Ruger Vaquero (SS) v. Beretta Stampede (Ni)

Anyone have any thoughts one these two?

Preferences, features, quality, detractors, etc.

Thanks!

The Ruger is by FAR the more durable gun, and can handle hotter loads. The prices on both aren't that far apart.

Beretta owns Uberti, and all the Beretta brand Single Actions are made in Italy by Uberti. IMO they aren't made to stand up to heavy shooting.

Ruger Vaqueros and Ruger New Vaqueros are different animals. The original model is basically a slicked down Blackhawk, and can handle the hotter loads. The Ruger New Vaquero has been scaled down and is closer to the Colt SAA size frame. "Ruger only" type loads are not recommended for this frame size. Even with that, I'd still go with the Ruger. Sweet guns.

If you want something that looks and feels a little more "Colt-ish" then a Stampede is probably closer than a Vaquero.

But I didn't and instead own a number of Vaqueros, and no Berettas or Colts.

I am very pleased with them.

stantheman86 said:

The Ruger is by FAR the more durable gun, and can handle hotter loads. The prices on both aren't that far apart.

Beretta owns Uberti, and all the Beretta brand Single Actions are made in Italy by Uberti. IMO they aren't made to stand up to heavy shooting.

Click to expand...

I totally agree

I own both. Stampede is unfired bright Inox.. Ruger is a dual cylinder SS 45.

If I wanted to sit on the couch and admire the feel and sound, I would cuddle up with the Stampede.

My vote is for the Old Model Vaquero. Ruger has solid customer service though I've never needed it.

I have six OM Vaqueros - five in .45 Colt and one in .357. Started with a 5.5" plow handle and then caught the "Bird-flu".

IMO, the short barrel (3.75) on the Birds and the Sheriff models balance just right. The 5.5 is a touch nose heavy but I still like it. The BH grips are nce shooters because of the way they roll in the hand. Great big hands might find them a bit clumsy. My hands are average and I find them more comfortable.

I bought the .357 because they are pretty scarce and it was a good deal but it's noticably heavier. Same frame, barrel, and cylinder so the smaller holes add weight fast.

The SS guns came just recently. Can't believe I almost traded one a few weeks ago

These are bad photos - cheap camera and too much coffee. The SS with ivory colored grips are consecutive.


Comparison of purchase plow vs. bird. The only difference is the bottom rear corner of the grip. Notice how my fingers are in the same position. I think the BH points better.



The gun on the bottom has had the Super Blackhawk hammer installed. It follows the line better and is perfect for one-handed cocking. Note the point where the thumb reaches the hammer spur in the above photos. The consecutive pair has had action jobs and also has free-spin pawls. The cylinders spin like they're on ball-bearings. I'm not a SASS shooter; the guns came to me this way. You don't get the 4 clicks but that can be taken care of too. Lots of options for Vaqueros.

I have two Old Vaqueros and a New Vaquero with the Birdshead grip and 3.75" barrel. The two old guns are .45 Colt and the Birdshead is 45 ACP. I think realistically, the New Vaqueros will handle any .45 Colt load I would want to use, meaning a max 10 grain Unique/250 grain swc. I have actually backed that load down to 9 grains of Unique now, and the smaller New Vaqs should handle that easily. My new Vaquero, of course, exists on a diet of 230 grain hardball. I have only owned one Uberti, and it left a very sour taste. I understand their QC is a little better now, but I ain't taking no chances.

The Rugers, of course, aren't perfect. I don't know about the other calibers, but if you get a .45 Colt, go ahead and order an increased strength base pin latch spring. I don't know why Ruger doesn't address this problem, because it has been around since they started making big-bore revolvers. The cylinder base pin will jump the notch on the latch under recoil and back out, causing all sorts of (potential) problems. Also, cylinder throats on some guns have been notoriously tight, especially on the .45s. I have never encountered that particular problem until recently. The (Old) 3.75" Sheriff's Model I bought a couple of years ago will not print a decent group at 15 yards. It is all over the paper. The trigger pull is atrocious, but I don't think that is all the problem. I am going to see if I can mike the chambers. They should be .4525 I am told, but it isn't unusual to see them as small as .449 or even smaller. This wreaks havoc with accuracy, and can increase pressure. The triggers, by the way, tend to smooth out after a few thousand rounds/dry fires. Also, a "poor boy's trigger job" helps. Go to the Gunblast site and look that one up.

Here are two of my Vaqueros, an (Old) Vaquero, and the BH grip New Vaquero. I have been shooting that ss Birdshead gun a whole lot lately, and it is just a hoot. I have been practicing some hip-shooting at 7 yards, and am getting good at it. I love the looks and feel of the large frame gun, but I am going to have to do something about the accuracy. I had to file the sights on the Birdshead gun to get it to shoot to point of aim. I am toying with the idea of having the old gun cut back to 2.5 inches and the sight re-soldered, having the ejector rod and housing removed, and making a true Sheriff's Model of it. I think the original Colt Sheriff's Models were three inches, but the 2.5 inch S&W 19 is so cool I'd like to try it on a Ruger. Hey, it's only money!