'93 Vaquero

by Sarge ⌂ @, Central Misery, Friday, October 24, 2014, 14:03 (3672 days ago)

If I deer hunt this year, it's going to be with a handgun. So I swapped into an old heavy-frame Vaquero with the 4 5/8" barrel in 45 Colt. Figured I better get a glammer shot before it gets beat and abused like all my other working guns.

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This is a 1st year of production gun. Apparently Ruger was was on their best behavior because the grip frame to receiver fit and polishing is near perfect. The cylinder throats were a perfect .452 all the way around, which means either Ruger actually got a cylinder right or it's already been reamed. The hammer & trigger have been blued (personal reference) the internals cleaned & oiled and the pull set to three pounds with a lot less creep. It shoots dead on for windage and a tad low at 50 yards with my standard and 'second gear' 13.0 HS6/255 SWC loads. All that remains is to perfect zero at 50-75 yards she's good to go.

The little woman even likes it and is shown here trying to run me out of factory-dup loads.

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I have always favored 4 3/4" single-actions and this one just fits.

They are sweet shooters

by Dave B @, Alamogordo New Mexico, Friday, October 24, 2014, 17:03 (3672 days ago) @ Sarge

I'm not much good with fixed sights, but I will say the two I have shot were quite accurate!

Many years ago a customer bought an early one too

by Miles ⌂, CIVITATES AMERICAE, Friday, October 24, 2014, 17:03 (3672 days ago) @ Sarge

AK has it now, and I have right of 1st refusal if he ever decides to turn it.

It is one of the most accurate .45 revolvers I have ever shot with factory ammo.

'93 Vaquero

by Slow Hand ⌂ @, Indiana, Friday, October 24, 2014, 17:18 (3672 days ago) @ Sarge

I'm still kicking myself for letting go of a stainless .45 Bisley a few years back before giving it a good wringing out. I was going through a high turnover phase and let go of several good guns for no good reason!

DIY kicks to the rear end....

by Sarge ⌂ @, Central Misery, Friday, October 24, 2014, 19:26 (3672 days ago) @ Slow Hand

In 97 I bought a new 5.5" Blackhawk in 45 Colt- about a 4 MOA revolver. A friend pestered me for it and offered full price so I let it go in the off season. Bought its replacement that October and it was about a 16 MOA gun if you held your mouth right... still managed to kill a doe with it, by lining up it 3 accurate chambers to come up first. It went back to Southport several times and finally stayed... I sure hope they scrapped it.

The last Vaquero was a 5.5" 45 which was pretty accurate. But I let it go last spring in hopes I'd find the shorter version of the same gun... and luckily I did. Did a little shooting with it today a 60 yards using the 13.0 HS6/255 SWC load. My shooting ain't the best right now but the gun was making 3-4 inch clusters when I didn't screw up. About 5 file strokes zeroed it and carries so nice, I won't miss its predecessor at all.

'93 Vaquero

by Catoosa, Saturday, October 25, 2014, 10:18 (3671 days ago) @ Sarge

Sarge, that is an unusually nice looking Vaquero. The hammer appears to be about normal-sized rather than the exaggerated monstrosity found on most Vaqueros. Is it a replacement, or modified in some way, or does it just look better in that photo?

NICE score!

Thank you

by Sarge ⌂ @, Central Misery, Saturday, October 25, 2014, 10:35 (3671 days ago) @ Catoosa

I don't think its a replacement, but when you cold blue them it sure improves the appearance.

Vaquero hammer

by Jared, Saturday, October 25, 2014, 13:27 (3671 days ago) @ Catoosa

The original Vaqueros have the normal hammer, the New Vaqueros that are on the smaller frame have the oversized hammers.

'93 Vaquero

by jerry b, Monday, October 27, 2014, 15:18 (3669 days ago) @ Sarge

Looks like a real nice find. I'd like to use my own 1995 version with a 7.5 inch barrel for hunting, but I can no longer see the sights well enough, especially in the woods. Glare on the top of the frame is a big problem, but aging eyes.....

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