Catfishman
New member
I have an opportunity to buy a new blued .357 Vaquero for $450 OTD. Is that a good deal?
Ruger Vaquero .357 - good deal?
- Thread starter Catfishman
- Start date
Yes. A very, very good deal if it's actually new and not too bad if it's "used but cherry".
The blued guns are a better bet than stainless if you have any inclination to *seriously* modify it later - and by that I mainly mean "swap the barrel". It's also easier to re-chamber the blued-metal cylinder. One of the coolest conversions for the mid-frame 357s is to upgrade to 41Magnum. In the stainless guns the barrel threads can gall and possibly destroy the frame as you unscrew the barrel.
The latest production are all-blue, no more of that horrible fake-case-colors.
If it IS a fake-case gun though, don't necessarily turn it down. Why? Because it was made from 2004-2007 or possibly early 2008, which puts it in a period of Ruger production with exceptionally good quality control - basically "top vintage years". Once the Obama gun rush of 2008 was in full swing, production ramped up and the number of quality control problems rose. Not too horribly in Ruger's case but there was an effect. The fake-case finish is horrible but Ruger will now convert those to all-blue for free for anybody who complains so...if I saw an old-stock new fake-case gun today, I'd snap it up over an all-blue at the same price
.
357 versions are nice because the thicker barrel walls resist deforming at the frame where it gets screwed in. The 45 version typically has a constriction at the back of the barrel that, for peak accuracy, can be addressed either with fire-lapping it yourself or a Taylor Throat job by a gunsmith.
The blued guns are a better bet than stainless if you have any inclination to *seriously* modify it later - and by that I mainly mean "swap the barrel". It's also easier to re-chamber the blued-metal cylinder. One of the coolest conversions for the mid-frame 357s is to upgrade to 41Magnum. In the stainless guns the barrel threads can gall and possibly destroy the frame as you unscrew the barrel.
The latest production are all-blue, no more of that horrible fake-case-colors.
If it IS a fake-case gun though, don't necessarily turn it down. Why? Because it was made from 2004-2007 or possibly early 2008, which puts it in a period of Ruger production with exceptionally good quality control - basically "top vintage years". Once the Obama gun rush of 2008 was in full swing, production ramped up and the number of quality control problems rose. Not too horribly in Ruger's case but there was an effect. The fake-case finish is horrible but Ruger will now convert those to all-blue for free for anybody who complains so...if I saw an old-stock new fake-case gun today, I'd snap it up over an all-blue at the same price
.357 versions are nice because the thicker barrel walls resist deforming at the frame where it gets screwed in. The 45 version typically has a constriction at the back of the barrel that, for peak accuracy, can be addressed either with fire-lapping it yourself or a Taylor Throat job by a gunsmith.
Catfishman
New member
Thanks for the info. Now I will have to see if I can scrape up the $450. I just bought a car.
I'm not a revolver guy but for some reason I just love the look and feel of the Vaquero.
Do you have a recommendation for where to buy a holster?
About what do Vaqueros retail for?
If I buy it Tuesday I will see if I can figure out how to post a picture.
I'm not a revolver guy but for some reason I just love the look and feel of the Vaquero.
Do you have a recommendation for where to buy a holster?
About what do Vaqueros retail for?
If I buy it Tuesday I will see if I can figure out how to post a picture.
You can find suggested retail of new at Ruger’s web site.
As far as holster you first need to think about where and how you’re going to carry.
The list of holsters for single action Ruger’s is limitless but a lot depends on how much $$$$$ your willing to spend.
Uncle Mikes make a good inexpensive holster for single action guns.
http://www.ruger.com/products/vaqueroBlued/models.html
http://www.uncle-mikes.com/products/sidekick_hip_holsters.html
As far as holster you first need to think about where and how you’re going to carry.
The list of holsters for single action Ruger’s is limitless but a lot depends on how much $$$$$ your willing to spend.
Uncle Mikes make a good inexpensive holster for single action guns.
http://www.ruger.com/products/vaqueroBlued/models.html
http://www.uncle-mikes.com/products/sidekick_hip_holsters.html
I've modded my NewVaq357 to such an insane degree, I have to make all my own holsters .
The best "street or woods" carry holster for a Colt SAA-sized gun like the NewVaq is, I believe, the Mernickle PS6-SA:
http://www.gunblast.com/Mernickle.htm
http://www.mernickleholsters.com/ps/ps6sar8.html
The other "high and tight" setup that works is a pancake...one of the best and best value pancake makers is http://simplyrugged.com - you do NOT want a snap-strap in my opinion. I'd call him and see which one he recommends for the NewVaq - which, again, can live just fine in a holster made for a post-WW2 Colt SAA, it's that close.
If you do want a "release strap" holster of some sort, consider a Threepersons type:
http://www.gunblast.com/WBell_PoliceHolsterHist.htm
http://www.lobogunleather.com/6_classic_tom_threepersons_style
http://www.ringlercustomleather.com/catalog/i11.html
http://www.epsaddlery.com/pc-65-9-1920-tom-threepersons-2-to-7-12-barrels.aspx
IMPORTANT: always order an extra-long snap strap on a Threepersons rig! What I mean is, after the snap the leather strap should continue all the way to the bottom of the leather. Read Keith's "Sixguns" for details. If you don't like it you can always trim the strap .
A Threepersons holster needs the strap. It's right at the transition point from "old west" holsters to modern stuff, and isn't "tight enough" for use strapless the way the Mernickle PS6-SA or a pancake type is.
What else...ah. I recommend the 4.68" barrel over the 5.5". The barrel wall thickness and cylinder beef tend to make the 357 variant a fairly heavy gun and it'll get nose-heavy with too much barrel. Bullet performance out of the 4.68" will be fine. I blew up a bowling ball with mine using DoubleTap Ammo's hottest 125gr load and a 4.68" tube...split it in half from 20 yards out, sent fist-size pieces of the concrete core flying back past my feet. These guns can shoot REAL 357 ammo in large diets.
Only exception on barrel length is, if you want to hunt with it and your state has a 5" barrel requirement.
.The best "street or woods" carry holster for a Colt SAA-sized gun like the NewVaq is, I believe, the Mernickle PS6-SA:
http://www.gunblast.com/Mernickle.htm
http://www.mernickleholsters.com/ps/ps6sar8.html
The other "high and tight" setup that works is a pancake...one of the best and best value pancake makers is http://simplyrugged.com - you do NOT want a snap-strap in my opinion. I'd call him and see which one he recommends for the NewVaq - which, again, can live just fine in a holster made for a post-WW2 Colt SAA, it's that close.
If you do want a "release strap" holster of some sort, consider a Threepersons type:
http://www.gunblast.com/WBell_PoliceHolsterHist.htm
http://www.lobogunleather.com/6_classic_tom_threepersons_style
http://www.ringlercustomleather.com/catalog/i11.html
http://www.epsaddlery.com/pc-65-9-1920-tom-threepersons-2-to-7-12-barrels.aspx
IMPORTANT: always order an extra-long snap strap on a Threepersons rig! What I mean is, after the snap the leather strap should continue all the way to the bottom of the leather. Read Keith's "Sixguns" for details
. If you don't like it you can always trim the strap .A Threepersons holster needs the strap. It's right at the transition point from "old west" holsters to modern stuff, and isn't "tight enough" for use strapless the way the Mernickle PS6-SA or a pancake type is.
What else...ah. I recommend the 4.68" barrel over the 5.5". The barrel wall thickness and cylinder beef tend to make the 357 variant a fairly heavy gun and it'll get nose-heavy with too much barrel. Bullet performance out of the 4.68" will be fine
. I blew up a bowling ball with mine using DoubleTap Ammo's hottest 125gr load and a 4.68" tube...split it in half from 20 yards out, sent fist-size pieces of the concrete core flying back past my feet. These guns can shoot REAL 357 ammo in large diets.Only exception on barrel length is, if you want to hunt with it and your state has a 5" barrel requirement.
Florida Guy
New member
Sounds like a fair price.
Catfishman
New member
Got it for $400 OTD but it was like new in box.
It has very light recoil with .38 specials and I just love the sound and feel of the gun. Is it just me or does it just seem wrong hold a Vaquero with two hands?
Thanks for the holster advice. I will definitely get some kind of Cowboy rig.
It has very light recoil with .38 specials and I just love the sound and feel of the gun. Is it just me or does it just seem wrong hold a Vaquero with two hands?
Thanks for the holster advice. I will definitely get some kind of Cowboy rig.
CONGRATS
On a good deal for a really sweet gun, if that's the one you like best. I'm kind of on the other side. In 1983, I got a 7.5" .45 Blackhawk convertable, and since then, haved added another one, a .357, a .44 Mag, and three original Vaqueros in .45 Colt. I also have a new Vaquero in .45 Colt, one of the ones with the faux case colors. NIB 12 rnds fired, so far. But I have handled it a bit.
I'm not crazy about it. Its a great gun, just not what I'm so used to. It feels "small" to me, and I don't care for the grips. Entirely personal preference, I like the oversize Pachmayr rubber grips for my Blackhawks, and I like the adjustable sights on magnum revolvers. So a .357 New Vaquero isn't my cup of tea, exactly. I do love the Ruger SAs though, and wouldn't pass on a good New Vaquero at a good price. They do feel like a Colt in the hand, but with Ruger's safer mechanism.
Because I began my SA experience with a new model Blackhawk, and used them for so many years before learing a Colt size gun, the Colt size has never felt "right" to me. Most folks are just the opposite, loving the SAA and feeling the bigger Rugers are "huge".
I do a lot of my plinking one handed, the old classic target style, and can ring the rifle gong at 200yds with my old 7.5" .45 Blackhawk, I have shot it that much and know it that well.
You got a fine gun, and once you have shot it enough with different ammo to learn where it hits with what (something necessary with all fixed sight guns), you'll have to look long and hard to find something better. Enjoy!
On a good deal for a really sweet gun, if that's the one you like best. I'm kind of on the other side. In 1983, I got a 7.5" .45 Blackhawk convertable, and since then, haved added another one, a .357, a .44 Mag, and three original Vaqueros in .45 Colt. I also have a new Vaquero in .45 Colt, one of the ones with the faux case colors. NIB 12 rnds fired, so far. But I have handled it a bit.
I'm not crazy about it. Its a great gun, just not what I'm so used to. It feels "small" to me, and I don't care for the grips. Entirely personal preference, I like the oversize Pachmayr rubber grips for my Blackhawks, and I like the adjustable sights on magnum revolvers. So a .357 New Vaquero isn't my cup of tea, exactly. I do love the Ruger SAs though, and wouldn't pass on a good New Vaquero at a good price. They do feel like a Colt in the hand, but with Ruger's safer mechanism.
Because I began my SA experience with a new model Blackhawk, and used them for so many years before learing a Colt size gun, the Colt size has never felt "right" to me. Most folks are just the opposite, loving the SAA and feeling the bigger Rugers are "huge".
I do a lot of my plinking one handed, the old classic target style, and can ring the rifle gong at 200yds with my old 7.5" .45 Blackhawk, I have shot it that much and know it that well.
You got a fine gun, and once you have shot it enough with different ammo to learn where it hits with what (something necessary with all fixed sight guns), you'll have to look long and hard to find something better. Enjoy!
Catfishman
New member
Thanks for the comments guys. I realize the Blackhawk is a more practical gun. But this gun is sort of like a "weekend car" to me.
I hope to shoot it a lot, get a nice holster and put some kind of really nice wood grips on it - eventually.
I hope to shoot it a lot, get a nice holster and put some kind of really nice wood grips on it - eventually.