Which Ruger Vaquero Caliber?

+1 .357 of you don't reload, .45. Colt if you do. Also +1, watch the barrel length on the .357 for that barrel-heavy aspect mentioned, depending on your use: Packing it on your hip as a trail companion vs predominatley range use. Anyway, lots of small holes in that chambering means lots of metal left over. Nothing you can do about the cylinder, so you're left with barrel choice as the only potential moderating factor.

I'm glad a few folks finally mentioned that it is the New Vaquero (large N) likely being discussed, and not the "old"/original/large frame "Vaquero." The latter can shoot virtually any .45 Colt load, just like the NM Blackhawk with which it shares its frame. Both New and "old" Vaquero can shoot virtually any .357 load, so the decision in either is weight, also mentioned. Most find the New Vaquero more than adequate for .357 and the larger "old" Vaquero overkill--or at least not necessary--heft wise.

Contributing to the mis-naming by folks and adding to the confusion for many - for some odd reason, for the past two or three years Ruger (with its distributors/vendors following suit) has been calling its New Vaquero line just Vaquero in its literature. (The limited distributor-only New Vaquero .44 Special is an additional oddity in having just "Vaquero" on its frame; all others to date say "New Vaquero" on them.) The use of Vaquero vs New Vaquero is supposed to denote large (BH/SBH) versus the smaller "mid" frame size shared among .357, .44 Sp and .45 Flattops and New Vaqueros, and other design/feature changes when the New Vaquero took over from the Vaquero ca 2005 or so.
 
I bought a 4 5/8" .357 since I don't reload and have found both the CAS reduced velocity Winchesters nice to shoot as well as full power Remington 158 gr LRN fun!
As stated the NM Vaquero is a standard duty frame and those super heavy Blackhawk loads ate unsafe!!!
Standard. .357 loads can be shot all day thri a NM tho. The gun issas for standard .357s.
HTH.
ZVP
 
Magnumwheelman said:
"... & just to clairify, the Vaquero, is not "Ruger loads only" strong, those should be reserved for the Blackhawk / Super Blackhawks... the frame on the Vaqueros are sized the same as the old Colts, so I don't shoot "hot" 45 Colt loads.."

I think you meant the New Vaquero.is not "Ruger loads only" strong. The Vaquero is most certainly "Ruger only" strong for .45's as it is built on the same frame as the large BH/SBH.
 
I am looking at buying a Ruger Vaquero.
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Stop right there!

Any further discussion needs to know which Vaquero you are looking at.

Because there are two different "Vaqueros".

The Vaquero was made with the same size frame as the New Model Blackhawks (and Super Blackhawk). IT is a bigger, beefier gun than the Colt SAA and clones. It will handle Blackhawk "Ruger ONLY" loads in .45 Colt.

The New Vaquero (and it says "New Vaquero" on the frame) is the same size as the Colt SAA, and is NOT built to take the "Ruger ONLY" heavy .45 Colt loads! It has plenty of metal in it to handle full .357 Mag loads though.

So, knowing which gun you are looking at determines which options are eliminated, which is germane to which chambering is better for your intended use. Vaqueros have been out of production for some time, but there are lots out there still, some still new in the box.

A new production gun will be the New Vaquero.

If there is one thing I wish I could slap the guys at Ruger for, its the naming policy for these guns. Even though the guns say on them either "Vaquero" or "New Vaquero" is it very difficult in conversation to tell which one you are talking about.

To make matters even worse, some people refer to the original Vaquero as the "old model". And the term "old model" is used by collectors/shooters (not Ruger) to refer to all the Ruger SA's with the pre-1973 lockwork (no transfer bar). There are no Vaqueros (of any kind) with this lockwork.

SO, which one is the one you are looking at buying?
 
.4 5 all the way,accurate,hard hitting and you can shoot it without ear protection at a varmint and still have your hearing intact.:)
 
...and you can shoot it without ear protection at a varmint and still have your hearing intact.
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Huh? What did you say? Can't hear you... You can shoot anything without hearing protection... but I guarantee your hearing will be impacted.

As a stupid youth, I never wore plugs when out hunting because, you know, you only "hear" a small "pop" when the game is in your sights. (a relative truth IMO) But I am now 60% deaf in my right ear and about 30% in my left. :eek:

So please... WEAR HEARING PROTECTION... or speak up a bit, eh? Huh?
 
EL BANGO:

How many times have you shot a .45 colt with open ears? My dad and I thought the same thing, and thought "just one or two will be okay" to test out the new 4 and 3/4" uberti's we had just picked up....

short walk to the backstop......250gr LRN cowboy reloads......KA BAM!!!!!:eek: NEVER again sir...never EVER again:p My relatively young 27 year old ears were ringing till after dinner that night.

When Dad and I first started looking into Cowboy action shooting, (I was 17 then) we were at the LGS looking over the single actions. Dad picked a Ruger in .357 so he could shoot .38s. The guy turned and asked me did I pick a caliber yet...I sternly told him that "it aint a '73 SAA unless there is a .4 someplace on the barrel" :D I've learned better now:rolleyes:

If you reload or plan to start in the near future..get the .45 Colt, you won't be disappointed with it...ever. Great all around cartridge and a good place to start with learning to reload. Other wise...in these times I'd go with the .357
Cheap if you need it to be, but with that option of more than enough available power.
 
Are you looking at the New Vaquero or the Vaquero? There is a difference. The Vaquero is a larger frame and came in 357 Magnum, 45 Colt, and 44 Magnum. If you are looking at the Vaquero I can recommend the 44 Magnum. I have a 5 1/2" barrel stainless steel Vaquero in 44 Magnum and it is fun to shoot. It is my fun gun. It is just something about all that recoil being controled that bring a smile to my face. Which ever you choose you will be getting a fine revolver.
 
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