Thinking about getting a Birds Head Vaquero...What do you guys think?

After getting quite fond of my .32 BH, I've been thinking about a .45 BH.
We both better make up our minds pretty quick, they don't make 'em any more.
Denis
 
I was thinking about getting a Birdshead, but made the mistake of telling the wife who said "anything would be better than that thing your wearin now you ugly SOB". :eek:
 
Birds head Ruger – YES- a favorite cowboy toy. For my hand it fits and feels better than any of the other Ruger grips. I was concerned about it would handle recoil - until I fired off the first cylinder full. Then it was all grins. :D

If you don’t reload, 45 colt ammo is pricy. I really don’t like 357’s with short barrels and Mag loads. The concussion and noise I can do without. 45’s are a quieter mello boom, not a sharp bark
 
I don't know about a full size Vaq with the BHG but I love my little 32 with that grip. I don't know if Ruger is making anymore so if you are intersted better buy now while you can! I do plan on buying a cheap set of wood grips for the BHG and slimming down the bottom of the grip where it flares out . The little .32 mag I have is the fastest "pointing" revlover I have and I tend to attribute it to the grips and the way it sets in my hand.
 
I had the .32 BH which I got rid of to get this .357.As soon as I get the cahnce Im gonna pick up another .32
BIRDSHEAD.JPG
 
Whats the .32 caliber like? I'm not familiar with it at all. Could someone please give me the details? Recoil? How much are the rounds? Etc, Etc!
 
Would've loved a .357 3" model (like the .45 Colt they offered) but alas, they never made one, and now, as someone else said, they're all out of production.

I did find a few made by other companies (Uberti has a .38spl), but they're not Rugers.

Guess I'll just have to stick with my Bisley-Vaquero... (Darn! :))

-- Sam
 
Slyster the .32 is a great little round.If you reload you can get it close to .38 performance.If you dont reload the 32 mag is kinda expensive but you can also shoot .32 longs and shorts which are cheaper.I have heard that you can also shoot .32 acp out of it too.
 
I was thinking about getting a Birdshead, but made the mistake of telling the wife who said "anything would be better than that thing your wearin now you ugly SOB"
Click to expand...

LMFAO! ...I have no use for cowboy guns my own self.
 
Slyster, if you don't try to compare the .32 to the .357 (or .45) -- as so many detractors rediculously do to "dis-prove" the little .32, it's a great round. Apples and oranges with the others (why do they insist?!)...except that it is fairly comparable to a factory Non Plus P .38 load, but with less recoil and noise. If a regular .38 load does it for you functionally, then this should as well. Recoil, what recoil? Just enough to let you know it certainly ain't no .22 or .22 Mag. Some question the "why" of the round but it's easy: A perfect in-between filler in the rather large gap between the .22 and .38 family. Fires 6 rounds in formats that otherwise (other centerfire calibers) can only fire 5, in some nice configurations such as Ruger, Taurus, SW DAs--in a small frame, which means it's great as a back-up or concealed-carry. In the Ruger SA, it is built on the Single Six frame, but still allowing 6 rounds even though a good bit larger than .22 cal. Sweetest little gun you'll ever shoot.

Though expensive, as mentioned, to shoot factory loads a lot..if you could afford it, only centerfire revolver round you can shoot all day and not get tired of....even a .38 gets to be an ear and handful after awhile--esp in shorter barrel formats. Unfortunately, Ruger again in its infinite wisdom has discontinued the SA just at the round seems to finally be gaining favor out there (even levers--Marlin, Armi, etc., starting to be built for it!) -- except their website is showing a limited (specific distributor) production faux white ivory gripped BH model still available. If you can locate a BH .32 buy it! Suck it up on ammo $ and enjoy!
 
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Gak,

You really have me considering a .32! Exactly how much are we talking here. Like how much for a box of 50 at Wal-Mart or whatever?? I guess I'll check next time I go out, but your response would be appreciated. Specifically how much bigger/more powerful is it compared to a .22?
 
Ruger says they still have a bunch of the .32s in stock, just not making any more right now.
You should still be able to order one if you can't find one locally.
Denis
 
Slyster, therein lies the current glitch. Because the round has not had the broad recognition and acceptance it should--the bigger is better crowd not really giving it some space--ammo is quite expensive..in the $13-14 (internet flatpoint/semi-wad, etc.) to 25 range depending on what type. And I don't think Walmart carries (maybe someone else can chime in here). Federal (originator of the round)--and maybe the only one that'll be left after awhile--I think runs in the $7.50-$8.00/box of 20 range for their jhp, but I have not priced ammo lately, having gotten a stash awhile ago. All formats shoot .32SW and Longs too, though I don't recall what if much savings--Denis? I had a .32 Ruger SA, sold it, then missed it so much picked up a BH recently. So, in some ways a .32M purchase now is an exercise in either wise speculation or futility! Still, I liked the format and round so much, when I saw a BH had to have it--"just because"!

To answer your other question, I don't know ballistically (seldom pay attention to the "ballistics" of .22s--they just "are" (great, but .22s nonetheless)...but I'd say the "sense" is 66%-100% (2x) more than .22M...but I may be off by 50%! Let's just say, functionally not that comparable...that's in the .32M's favor. Dpris, again...?
 
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Ruger did make a limited run of Sheriff's Models in .357 with the 3 7/8" barrels, alas not with birdshead grips. I wish I'd have bought one and fitted a birdshead to it (Qualite') like I did with my .45. Now you can't find one.

The 4 5/8" barrel birdshead just don't feel quite right to me, balance wise.
 
I'm not sure about the price difference with the .32 longs & shorts. The last couple boxes of .32 Longs I tried came directly from Remington. You'd think the simpler lead bullet (cheaper to make) should leave a box costing less than 50 Federal jacketed magnums, but then again sometimes it's hard to find the old .32 S&W and .32 S&W Long stuff at all. Not a lot of people still shoot that caliber & gunshops may price it up a little to order or stock it.
The .32 Mag has never been well supported by the ammo industry, I suspect it'll probably be dropped entirely in the next ten years or so.
Get your brass & bullets stockpiled now.
Denis
 
One caveat on the .32 Vaqueritos --

Ruger's first run of them back in the '90s had the normal-length Single Six grip. These are, in my opinion, the ones to get. I believe they only made them for a year or two. Then the collectors started fighting over 'em and bidding 'em up, and Ruger brought them back. However, this more recent run -- which just ended, as DPris has noted -- came in two varieties, (1) bird's head grip and (2) shortened Single Six grip. This second time around Ruger pitched them at women shooters for CAS and such.

I owned a recent-run Vaquerito with the shortened rosewood grip and had to sell it. Pretty little gun, good lockup and such, but I just couldn't hold it properly. Whereas I can hold a regular-length Single Six grip without much problem. That 1/4" can really make a difference.

Upshot -- if you're a woman or have small hands, you're good to go. If you're a man with average-sized or larger hands, either look for an old-run .32 Vaquerito with the bigger grip ($$$), or get the bird's head grip. I haven't tried the BHG but it has to be better for a man's hand than the "shortened SS" grip.

PS: Though I'm inclined to defer to DPris's greater knowledge, I can't share his pessimism about the future of the .32 Mag. While it's not an everyday chambering, Ruger, Smith, Taurus, all sell new DA guns in the caliber today; Freedom Arms sells its diamond-studded SA; Marlin makes a lever gun; better than the situation has been in some previous years. Look at how the .41 Mag soldiers on.
 
PP,
I do hope it'll turn out to be the little engine that could, but with only three ammomakers that I know of, I guess you're right in referring to me as a pessimoose.
I'm frankly surprised that it's held on so long. I intend to shoot my little Ruger quite a bit, it's just plain fun, and I think with the right load it could shut down a coyote or two, but it'll for doubledribble sure be with handloads.
I had to decide which one of two nice loaner carbines to keep a few weeks ago, had to choose between the new Ruger .223 Ranch Rifle & the new Marlin .32 levergun. I was leaning toward the Ruger, hard, but after some more thought (already have two .223s) Marlin got the check.
I'm not knocking the caliber, but I think it'll carry on mostly for reloaders among those who buy one & actually shoot it much, and I don't think it's extremely popular for self-defense uses. Yes, it does sell guns for defensive purposes, and I'm not saying it has no value in that area.
Get back with me in two years (mark it on your calendar, with my memory I'll forget :rolleyes: ), and we'll see how many different guns are still available for it.
Denis
 
It has niche appeal -- perhaps growing appeal -- as a defensive proposition for recoil-shy shooters, especially some women. One can debate the .32 Mag for defense, but merits aside, the plain fact is that after firing that .32 SP101 of mine, my mother has designs on it. She gets good hits with that gun, better than her .38 J-frame.

Denis, can we expect a review from you of the Marlin .32 Mag lever carbine? Where will it appear? That'd be a worthwhile read.
 
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