Ruger Vaquero/ new vs old model

[Jersey Jones]

So Pards,

If ya had a choice of old model vs the new what would you choose?
And on another note, how bout those Bisley's?  Like 'em?

Thanks a bunch,
JJ

So many guns so little money...

[Mustang Gregg]

My choices (in order):

#1.  OLD Model Bisley Vaqueros
#2.  OLD Model Birdshead Vaqueros
#3.  OLD Model Vaquero (Plowhandle)
#4.  New Model Vaqueros

Reasons:
My first six-shooters were all Rugers Blackhawks & Super Blackhawks.  And I have always liked the heavier guns over the smaller (Colt) sized guns.  But that's just me.
Your results may vary. 

Jacob:

Looks down the forum a little ways.  You will come to the RATS forum.  It is ALL Ruger stuff.
Rugers
Are the
Toughest
Six-guns

Mustang Gregg

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

Howdy Gents 

            I have to say the New Model Vaquero's, I've always been a Colt 45 shooter, Colt or clone , just always felt right to me they handle, point and just plane out shoot good .
           But now I have these New Model Vaquero's, and they feel like my Colt's so their right at home, you don't have those great four clicks, that you have with the Colt , but they are SMOOTH , tough reliable, and accurate, and did say safe , there Safe if you want to carry six in the cylinder you can, and their great to look at, and take pictures of , that's all I have to say........


                                                    Happy Hollidays to All 

                                                       Ten Wolves 

[Jersey Jones]

Thanks,
I guess I should have stuck this over in the RATS forum. 

I have myself narrowed down to either a Ruger or a Taurus.
Seeing I can almost get two Gaucho's for the price of one Vaquero I'm having a tough time deciding. 

But I think one gun now along with the leather, won't be so shocking on the check book and the Missus. 

Thanks again,
Jake

[Mustang Gregg]

I have not got real great reports on the Taurus Gaucho.   And don't own any myself.  Try one out before you invest in them.
I could buy them awhile back for an unbelievably cheap price, but was put off by many cowboys complainin' about them.

Are they still bein' made?

MG

[Cyrille]

"let the buyer beware." "you getn what you pay for."

[Tensleep]

Only one word comes to mind.

RUGER

I've tried the others, but I always come back to my Ruger Bisleys when I want dependability.


Yep, on another thread I said I like my Hartford Remingtons, but my Rugers are my work guns.

[Lucky Irish Tom]

Like Tensleep said, I have other guns I shoot with for a certain look or flare, like my 58 Remington Conversions.  But whatever I am shooting my Ruger Bisleys are with me. 

They are built like tanks, take a licking and keep on ticking.

I know that they are not going to let me down, there is very little that can break in them, and Ruger stands behind their product 100%.

Nuff said! 

[RRio]

I converted over to RNVs last year.They are my match guns and my USFAs are my BBQ or "Sunday-go-to-meetin'" guns now.

[Leo Tanner]

     I definately have to say old model.  The first time I fired mine, it was a rental at a local range.  It felt like I'd been shooting it my entire life!  My wife was tickled pink saying, "wing him in the left shoulder, now the right, the heart, now 'tween the eyes" and it was dead on every time at 25 yards.  After putting 50 rounds of .357 through it I went to the clerk and told him I wanted to buy it.  He said it wasn't for sale and handed me a new model.  The rubberized grip and the narrow frame left me feeling a might flat and the balance wasn't the same.  I eventualy talked him into selling me the old model and paid 50 dollars more for it than the brand new one was going for.  I have never regretted it.
     One chamber is occasionaly hard to eject, but I suppose that's due to the previous owner firing nothing but .38 spl through it.  I'll either break 'er in with a ton of .357s or have the cylinder filed proper by a smith. 

[Camille Eonich]

My main match guns are my NMRV.  I have a pair of Bisleys just waiting for when I go to duelist.  The Ruger Birdsheads were my first SAs and are my babies.  I use them for when I shoot BP.

[Cyrille]

This should be a well known fact by now! But in case you're new here, The OM Vaqueros are IMO Top O the line But Ruger has quite producing them, while chaseing after the not so almighty dollar. I can only hope that Ruger management comes to realize what IMO was a big mistake!
I'm not saying that the NV is a poor substitute for the OMV. I have heard nothing but good about the NV after the bugs were ironed out. I just don't understand why Ruger couldn't make the OMVs and the NVs.

[Leo Tanner]

     I am new in these parts.  And now with hat in hand, I kindly ask what is IMO?

     Leo

[Cyrille]

I'm new to this kinda of internet lingo and I'm practicing it IMO [In my opinion] lol [laugh out loud] [IMHO] in my humble opinion etc. etcetra. I hope this gives you an inkling as to this new type internet lingo.

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

Howdy Cyrille

            I agree with you, I love my new Vaquero's , their just right for me , I've always had Colts , and now these new Vaquero's handle almost just like them , but their tougher, and I like that, and you like the old Vaquero, and you should , their good guns I like them two , but I like the NMV better,at least for me, and they are built like tanks , and I know a lot of pards feel as you do about them , and maybe Ruger will consider puting them back in production, if there are enough people demanding them, I look at it this way , we all are built a little different than each other , and have different thoughts on things that we like , thats why their are so many gun companys out there bringing us all those different styles and models , every year ,not everybody has the same tast in guns , I think Ruger needs to take another look at this , and maybe reconsider , bringer them back, and the Bisley too.

                                     Keep the Faith Cyrille

                                            Ten Wolves Five Shooter 

[Cyrille]

Don't havta worry 'bout thet Ten Wolves Five Shooter, I ain't lost it. But I havta tell y'u Ruger didn't do nobody no favor['cept maybe collectors, but thet's way way down th trail] by discontinuing the OM in favor of the NV IMO.

[fourfingersofdeath]

It's funny how things change. For yonks before Cowboy Action became big, every mention of the 38/357 was negative, saying the 'heft' was all wrong. The 'heft' doesn't seem to be a problem any more these sissy guns are walking out the door! They are the most popular by far (not with me).

Similarly, complaints were rife previously about the size of the old model Vaquero, 'should be made like the Colt, etc....'

No sooner do Ruger answer the flood of requests and all of a sudden the old model vaquero is the one to get.

I have owned both. I liked the old model, had 44Mag Vaqs and 44Mag NMSBHs and 45Colt/45ACP convertibles. One thing I have found since getting a pair of 45 New Model Vaqueros, is that I only slipped the hammer once in a three day shoot firing over  hundred rounds in the match and pre match practice. I used to slip the hammer regularly with the old model (I have huge hands). I really like these new models, I thought the bigger ones would suit me better, but I am able to handle the new ones a lot faster.

I have a pair of Colt clones I have worked up as I want to shoot the same round in the rifle and revolvers and the 45 cowboy isn't available out here, so I have an excuse to get back into 44WCFs.

For standard level loads, the new models run rings around the old ones in my opinion. My old Vaquero in 44Mag swallowed a lot of heavy loads as it was my first and consequently my do everything single action.

I had a Bisley and absolutely hated it. It was ok with soft loads, but I bought it for serious work and it took a piece out of me and drew blood evey time I used it. Most folk love em, I was glad to see the rear end of mine.

Go to the range, say we all said to ask for a shot, they'll let you try em!

Mick.

[GirlswithGuns]

Does anyone know of a good legit website where I can purchase an old vaquero??!!  I know they have been discontinued, and I need help!

[Lumpy Grits]

Does anyone know of a good legit website where I can purchase an old vaquero??!!  I know they have been discontinued, and I need help!

Gunsamerica or gunbroker

[Lumpy Grits]

Thanks,
I guess I should have stuck this over in the RATS forum. 

I have myself narrowed down to either a Ruger or a Taurus.
Seeing I can almost get two Gaucho's for the price of one Vaquero I'm having a tough time deciding. 

But I think one gun now along with the leather, won't be so shocking on the check book and the Missus. 

Thanks again,
Jake

Go with Ruger, easy to get parts.
The other brand, NOT so much!
LG