Ruger Vaquero — Single-Action Revolver Perfection

The Single Action Army (SAA) made a good name for itself and provided legendary performance in battlefields in the American desert, Mexico, and Africa. The SAA revolver was used by bad and good men alike. While I respect the original, shooters like me prefer the Ruger Vaquero — a modern rendition of the single-action revolver.

Metallurgy, accuracy, and ruggedness, favor this reliable revolver. Some say cowboy action shooting is keeping the single-action revolver alive. A generation or two ago, cowboy operas kept the revolver alive. Before that, they say it was fast draw competition. Well, maybe…

Single-Action Popularity

I’m certain the Mexican Revolution kept the SAA going years past its prime. Some of us simply enjoy owning and handling the SAA, and occasionally firing the piece in a leisurely pursuit. Others, value reliability above all else. When all is said and done, the big Ruger is as reliable a handgun as was ever manufactured.

There are two Vaquero revolvers. The first was built on the Super Blackhawk frame. I have fired these with a mix of heavy loads. They are fully the equal of the Super Blackhawk or Redhawk in every way. The Vaquero has been offered in .44-40, .357 Magnum (which also fires the .38 Special), .44 Special, .44 Magnum, .45 Colt, and perhaps a few others.

I have examined an example in .40 S&W. Not a bad choice as it equals .38-40 performance, in a more compact and readily available cartridge. A variety of barrel lengths, case hardened frames, and plain, grain walnut grips with the Ruger logo were trademarks of the first Vaquero.

An important advantage over most single-action revolvers is the Ruger’s transfer bar ignition system. This provides an additional safety and allows the cowboy shooter to safely load six rounds. If in doubt as to the safety of your single action, don’t load six. Instead, load one, skip one, load four, cock the hammer, and then lower the hammer on an empty chamber. There is no need to place the hammer on half-cock to open the loading gate. The Ruger is loaded with the hammer down.

According to Ruger, the Vaquero has been offered in standard, birdshead, and Bisley grip variations. About 18 years ago, Ruger introduced the New Vaquero. This is a smaller-frame revolver, much closer in size to the original SAA revolver. These handle well — perhaps a little faster from leather than the original — and are just as strong and well made of good material. They are not as comfortable with heavy loads in .45 Colt. However, if you need a hunting .45, perhaps you really need a Blackhawk.

The Vaquero isn’t only for single-action shooting enthusiasts. A lot of folks who hike in rugged country like the idea of a revolver that doesn’t go out of time with heavy use, chambers a powerful cartridge, and offers a high degree of protection. The Vaquero offers this advantage in a relatively compact package.

A .45 caliber single-action revolver is more compact than a double-action revolver in a similar caliber. The fixed sights are (usually) properly regulated for standard bullet weights and don’t get out of zero. I often carry the Vaquero in a DeSantis Doc Holliday crossdraw holster.

This is as good as it gets for field carry. As for personal defense, a single action isn’t my first choice. However, for field use against dangerous animals… well, that is another story. I would not feel naked against an assailant when carrying a single action that I am familiar with.

Cartridge Selection

I like the .45 Colt cartridge a great deal. Buffalo Bore offers a 250-grain hard-cast bullet load that exits the average 4.75-inch barrel Vaquero barrel at 1,000 fps. That is a lot of whomp against feral hogs or black bear at modest ranges.

Cowboy action loads are usually loaded to about 700 fps. This makes for mild shooting. The Remington 230-grain jacketed HTP load will break at just over 1,000 fps. This is a great for general defense use. That being said, there are other calibers that make a lot more sense for certain situations.

The .44 Special also offers a range of loads from mild to heavy hitting. The .44 Magnum accepts .44 Special loadings and offers a tremendous amount of wound potential for game use. The .44-40 is available only in cowboy action loads. That is a 750 fps load with a 200-grain bullet.

I enjoy the .44-40. With handloads, using a hard cast 200-grain bullet, I have reached 1,200 fps with the old WCF load. The tapered cartridge case makes it difficult to load. Just the same though, it has a lot of charm.

The most practical caliber (by far) for the Vaquero is the .357 Magnum. The magnum Vaquero is a creampuff when loaded with .38 Special loads. Recoil is nil and accuracy is excellent. The .38 Special Buffalo Bore Outdoorsman loads are viable for outdoors use. The Remington 125-grain .357 Magnum breaks at 1,430 fps in the Vaquero. Buffalo Bore’s 180-grain hard cast will penetrate deep into dangerous animals. 1,334 fps is the average velocity.

Ruger Vaquero Accuracy

How accurate is the Vaquero? The most accurate, in my experience, are the .357 Magnum and .44 Magnum example. A five-shot 2.5-inch group at 25 yards is average. Some will group better. The .45 Colt Montado put five Buffalo Bore wadcutter loads into 1.5 inches at 25 yards. The .44-40 with factory cowboy loads cuts a 3-inch group. The Vaquero may be a top choice for cowboy action but it’s also a fun gun for many uses.

It’s hard not be a Single Action Army fan, and the Ruger Vaquero is certainly among the top choices for cowboy action shooter. How about you? Are Vaquero fan? Share your review in the Comments section.