Vaquero?

[James K]

Have several Rugers and the Vaquero Bisley may be my favorite.

 

[GypsmJim]

My Vaquero is a .45 Colt. It is a high polish SS Ruger 60 Year Commemorative. It is awesomely fun to shoot and shoots to point of aim. I couldn't be happier.

I never realized it was hard to reload. It's a single action. If it takes too long to reload then maybe a hand ejector would be more suitable.

The sight picture is quite acceptable.

 

[PHS327]

My Vaquero is a .45 Colt. It is a high polish SS Ruger 60 Year Commemorative. It is awesomely fun to shoot and shoots to point of aim. I couldn't be happier.

I never realized it was hard to reload. It's a single action. If it takes too long to reload then maybe a hand ejector would be more suitable.

The sight picture is quite acceptable.

It's not hard to reload, just takes awhile. For most situations, six shots would be plenty. If not, the faster the reload, the better.

 

[GypsmJim]

It's not hard to reload, just takes awhile. For most situations, six shots would be plenty. If not, the faster the reload, the better.

I guess I just never thought about speed being necessary. But I guess it might be in a tactical situation.

I used to carry a Blackhawk deer hunting, but then switched to a TC Encore single shot. Longer range and never needed a second shot anyway.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I never realized it was hard to reload. It's a single action. If it takes too long to reload then maybe a hand ejector would be more suitable.

I EDC a 5 shot J-Frame 38, carrying a 45 Colt Vaquero is a Luxury! A Vaquero and a Lever Gun is awesome firepower.

Carrying two guns is now called a New York Reload. Carrying two SA six shooters was pretty powerful stuff in the Cowboy Days!

My wife's grandfather came off the range in the late 20's. He had a small and not very profitable ranch in Navada. To supplement his cash flow, as he called it, "He Hunted Men", for that he carried twin Colt 45's, a large rifle, and a Marlin 25-20 (for getting food). His name really was Bart, but nobody called him "Bad Bart", at least not to his face!

Ivan

 

[GypsmJim]

Carrying two guns is now called a New York Reload. Carrying two SA six shooters was pretty powerful stuff in the Cowboy Days!



Ivan

Hay wait! I resemble that remark.

In my youth I carried two nickle plated singles in a Roy Rogers double holster. When I got my my Rifleman Winchester I was the unbeatable kid on the block.

I still have a Fanner Fifty and the Rifleman hangs in my garage.

Those were much better days....

 

[Fishinfool]

I like the clean lines and durability of a fixed sight SA. But they are NOT my first choice for a woods / hunting revolver.

Your odds of finding a SA with fixed sights that shoots exactly to point of aim with your favorite load is small. And POA grouping is important in a field gun.

Unlike a paper target at the range, where multiple shots are being fired, and bullet impact can be judged on paper, then compinsated for via Kentucky Windage, grip adjustment, etc., its different in the woods. At least when shooting at game, your first shot is usually going to be your only, and best shot. You don't need to be trying to figure 4 inches to the left and 2 inches low, at 45 yards, while trying to nail a nervous cottontail. And I for one appreciate being to use different loads depending on the purpose. Seldom will they all shoot to the same point of aim.

Actually, probably, most shooters would be well served with a fixed sight SA that was reasonably close to POA. General plinking, rolling a few tin cans, or an unlucky squirrel. But when you say field gun, I think hunting as well. A serious guy who hunts and wants to be able to hit at a variety of ranges will apricate not having to apply Kentucky Windage on an already difficult shot at a potentially small kill zone.

For what its worth, I have been a pretty serious handgun hunter for almost 50 years, and all my Ruger SA's I hunt with are adj. sights. The one exception is a fixed sight Bearcat that shoots exactly to the sights at 25 yards with CCI HV HP's. Just my view, anyway.

Larry

 

[StrawHat]

… And POA grouping is important in a field gun.
… A serious guy who hunts and wants to be able to hit at a variety of ranges will apricate not having to apply Kentucky Windage on an already difficult shot at a potentially small kill zone.
…

Larry

Larry,

I agree about windage but even with adjustable sight you need to compensate for elevation. And when I hunted, you needed to take into consideration winds and elevation or declination. Bottom line, depending on sights without a lot of shooting from field positions, good luck!

Kevin

 

[GypsmJim]

I started handgun hunting the first year after handguns were made legal for deer. My recollection is that was about 30 years ago. Prior to that it was 12 ga. slugs.

Our camp is fully wooded. As such, a 50 yard shot is about all we have. I'm good, but not that good, so my handgun range has always been limited to about 25 yards. I was always comfortable with a .45 Colt at that range, and I have the trophies to show for it. In my case a Vaquero works just fine.

In recent years, as the trees grow taller, low brush has been eliminated. Now, I have a sight picture that goes out as far as 100 yards. Nevertheless, am I competent enough at that range?

An Encore in 0.308 Winchester fits the bill. The first time out I brought home the biggest deer of my life.

Regardless, handgun hunting means a shorter range. Those that try further "may" not be good sportsmen. I have taken deer for 60 years. Never did it require a second shot. (Dirty Harry quote is appropriate here)

 

[diyj98]

The only gun I want fixed sights on is a pocket revolver. I much prefer adjustable sights on anything I'd going to be target shooting or hunting with.

 

[pasound]

I have a pair of blue Vaqueros, Old model is 44 mag, slightly larger than the New model in 44 spl. I never shoot magnums in the "large" one, just specials in both, same handload made to match Cowboy Action loads. Both are very accurate, easy to aim and hold. Same POA - POI for both. The grips shown are my display sets from Texas Grips. If I shoot CAS, they are wearing Hogues with finger grooves. I like them a lot.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

We used to have this discussion on the Single Action Shooting Association Forum routinely. For a woods walker, a single-action revolver is satisfactory.

If you get as proficient with it as "Cowboy Action" shooters are you can make the case for it for home defense. It's far too large for concealed carry (IMNSHO) but in an OWB belt or hip holster it's fine. It's not the Old West anymore so I think it's incorrect for 2024 personal defense but, as noted, proficiency makes a difference.

These two old Vaqueros in .45/c have several major match "clean matches" in their history so I can attest to their usefulness. But I don't use them for defensive purposes, not even back when I was proficient with them.

 

[eb07]

I prefer the old vaquero. Otherwise get a blackhawk.

 

[S-W4EVER]

ONLY the older ones.......The newer ones are built on the smaller frame.

The only Ruger Vaqueros, Blackhawks, and Bisleys I own are the New Models. For all practical purposes the New Vaquero is the same size as a Colt Single Action Army.

 

[gmarshall99]

If you want adjustable sights, get a Blackhawk.