5.07.2006
This is my Brand-New Ruger Vaquero, chambered for .357 Magnum.
I'd been wanting one for a while, but couldn't find the right one online. The local shops didn't have much, and what I did find were the "New" Models. The older Vaqueros (last year's model) had a stronger frame and weigh a little more.
On top of that, I wanted a 4 5/8" barrel, a case hardened finish on the frame, a Birdshead grip frame (with black grip panels) and finally, I wanted it in to be chambered for .357 Magnum rounds.
Imagine my surprise when I walked into a shop and found this! It was EXACTLY what I was looking for! It took about 3 minutes for me to tell the sales dude to get the paperwork ready.
My Blackhawk shoots .45 Colt and, not only is that ammo hard to find, it's not cheap at $20 for a box of 50. This .357 Vaquero will let me shoot .38 Special rounds at around $17 for a box of 100. Once I start reloading my own ammo, I should be able to get it down to under $5 for 100 rounds.
Above, you can see the new Vaquero in the center. The Blackhawk is just below that. The semi-automatics you see in the pic belong to my good friend Chris Haynes.
Right hand view of the new Vaquero... Look at the case-hardened finish on the frame. Just gorgeous...
Left hand view of the Vaquero...
This was taken right before we started shooting at a really nice outdoor range. I had a few .45 Colt rounds left, and bought another 50. I'll be selling the Blackhawk soon, so I wanted to have a little more fun with it before I did. The white boxes are the .38 Special and .357 Magnum rounds.
Tim Haynes...Leader of the Haynes clan.
Tim squeezing off a few on an old double-action revolver
Me breaking in the Vaquero. The hammer-pull is pretty stiff on this thing. Mainly because it isn't broken in well yet. I put 100 rounds of .38 Special and 36 rounds of .357 Magnum through it that day. It was a little easier afterward. I'd oiled it up the night before, and cleaned and throroughly oiled it again after shooting. I plan on installing a lighter set of hammer springs to get the action where I want it.
The interesting thing about the Vaquero is, although it's a smaller gun than the 5 1/2" Blackhawk, it's heavier. I guess it's because the Blackhawk had more metal bored out for the larger rounds.
I'd like to add that this thing kicks like a mule when loaded with the powerful .357 Magnum rounds. The .38 Specials aren't too bad. When I ran out of .38's, I was down to 4 rounds. I loaded them up, then put .357 rounds in the last 2 chambers. I was rewarded with "Pow... Pow... Pow... Pow... BOOM! BOOM!". My hand was definitely feeling the effects at the end of the day. The birdshead grip on the Vaquero feels great, but the combo of hard steel and wood doesn't do much to absorb the recoil. I'm thinking about my options.
Shooting the Vaquero; Blackhawk loaded and ready in the holster.
Checking something...not sure what I was doing. As I recall, I thought I had a misfire, but then realized I'd de-cocked the gun after shooting a few, for whatever reason. When I re-cocked the gun, it (being a revolver) skipped that round. I had to advance it a few clicks to fire that one round off.
You could tell we were up to no good in this pic...
Me, Chris, and Billy demonstrating what Chris refers to as "Rolling Thunder". He said on the last day of the firearms training at the Police Academy they line up all the recruits and they all unload their magazines at once, as quick as possible. It was loud, and smoky.
Notice the spent casing (blurry object) that appears on Chris' right cheek--hurling toward my face.
"My name is Mustafa...and I am the man who will be killing you now..."
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