Ruger Vaquero Holsters?

[judoguy]

Hey folks,

purchased a Ruger Vaquero this afternoon at turners.

First hand gun

went in looking for the used s@w .357 686, they ended up selling it a day before I got there.


So bought a Ruger Vaquero .357.


So waiting my ten days but wanted to see if anyone would recommend some holsters that seemed best fit to you, probably will be purchasing it online so I was hoping to get some kind of review.


Also if anyone has any tips regarding the Ruger Vaquero that would be great! cant wait!

[bwiese]

Did you get a *Vaquero* or a "New Vaquero"???

The orig. Vaqueros are larger guns built from early 1990s until around 2005.

The New Vaquero was introduced tail end of 2004 and is a smaller gun; it's just about the same size as a Colt SAA. In addition, the New Vaquero has improved cylinder indexing latch so that when the loading gate is open, the ammo drops right in - the cylinder doesn't have to be moved an additional amount to expose the chamber. [This is shared with the 50th Anniv Blackhawk Flattops in 357 and 44.]

If you have a New Vaquero and buy a holster for a orig Vaquero, there's gonna be a looser/sloppy fit. Vice versa: the orig Vaquero won't fit in a holster designed for New Vaquero. If a holster mfgr doesn't delineate between the two, ask when the holster first appeared in their catalog. If it appeared early in 2004 or before, it's 99.9% likely to be for the old large Vaquero.

It may make sense just to avoid holster makers that can't differentiate between the two (sometimes catalogs lag - call. If they know what they're talking about there, then go ahead.) There are mfgrs that do understand these matters. Alternately, you could try a holster for the Colt SAA of proper barrel length - along with a return policy if it doesn't fit.

If you reload or buy reloads, you should not fire hot ammo ("Ruger loads") in the New Vaquero guns; these have lighter/thinner cylinders. "Ruger loads" originated before the New Vaquero came about and were expressly designed for the bigger beefier Vaqueros and the regular Ruger Blackhawks.

If you have a full-size orig Vaquero and looking for a camping/outdoors/trail holster, look at one of the Galcos that has a top retention strap.
Unsure if they have a New Vaquero holster.

If you are looking for a quality Western holster/rig, check these guys out (Google for 'em):
- El Paso Saddlery
- Kirkpatrick Leather
- Western Gun Holsters [John Bianchi's new semicustom operation]

I'm shopping around for leather now because I have two NRA-marked New Vaqueros ready to DROS (cuz I had too many Whiskey Sours during a Friends of the NRA gun auction )

[MudCamper]

http://shopruger.com/Holsters/products/106/

Don't see the Vaquero in the list. You might want to call them.

[judoguy]

Oo thanks for the information!

I purchased the New Vaquero stainless silver 4" 5/8


I ended up looking at holsters all night last night haha so this would help a lot, almost wanted to buy a rig but just decided to find a nice cross draw holster dont think the extra couple hundred was really worth it

[judoguy]

Ok another question so I have been looking at some more holsters,


majority will say "vaquero" but not the new model, If I get a holster that fits a "vaquero" whether its for the old one but the length matches so example

Holster "fits vaquero, etc. " 4" 5/8

will this fit the my new model 4" 5/8 .357 fine?

some of the reviews say it fits their .45s fine but just wanted to ask

[1JimMarch]

If it's a New Vaquero, and it will say EXACTLY that on the side of the frame, below the cylinder, then it will fit any holster made for a Colt SAA of the same barrel length or other "close Colt clone" including the various Italian replicas, the Taurus Gaucho, any USFA SAA clone like the Rodeo, many MANY more.

The NewVaq is dimensionally identical to a Colt SAA.

I have a Cimarron SAA clone in 22LR and a NewVaq357, I make my own holsters and the cross-fit is perfect (except that my NewVaq now has near-insane sights but that's a whole 'nuther issue).

[tonelar]

Your new vaquero will fit ANY holster designed for COLT SAA and it's clones.
Are you looking for a "Cowboy" holster or a modern holster?
Look-up triple k leather online... they should have holsters for the Vaqs.

My original Vaqueros were able to fit SAA holsters, but it took some stretching and re-oiling the holsters.

[trashman]

Get an El Paso Saddlery; they are authentic, and they are high-quality. It's worth the wait; I love mine (seen here with a Beretta Stampede in .45 Colt).

--Neill

[WINGEDSWORD]

Vaquero Holster

If you are in the San Fernando Valley,Take the time to go into Burbank and visit Alfonso's Holsters on Magnolia. I have been buying holsters from them since 1973 and have never been disappointed. If you want a really fine holster
to go with your new Vaquero, it might be better to look at the real thing rather than rely on catalog photographs.