Ruger New Vaquero Questions

S

Satanic Toaster

New member
I purchased a Ruger New Vaquero on Gunbroker that was advertised as NIB and when it arrived at my FFL it does not appear NIB to me.

The question I have for you all is I know Ruger test fires all revolvers before sending them out the door but do they test fire at least one full cylinder or two cylinders or is it just a round or two?

This supposed NIB revolver looks to have had at least one or two full cylinders of ammunition fired through it.

The other question is do all Ruger handguns come with the fired case in the little brown envelope when bought NIB?

This particular revolver did not have that envelope but there was a dirty little white tag with a two digit number or something written on it near/in the muzzle. Every other ruger I have bought has the little envelope and were not anywhere near as dirty as this revolver.

I did not take possession or transfer the revolver yet so I cannot provide pictures but probably could tomorrow.

Please lend me some insight so I know if the gunbroker seller is trying to sell a used gun as new. Thanks in advance for any help!

UPDATE: See answers from Ruger in my post below. Mods can close thread at their discretion as the matter was resolved.
 
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Are there any other nicks, scratches etc on it that you can see? Maybe a few extra rounds to dial something in such as the sights had to be fired? Out of all the firearms I have purchased NIB I have never had to debate rather the firearm was new or used being sold as new, this includes transfers from web dealers. The fact that you are questioning it might warrant a red flag. Try and clean it up a bit and see if there are any blemishing under that lead fouling.
 
I purchased my 357 5 1/2" NV a few years ago. Mine came with the spent casing in the little envelope. It also came with a round plastic spacer (orange I think) either in front of the cylinder or behind it - can't remember. But I could do anything, I had to pull the cylinder pin and cylinder and remove the spacer.

Rugers are notorious for tight chamber throats. I've put probably 300 rounds through mine (I have way too many other revolvers to shoot). All I shoot now are my cast lead reloads. My throats are tight and I'm going to send it to a guy to open them up.

Not to put any doubt in your mind about the one yo refer to . . but it makes a person wonder if someone didn't buy it, shoot it and didn't like how it shot so took it back? Unless it's been in a display case and shown a lot to potential buyers . . and I wold think it would be in a display case by itself and the original box kept in back . . . I am a little suspicious of it . . especially if the sample casing is missing and if it is missing the cylinder spacer that they are usually shipped with . . . a NIB should be complete just as it came from the factory.

See if you can check with Ruger on the serial number and check when it was made. A IB can lay around for a long time but that might give another clue
 
Howdy

Vaqueros have fixed sights. There is nothing to dial in. Time is money and Vaqueros are mass produced firearms. Ruger is not going to spend any more time test firing than is absolutely necessary. The last time I bought a New Vaquero, admittedly about ten years ago, they came with one fired shell in a little envelope. I seem to remember just two chambers were dirty, probably one for a proof round and one for the round for the little envelope. Must admit, it has been a long time since I bought a new New Vaquero.

In truth I do not know if the round in the envelope is standard or just limited to states that require it.

The plastic ring is put behind the cylinder. You have to remove the cylinder to get the plastic ring out.

A dirty note stuck in the muzzle? That does not sound very professional, I really doubt it left the factory that way.


Now, here is something to look for. At one time Ruger was stamping an asterisk in front of the serial number. This indicated a gun that had been sent out to a reviewer, then returned to the factory. They could not sell it as a new gun, so they sold it to some local dealers as used. You don't happen to have an asterisk in front of the SN do you?

SN_w_asterisk_02_zpstb6rcqec.jpg
 
The fired case in the little envelope is put in all, its cheaper than trying to make sure they only go to the states that require them.

The sad truth is NIB really only means never before sold at retail. It should mean unhandled, and unfired (other than factory proof firing).

Unfortunately it doesn't always mean that.

You might call Ruger and find out how many rounds they test fired the gun with.

IF only two, as suggested, and the gun has all chambers dirty, then it has been fired, post factory. If the envelope with casing is missing, (also check the other paperwork), If the yellow (on all that I have seen) plastic plug is missing from the rear of the cylinder, it was removed post factory shipment.

Based on your info, the whole package is not complete as it left the factory.

If it is being represented as complete unfired NIB, I would disagree.

But what are your options? You can refuse the sale, (hopefully payment has not yet been made?) you can inform the seller of the misrepresentation and try to negotiate, if they will.

If you intend to dispute, get pictures of the gun before you "receive" it. Get a statement from the FFL holding it of the condition they received it.

DO NOT TAKE IT HOME and come back later trying to claim you got it used. NO ONE will believe you.

We have seen cases where the seller was acting in good faith not knowing the correct condition to claim, NIB, ANIB, Used EXE, VG, etc., and even cases where the seller (a shop) listed it in the proper condition, and between that time and sale someone in the shop played with it, without the licensee's knowledge. And we have seen deliberate attempts to get NIB price from a used product.

If you are paying a premium for a NIB unfired gun, I would dispute it. If you want the gun for use, where its never going to be an unfired gun once you get it, then I would take the gun, assuming what you are paying is reasonable.
 
The serial number does not have an asterisk.

I am going to call Ruger today and ask about the test fire protocol, etc.

The seller still claims it was NIB and basically said if there was a problem with it to take it up with Ruger.

I plan on using the gun but it's the fact that I am paying a NIB price for what appears to be a used gun.
 
There must be a huge number of guns out there like this.
Depending on the price and condition, it might not really matter, though.
I once bought a NIB pistol that wasn't, too.
Didn't realize it until getting it home and disassembled.
But it was just fine, other than being way too dirty for an actual NIB.
Since the price was more in line with a used one anyway and by the end of the next weekend, it was definitely a used gun, all was well.
As it turned out, it proved to be an excellent shooter and twenty years later, I still have it.
So, if it wasn't priced like a new one, and there's nothing amiss with it, just take it out and get it dirty some more.
 
If that is a real issue, just return it, assuming the underlying real question is not how to get out of this for free.
 
Talked to Ruger customer service this morning and the gentleman I spoke to was more than happy to answer all questions I had.

Rugers current test fire protocol is to fire for example in this case 6 .45 Colt proofs rounds. They are lead rounds so that is where I am seeing the extra gunk and buildup coming from.

I was also told they stopped the fired case in the envelope earlier this year. He said it had to do with something about California and a law getting repealed so it is no longer needed.

The small white tag by/in the muzzle was leftover from after they proofed it. Those are apparently used in house to verify it had been tested and is unloaded.

So it seems that Ruger has changed this within the last few months as I bought an SP101 earlier this year that had the fired case in the envelope.

It seems my problem is resolved.
 
It was actually Maryland & as I said- Ruger (and others) no longer does the fired case thing.

The change was made a few months back, some guns still in the pipeline may come with them from before the change, current new guns will not.
Denis
 
It's a shame that Ruger doesn't leave the 6 fired cases with the gun; It would give you small head start on your stock of reloading brass.:D:D
 
What does the front of the cylinder look like ? If there are visible burn rings , it has been fired since leaving the factory .
 
The new purchased NV .357 I bought this past summer had only two chambers test fired and no empty shell in an envelope:

b11354e043c7d7fa15cab730046724f655768f8.jpg
 
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