Ruger Vaquero

[Mr. 16 gauge]

Any one here have any experience with this revolver? I was at the gun shop the other day (got out of work a little early), and I thought I would try and find me a bag of #6 shot for reloading.....didn't have any #6 shot, but they did have two Ruger Vaqueros in the case: one in .357 mag and the other in .45 colt.
I asked to look at them and I liked the way they felt in my hand....I grew up in the era of the TV western, and I've never owned a single action "cowboy" gun. I'm leaning towards the .357 mag, as I already reload for this caliber....but I realize that the .45 is more acceptable "cowboy" load.
This gun would be a purely guilty pleasure.....I would probably only punch holes in paper and tin cans with it. I have other guns for hunting, so the lack of adjustable sights doesn't bother me. Also, I have no intention (at least now, anyways) to do any cowboy action shooting. I might use it as a trail gun (to complement my M94 Winchester), but that would be about it as far as field use went.
So how bout it......good gun, or bad?

[skeet]

By All Means choose the 45..357 is OK..but the 45 has..Panache and an easy caliber to reload for.. I have a little Brass if ya need it and cast lead boolits are perfect in the 45..little Unique//Trailboss//heck any number of shotgun powders..easy..need dies??

[GoodOlBoy]

And with the Ruger Vaquero they are so overbuilt that if you run outa ammo you can beat that charging rhino to death with it. I mean it Ruger makes those guns to take any kind of punishment you can throw at it and just grin. I am with skeet, but that is because I already load 45 colt. Dad has loaded up 300+ grain rounds for his Ruger Blackhawk (adjustable site version of the vaquero) that are booking at 454 casull and 45-60 velocities. The Ruger just don't care it sends em down range just fine. And they are usually more accurate than the shooter is.

GoodOlBoy

[Adam Helmer]

Mr. 16 gauge,

I like single actions and have a Ruger .44M and .41M on establishment. I prefer adjustable sights when available. I have several fixed-sight guns and "load to the sights" with them. Go get the .45 Colt.

Adam

[dovehunter]

Mr. 16 gauge,

I like single actions and have a Ruger .44M and .41M on establishment. I prefer adjustable sights when available. I have several fixed-sight guns and "load to the sights" with them. Go get the .45 Colt.

Adam


I too prefer the adjustable-sight version. I have a Blackhawk in .45 Colt. that, using handloads of 20 gr. of Lil'Gun and hard cast 255 gr. LSWCs, is tack drive at 50 yds. I fitted mine with Hogue monogrips as the recoil is pretty stiff with this load. I'm still hoping to take a deer with mine. My gun has the accessory .45 ACP cylinder and is pleasant to shoot with those loads.

[GoodOlBoy]

I have a blackhawk, and I wish I had the vaqeuro, primarily because I have found I shoot better without the sights, and the sights have been unfriendly to various bodyparts of mine they have come in contact with.

GoodOlBoy

[skeet]

45...don't worry bout the sights

[Adam Helmer]

skeet,

Sights are important. If a gun does not "shoot where it looks" I find it of little value. Perhaps a pretty paper weight or watch fob, BUT not a gun I can hit with. Adjustable sights are $20 more and well worth it, in most cases.

Adam

[skeet]

Adam what you and I find of value may be a bit different. If it shoots to the same place all the time..give me a gun without sights. Or if it shoots everywhere like a PT-92 I had once...give me a rock. That gun didn't shoot within a foot of where the sights pointed except by luck. And that at less than 10 yds. It resides in someone elses bedstand now. Most of our up close and personal guns are used without sights. Seems like most of the time anyway. Training seems to go flying out the door. At least in more than 90% of the ocassions. That being said..most of my guns are adjustable sighted..except the easily carried guns. But even those ...I know where they shoot. Where I'm lookin. Just like you, I load to get 'em there. Seems as though during a gunfight..we don't have time for precise aiming when the other guy is shootin at us. Or maybe it's just me. LOL As the old joke went..If I was expecting trouble I'd hadda a rifle or a shotgun.

[popplecop]

I had one in 44 mag, could not get it to shoot to point of aim. Really like Ruger single actions, but I'll stick with Blackhawks. Do have a very old Bearcat that shoots to point of aim at 15 yds. with most any long rifle I've tried.

[skeet]

I also have an old Bearcat. Almost too small for my hands but it shoots to point of aim with most everything I put in it..at about 15 yds too. Never had a Ruger that I couldn't get to shoot to point of aim. But I had a Colt SAA that only shot one weight to point of aim..and it was a factory loading..Couldn't quite duplicate it. It was a 2nd Generation 357 Mag...kinda rare all blued gun. Only made 500 or so. Good grief that gun was LOUD...and ever now and again..it would pierce a primer. But only on full house 357 mag ammo. That made ya feel really good. That one factory ammo would print in under 2 inches at 20 yds....if you did your part

[GoodOlBoy]

Actually I had a buddy that had a Ruger Vaquero 44 mag that wouldn't shoot point of aim. He called ruger they had him send it in. They sent it back about a month and a half later with a detailed description of what was done to fix it and a target that had five shots in a half dollar at 25 yards. He took it to the range and bingo it was dead on. Apparently there was actually some glitch with barrel alingment that had caused all his woes. He still carries that Ruger, and like me that is 90% of what he buys in pistols.

GoodOlBoy

[popplecop]

Little bit of topic, but recently bought 2 Ruger LCP, one for me and the other for my son who still is a LEO. Poorest sights in the world, but at 7 yds. will 7 shots center of mass.

[Mr. 16 gauge]

Thanks for all the replies.

Well, I went in yesterday after work and put down a deposit on one.....after working 18 hours the day before on one extremely difficult case with a pissy surgeon, I didn't feel so guilty about it!;)
However, I opted for the .357 mag version instead of the .45LC.....It was somewhat a matter of economics: I already have bullet molds, dies, cases, primers, ect. for the .357 and as I said earlier, I only plan on shooting paper & cans with it, so I don't have to be that authentic. Besides, I think a good JSP or JHP in .357 mag will do just as well as a lead .45 slug (giving that I do my part).
No I'm looking at custom grips and cowboy holsters....I already have the hat & boots!:)
Thanks again for all your input! I'll post a pic or two when I get it out of layaway.

[Mr. 16 gauge]

Well guys, I picked it up yesterday! Looks great, and I hope to have pics to follow shortly. Bought a Triple K western rig and belt, and if fits both me and the gun great.
I'm not crazy about the grips.....I picked up some redwood while in California a few weeks back; I plan in maybe making that a "winter project".
Thanks again to all for your input.........

I should have been a cowboy....should have learned to rope and ride;

wearin' my six shooter; ridin' my pony on a cattle drive......

Toby Keith

[GoodOlBoy]

Hey no need to appologize about the caliber, its your choice, and particularly if you already have dies, etc. The grips are the one thing I don't care for on the blackhawk/vaquero. You can buy some very nice replacement grips out there for not a ton of money. I still wish I had bought the checkered wood instead of the smooth. Oh well maybe someday.

GoodOlBoy

[popplecop]

Mr. 16 Gauge, will redwood be a little soft for grips. Had a house some years ago that was redwood sided and it is in the conifer family as I remember. Anyway just wondering if it will hold up as handgun grips?

[Jack]

I've seen quite a few sets of grips made from rosewood. Can't recall any made from redwood.

[skeet]

You're right Jack..Never seen Redwood but have seen some made of Cedar..like cedar chest wood. I did make a set of grips for my old Ruger Flattop years ago out of birdseye maple floor. Turned out ok. One panel cracked right in half one day. Maybe a bit too thin at the screw..LOL

[Mr. 16 gauge]

Popplecop, Jack, & skeet;
Found a shop near Eureka were a guy crafted all sorts of items (boxes, furniture, ect) out of redwood. I bought a few scraps from him for $3, so I don't have a big cash investment in this.....just thought the wood would look more 'classic' than the rubberized factory grips that are on it now. He did say that the wood does tend to have a high moisture content, and needs to be dried thoroughly before using it. As for 'soft wood' & holding up.....I put a big gouge in the stock of my trade musket today while changing a flint, and it's supposedly walnut; the screwdriver slipped and put a big gash in the wood!:mad: Needless to say, I was PI$$ed!....moreso with myself than anything. At any rate, only time will tell if they (the grips) will hold up.

....and for the record, I took the gun out today for its maiden voyage, and couldn't hit squat with it! Time to go back to the reloading bench!:rolleyes:

[popplecop]

Well at least you are useing a ML with the proper lock! Redwood can be grooved with a fingernail, so it is soft. Best of luck in your endevor.

[Jack]

Mr. 16 Gauge, nothing wrong with trying redwood- it might be very attractive.
One thing you could do, if durability is a worry- use a hard epoxy finish on the wood, rather than something like oil that soaks in. The original Acra Glas that came with the flocking separate was the consistency of water when mixed, and was often used as a high gloss stock finish- and that stuff is tough! If you don't want a high gloss finish, a little rubbing with rottenstone and oil will knock the high gloss off it.