New Vaquero and Vaquero comparison

[Dirty Dan Dawkins]

I currently shoot '51 Navy's in Frontiersman category, but am looking at these New Vaqueros. Might pick up a pair. My gunsmith has one for $445 in .45. I like the balance and handling.  What impressed me most is the action needed seemingly nothing done to it. It seems like a fair price.
On the other hand.....I have found many good Vaqueros at really good prices well under $400. My hands aren't particulary large in terms of mass, but I have long tater diggin' fangers that wrap around the Vaquero quite well. My gunsmith also has a Bisley Model for $445 in .45 as well. I never had been a big Bisley fan, but man it felt good, which surpised me as I am partial to small grips, particularly the '51 Navy. It balances and feels much better that that danged ol' Uberti Bisley in .44-40 my pard has.
So my question is this: Aside from balance and a narrower grip, is there any distinct advantage of Vaquero to New Vaquero and vice versa?
That Vaquero Bisley in .45 with it's 7 1/2" barreled paired to the New Vaquero in .45 with a 5 1/2" barrel might just make an interesting combo. Who says they gotta match? Might be an advantage to shoot a Bisley in my left hand ( as I am right handed naturally and my left hand is slightly longer than my right ) and the New Vaquero right handed or vice versa for duelist style shooting. Hmmm..that Bisley would be sweet in a shoulder holster. Thoughts? Anyone shoot a Bisley at matches? I'd hate to buy one and regret it.
I know one thing, after tinkering with Italian clones and Rugers, them there Rugers sure have much to be said about durability, metallurgy, quality of construction and I hear customer support ain't bad.
From a practical standpoint, such as plinking and hunting, none of this really matters. The perspective I need to hear is for shooting in matches. Although I do need to know what is safe to load if I wanted to be like Elmer Kieth and knock an elk down at 200-300 yards....In my dreams.

[simple_man]

How well each would work in a match is unknown to me as I will be going to my first CAS event in two weeks.  But I do know a little about the comparison of newer to older Vaqueros.

I believe the new model balances MUCH better.  The grip frame is smaller, the main frame is smaller and the cylinder is smaller.  The new Vaquero simply feels better in my small hands.

However, to answer one of your questions, the newer Vaquero can't handle loads nearly as stout as the older model due to it's lighter construction.

[Mustang Gregg]

Simple Man---
Good answer!!!
You oughta be a RAT.

MG

[simple_man]

Simple Man---
Good answer!!!
You oughta be a RAT.

MG

Not sure what a RAT is.  Care to explain?  I'm new here and to CAS.

[Dirty Dan Dawkins]

Thanks for the tips guys. That Bisley grip totally changes the feel on one and I haven't handled any Vaqueros to know the difference, but I believe I get the picture.
I own one Ruger, a MkII Government Target in .22 caliber. By far my favorite gun. Cheap to shoot and I can bust clay targets offhand at 100 yards with it. I could survive the wilderness on it ( 'cept for maybe charging grizzly bears and such). Does that qualify me to be a RAT?
Now I gotta a hankerin for a Blackhawk or Super Redhawk.........

[Dirty Dan Dawkins]

BTW...
Does that price at $445 sound fair? Unsure as to gun prices out of the Southeast.

[simple_man]

The price of $445 for a new Vaquero is about right.  You can find them a little cheaper on the internet but by the time you pay shipping and an FFL holder to receive the gun your price will go up $40 - $50.

If you want to save look around for a used one.

[Dick Dastardly]

My caliber of choice is 44 Magnum.  The new RVs aren't made in that caliber.

The OM RVs fit my big hands better and with 7-1/2" barrels, they balance better.  An earlier post said small hands and the smaller NRVs went well together.

There are some great choices to be made here.  After you make your pick, you will have a great gun regardless of which one it is.  Make that plural for a brace of 'em.  Rugers offer the best VALUE going for SASS shooting and also perform very comfortably in the sporting world.  Truely guns that fill a number of missions well.

FWIW, I may get a NRV in 45 Colt with as short a tube as possible for a personal defense weapon.  I now have a Charter Arms Bulldog 44 Special, but I'd like something closer to what I shoot for SASS.  Less thinkn' when shootn' needs to get done means less confusion and a better outcome for myself and a worse one for the varment.

DD-DLoS

[litl rooster]

 The NRV's sell here in Old Dominion from $450 to $480 each +tax title and dealer prep....Used OMV's sellf from $650 to $750 a pair and many of them have had action jobs on them. Rugers are built like a Abrams tank...



DD you have a very good point about your selecting a Ruger for your carry

[Four-Eyed Buck]

Retail prices I've seen here lately are $499 for the NRV's. Not sure about at the gun shows, will have to make an effort to find out the next one I go to. When I got mine two years ago, it was $459 before the gov.'s due....................Buck

[Mustang Gregg]

I ain't got the Ruger book handy---But I recollect the RETAIL PRICE is around $560 to $570.
The last ones I sold were a consecutive pair out the door at $490 (ea) + s.tax.

MG

[RRio]

Bought my pair of SS for $450 each plus AZ sales tax.

[buck]

I paid $920 for my pair of ss nv .45's.  That is including tax and tags.   They handle great and make even me look good at a match!  oh, I'm from New Jersey.  (southwestern New Jersey that is) 

[Mustang Gregg]

 
Aw crap!

Hell, I been asleep here.  I just looked at the last NM Vaquero sale.  They went out the door at $390 each + tax. 
MY BAD!!!
I think I wrote $490 in the post above.

SORRY!!

MG
(Embarrassed)

[RRio]

I currently shoot '51 Navy's in Frontiersman category, but am looking at these New Vaqueros. Might pick up a pair. My gunsmith has one for $445 in .45. I like the balance and handling.  What impressed me most is the action needed seemingly nothing done to it. It seems like a fair price.

Dirty Dan Dawkins,

Since 1972, I have been a Colt/replica man. Have owned nothing else, but I always said if Ruger would scale down the Vaquero, that I'd buy one. Well, they came out with the New Vaquero, and I bought myself a brace for Christmas, and I gotta tell you, I couldn't be happier. I like 'em so much, I fear I will be kicked out of USFA CSS! 

Seriously, I think you'd be very happy with them.

[Dirty Dan Dawkins]

Got a consecutive serial numbered set today. 
5 1/2 inch barrels, CC/BB in 45.
Man, talk about smooth outta the box. Had my gunsmith give'em a once over. Trimmed the spring on one a tad.  Nothing else needed. I just love'em. My "bird" finger just touches the meat of my hand when I hold 'em.
Prices have gone up around here. Bought mine at $920 pair plus tax. Lowest price I could find locally, But I only checked at three places and it went from $460 to $510 base price. I think I got a lot of bang for my buck in any regard.
Any you guys do anything to yours? Free spin pawl and such?
New gun rig on the way! Due in 3 weeks or so! Slim Jim style lined holster on 2" drop w/ slight cant. 3" suede lined belt. Identical rig to Kirkpatrick Longhunter ( but more economically priced), but leather will be dirty brown like my old Justin ropers. Will have that good ol dirty brown trail worn weathered look to it. I told the fella, feel free to through some dirt in your tanning dies! No tooling just a discreet border. Matching shotgun belt.
Yeeehaw!

P.S.
Thanks for the advice guys!

[Dirty Dan Dawkins]

Shot'em today.

[RRio]

Shot'em today.

Well??         

[Dirty Dan Dawkins]

Sweet shooters! I thought the smiley said enough. 
1st day of shooting went down like this:
Cleaned 'em shot some smokeless loads I had layin round. Hit about 2-3" high at 20-25 feet. Shot to left with right hand 3-4" and to right w/ left hand 3-4". Obviously pushin the gun. Two handed shot center and 2-3" high. Back to duelist and corrected my pushin'. Centered and slightly high still. Patterns holding decent (2-3+ inch or so group). I adjusted elevation nary a bit at this point. Just aimed center of dot and fired away. At first I was just a tryin to figure why I was right and left. Once I got  a feel for the gun, learned to hold it better, I  adjusted my grip, dropped the blade down a tad and presto! BULLSEYE! Kept all my rounds from then on in a 4-5 inch circle duelist style takin my time. Fair enough for me. Now if I can get some speed and combine it with accuracy.....wait I shoot Frontier Cartridge Duelist...I can forget speed.
Now I need to to load some more BP loads up and fool around with them this weekend. Hopefully the accuracy will remain.
I am really happy with the balance, quality and accuracy of this gun. I ain't a firearms expert, by no means or great marksman, but I will step up and  say, outta the box, I ain't felt nothin better than this. The Gauchos feel pretty close, but I'd rather deal with Americans when I can. Now bear in mind, I ain't fooled with any STOCK Colts or USFA's, so I don't know how they compare. The gun has a durn nice feel to it and a few pards are gettin the bug to get one too after feelin mine.  Balance close to my pards Colts.
Rawhide, ya done any action work to yours or have any other here done anything to theirs? More I fumble w/them and shoot'em, I think all I need is an infinite supply of ammo . That's it! 1000 rounds oughtta be just breakin in good! I may lighten the trigger up a bit, maybe the hammer too, although it is by no means heavy. Been shootin c@b which is heavy handed!
BTW, Rawhide, leather is being done this week, hopefully next week I'll have that.  I'll post pics.
My advice on these Ruger NV if ya can get past the transfer bar and some other historical inconsistencies, by all means folks, consider one. Not knockin' Uberti's or Piettas or other makes, but one of my determining factors was why spend less on a pistol then have to get work done ( which in turn equaled more than an outta the box Ruger) to make it as slick as my Ruger, and still not nowhere's equal a Ruger's durability? Just my thoughts.
Next on the agenda, a '73 rifle a mule eared double, a pair of 75s.........

[RRio]

Dirty Dan,

Rawhide, ya done any action work to yours or have any other here done anything to theirs?

Both of mine were fairly smooth right out of the box. I did lap the crown and pin bushing on the cylinder with some 1200 Wet or Dry paper with oil, and used Outers GunSlick on all area that have moving parts, and that made them seem smoother than they already were. I was thinking anout having Wes Fargo slick them up even more, but to tell you the truth, I really don't think I am going to have to do that. They are both as slick and light as my 2 USFAs that I did full action jobs on. I am very pleased with them.

My advice on these Ruger NV if ya can get past the transfer bar and some other historical inconsistencies, by all means folks, consider one.

I am a stickler for authencity with my guns, but with these two little jewels, it was very easy to get past that.

Not knockin' Uberti's or Piettas or other makes, but one of my determining factors was why spend less on a pistol then have to get work done ( which in turn equaled more than an outta the box Ruger) to make it as slick as my Ruger, and still not nowhere's equal a Ruger's durability? Just my thoughts.

That is something to consider. Figure a minimum of $400 for the gun and from $100 to $150 for an action job for an Italian gun versus a pretty much ready to go, out of the box RNV at around $450 to $500, it is not hard to determine the better buy.