SA Revolver..Input Please.

[Vacaville]

If you can accept the fact that you have to cock the hammer for each shot, a SA .357 is a great choice.

My first centerfire was a used Blackhawk with a 6 1/2" barrel in .357 that I picked up for $300. I still have it, and it's still one of my favorite guns. Possibly the most reliable gun I own. The main difference between the Blackhawk and the Vaquero is that the Blackhawk has an adjustable rear sight.

[Biigg50]

If I remember correctly, the Vacquero is same as Colt, Uberti, ect - low pressure rounds.

But of course the Blackhawk can handle the high pressure rounds (if that was the point you were making).

I'm still confused about the .45LC round. Seems like a huge bastard, but really low and slow...

BTW: I'll put my (lower cost) Beretta Stampede Deluxe against any gun for looks. It is really stunning... Not true to the old Colt style, but dang, it looks cool..

.

The New Vaquero is a small frame gun and should not be used with the higher pressure loads. But the older model is another story all together, it is based on the Blackhawk frame and just as strong.
As for the 45LC being "low and slow" it just depends on how you cook them. My main hunting load is a 335gr hard cast bullet that leaves my Vaquero at 1275fps or there is Buffalo Bore's heavy load of a 325gr hard cast at 1325fps.
Big, yes! Low and slow, not by any means!
Of course a nice cowboy load of 165gr at 800fps is sure fun for the kids. The range of performance is what makes the 45lc so much fun. And that best put to use in a Ruger!

[BigJ]

One thing about the old Vaquero's (if I'm wrong someone please correct me!) but unless they've been sent into Ruger for an upgrade, they're not safe to carry fully loaded. You'll always want the hammer resting on an empty chamber, which means that it effectively is a 5 shot, not a 6 shot.

All of the Ruger "New Model XXXX" have the transfer bar, making them perfectly safe when their hammer is resting on a loaded chamber.

So if having 6 shots instead of 5 is important to you, don't even consider an old model unless its been reworked/updated by Ruger.

[BluNorthern]

All Vaquero's have the transfer bar and are safe to carry with 6 rounds. 'Old Model 3 screw' Blackhawks and Super Blackhawks originally do not have the transfer bar and if not refitted should be limited to carrying 5 rounds.

One thing about the old Vaquero's (if I'm wrong someone please correct me!) but unless they've been sent into Ruger for an upgrade, they're not safe to carry fully loaded. You'll always want the hammer resting on an empty chamber, which means that it effectively is a 5 shot, not a 6 shot.

All of the Ruger "New Model XXXX" have the transfer bar, making them perfectly safe when their hammer is resting on a loaded chamber.

So if having 6 shots instead of 5 is important to you, don't even consider an old model unless its been reworked/updated by Ruger.

[BigJ]

Ahhah. Thank you for the clarification. My mistake, although OP if you're considering one of the models mentioned by Blu, keep in mind my comments.

[orangeusa]

Thanks - didn't know that.

Orangeusa, buy a Ruger.

If you can, get a used Vaquero rather than the New Vaquero. The original Vaquero can take high pressure like Blackhawks, but the New Vaquero cannot.

Go for .45 over .357mag.

CDFingers

[orangeusa]

(Note to self - never use a superlative... or give an example of one) lol

They're nice, but...you lose.