Looking to get Ruger Vaquero

[joeblowphony]

Thinking hard about getting one in .357. Anyone have advice on it or better yet wheres a place to find it cheap?

[gatesbox]

Not sure what area you are in for LGS. Vaqueros are fantastic and stout. I own 4 of them. My only recommendation is that you buy two of them, they are a prevalent gun for Cowboy Action and you can usually get what you paid for them as a pair. I think it would be harder to sell them as single pistols. For used guns from out of state you can check the SASS Wire Forum in the classifieds, but transfer fees will probably get the price up to same as new.

[orchardhills]

I don't know about cheap but American Firearms in Clovis had one on Wednesday. I don't know if it's still in stock. They have a Facebook page where you might inquire if you are interested.

[joeblowphony]

Oh sorry, forgot to mention! I'm in San Diego- Beach area. Yeah I was thinking of a pair but its more for my wife and I doubt she'll be into any shooting matches, yet. Maybe in 15 years when we have time without kids.

[Lead Waster]

If they are new, you can't even buy a pair at the same time!
(30 day wait between new handguns)

Also, the Vaquero or the New Vaquero?

[gatesbox]

You can buy a pair at the same time you just can't take possession. If they are "for your wife" (we all know what that means....you like em too) I would suggest you look at the SASS edition. The Montado Hammers are awesome and may be preferred by some women (and fast shooting men).

[sofbak]

I own two of them in .45acp/.45colt. They are a hoot to shoot!

Best bet in the San Diego area is Gussler's out in Santee. I bought mine from him, and he kept the second one in storage for the perfunctory one-in-30 day period, no charge......

[Hardwarejunkie]

I own a blued .45LC Vaquero and lately have been thinking about getting a stainless .357 myself.
I like to use Gun Genie for price comparisons before checking the LGS's.
Gun Genie currently shows 3 blued and 14 high polish stainless available.
OTD prices near me range from $637 to $733, oddly no difference for blued or stainless.

http://www.galleryofguns.com/genie/default.aspx

I'd consider getting one but then I would have to find a lever gun to go with it!

[Longrange308]

I own two new vaqueros in .45LC. You can't go wrong. They are amazing.

[Lead Waster]

I want a pair!

I would consider 45 colt, since my converted Remington 1858 is in 45 colt, but I hear that for SASS, it's more economical to shoot .38 spc/.357.

But again, if you reload, the difference might not be that much.

Are (SASS acceptable) rifles easier to find in .45 colt?

[BakaLogic]

I have this dream of owning a ranch in Montana with a horse that has a lever action rifle strapped two it and two .45 long colt revolvers on my hip.

Let us know what you end up with and how/where you acquired them so we can live the dream.

[myk]

I don't know why, but I'm strangely drawn to this gun. So........how does one handle a gun like this? Is it the sort of gun that can be used for accuracy's sake, or is it literally just a fun "cowboy" gun where you shoot it from the hip while slapping the hammer like Clint Eastwood's "Man with no Name" used to do?Also, is it relatively easy to find .45LC? I don't think I've ever seen that in the stores. I also read that the "new" Vacquero is different from the original one in size; is that the only difference?

[Glockrocks]

I like it in 45LongColt..easier to see the holes when punching paper

[sfbay]

I love my vaquero, but it's in 45 LC...

It feels soooooo awesome in my hand. It shoots great and handles pretty sweet!

Totally worth the money.

[Lead Waster]

I don't know why, but I'm strangely drawn to this gun. So........how does one handle a gun like this? Is it the sort of gun that can be used for accuracy's sake, or is it literally just a fun "cowboy" gun where you shoot it from the hip while slapping the hammer like Clint Eastwood's "Man with no Name" used to do?Also, is it relatively easy to find .45LC? I don't think I've ever seen that in the stores. I also read that the "new" Vacquero is different from the original one in size; is that the only difference?

The thing with .45 Colt (note: ".45 Colt" not ".45 Long Colt" if you want to be picky about it! ) is that the loads you see for sale are made to mimic old blackpowder loaded .45 Colt cartridges. This is because you never know if someone is going to load them in an actual old Colt SAA that is 140 years old.

The Vaqueros can take stronger modern smokeless loads (not QUITE sure about the New Vaqueros, but probably them too)

So .45 Colt is a weird cartridge to buy. It's pricey too.

If you handload it might be cheaper. I had to buy .45 Colt brass to load, since I wasn't going to pay for factory rounds and it's not something you usually find on the ground at a range (it's easily recoverable from a revolver with a loading gate!).

The .357 version might give better ammo (and brass!) availability. If I were to get one (or a set) I'd go with .357 just for that. But then again...how can you not have a .45 Colt "cowboy" gun??!