honest opinion of ruger new vaquero in .357mag

[Scibaer]

i  laid it away, was the gun stores last one, of very slim offerings left in the store.
its the 5 inch barrel in nickel finish.  i have two questions, what is the opinion of experienced single action gun owners about this gun and,
 has there been any real problems with this model ?
im not trying to get a war going, just looking for some straight forward opinion for my $480 bucks

[Swampman]

It's an excellent gun.  Stick with Colt level loads and you'll be fine.

[Scibaer]

Ok, assuming that any load shown in my lymans 48th hand book is safe in the vaquero .. get me up to speed on 'colt' levels ?
 i understand the trapdoor, leveraction, ruger levels in the 45-70 but not 'colt' levels in single actions...there is always more to learn aint there ?

[Swampman]

My bad, I was thinking about the .45.  The .357 will handle all .357 loads.  They are handy & light little guns.

[Skunk]

It's an excellent gun Scibaer. All Ruger revolvers are excellent. If it's taken care of, it will last as many lifetimes as it can be handed down.

[Scibaer]

i had thoughts about the new vaquero having some transfer bar problems..maybe i miss read that.
 also will this gun serve fairly for hunting, maybe in  a backup roll for my 44, or all on its own ?

[timothy]

For hunting, fixed sighted guns are a roll of the dice. You may get one that will hit POA at 10 yards but will it do the same at 20,30,40 and 50 yards. I think the Vaqueros are at their best for self defense and plinking. Sorta like 99% of semi autos.

[texagun]

I think they are excellent guns.  I did quite a bit of research on them before buying mine about 3 weeks ago and couldn't be happier with it.  It handles great, is accurate, and shoots to point of aim at 15 yards as advertised in the manual.  I have 3 of the older Vaqueros in .45LC which are bigger and heavier than the new model and wanted to try one of the new models in .357.  I couldn't be happier with it.

[Bart Solo]

I am thinking about buying a couple for my wife for cowboy shooting. I bought two in 45 earlier this year and really enjoy them. 

[Scibaer]

Using the vaquero for hunting, for me will mostly serve as a backup for my taurus 44mag. and if its accurate to 15 yards then thats great. im sure i can dial in some accuracy with handloads. i own other Ruger guns and i know their quality is top notch, but the single actions are new to me, and i thought i read something about the transfer bar having issues. but i can be mistaken so i should be %100 on getting the Vaq in .357
 at $480 i think im getting a descent price, but dont want any issues where i read about " i wish i got something else then the Vaq"  by other posters after i buy mine.. ... i'm  sure that i am making the right choice ( a plinking/hunting single action in .357 , to fill a specific niche  was my goal ) and the Vaq fits that perfectly.  but mine will be wearing a set of aged ivory, checkered grips,

[Keith L]

It doesn't matter what you get, someone will always tell you its junk.  I have no experience with the new Vaqueros, but my old model will be with me forever.  I also have access to a .357 Blackhawk and that one is a great shooter as well.  Enjoy.

[BigMuddy]

mine is a 45, but with the right  load it hits to POA out to 50 yards, and hitting steel past that is not a problem either. I think you will like it

[Scibaer]

i just picked up my Vaq today. it sure feels good in the  hand and points well. i'll get a chance to shoot it, hopefully this saturday, i have made up some light loads for it too break it in some.  one interesting point though, in the box came a small envelope with a case in it, i guess this is from a test firing, where they take and record the finger print of the marks on the case... ? this is the first i have seen of this.
 i'll post more after i fire it some

[Keith L]

I got a case with my Vaquero, and another with the Glock I bought a few years ago.  The dealer told me that some areas require pistol owners to give the case to the local police so they can trace the weapon if used in a crime.  We don't do that in Wisconsin.

[helotaxi]

Ruger supplies that fired case with every one of their handguns.  Simplifies things for them to just fire every handgun and include a case rather than doing it only for guns going to areas that require it.

[Scibaer]

As far as i know, we dont do that here in Michigan either but probably the Gov. will want everyone to do that sometime in the future i'd guess.
i did fire a few rounds today at work. 158 gr. semi-wad cutters. they shot high at 25 feet, but the gun shot smooth and rocked back slightly in my hand, felt real natural and i can see the attraction to single actions for sure  i cant wait to get some target time with it and see what it really likes to digest.

[petemi]

I always thought they included the spent case to show the gun had been test fired.  My Blackhawk came with one.  Perhaps I've been wrong.

Pete

[Keith L]

My understanding is that in some places the spend case is given to the authorities when the gun is registered.