Author Topic: New Vaquero, Old Vaquero, Blackhawk? (Read 1000 times)

Echo4Lima · « **on:** November 25, 2005, 07:57:13 PM »

Which one?? The new Vaquero doesnt handle heavy loads. The Blackhawks sights are adjustable but "bulky". The old Vaquero is getting hard to find.

BlkHawk73 · « **Reply #1 on:** November 26, 2005, 02:27:29 AM »

Quote

The old Vaquero is getting hard to find.

WHAT! Maybe hard to find in Syria or somewhere like that but geeze, they're easily available here. Davidson's has hundreds still in stock. Look on Gunbroker there's bunches on there as well.

Quote

The Blackhawks sights are adjustable but "bulky"

The sights are bulky? :? The gun itself is on the same sized frame as the Vaquero so if one is bulky, they both are. The sights don't add bulk.

Quote

The new Vaquero doesnt handle heavy loads.

Is this a requirement? If so, whynot look at models chambered for more powerful cartridges? Instead of buyng a .44 mag or .45 Colt and needing super loads, why not just buy a .454 or .475?

Quote

Which one??

Depends on what's it's gonna be used for?

Echo4Lima · « **Reply #2 on:** November 26, 2005, 08:35:40 AM »

What I mean about sights being "bulky" is the height of the front and rear sights compared to the Vaquero having lower profiles. I can live with without adjustable sights. Loads can be made to be accurate, and my eyes can see the Vaqueros sights easier. Hard to explain, my eyes have trouble focusing on the Blackhawks sights.

Here, where I'm at, the old Vaquero's are few and far between. I like the feel of the 4 5/8 barrel. I seem to only be able to find the stainless in 5". I'm not interested in those.

I'm looking for the heavier .45 loads, +P+ you could say. A lot of the heavier LFPGC round put out comparable energys as a .44 with less pressure. And a much simpler reason....I like the .45Colt

Shorty · « **Reply #3 on:** November 26, 2005, 08:38:49 AM »

According to an article in the American Rifleman, Ruger states that the new Vaqueros are proofed to the same pressure as the old Vaqueros.

BlkHawk73 · « **Reply #4 on:** November 26, 2005, 10:03:06 AM »

Proof laods are an indusrty standard. Same ones used in the Blackhawks and Freedom Arms as are used in the Colt SAA's. Would you run +p+ loads through a Colt SAA? There's a reason the +p+ ammo is marketed and marked as for specific models - mostly Ruger. They'll handle them.

Davidson's currently has: 99+ VAQUERO 45LC SA 4.63 CCH

Echo4Lima · « **Reply #5 on:** November 27, 2005, 06:43:10 PM »

.454? To long of a barrel in the Ruger, to high priced in the Freedom Arms

44 Man · « **Reply #6 on:** November 30, 2005, 08:27:40 AM »

Ah, but if you ever handle a Freedom Arms, you will find the asking price is very well worth it. Sounds to me like you want the old Vaquero. Just do it! There are lots around, maybe not in your local gun shop, but they are easily found. I'm happy with the New Vaquero. She'll handle 9 gr of unique with a 285 gr bullet or 9.7 with a 255 gr cast. That will do anything I ever wish to do and everything up to the big bears. (Probably will those too, but if I go after one of them, I WILL take a .454!) Buy it, shoot it, enjoy it. 44 Man

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #7 on:** December 01, 2005, 02:03:38 AM »

lets see echo4lima im a big fan of the old vaqueros myself i still think the finest and most versitatle over the counter gun is a 4 5/8s 45 old vaquero. There still not hard to find but there not giving away the used ones like they used to.
Shory DONT shoot +p loads in a new one you will eventually either wear the gun parts or at least ruin a nice gun. Bottom line is that for any game animal in the US that isnt dangerous a colt level 45 load will take it cleanly.
44 man I sure wish youd quit fooling with those little 454s and step up to a real gun!! :wink:

44 Man · « **Reply #8 on:** December 01, 2005, 11:45:46 AM »

I know Lloyd, you like handguns big enough to split bolders so you can shoot the game hiding behind them! I picked up my 'New Vaquero' today. I'll try to get some ammo thru it this weekend and let you know how I like it.

leverfan · « **Reply #9 on:** December 17, 2005, 06:01:02 PM »

Quote from: Echo4Lima

Which one?? The new Vaquero doesnt handle heavy loads. The Blackhawks sights are adjustable but "bulky". The old Vaquero is getting hard to find.

According to a Ruger engineer, the New Vaquero's cylinder was designed to handle the heavy "Ruger Only" loads listed in the loading manuals. They had to make them strong, just to stay clear of liability suits. The changes that made this possible also made it impossible for Ruger to chamber the New Vaquero in .38 WCF or .44 WCF (if the WCF cases had maximum sized rims, they wouldn't fit without overlapping, but most current factory rims fit, so you can have your .357 custom re-chambered and re-bored, if you were of a mind to).

My big problem with the New Vaquero is the grip size. When I shot one, the small, narrow grips sort of swam around in my big, fat hand. After market grips would easily solve that problem. The initial firing pin problem that caused the recall seems to have been limited to the first 500 revolvers, so that's no worry, now.

I never thought the sights on my Blackhawks were bulky, but if you think they are, I guess they're not for you.

Old Vaqueros are plentiful. Ruger says that production is for a "limited time," which I believe means, "limited to however long we still make a profit on them." You can get brand new stainless Old Vaqueros for $399 each on gunbroker.com any day of the week. I think the blue/CC are the same price, give or take a few bucks. Some guys are asking more than that, so just keep looking for the cheaper ones. Frankly, the Old Vaquero is far more available than the New Vaquero, and for a better price.

Cowboy action shooters also sell old guns all the time, to finance new guns. Old Vaqueros pop up all the time on the SASS classified listings at sassnet.com.