy action hype and buy one. Do not give in to your secret aspirations to pretend you are Doc Holiday in front of the mirror and buy one. Do not buy one. Buy two! That is what I did.
 
I bought one of these about 6 mos. ago and had to send it back to the factory for poor accuracy and extremely poor point of aim, as well as some basic problems with the trigger.

After about 2 mos. I just got it back. Ruger put a Bisley hammer on it for me (no charge), fixed the trigger problem (though they didn't lighten the Herculean trigger pull like I asked), and adjusted the point of aim.

As for accuracy, I really haven't had a chance to ring it out well, but so far I haven't been able to get it to shoot all that accurately. so after all my trouble I'll probably still have to buy that danged tool from Brownell's to ream the chamber mouths.

Would I do it again?

No. I'd get something with adjustable sights, and then not a Ruger (in .45 Colt at least). I say this based on the fact that I own 3 fabulously inaccurate Ruger .45 Colt revolvers.

There simply is no excuse.
 
I have one, and like it. They are really nice. As to the other alternatives be aware that the Qualite requires fitting to the gun . Not that is really hard but it is work that has to be done.

I have never seen the NC Ordinance one, but they have taken peoples money and not delivered product.
 
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