Ruger Vaquero .45 Colt

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ArchAngelCD

ArchAngelCD

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Well, I was at my local shop today and this just fell into my lap. A guy came in looking to sell a Ruger Vaquero but the dealer didn't want to buy it. I have been looking to buy a .45 Colt Single Action for a while now so I agreed to buy it. I was VERY happy when he quoted me a price of only $250 since it was in such great shape. When I got it home I was even happier and I'll explain why....

This Vaquero is not a "New" Vaquero but an "Old" Vaquero! That means I can fire those heavier loads from it if I choose to. (correct??) I didn't realize it was an old Vaquero but it did seem a little large and heavy at first. I asked if it were an old Vaquero and he said he didn't think so. The Serial Number is 58-80xxx which confirms it's a 2004 model Vaquero just one year short of the New Vaquero production in 2005.

Now for the real questions...

1. The grips have a half moon rounded cut out up near the top I haven't seen on other Vaqueros. Is this an oddity or just something I haven't seen before? Is it possible the grip frame is different, been changed? That cut out matches the grip frame. EDIT - I was looking around on some of the gun sites and realized someone put a Ruger Bisley grip frame on this Vaquero... I like it!!

2. The hammer is very different on this Vaquero. It is flattened down instead of being straighter up like the ones I've seen. I know this it's different and I know it's easier to cock without moving my hand. Target hammer???

3. The trigger is also very different. It is rounded rather than straight and it's closer to the back of the trigger guard than other triggers I've seen on Vaqueros. Also, the back of the trigger is "notch" and is extended back, not a full straight piece like the other Vaqueros. Target or special trigger???

Any information that can be added would be appreciated. I don't know much about these revolvers but I think I did better than I originally though when I bought this one.

Note: First 3 pictures are of my revolver and the forth picture is another Vaquero to use as a comparison so you can see the differences I'm asking about.

Vaquero-1.jpg

Vaquero-2.jpg

Vaquero-3.jpg

Stock_Vaquero.gif
 
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What you have here is a "Bisvaq" - a Bisley Vaquero. It's likely a factory combination, or it might have been homebrewed.

The hammer, trigger and grip frame are all Bisley parts on your gun. When all three are swapped at once to that configuration, you have a "full on" Bisley conversion. It's possible to do a semi-Bisley; it's very common to put a Bisley hammer on an otherwise standard Vaquero or Blackhawk.

Now. The Bisley setup you have is excellent for major recoil control. If you're going to use the sort of monster 45LC+P loads that gun can cope with, you're going to love this gun so long as it fits your hands.

If your hands are on the smaller side, you may find the factory grip panels a bit thick. Eagle and others make "gunfighter pattern" Bisley grips that will bolt right up. "Gunfighter" in a grip set usually means "not as thick as factory". Avoid checkered variants at all costs if you want to shoot major horsepower...checkered grips are used by those shooting these purely in SASS/CAS competition with "mouse fart" loads.

Next, give it the full "checkout" if you haven't already, and then see how accurate it is. If you have a micrometer handy that can measure inside diameter, check the "business ends" of each of the cylinder bores. There may be variances between them, if so check out:

http://www.cylindersmith.com/

Your cylinder was bored on a machine that did all six bores at once, with six bits and reamers. Variances between bores do happen on that kind of machine, sometimes. That guy above has the cure and it's not pricey.

(The New Vaquero eliminated this issue by doing cylinders on machines with just one bit/reamer, doing each bore one at a time in sequence. This is a key reason a NewVaq is (on average) more accurate out of the box than the OldVaq or other large-frame Ruger SA. But the difference is generally minor and the OldVaq responds well to minor tuning.)
 
Thanks for the info Jim, I'm sure you're right, I have a Factory Bisley Vaquero. When I bought this revolver this afternoon I didn't know they existed but did some research after I made this post and found out. I'm very happy with this revolver as it feels extremely comfortable in my hand. I checked it out (other than firing it) and it appears to be in great shape. The barrel looks pristine and the cylinders are clean. I will check if they are all the same diameter before I shoot it just so I know what to expect. If the accuracy is off I'll have to take steps to fix it because I really like this revolver even without shooting it yet.

Thanks again for your help...
 
Call Ruger and ask for the records department. Tell the nice lady who answers the phone to check the serial number of the gun. She will tell you when it shipped and what it left the factory as. If you ask she will even send you a nice letter to that effect. You will then know for sure whether it is factory or someone "Bisley-ized" the gun. Either way, a nice looking revolver and an even better deal.
 
Hope you have fun with it. I've enjoyed my Bisley Vaquero more than any other handgun I've ever tried. I'm looking for a twin in case I get the itch to get into cowboy action shooting some day.
 
Dude! You scored so big!

I have a SBH that needs exactly that treatment. I'm saving up for it as we speak. Love the bisley! My FA is a bisley - can't beat 'em.

Top it all off, and you have a case hardened old style frame! SWEET!
 
Shoot it a lot, first....measure much later....don't prejudice yourself in advance....SA's take some getting used-to before you get consistant with them....they have a relatively slow "lock-time" compared to many other handguns, and until you get a consistant hold shot-to-shot, you won't know how well the gun shoots, and you can spend a lot of time trying to fix what ain't broke....shoot 100-300rds a weekend for several weeks and you'll start to get a handle on what the gun can do....then, you can start measuring and maybe sending the cylinder to cas.....cas is a heck of a nice guy, by the way (cylindersmith).....good info, Jim......
 
Rugers are pretty stone-axe simple inside, enough so that a homebrewed Bisley conversion shouldn't be a problem child down the road. I personally wouldn't sweat whether it was factory or "hacktory" myself :).

It won't have any major collector value either way. Just a good basic gun.

(The way to be able to sell that gun for big bucks in your retirement is to do something with your life spectacular enough that it gains value through it's connection to YOU :). Don't laugh too hard, a number of elderly "old West" figures made a mint that way...Bat Masterson used to buy pawn shop guns by the bucketful for immediate resale :D.)
 
If your hands are on the smaller side, you may find the factory grip panels a bit thick. Eagle and others make "gunfighter pattern" Bisley grips that will bolt right up. "Gunfighter" in a grip set usually means "not as thick as factory". Avoid checkered variants at all costs if you want to shoot major horsepower...checkered grips are used by those shooting these purely in SASS/CAS competition with "mouse fart" loads.
Click to expand...

Hey! My Bisley-Blackhawk came with gorgeous checkered rosewood grips installed (I still have the factory smooth walnut grips too.) I've never put the smooth grips back on because the rosewood grips are so pretty. I typically use .44Magnum maximum data for 240 grain lead bullets as my starting point with 255 grain bullets in the .45 (to be truthful, I seldom go any higher than that.)

It did take some getting used to the recoil with the checkered grips.

If you said "...mouse-fart loads, or masochists" I'd probably have to agree with you :D
 
"I was VERY happy when he quoted me a price of only $250 since it was in such great shape."


Even if it was in crappy shape, you should be pretty happy at that price. I thought $400 was a good deal for an old model Vaquero in .45, and it had cracked grips and wasn't even a Bisley.
 
Thanks for all the information and good comments.
This is a great revolver that will be with me for a very long time... :)

Originally Posted By rondog:
$250?!?! Aw man, you suck. :banghead: /
Click to expand...
Thank you, uhh thank-you-very-much... :D :neener:
 
Quote:
Originally Posted By rondog:
$250?!?! Aw man, you suck. /

Thank you, uhh thank-you-very-much...
Click to expand...

Makes me wonder what he would have said if you'd finished by saying, "and I shot the gun and didn't like it, and sold it that day at the range for $195, thinking a $55 hit a cheap enough lesson...."
 
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