Bought me a Cowboy Gun!

[XLMiguel]

Was poking around Galyan's last weekend, not really in the market for anything, but whenever I'm there, I just gotta at least go check out the guns, yaknowwhutImean?

I went shooting with a buddy a while back and he had several big bore revolvers (.44/.44 mag, .45 LC, .450 Marlin(!)) and found out they were kinda fun. Make taht REAL fun!

Long story short, I was talking with the sales guy about cowboy guns, and he pulled out a Ruger Vacquero in .45LC (7.5" barrel, blued with case-colored frame, rosewood grips), said it had some minor nicks on the backstrap and was marked down to $359. I didn't buy it then, went home to sleep on it. At any rate, i went back today, it was still there, and now it's mine! (well, next Wednesday, after the "3-day cooling-off period" in Ffx Co(which goes away 1 July!!!)

Anyway, thinking ahead, I figure it should be pretty accurate with that 7.5" barrel, and I'll likely want to put some adjustable sights on it. I'm pretty new to this platform, don't know any of the vendors, so my question is: Who should I be looking at for sights for this gun. TIA

 

[albanian]

I would say to just keep the gun the way it is. Putting adjustable sights on it could be expensive and may ruin the overall looks of the gun. If you want a SA revolver with adjustable sights, the Ruger Blackhawk has them and you can get a nice used one for a good price. I have seen used Blackhawks for about $200. It may be better to just get a Blackhawk as well, then you have two guns instead of one.

 

[FPrice]

I have two Vacqueros in .44 Magnum and they are fun to shoot. I would imagine that yours should be a very nice gun to shoot also.

However, I do not think that putting adjustable sights on this revolver is a good idea. It probably can be done but if you want adjustable sights it might be easier to just buy the Blackhawk (?) which is the adjustable sight version.

 

[XLMiguel]

Thanks, guys. Running Dummy here just went to the Ruger site and found out the difference between a Vacquero and a Blackhwk is: Ta-da!! Adjustable Sights. Oh, yeah, didn't see a BH in Case-colored finish . . .

Oh, well, I'm happy with the purchase and I like open sights, so I guess I just demostrated (again) the value of doing your homework. While I 'slept on it', I shoulda been researching it as well. Still, a cool gun and I will enjoy it!

 

[P. Plainsman]

Those case-colored Vaqueros are awful purty. If you can, Mike, post a pic of your new gun.

I recently tried a Vaquero in .357 and enjoyed it. What is the .45 Long Colt round like to shoot? I've shot .45 ACP and a little .44 Mag. I assume the .45LC is closer to the latter?

By the way, what I pine for is a New Super Single Six in .22LR / .22 Mag, stainless, with a 5.5" barrel. (In Rugerese, a KNR-5.) Such graceful lines. Seems like a ticket to plinking heaven.

 

[popbang]

I really like the Vaqueros. They are a so much fun at the range.

The Blackhawks don't have that color-case hardened finish. I like the finish, but i have had problems with it. It seems to wear easily. My Vaquero is now all blued. Take a look at them stainless Blackhawks, they sure are nice.

 

[stellarpod]

Love mine. .44 Mag 7-1/2" Stainless.



stellarpod

 

[Josey]

My suggestion would be to have te undersized cylinder throats reamed to proper size and have a 11 degree cut performed on the forcing cone. The Belt Mountain locking base pins are a worthy addition. There are a bunch of things that can be done/installed in a Ruger. The two items that accomplish the most are proper cylinder throat sizing and cutting the forcing cone to 11 degrees. I like my 44-40 Vaqueros. You can try different bullet weights to try to reach POA/POI before filing on your sights. When you do start adjusting/filing remember that you can't replace what you remove easily, go slow.

 

[XLMiguel]

Will post a range report in the near future. Due to Fairfax Co.'s 3-day waiting period, I can't pick it up until Wednesday COB. Thankfully, all of VA's pre-emption laws go away after July1, but I guess I can wait one more time.:banghead:

One of the things that appealed about the LC is that it is a pretty flexible round. I've shot a few cowboy loads that were quite manageable, and some 300 gr (IIRC) hunting loads that were pretty stout. Torque and recoil, yeah buddy!

edited to correct bullet weight to 300 gr.

 

[TallPine]

I recently tried a Vaquero in .357 and enjoyed it. What is the .45 Long Colt round like to shoot? I've shot .45 ACP and a little .44 Mag. I assume the .45LC is closer to the latter?

The standard pressure 45LC in a heavy gun like a Vaquero are pussycats - about like a 38sp in a 4" med frame, or maybe less recoil than that.

The hotter loads that a Ruger can handle can make your hand hurt just about as much as you want it to

 

[tc300mag1]

I just picked up a Vaquero 5.5 in 45 last week shoots great i got the highly polished stainless and love it only thing ive found is it doesnt much care for lite loads hotter one grouped great..

 

[DoubleAction]

I'll provide an echo in advising against the thought of adding adjustable sights on the Vaquero, the gun is mean't to have a rounded top strap as found on the original Colt Model P Single Action Army. Sight adjustment is accomplished by filing down and bending the front blade to the desired point of impact at a certain distance.

 

[Tony Mig]

3 day waiting period....

I wish that's all I had to deal with. Here in The Democratic People's Republic of New Jersey, you have to file for a Handgun Purchaser's Permit for every handgun you want to buy. Depending on the Law Enforcement Agency that handles your request, it could take anywhere between one week to 4 months to get it back. The part that's really stupid, you go through the same exact background check (NICS) at the gun shop when you pick up your new gun.

I'm shopping around for a new .45 Colt Vaquero myself, and I was just looking at two with the color case finish, one in 5.5", and the other in 7.5". I really like the finish, but I've been told by many to get it in the polished stainless as the CCH/Blued finish doesn't wear well.

There's a shop about an hour's drive from me that has a stainless in 5.5", .45 Colt, they're asking a high price for it at $479.00, but that's only $10.00 more than the shop with the CCH/Blued models.

If I get my permit buy this coming Thursday, I'll be able to shoot this gun this coming weekend, but if the detective that handles the permits drags his feet, it could be longer.......

 

[P. Plainsman]

Good-looking pair of .44s, stellarpod.

I think the 7.5" barrel is the most pleasing choice for full-sized cowboy guns like the Vaquero, Blackhawk, and Colt SAA. I imagine it's also very accurate.

The stainless Vaq I shot had a 5.5" barrel and was a nice shooter.

 

[SASS#23149]

Congrats on coming over to the 'cowboy side' of revos.!!
That big frame will tame some mighty stout loads,and if ya handload your books should have a "Ruger only" section.
for my cas guns I shoot itty bitty 165 grainers at about 800 fps...no recoil and quick follow ups on 'dump' style targets.
Caution..the cch on those is kinda 'painted on and pone to wear off easily,and rust somewhat.

If ya have some money burning a hole in your pockets,go to a cowboy shoot and ask a Pard to let you handle his tuned version....or maybe you'd better not.It'll make ya want ALL the goodis installed on yours.

 

[Leaky Waders]

they are a fun project gun...I've added the free spin pawl and power custom hammer and keep swapping back and forth between black and brown grips...

Here's her latest look in leather...

 

[Valkman]

3 day waiting period.... I wish that's all I had to deal with. Here in The Democratic People's Republic of New Jersey, you have to file for a Handgun Purchaser's Permit for every handgun you want to buy. Depending on the Law Enforcement Agency that handles your request, it could take anywhere between one week to 4 months to get it back. The part that's really stupid, you go through the same exact background check (NICS) at the gun shop when you pick up your new gun.

Oh man! Yesterday I dropped into a gun shop, saw and bought a 44 Mag and left with it.......with no NICS check (CCW)!

Those Vaqueros are sure nice - I still need a .45LC also.

 

[Grayrock]

Stellarpod- are those the Eagle "Gunfighter" grips? Do they have them to fit this?

[/url][/IMG]

 

[stellarpod]

Grayrock: Very perceptive. Yes, they are Eagle's Gunfighter grips and they make a world of difference in the feel of the big Rugers. If you're looking for more of a Colt feel rather than the clunky feel of the factory Ruger grips, then the Gunfighters are the ticket. They come in both smooth and checkered and in a variety of materials.

I'm not sure whether they offer grips for the birdshead Rugers or not. You check out their website at

http://www.eaglegrips.com/gunfighter.htm

stellarpod