New Vaquero 357 - Did I get a Lemon???

DerbyDale · April 20, 2008, 06:38:03 PM

I have wanted a single action for years now, and yesterday I purchased a brand new .357 4 5/8" polished stainless Ruger New Vaquero. I left the gun shop on cloud 9 as I finally had my first ever SAA clone!

However, after two trips to range, I've become very disappointed with it. Using a standard police training silhouette target (type B-21) at 15-20yards. When aiming for a headshot, it's hitting in the lower abdomen area. That's approx 2 1/2 feet too low, and a few inches left! I thought maybe it was me, so I let a friend shoot it who is a crack shot with his S&W 357 double action revolver. He got the same effect. I also let another guy (who can shoot under 2" groups with his Sig's and Kimber's) shoot it was well. He too was surprised how low it was hitting. He said that was the problem with fixed sight pistols, and I would have to either file the front sight down, or just learn how to compensate for it. I was shooting a 100round pack of WWB 38 special and a 50 round box of Remington 357mag.

I could see if it was off an inch or two... but a few feet???
I'm thinking I got a lemon and maybe I should be calling Ruger support. What do you guys think? I'm not sure what to do, as I'm pretty bummed out right now...

Doc Shapiro · April 20, 2008, 09:12:08 PM

It's not uncommon for a SA revolver to shoot low. Do as your friend suggested. Either file the front sight, or send it back to Ruger with info about the ammo you want to use and they'll adjust it for you.

Doc

Ten Wolves Fiveshooter · April 20, 2008, 09:42:43 PM

Howdy Pard

Like Doc said, but I think I would send it back to Ruger, give them a call , tell them the problem , and tell them you would like them to set it to point of aim, with the ammo you are going to shoot in it, ( make sure of the ammo before doing this ) ask them to send you a prepaid box to send it back in . if you don't have the box, it will cost you about $ 79.00, so get the box first, if the person you are talking doesn't want send you the box ask to speak to someone else, thats what I had to do , and they sent my gun back in three weeks. Don't worry , Ruger will take of you top notch, and your gun will come back in cherry condition.

tEN wOLVES

DerbyDale · April 21, 2008, 06:17:26 AM

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I'm not too comfortable with the idea of filing on my brand new gun. I have never done anything like that, and I'm not sure I could do it correctly. So it sounds like calling Ruger is my only option.

Was your Vaquero doing the same thing Ten Wolves? I have never dealt with Rugers customer service, and not sure what to expect. Will they set it to point of aim free of charge? I hope they will take care of me, because right now this is the biggest disappointment I've ever had in any firearm.

I've owned & shot Hi-Points, that so far, have been much better. $:-\$

Pitspitr · April 21, 2008, 06:31:06 AM

It is far, far better to have a fixed sight gun hitting too low than too high.

Ruger will treat you right. I have two Rugers, a Mini-14 and a Bearcat. Both were used when I got them. I've called customer service on both of them. I called for a owners manual for the mini and the Bearcat was out of time (badly) when I inherited it. The manual and the repaired gun were both shipped promptly, and both were free.

Ten Wolves Fiveshooter · April 21, 2008, 11:24:22 AM

Howdy DerbyDale

I had a different problem with mine, and it cost me $ 79.00 to send it back, I mentioned this on the forum and Will Blastum came in , and told me that Ruger should have sent me a prepaid box to send it back in , which they didn't , so I called them again and talked to some else , and he told me that the lady on the phone had given me the wrong information, after my gun was sent back to me , I got a check in the mail for the money I was out.
As far as charges go, if your gun is new they probably wont charge you a thing , but if they did , it be $ 25.00 this is what they charge to set a gun to P.O.A.
Like I said before , make sure you are happy with the load you are going to use, before you tell them the type of ammo you will be useing,if you are going to be in CAS I would suggest you go with Ten-x or a cowboy load that you like, These Vaquero's were built to shoot the reduced Cowboy loads, if you haven't tried these you might want to give them a try before you send the gun back. Also if you're not used to shooting single action revolvers, TRY A DIFFERENT GRIP, this has been a problem for some shooters, try leaving your little finger under the grip, this will give you a more stable grip when firing, try a two handed grip, which is the best of all,(IMHO ).

Good luck with this , and let me know how it comes out

tEN wOLVES

Will Blastem · April 21, 2008, 01:58:40 PM

It is pretty normal for the NRV's to shoot low but, like you said 2-4" (depending on load)not FEET. Ruger will bring it back to POA (left to right) but maybe not on vertical. If you shoot light loads you'll need a good file to dial the vertical in when you decide on the load you want to shoot...Don't be afraid to use the file, just be careful...a couple of swipes and shoot a group and watch how it moves...Remember it's easy to file off metal but dang hard ta put it back on.

Like Ten Wolves said...make sure you get a prepaid box or label

.

Leo Tanner · April 21, 2008, 04:00:57 PM

Gotta an OMV that slings .357's.
One thing I noticed is that front sight is perty tall. Call it Kentucky windage if you will, but I've found leveling the bottom of it with the gutter works well. A lot of time at the range can get you knowin yer gun well with yer chosen loads. As stated here before, you can file metal off but not put it back. Kind a like an electrician tryin ta get the smoke back in the wires

Leo

Ten Wolves Fiveshooter · April 21, 2008, 05:51:45 PM

Howdy Leo

Thats quit an explanation Pard, but thats what I do, and I do the same with my rifles, I call it getting to know your guns & loads , you can always compensate for distance, by raising or lowering the front site into the rear site, I know it isn't the perfect way to do it , but when I was a kid, I knew my gun well enough that this method worked everytime for me, it also gave me a greater distance to work with , within my iron fixed sites ranges, Like Leo Tanner said if you want to lower it just put the top of front site in the bottom of the gutter in the rear. ( LOL )

tEN wOLVES

Wandering Man · April 21, 2008, 06:08:28 PM

I shot my new Vaquero last week for the first time. I shot some newly made .357 with 4.4 gr Bullseye under a 158 gr. lead swc. My shots all hit low.

I thought Oh No!

Then I shot my .38's through it. 3.3 gr Bullseye under the same 158 gr bullets. My wife could feel the difference in recoil that I couldn't.

What I could see, however, is that I was on target with this lighter load.

My recommendation:

Buy a box of cowboy loads before you send it back.

WM

Leo Tanner · April 21, 2008, 09:24:10 PM

I've noticed a HUGE difference tween the .38's and the .357's. Others have as well. I don't feel the kick so much bt smaller folks do, but I do see the need for aiming adjustment. This little gal had shot a .38 snubbie all day and got hooked on the magnums once she tried them in the Vaq. Accurate fer sure.

ashlyngr · December 10, 2008, 09:18:32 PM

I'm shooting two New Model Vaqueros. I would not jump to the Lemon Conclusion as quickly as I did. First, remember that your Vaqueros were sighted at the factory for 15 yds. Secondly, you have a 38 spl/357 mag revolver, with a lot of variance in velocities. I would call Ruger and find out what ammo they used at 15 yds sight setting. Thirdly, make sure you shoot from a solid rest and I mean a mechchanical rest. Shooting from sand bags is still iffy at best. Fourth, this is your first Single Action Fixed Sight revolver. Your sight picture is different than you are used to. It's now a matter of how much front blade and on which part of the target.

Bruce