Got this from a bud that was going to get into cowboy shooting until he figured out how expensive a hobby it is!

Gonna test fire it this week. It actually balances quite nice despite looking a bit odd?
Should be a good plinker on the trail! Thinking of the Mernickle SA Taffin holster.

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I've always liked Ruger revolvers. That's a great looking gun, and I'll bet it shoots!

Tell your friend it is not that expensive a hobby unless you make it so. Sure, you have to buy the four guns and some leather, but any shooting hobby requires buying guns. Two revolvers, one lever action rifle in pistol caliber, one side by side shotgun or Winchester 97. In today's dollars that will set you back at least $1500 and if you buy new guns more than that but you can buy used SAA replicas, matching caliber lever rifles, and one shotgun and not break $1500 if you shot around. Then you need belt and holsters for the handguns and whatever normal accessories for toting them around but if you're much of a shooter you already have all of that. So it's not a freebie by any means but you wind up with some really cool guns! A dedicated shooter who wants to compete and have more fun than the law allows should shoot cowboy action - the other games are even more expensive and not near as friendly.

Jus' sayin'.....

My handguns for CAS were and still are old .45/c Vaqueros, a Navy Arms/Rossi .45/c lever rifle to match the Vaqueros, and an old 16 gauge Winchester 97. I just don't play much any longer. But one of these days I'll do it again; it was so much fun!



You will enjoy shooting that Ruger.

Side note - the Ruger Vaquero bird's-head grips are modeled after the similarly styled grips on Colt Lightnings and Thunderers. The better looking ones are found on Colt SAA replicas where there is no "shelf" between the frame and the curve of the grips.

Interestingly, back in the Old West, Colt never made a Single Action Army revolver with a bird's-head grip. Howard Hawkes and John Ford made those popular in their movies. Legend has it that someone told Howard Hawkes that those guns never existed with bird's-head grips in the Old West. His reply was "Well, they should have!!"

I've had mine for five years (just last week) now, and I like it a good deal.



There are a lot of posts on the breed here, if you're interested:

Blue New Vaquero birdshead .45 ACP - Ruger Forum

It shoots just fine:

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Now go make God proud...

Erich, Thanks for the good read on the ruger.net forum. Didnt realize how popular they are. Got mine NIB so cheap I couldnt pass on it! Cant wait to fire it.

Great looking gun. Ruger revolvers have been a staple for me since the 70's.

I don't have one in .45 acp, but I do have one in .45 Colt. I carry it in a shoulder holster and have found it to be a great little gun. This particular one is the OMV. A little beefier than the newer model Vaquero, but still feels well-balanced.

I think you'll really enjoy yours. Good luck.

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Pack light and cinch tight.

I wish they would make them in .44 special. lee

I like these guns a lot but I agree with Lee Barner - I'd really like to have one chambered for .44 special.

Can't go wrong with a Mernickle holster. Great family company, nice people. Jim is a great guy to talk to. Have met him at shows here in the valley. I use his belt scabbard for OWB and 2" guns. Fabulous.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

Yes, they are great holsters. Here is mine with a slightly different version. The Ruger Vaquero Montado. Enjoy that Birds head!

Ruger is making a 44 Mag now. It would be perfect loaded with Specials.



I just got one off GB. There are some good reviews out there.

Thats the holster I want sixgun100....thanks for posting.

Picked up a this pair of 4 5/8" Ruger .357 Birds in SS and Case Color/Blue intending to use them in CAS but that never panned out.


Forgot I had them until they resurfaced from the back of the safe last year, Neat guns.

So that happens to you, too?

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

P.S. QUESTION for birdshead shooters: I would think that rounded grip design in a big bore caliber would cause the gun to 'dip' in the hand when firing. Yes? No?

Not for me. It slams straight back . . . but a .45 ACP doesn't slam all that much at all. If I were shooting heavy .45 Colt or .454, I'd think I might want a regular grip, but the birdshead is working good for me with this.

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Oh man, you guys are killing me here. I may have to get one of the .45 ACP's now.

Instigators! That's what you are.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

P.S. QUESTION for birdshead shooters: I would think that rounded grip design in a big bore caliber would cause the gun to 'dip' in the hand when firing. Yes? No?[/QUOTE]

I have one of the Thunderer in 45 Colt, and it rolls in my grip with every shot! My ammo is a 230 LFN @ 710 fps. (just a little slower than factory 45 ACP) The gun is fantastically accurate on the first shot with my cowboy loads and factory Win. STHP's, The follow up shots are accurate but way too slow for SASS shooting.

Ivan