Ruger Vaquero--any comments?

G

glockorama

New member
Well, it would appear that the gun bug has taken a huge bite outta my butt in the shape of a Ruger Vaquero 44mag in the colorcase hardened frame. Who has one? What do you like? Dislike? Although, no matter what anybody dislikes about them, I'm still gettin' me one.
 
Glockorama,

Three comments:
1)You have good taste in handguns, your username being proof.

2)"Although, no matter what anybody dislikes about them, I'm still gettin' me one." Refreshing honesty. Gotta like your style.

3)WHEN you get one, please share your impressions. This pistol in stainless is on my short list. TIA
 
Glockorama, I've got one of those, also in 44 MAG. Fun gun to shoot, but definitely not one you'd want to practice with all day long. Typical Ruger product in terms of its durability. With the wood grips, mine kicks pretty hard, but I still enjoy firing that hand cannon. Go for it, plus they're relatively affordable.
 
Mine is in .357, that being my favorite round, and I want a few more.
It's Ruger quality and you won't be disappointed, I believe.
 
I have one in 45lc. It is the stanless, with the 4 and 5/8 inch barrel. I like it a lot, but have abused mine beyond what ruger has intended. This will probably not be a problem for anyone else, but my friend(who has one with a 5 and 1/2 inch barrel) and I use them for quick draw, and now the cylinders over spin. Ruger still fixes them even though they know what you did, so that says a lot. It is a problem that a lot of quick draw guns see. I only mention it because it took almost a year to kill it, which tells you how tough it is. It is a good point and shoot gun for me, and it is funny to see people on the range try to shoot it, that have never seen a single action before.
 
If you get one, try to find one (or order it) with a Bisley grip. It will make the recoil easier to handle. The Vaquero (in .45 Colt) is the gun that John Linebaugh uses for his .475 and .500 Linebaugh guns because it's the strongest one made.
 
I have owned Vaquero stainless in 45LC, Vaquero Bisley 45LC and currently have two (2) Vaquero Bisley, b/ch, stag grips in .357. The Vaqueros are like all Rugers, virtually indestructible. Mine get about 300-500 rounds a month through them in competition not counting practice range. Great guns.
 
The Vaquero is a handsome thing, it has that old West swagger, out of the box.

However: The 'case-hardened' finish is a sort of proprietary applied finish. Use or improper cleaning and it wears off and leaves you with an ugly gray. More important, the guns almost never shoot to the sights, and must be 'adjusted'
.
I own several Ruger single actions. All of them have adjustable sights.

If you want to compete in the fixed-sight events of cowboy action matches, or simply own a gun 'just like Roy and Gene's', the Vaquero is probably ok. If you are serious about hitting what you aim at with your SA, the adjustable-sighted guns are superior.

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If they take our guns, I intend to let my hair grow long and acquire the jawbone of an ass.
 
Check out both grip styles; I didn't care for the Bisley grip.
With a lead 200gr. bullet over 5.4gr of 231 you CAN shoot the .44 mag all day. Feels like a .22. Great gun.
 
Ditto the bisely style, they really do tame the kick on a big bore, and look pretty cool doing it.
Go for the .45LC chambering, its fun to just blast around with and you can load/buy cartridges with more ju-ju than the .44 mag.

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Big Guns again
No speakee well
But plain.
--H.C
 
I currently have six of the Vaqueros in my collection that I have custom built as well a few Blckhawks and Super BH's. I have built Vaqueros and BH/SBH's for customers, friends and myself in various configuarions and calibers range from .22 Hornet to .50 AE. They are, as Frontsight said, extremely strong. The case color finish is not as durable as it should be and it does wear fast.
I do not care for the Bisley grip frame myslf but that is a mater of personal taste. The Bisley grip frmae does help to reduce perceived recoil.
Longer barrels will help some what with recoil. I have BH/SBH's in all the factory barrel lengths but all my Vaqueros are 4.625"s.
They have the "cowboy" look and appeal. However, as much as I love them, they are not a Colt Single Action Army. But then neither is a Colt Singel Action Army these days. The Ruger does not have the "feel" nor the balance of the venerable Colt. That aside for anything other than "showing off" I'd take the Ruger Vaquero over the Colt any day of the week.

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Gunslinger
 
I have this one in .45 Colt, great fun. With a bit of work, it shoots to point of aim with my favorite 250 RNFP over 5 grains of 700X. Throw a free-spin pawl in, swap the ejector rod housing out for steel and it is quite nice.

Alex

ruger.jpg
 
You can always have adjustable sights put on a Vaquero, just like Linebaugh does (have I drooled over his guns, or what?) According to him (and he would know) the Vaquero is the strongest of all Rugers.
 
I got rid of my 44 Mag Vaquero a few months ago. I miss it tons. I would still have it if I didn't get a smoking deal on trade in. I say go for it!
 
If .44Mag practice is beating you up too much, it'll eat .44Spl just fine. Power level of those will be between .38Spl and .357.

Several outfits sell .44Mag defense fodder that's downloaded to duplicate the ballistics of a good .45ACP load. One common one is a 200grain large-cavity JHP doing about 1,000fps...such a critter should be easily "court-room defendable" and produce good results. Too expensive for regular practice though...that's what the .44Spl is for.

Some truly hot .357 loads out of a strong gun like a Ruger can come close to lower grade "full power" .44Mag factory fodder in terms of energy level, and penetration will be real high. 158 hardcast at 1,550fps or so ain't no slouch :).

I'm shopping for a Blackhawk in 9mm/.357 convertable...that should make for a VERY versatile piece :). I've got an old 30rd mag for a high-power I no longer own laying around, it sucked as a mag but would make for a killer SA speedloader in 9mm :D.

Jim
 
Excellent reasoning, Glockorama: You get it because you WANT to get it, and this is sufficient justification.

Everyone who frequents TFL is, naturally, a firearms enthusiast. This sometimes leads us to forget those who aren't really INTO guns, but have a use for 'em.

The Ruger Vaquero is pretty much a "fun gun" for plinking or used in cowboy action shooting. A year or so back I heard of a rather different use---

I don't know the guy--he's a friend of a friend. Maybe a buddy's cousin's stepneighbor-in-law. He was setting up to do a lengthy job of caretaking at a camp somewhere in remote Alaska, and will be alone most of the time. The job will take months and there is a real possibility he could get snowed in. This guy isn't really into hunting and shooting but can do both. He has a decent rifle and shotgun but wanted a sidearm, both for self defense and small game to vary the supplies.

He sought out advice and came up with the stainless Vaquero, short barrel, .44 Mag. The shooter friend helped him with "sighting in" the rugged fixed sights. There is almost nothing to go wrong with the gun and it is powerful, compact and easy to carry. He'll have a healthy assortment of factory ammo, from .44 Special RNL to full-house bear-busters. No, he doesn't WANT to shoot a bear, with anything, but will feel better without having to lug his .308 around every day.

I believe this man has made a pretty wise decision.

Regards,
RR

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---The Second Amendment ensures the rest of the Bill of Rights---
 
I have a 4 5/8" Stainless Vaquero .44 magnum. Love it. Shoot CAS with it with .44/40 equivalent loads (200-205gr rnfp @ 900fps), very accurate and controllable. The few times I've carried it concealed, I used the Winchester 210gr Silvertip, it shoots to same POA. Mine is all scratched up, but just keeps on going.
 
Glockorama--

I agree: the blue-and-case-colors Vaquero is really a "pretty" piece.

BUT--
Kent White's response about his Stainless Vaquero .44 magnum, "Mine is all scratched up, but just keeps on going" brings up a point about the stainless pieces--They are the same color all the way through. If the scratches bother you, a little fine wet-or-dry emery paper and/or LIGHTLY use a buffing wheel and bring the shiny finish right back.

Frontsight mentioned having adjustable sights put on a Vaquero. I see this as a needless expenditure--you can buy a Ruger Blackhawk in either SS or blue (but not case colored) with adjustables already installed for about same money as the Vaquero.

Slabsides writes,
"the guns almost never shoot to the sights, and must be "adjusted."

My limited experience with Vaqueros is that they shoot pretty close to factory sight setting for at least a single popular load. If you wish to change loads, from light target stuff to 300 or 320 gr Bear Blasters and Elk Erasers, there might be a problem. Elmer Keith wrote in his SIXGUNS that his .44 revolvers shot to practically same point of aim with both heavy and light loads with same weight bullet. He theorized that it had to do with the low velocity bullets remaining in barrel longer, allowing barrel to raise higher in recoil before bullet exits. He was dealing with .44 Special and the early .44 Magnum loads in 240 to 255 gr., mostly in 4 to 4-3/4" barrels.

Whatever your choice, have fun. I've never had an SA Ruger I didn't enjoy.

RR

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---The Second Amendment ensures the rest of the Bill of Rights---
 
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