Ruger New Vaquero in 44 Magnum

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Ported Marlin

Ported Marlin

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A few months back, I bought from Smoky Mountain Guns & Ammo (in the HUGE Smoky Mountain Knife Works building, southeast of Knoxville, Tennessee) a Ruger New Vaquero in 44 Magnum. Ruger no longer makes that revolver. I've had some discussion over whether it's really a New Vaquero frame, or whether Ruger only stamped the old Vaquero frame with "New Vaquero" for the 44 Magnum version. If it IS a New Vaquero frame, is it safe to shoot? I have no idea on either count, except that it hasn't blown up when I shot full-house 44 magnum rounds through it, commercial or hand-loaded. new-vaquero-disassembled.jpg new-vaquero-cylinder.jpg
 
Ruger has made this more complicated than it needs to be.

The original Vaquero was built on the large cylinder frame-same size cylinder as the Super Blackhawk. They were offered in .44 Magnum, .357 Magnum and .45 Colt. Maybe others. It’s a large gun. I think the large frame Vaquero had a two digit prefix on the serial number, and the “safety warning” rollmark on the left side of the barrel.

In 2005, I believe, Ruger responded to cowboy shooters who wanted a revolver closer in size to the Colt SAA. Ruger essentially reintroduced the “medium” cylinder frame in the 50th Anniversary .357 Blackhawk (which also featured the first Blackhawk’s “Flattop” frame) and in the New Vaquero. Pretty sure the New Vaqueros have a three digit prefix in the serial number, and the “warning” moved to the underside of the barrel. One feature introduced on the New Vaq is the “reverse indexing pawl”, a worthy improvement that aligns each chamber with the loading gate for easier loading and unloading. The New Vaquero was/is chambered in .357 Magnum and .45 Colt (plus convertible models) and a smaller number were chambered in .44 Special. To my knowledge Ruger never offered a medium frame variant in .44 Magnum. Presumably because the smaller cylinder and frame would not handle that round.

Here’s where it gets weird. The large framed guns were rollmarked “Ruger Vaquero” and the mediums “Ruger New Vaquero”. The first exception to this rule was the medium framed .44 Special revolver that is rollmarked “Ruger Vaquero”. I’ve heard a possible explanation for this but who cares.

A few years ago Ruger started making a .44 Magnum fixed sight revolver on the large frame, marked “Ruger New Vaquero”. Large frame, I believe with the two digit prefix. The first such revolver I saw had a birdshead grip frame, a wide hammer and a 3.75” (I think) barrel. A distributor exclusive.

I wondered why Ruger gave this the New Vaquero designation. The explanation I heard was that “New Vaquero” was not a reference to the frame size, but denotes the inclusion of the Reverse Indexing Pawl, which supposedly was built into the large frame fixed sight .44 Magnum.

I’m pretty positive that you have a large framed Ruger and it is perfectly fine will .44 Magnum ammo. I would not have called it a New Vaquero but Ruger does.

it looks like they moved the safety warning to the underside of the barrel. That’s a welcome change.
 
You have a “New Vaquero” that built on the same frame as the original Vaquero. You are safe. Go forth and blast away.

Don’t believe me? Have any doubts? ;)
Call Ruger Customer Service at (336) 949-5200
https://www.ruger.com/dataProcess/customerService/

Now, as for the differences between the original and the New Vaquero vs the .44 Magnum “New” that you have; I believe the gun is built as an original Vaquero and as far as I know the only New Vaqueros with the reverse indexing pawl are the SASS Ruger New Vaqueros. EDIT: New Vaqueros have the reverse indexing pawl. I do not know if the 44 Magnum on the original frame does though.
By the way, just to add more confusion I am told that Ruger now calls the New Vaquero just plain “Vaquero”. How’s that for something else to add confusion in the mix?
And these new “Vaquero” models DO have the reverse indexing pawl.

Why Ruger does this I have no clue.

Here is the link for the new Vaquero…
https://www.ruger.com/products/vaquero/overview.html
 
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I've always scratched my head over the Ruger nomenclature.

I have a large frame Vaquero in .45 Colt... it's marked Ruger Vaquero.
I had a large frame Bisley in .41MAG... it was marked New Model Blackhawk
I had a small frame Blackhawk in .44SPC (one of the recent Lipsey's) marked New Model Blackhawk.

Certainly the .41 and .44 were not on the same frame, but were both marked the same. Go figure. I can only trust that Ruger wouldn't build a .44MAG revolver on a frame that couldn't handle it.
 
Pat Riot said:
You have a “New Vaquero” that built on the same frame as the original Vaquero. You are safe. Go forth and blast away.

Don’t believe me? Have any doubts? ;)
Call Ruger Customer Service at (336) 949-5200
https://www.ruger.com/dataProcess/customerService/

Now, as for the differences between the original and the New Vaquero vs the .44 Magnum “New” that you have; I believe the gun is built as an original Vaquero and as far as I know the only New Vaqueros with the reverse indexing pawl are the SASS Ruger New Vaqueros.
By the way, just to add more confusion I am told that Ruger now calls the New Vaquero just plain “Vaquero”. How’s that for something else to add confusion in the mix?
And these new “Vaquero” models DO have the reverse indexing pawl.

Why Ruger does this I have no clue.

Here is the link for the new Vaquero…
https://www.ruger.com/products/vaquero/overview.html
Click to expand...
My New Vaquero 45 Colt indexes on the loading gate. I bought it about 10 years ago. It is not a SASS model. I have had three flat top Blackhawks that all indexed on the loading gate. My Super Black Hawk 44 Mag is a pain because it requires exact loading gate alignment by hand to be loaded. I manage, but certainly have my preference for SAA action.
 
I understood "New" Vaquero to be in reference to the reverse indexing pawl system and that an "original Vaquero" reissued in the same caliber but with the reverse indexing pawl was a "New Vaquero"

With respect to the 44 Spl , there was no "original Vaquero" built on the large frame so the mid frame with the reverse indexing pawl system was just a "Vaquero".

I think. Maybe.
 
RealGun said:
My New Vaquero 45 Colt indexes on the loading gate. I bought it about 10 years ago. It is not a SASS model. I have had three flat top Blackhawks that all indexed on the loading gate. My Super Black Hawk 44 Mag is a pain because it requires exact loading gate alignment by hand to be loaded. I manage, but certainly have my preference for SAA action.
Click to expand...

RKRCPA said:
I understood "New" Vaquero to be in reference to the reverse indexing pawl system and that an "original Vaquero" reissued in the same caliber but with the reverse indexing pawl was a "New Vaquero"

With respect to the 44 Spl , there was no "original Vaquero" built on the large frame so the mid frame with the reverse indexing pawl system was just a "Vaquero".

I think. Maybe.
Click to expand...

Apologies to all. I really need to not make posts at 3:30 AM.
The New Vaqueros DO have the reverse index pawl. The original Vaqueros did not.
Heck, I have a New Vaquero. I knew this. Duh!
 
My .45 New Vaquero does have the reverse index pawl. It was made in 2016.
My original Vaquero .45 does not.

1EAADE7F-41C6-4FE8-BC66-6FCDDE40AE8B.jpeg

I bought 2 New Vaqueros in 2005 when they were newly released. I really don’t recall if they had reverse index pawls. I did not shoot them much and I had quit SASS at the time so I wasn’t shooting Cowboy Action. I eventually sold them. I rejoined SASS in 2016.
I considered buying the .44 Magnum New Vaquero to have one that matched the size of my original but ended up buying another New Vaquero. Between the two I would take an original over the New any day.
I am actually in the process of testing an original grip frame on my New Vaquero. So far it is working out pretty well for me. I just need to finish polishing it.
I do not care for the Colt-like grip.
 
I'm probably more confused now than I was just a few hours ago.

Pat Riot... what exactly am I looking at in your photo?

Here's my 'Ruger Vaquero' in .45 Colt... note the hammer and cylinder base pin. (Ignore the Bisley...)

FpOz2Gll.jpg
 
Some folks are confusing a “reverse indexing pawl” with a “free spin” feature.

Also lots of confusion about the adjective “New” in Ruger nomenclature. In 1973 Ruger introduced a transfer bar ignition to their single action revolvers and designated them as the “New Model Blackhawk”, “New Model Super Blackhawk” and “New Model Single Six”.

So “New Model” means “Now I have a transfer bar. Ho-ho-ho”. [Gotta give a Christmas movie reference this time of year.]. Consumers began calling the earlier revolvers “Old Model”, in order to differentiate them but that was not the official product name.

The Vaquero was introduced in 1993. Ergo, they are New Model single actions. There was no need for Ruger to name it a “New Model Vaquero” because there was not a pre-1973 version.

The designation of the second generation variant is “New Vaquero”, not “New Model Vaquero”. All Vaqueros, large frame or medium frame, are New Model revolvers.

Ruger reintroduced the “flat top” frame on the Blackhawk revolvers beginning in 2005. They have made them in medium and large size. They all have the transfer bar ignition so are all properly marked “New Model Blackhawk”.

Perhaps in 2005 Ruger should have dubbed the medium frame revolver the “Vaquero II” or perhaps “Mark 2 Vaquero”, similar to the way the .22 autopistols are named.
 
Pat Riot said:
Ruger is very good at causing confusion with their revolver names, designations and designs.
Click to expand...
YES THEY ARE!!! They've done us no favors with their naming shenanigans.


Crunchy Frog said:
Some folks are confusing a “reverse indexing pawl” with a “free spin” feature.

Also lots of confusion about the adjective “New” in Ruger nomenclature. In 1973 Ruger introduced a transfer bar ignition to their single action revolvers and designated them as the “New Model Blackhawk”, “New Model Super Blackhawk” and “New Model Single Six”.

So “New Model” means “Now I have a transfer bar. Ho-ho-ho”. [Gotta give a Christmas movie reference this time of year.]. Consumers began calling the earlier revolvers “Old Model”, in order to differentiate them but that was not the official product name.

The Vaquero was introduced in 1993. Ergo, they are New Model single actions. There was no need for Ruger to name it a “New Model Vaquero” because there was not a pre-1973 version.

The designation of the second generation variant is “New Vaquero”, not “New Model Vaquero”. All Vaqueros, large frame or medium frame, are New Model revolvers.

Ruger reintroduced the “flat top” frame on the Blackhawk revolvers beginning in 2005. They have made them in medium and large size. They all have the transfer bar ignition so are all properly marked “New Model Blackhawk”.

Perhaps in 2005 Ruger should have dubbed the medium frame revolver the “Vaquero II” or perhaps “Mark 2 Vaquero”, similar to the way the .22 autopistols are named.
Click to expand...
Good stuff!
 
Ported Marlin said:
A few months back, I bought from Smoky Mountain Guns & Ammo (in the HUGE Smoky Mountain Knife Works building, southeast of Knoxville, Tennessee) a Ruger New Vaquero in 44 Magnum. Ruger no longer makes that revolver. I've had some discussion over whether it's really a New Vaquero frame, or whether Ruger only stamped the old Vaquero frame with "New Vaquero" for the 44 Magnum version. If it IS a New Vaquero frame, is it safe to shoot? I have no idea on either count, except that it hasn't blown up when I shot full-house 44 magnum rounds through it, commercial or hand-loaded.
Click to expand...

Maybe I'm confused, but I cannot see what difference the "name" of a model has to do with whether or not it is safe to use, with standard for caliber ammo, regardless if it is factory or handloads. If it says ".44 magnum" on the frame/barrel, the cartridges fit into the chamber and it is of modern/recent production, why wouldn't it conform to SAAMI specs as long as the ammo does? I know of the confusion with Ruger and their "Ruger Only" type loads for .45 Colt, but then we are talking a not standard for caliber ammo type. I did not think this applied to other calibers as well. Like any other manufacturer, Ruger advises against the use of "handloads" to cover their backsides, and in many scenarios, for good reason. But sticking to the books with .44 mag ammo in a gun marked .44 mag? I dunno. Someone explain it to me.
 
Ported Marlin said:
That's why I started this thread. Lots of people DID explain it, quite well.
Click to expand...

While the confusion over the name was explained quite well, no one has explained what my original question was.......

buck460XVR said:
Maybe I'm confused, but I cannot see what difference the "name" of a model has to do with whether or not it is safe to use, with standard for caliber ammo, regardless if it is factory or handloads. If it says ".44 magnum" on the frame/barrel, the cartridges fit into the chamber and it is of modern/recent production, why wouldn't it conform to SAAMI specs as long as the ammo does?
Click to expand...
 
I think Buck's point is that if it's stamped .44Magnum, then it's a .44Magnum and safe for any standard pressure .44Magnum ammunition. The name is irrelevant.
 
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