Which single action am I looking for???

[Westbound]

I'm trying to figure out which gun I'm thinking about.
I know Ruger makes a fixed sight single action that can handle the +P loads.
Is this the "old" Vaquero?  I'm looking for something with the SAA styling, but the strength of the Blackhawk frame.

[BigMuddy]

Yes, you want a Ruger Vaquero. NOT a "New Vaquero". The Vaquero is not made anymore.

[Westbound]

The "new" Vaquero is a SSA copy isn't it?

[Hank08]

All Ruger single actions are outwardly copies of the SSA but what you want is the original or old Vaquero preferably with a Bisley grip if your going to be shooting mostly "pedal to the metal" loads.
H08

[BigMuddy]

"New Vaqueros" are close in size to the Colt SAA, and thus should only be loaded to normal 45 Colt level loads.

[blackhawk45]

If you plan on shooting hot loads,get a Blackhawk, otherwise,your friends might start calling you LEFTY. lol

[Tom C.]

I prefer the Blackhawks for the adjustable sights. I had a pair of First Gen Vaqueros in .45 Colt. Nice guns, but I couldn't stand the sights.

[Rangr44]

The Vaquero and Blackhawks are built on the same large frame, with the Blackhawk having adjustable sights; but the New Vaquero is built on the older, smaller Flat Top Blackhawk sized frame - just like the 50th Anniversary ,357 Blackhawks.

The discontinued Vaquero was made in .44 Mag (among others), but the New Vaquero isn't available in .44 Mag.

.

[Westbound]

If you plan on shooting hot loads,get a Blackhawk, otherwise,your friends might start calling you LEFTY. lol

Luckily, I'm right handed but shoot lefty. So if something bad were to happen, I could still sign my name on any hospital admission forms 

I am looking a 45LC to handle the "wild loads", so I might just need to start looking at the Blackhawk.
Thanks for all the input!

[timothy]

Dont think the new vaquero wont handle powerfull loads, not as heavy as the old vaquero but more than many people can master. The new vaquero can deliver 250gr bullets at 1100fps easily, most factory 44 magnums are 240gr at 1180fps. Good luck

[Autorim]

IMHO, if you want a .45 Colt to handle heavier loads you should look at a Bisley Grip. For me they handle recoil better than the plow handle grip of the regular Blackhawk and better than the S&W. I like the way they fill the hand and the Bisley does not punish the web of my hand as much as the S&W. It can slip somewhat and roll with the punch. The largest S&W I have is a M29, but I don't like to shoot it with heavy loads. I also wear PAST shooting gloves.

The old standard Colt style grip is beautiful, nostalgic and feels good in the hand except when shooting heavy loads. I go for comfort now.

We all have our likes, dislikes, good experiences and bad experiences which help us form our prejudices.
Stoke them with some real cartridges and shoot them all. Then decide what feels best.

[Sweetwater]

While I do love my 45Colt Bisley Blackhawk, I'm always attracted to a 5.5" 45Colt Blackhawk! My 6.5" 41Mag NMBH has an oversized grip that makes it feel like the SBH grip. Some of them are too thick, but I've got a set of Herret Shooting Stars that are simply terrific and help handle the recoil. I used a set of Jayscot stag grips on a NMBH that weren't oversized, but were squared off on the bottom, so there was more finger room. It was my competition revolver for several years. The Bisley grip handles heavy recoil much better (comfortable) but you have to decide what is more important to you. Sometimes how it looks becomes more important to an individual than how it feels....or vice-versa!

Regards,
Sweetwater

[Paladin]

I guess everyone is different in what works for them. heavy loads in a bisley hurts my hand, don't care for the new model blackhawks. the plow handle lets the omb's roll in MY hand, there fore I can handle any load the omb's can and shoot them all day.  If everybody liked the same thing it would be a dull world. That's my 2 cents worth and I'm sticking to it. good luck. Ken

P.S. the only way to know whats right for you is try'em all and get the one you like

[Bart Solo]

Wasn't the Bisley grip designed for target pistols?  Aren't target loads generally light? As Paladin said if everybody liked the same thing it would be a dull world. 

[Redhawk1]

Yes, you want a Ruger Vaquero. NOT a "New Vaquero". The Vaquero is not made anymore.

But look on the gun auction sites, you can still buy them used. I got one and love it. I shoot some heavy 325 gr. hard cast bullets loaded HOT. Just make sure it is just the Vaquero and get the Bisley grips. Them heavy recoil 45 Colts handle better with the Bisley grips than the Blackhawk grips.

[MS Hitman]

Bart,

The Bisley grip is the only one John Linebaugh will use for the heavy recoiling rounds.  It handles these loads which quickly get to be too much in the standard Blackhawk plow handle grip.  I wouldn't even consider shooting a .500 Linebaugh with an old SBH grip.

[ellsworth]

My New Vaquero Montado is the best!! I load (max) 17grs of 2400 or 9grs of Unique with 265 gr Mt Baldy Keith and 250 gr bullets.  The New Vaquero is certainly not a Blackhawk but at the same time it is not a Colt or Italian clone.  Loads up to 25,000 psi (I have fired over three hundred) are handled quite well  in the Montado.  The only change I have made is a Belt Mountain base pin and a "poor mans " trigger job.   The gun is very accurate and shoots point of aim.  Good luck!!

[Redhawk1]

ellsworth,
The New Vaquero Montado is built on the Scaled Down Frame, the original poster wanted a gun that will handle the plus P loads, and this gun won't.

[Sweetwater]

I'm trying to figure out which gun I'm thinking about.
I know Ruger makes a fixed sight single action that can handle the +P loads.
Is this the "old" Vaquero?  I'm looking for something with the SAA styling, but the strength of the Blackhawk frame.

It's not a "what would you want" question.

As Redhawk1 pointed out, the Original Poster is looking for something with "Colt" looks and "Blackhawk" strength. We are making the assumption thet the Original Poster is meaning the NMB and not the OMB, as the NMB is the model with all the "strength appeal".

That leaves just one option - the Old Vaquero. Same frame as NMB. Others may be "close to", but that wasn't an option given by the Poster.There are still some NIB Old Vaquero's available on the auctions from time to time.

I do have a Ruger New Model Blackhawk Bisley Blue 7.5", or rather I should say my wife has one that she lets me use. I have a pal who runs a fairly steady diet of Cor-Bon +P loads in his. I have run some in mine, and I make a few 335gr WFNPB's to go with the 335grWFNGC's. At 1200fps, they are a handful, for me. At 1100fps, they are fine and plenty powerful, but I wouldn't want to shoot them without the Bisley Grip. A 260grWFN at 1300fps is far more to my liking. Still a bit more than I require, and handles well in the Blackhawks without the Bisley Grip. My wife prefers the 260grWFNPB at an even 1000fps. It's a pussy cat and plumb accurate - which is exactly why she likes it. It goes where she aims, one after the other.

True, the Bisley grip was designed for Target shooting and Target loads are light. They weren't designed to handle a "heavy load", but rather to "give a steady grip". The fact that they delightfully handle a heavy load is icing on the cake. Also true, they are not for everyone and sometimes I rather have the old plow handle.

I hope the Original Poster has a means of "trying" similar guns before he actually buys one.

I own 41's and not 44's because way back then, 30 years ago, I was given the opportunity to shoot a SBH 44mag. Didn't like it. Still don't. My pal has a S&W M29 and I don't enjoy shooting it, either. I do, however, rather enjoy shooting my 41mag with 228grWFN's at 1200fps. It's a joy in my Bisley, and max tolerable (for Me) in the Blackhawks, both OMB and NMB. The Marlin rifle just loves them. In the Bisley, I'll crank a 250grWFN to over 1300fps, and I've had enough. Enough power, noise, recoil, just plain enough.. It will do more, I won't. 

Regarding the 45Colt; I wish I had been given an opportunity to shoot one 30 years ago. Didn't know what I was missing playing withe the 357's and 41's all those years. I quit the 357mag in '92 - divorce #2.

Good luck and let us know what you come up with!

Regards,
Sweetwater