Ultimate Single-Action for CCW

Status
Not open for further replies.
C

Critical J

Member
Joined
Oct 9, 2010
Messages
117
Location
Huntsville, AL
I am simply a single-action, wheel-gunnin' southern boy. I learned quick-draw at age 10 from an antique Colt and I just prefer quality over quantity, or that is to say in my case, dependability over high-capacity. That said, talk all you want about pistol merits, revolvers are just in my blood, preferably singles to fold-opens...

Anyway, now that yall know where I stand and where I won't walk, what do you think of a Ruger .357 New Vaquero Montado for my first ever concealed carry piece? I'm nearly ready to buy and they're readily available "enough" plus if there's one place I refuse to let price be an issue it's in obtaining the perfect gun to depend my life on ($625-ish, not too bad really, though another $150 larger than Ruger's own comparable counterparts) and am hoping to dig-up some leads on a birdshead model, if possible.

Up-Sides
* .38/.357 dual-functionality and practicality
* safety and simplicity of a modern single-action
* more concealable Montado frame, barrel, and hammer
* highly visable stainless finish
* made by Ruger, so yea...

Down-Sides
* short ejection rod
* potential issues w/ transfer bar

Please comment generously, I've done my research but am looking to be as educated as possible before hitting the street w/ this gun. All ideas and oppinions considered, especially those from fellow single-action CCW brothers and sisters!
 
Last edited:
Well for what you want to do you probably made a good choice, although given the short barrel .45 Colt or .45 ACP might be a better choice. The .357 Magnum needs a longer barrel to really give its full expectations.

If you round the bottom corners of the plow-handle butt (think Colt Detective Special) you will find it somewhat easier to conceal.

While I am a big fan of single action's for other things, in this day and age I would prefer a different choice for concealed carry/self defense - but we all have a right to go our own way.
 
Wow, thanks for the timely response - always happy to hear from folks w/ different perspectives when they're not cramming them down your throat! I should have mentioned this earlier, but I usually only fire .38s from .357 revolvers, now what say you about barrel length - yes/no?
 
I think you sound big enough to know if you like Single Actions. 357 or 38 or 45 no matter sounds fine to me.
 
Excluding the question of what platform is best, the associated issue is concealable self protection against a life-threatning attack.

When you go to short barrels you give up velocity, and velocity is what makes hollow-point bullets expand, if indeed they do. If you are shooting a heavy, big diameter bullet (which in effect is expanded when it leaves the bore) you can afford to give up some velocity, and still make a big hole in whatever. Bullet expansion becomes a moot point.

If you are serious about defending your life, what good reason is there in carrying (concealed yet) .38 Specials in a .45 platform?

Given the short extractor rod, the best choice would be the .45 ACP pistol cartridge.
 
I do understand the concerns and have heard most of them before, but .38s just shoot best from my hand is all. Like I said, I was firing old Colt .45s before I was a teenager on my grandpa's Loganville farmland, and having grown-up on them I was just sure that I knew I wanted to carry one when I was old enough, dreamed about that calibur all the live-long day... until I shot a prowling coyote just as equally dead with a pal's .38 special for half the recoil!

I've got nothing to prove, I just know what'll serve my needs and there's only one type of handgun that has never locked-up, choked-up, or misfired on me - a SA wheelgun. Besides, these days i'm more afraid of the legal consequences from a misfire than some crackhead-hoodrat. And I'm no cowboy, horses don't even like me, but simply put, my life experiences thus far have lead me in the direction of single-action revolvers, they're all I really know, just looking for input from other folks w/ similar outlooks or firearms...
 
Well I will admit that if someone wants to use a certain cartridge in a particular revolver then they can do whatever they want - at least within reason.

Now I am an excellent example of someone who often carries a .38 Special snubby, which in terms of size and weight was designed around that cartridge.

However on occasion when I think the circumstances and threat level might be higher, I switch to a slightly bigger and heavier snubby chambered in .44 Special.

And if it seems like it might be a good idea, I can go a full-sized big-bore or Magnum revolver and use one of the snubbies as a back-up if I am so inclined. This however seldom happens.

But in any case if it's my neck that's at stake, I see little purpose in lugging around a large, heavy revolver that's loaded with .38 Specials.

Seems like I remember something about not sending a boy to do a man's work... to which I'll add, "unless you have to." :uhoh:
 
Wielding a SA sixgun loaded w/ standard .38s (non *P) I can usually put every shot through a 15 yard bullseye in like, a second. However if it's loaded w/ .357 or .45 I can only do the same in say, 3 or 4 seconds respectively...

Anyhow, let me ask it a different way - given available barrel lengths for New Vaqueros of any style, though only .38/.357 calibur what would be the ideal barrel length for CCW, in yall's opinion? 7&1/2" is just not gonna happen, i'm not compensating for nothing here after all!

Oh, yea - and I've never fired a New Vaquero before, that's what we're really talking about here!
 
Last edited:
4 3/4" is classic SA bbl length, and 4 " is where 357 starts to pull away from 38. you wont get expansion out of either til 4"
 
In conducting my pre-commitment research I found that there were several cases of broken transfer bars in the New Vaqueros after enough continued use. i'm sure it's a simple fix to return it to Ruger, but still...
 
If you want a Single-Action for your CCW revolver, hard to imagine a beter choice than the Vaquero "Sheriff's model"...6 rounds, fixed sights, etc. and if it came down to that, makes a decent bludgeon, too.
 
CriticalJ,

It's good to hear from a kindred spirit and if you saw my current thread on the SA as a combat weapon, you know my heart also. As far as the NMV in .357 for a CCW, that's a pretty good choice since the frame is actually stronger than the .45 Colt in the NMV. I prefer the shorter barrel of the Sheriff's model for concealment, and I use the OMV so there is no worries about ammo velocity. I've also never heard of any problems with the transfer bar assembly, it's a valuable addition allowing you to carry that 6th round safely.:cool:

LD45
 
I do like single action revolvers and enjoy everything from a Single Six to a Colt SAA and those in between. I pick what I want to carry from 22 to 44mag. I personally couldn't conceal any of my single action pistols. How do you plan to carry? I haven't had any problems with the transfer bar on my Rugers, but they are at least 20yrs old, quality may be going down.
 
"I personally couldn't conceal any of my single action pistols. How do you plan to carry?"

Personally, I find it easier to conceal my Sheriff's model than my Glock. Any of the "stock on the shelf" holsters made for the S&W 44 mag will be a perfect fit, and if I could figure out how to post a picture, I'd show you my Texas Yaqui holster.

LD45
 
Mernikle and Simply Rugged make some fine "high single-action belts" that are a bit pricy, but duely serve the needs of SA CCW dependants/enthusiasts and can adequately conceal an entire rig under a buttondown or a windbreaker. Alabama is an open carry state anyway, so yea... but if possible the ideal way would be to have someone that knows what they're doing fashion-me-up a birdshead frame, if possible. I know that would help, I held one once and liked it ok, but never fired it. Anyone got much experience w/ those? It did seem like it might somehow roll out of my hand easier after the recoil :-(

Alright, so general consensus time - is a Montado length barrel suitable enough for .38/.357 loads or is it like Old Fuff and RugerMcMarlin say and I need at least a 4&3/4" barrel? I'm happy enough to shave $150 for an original model frame, but that's also not too steep a price for that much more concealability, provided that it won't noticeably effect good shootability at the shorter length - thoughts?


P.S.
Sam Cade, don't let me mislead you I can only manage that kind of feat w/ great concentration and have never tested it in a "stick 'em up!" type-situation, though I have blown away a charging stray mongrel when my little cousins were in the yard (40-50lb dog at about 50 paces, 6 shots/5 hits including a headshot on a moving target) that's as close as I got to a real life or death situation for you...
 
Last edited:
I think it would be a fine choice but like many others, would greatly prefer the .45ACP for this purpose. Many fine defensive loads exist and the short case length will make ejection much easier. Problem is, they don't make one.

There are no birdshead grip frames in the XR3 pattern. This is a big concern for me because there is a significant difference between the XR3-RED and the XR3 grip frames the guns are equipped with. Rather than a birdshead, I would suggest simply roundbutting the existing grip frame. In that, I would only round the heel, not the toe.

I might suggest using a .357 Montado for awhile as-issued. See if it's what you're looking for. If it is, send it off to one of various custom gunsmiths for an action job, roundbutting and conversion to .45ACP. The conversion will run around $450, roundbutting $75 and the action job around $100. Or about what a new Colt costs.

PS, the Mernickle PS6 is excellent!
 
I, too, did a double take on the one second. 15 feet maybe, 15 yards, Munden can't do that. Nor Cal Elrich, nor Bob Mernickle, nor..........


When I was younger, more flexible, invincible, and lustful, I coul draw (at the beep) a 1911 from a surrender position and hit an obese ballon at 21 feet in .72. The owner of the range where we shot IPSC beat me with a Model 10 at .70. No brag, just fact.;)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

J
  • Locked
Single action
Replies
9
Views
596
Billy Shears
B
T
  • Locked
I need (want) a single action revolver
Replies
18
Views
911
peacemaker45
peacemaker45
K
  • Locked
Double action .22s
2 3
Replies
58
Views
2K
IV Troop
I
Pat Riot
  • Locked
Ruger GP100 “Single Action”
2
Replies
44
Views
2K
Pat Riot
Pat Riot
J
  • Locked
How is the single action of the Dan Wesson revolvers?
Replies
12
Views
1K
hemiram
hemiram
Back
Top