Why do you like them?

[Dead Eye Dave]

So I have been buying pistols for a couple of years.  Mostly Italian Colt clones and such.  What do ya'll like about Rugers over other pistols?  Cabela's has a nice stainless New Vaquero for under $600 and I am seriously thinking about it.

DB

[L.G.]

Hmm, cause I've had a Ruger or two since 1973, and have always liked their quality and ruggedness.

[Doc Arroyo]

My dad ran a gunstore when I was a kid.  He had a big "event" sale on a Saturday, and I went.  I ended up spending most of the day with two guys...Bill Ruger and John Bianchi.  I still have the original "Wild Bunch" Bianchi poster that John signed for me.  Bill wouldn't sign it...were no Rugers in the picture! 

Since then there has always been a few Rugers in the collection, and a number of Bianchi holsters around.

Funny thing, I bought 3 different Rugers in 1981, and a number of different ones since....and none of them have ever broken a single part.

[Will Blastem]

Hmm, cause I've had a Ruger or two since 1973, and have always liked their quality and ruggedness.

What LG said They're like Timex watches...take a lickin and keep on tickin . I have 2 pair of New Vaqueros, SS and CCHB and I've been buying Rugers since 1978 and I've never broken a one.

One day, though, I'm gonna have ta buy one o those Colt clones just ta see what all the ruckus is all about

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

How Do Gents

           I bought my first Ruger back in 1966, it was a Single Six, and I've been buying Rugers ever since, back in my early years I did a lot of Quick Draw competition, and I used Colt SAA , I always loved the way they felt in my hand , balance , everything about them, except I was always having problems , they would tend to shoot loose on me , so I swiched over to the clons , an Intercontinental Dakota, in 45 long colt , just like my real Colts , and they were nice, not a Colt , but they held up a lot better.Then years later Ruger came out with their first Vaquero' which I liked , but found to be a little clunky, and heavy to use for my needs, so I didn't get one. Then came the New Model Vaquero, and Ruger got it right this time, this gun felt like my old Colts, it had that nice feel in the hand , and the balance was good , the hammer was right on  when my thumb went to cock it, this and the fact that it's a straight shooter,it didn't have those great four clicks when you would cock it , but besides that, it's dang close to the feel of my old Colts , but with this gun I can carry the gun loaded with six rouinds , couldn't do that with my Colt. I call my Ruger New Model Vaquero's my Bionic Colts , because they feel like a Colt , but their a whole heap stronger and more reliable, than what I shot in the early days.
                                  Needless to say I'm one happy Ruger Owner

                                                Ten Wolves Five Shooter 

[RRio]

For years, I shot CAS using Colt, Ubertis, and USFA single actions, but always respected the ruggedness and reliability of the Rugers.
However, the Ruger Vaquero was a little on the large size to feel truly comfortable in my hands. I had always said that if Ruger would scale the Vaqueros down to Colt-size, that I'd buy one.
Last winter a couple of my shootin' pards bought new sets of the New Vaqueros and let me try them out. To make a long story short, I bought a brace of consec. serial numbered, short .45s in SS the following week. While it has taken some getting use to not having the 4 clicks, I really like these a lot and are my primary match guns now. So, I joined the ranks of cowboy shooters using Rugers. For a tough reliable sixgun for CAS, they are hard to beat.

I respect the fact that Ruger has about the best customer service I have ever heard of, and listens to the needs of Cowboy Action Shooters. The Ruger Vaquero is evidence of that, and the New Vaquero is even more evidence.

For more Ruger stories, go here:    http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,18401.0.html

[Leo Tanner]

I'll chime in for the Old Models.  I didn't come up with the Colts, so when I held my OMV for the first time everything clicked (no pun intentended).  After 50 rounds I was offered a New Model to try.  Too late, I was already spoiled.  Either way, old or new, these guns will outlive the cockroaches and everything else in existance. 


Leo

[Captain Lee Bishop]

I have shot plenty of clones and original Colts in my days, before I really took to CAS. I agree they aren't quite as historically accurate as other makes (lacking the firing pin on the hammer and all that "safety" writing on the barrel), but I like the look, and more than anything the safety and ruggedness. I like a six shooter with a firing pin not on the hammer. I also like that they're pretty much the 'Chevy trucks' of six shooters. If I was into re-enacting the old west, I'd have an Italian made clone of a SAA. But shooting competition CAS, I wouldn't shoot anything but a Ruger!