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Now what: just ordered a 45ACP birdheads Vaquero...!??

5K views 34 replies 17 participants last post by  Gary A 
#1 ·
Anybody has a Ruger Vaquero model 5152 in 45 ACP and like brag or complian about it, I wonder...after I ordered one....how accurate they are, what to watch for and how to care for them....can you tell I am new to SA....haha....But heck do I love the looks of that birdshead grip!!!!
Any comments, ideas and advice would be cool.
This SA wheel gun thingy is really growing on me....guess after making sooo many custom Cowboy rigs for customer in my parts of the woods latly....it just dawned on me....SA's are cool!!
And since I fell in love with the Ruger brand a few years ago....its all good now!??
 
#2 ·
i love mine
the throats are pretty small (so small that normal SWC wont chamber, but i fixed that!)
the bore looked pretty rough, but its better after much work
just a tiny bit of bore constriction at the threads in a otherwise .4505" bore
finish was very good
that stainless will show every darn thing
accuracy? i can keep all 6 on a 6" plate most of the time at 25yds at a pretty reasonable rate, i shoot fairly light loads of soft SWC
i carry Verity (yup i named her) everyday
in a crossdraw i shortend up for her


they may be special but they are workin guns
and mine gets bumped/knocked/rode hard/put away wet
 
#3 ·
I never really wanted anything to do with revolvers till I saw one of these in stainless at a shop I frequent. Then I couldn't stop looking at it every time I went in.

I was very much a 1911 guy and didn't want to load new calibers. Life was easy back then, and I figured hey, it's an ACP !

I bought it, and really do love it still.

Of course now, a couple years later I hardly ever take an auto to the range any more and am loading 44 mag, 357 mag, 38 and soon 45 colt and 454 casull. Oh, and 10mm too.

But the point is, I am as infatuated with mine now as the first day I held it in my hand.

I carry mine in a slightly modified DeSantis Doc Holiday.

 
#4 ·
I bought one about a year ago and it is my woods trail gun. It shot a little high with 230 gr. factory loads. Had to work up a load with 200 gr. RNFP that is in the picture and 230 gr. at just over 1,000 fps to get it hitting point of aim. It also shot a little to the left, but that was easy to fix.
 

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#5 · (Edited)
I have one in blue, wanted the stainless but a good trade opportunity came up so I couldn't turn it down.

It's an awesome gun , lots of fun to shoot. I'm putting Badger grips on it and it will be "complete". With a little practice you can get pretty fast with a single action, as far as reloading.

I honestly wouldn't have wanted it in .45 LC, the sole reason I got it was for the .45 ACP chambering. I don't load so I can go to any of my small gun shops and find some kind of .45 ACP.
 
#6 ·
Don't forget the pics.....
 
#10 ·
There's a guy on EBay who sells nice looking grips for the Birdsheads made of different woods, not expensive either like $35-45 depending on the wood. He makes them in the US and if he's out of stock he says he'll make them to order. His name is furnitureyourway .

I was considering getting grips from him, but I like the look of Jim Badgers laminate rosewood better.

The grips from furniture your way look more "classic" like they belong on something in .45 Long Colt. I wanted to keep a more "modern" look with my .45 ACP Birdshead.

The Altamont grips look good but are too thin for my taste, and a little too "slippy" which is why I don't want the fake ivory or Corian grips. The Badger grips look more hand filling. As soon as I get paid Thursday night I'm ordering a set.
 

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#11 ·
The grips from furniture your way look more "classic" like they belong on something in .45 Long Colt. I wanted to keep a more "modern" look with my .45 ACP Birdshead.
i know I am a little old for it
but the Fair Lady and I both are steampunk fans
we havent yet made hats or anything heck we dont even have goggles
but the birdshead in .45acp is really a steampunk sort of gun
old but new

ohh no now ive gone and done it
ive spilled the beans
what will all of you think of me now

well i dont care....... :cool:
 
#13 · (Edited)


I have posted pics before, unfortunately I don't have new ones. They really don't do her justice!

My S&W 617 .22 was always my favorite revolver, but I kept seeing pictures of the New Vaquero Birdshead online and knew I had to have it one day. After looking at them for about a year I went by my LGS and asked if they had one, he handed it to me and literally one minute later I finished filling out the paperwork. It was the fastest gun decision abd purchase I have ever made.

Mine is the .45 ACP as well, I didn't really expect great accuracy from a fixed site revolver. I was quite impressed to shoot at 25 yds and be able to cover all six shots with an open hand and closed fingers, it makes me look really good. Even though I'm a semi auto guy, I have always appreciated the form and function of a revolver, but there is more there to enjoy when shooting a single action in particular!

I have three suggestions, shoot it to make sure everything functions and all is good, then:

1. Email Zane at Lone Star Custom Grips and ask him what wood he has or can get, this guy is truly an artist and puts his heart and soul into his product. Each set of grips is not only wood that you select (if you ask he will even send pictures of the panels for you to choose) but Zane carves the wood to fit your individual frame so they match perfectly. His prices are great too for what you get, mine were $150 shipping included.

2. Get a quality holster. I ordered a Mernickle PS6SA for about $80 or so and it got here in 5 weeks. It can be worn strongside or crossdraw. You might even want a custom rig. Also check out Mernickle's "Field Cross Draw" holster.

3. Come back here and show it off, we like it!

Welcome to the RFBOC
 
#18 ·


I have posted pics before, unfortunately I don't have new ones. They really don't do her justice!

My S&W 617 .22 was always my favorite revolver, but I kept seeing pictures of the New Vaquero Birdshead online and knew I had to have it one day. After looking at them for about a year I went by my LGS and asked if they had one, he handed it to me and literally one minute later I finished filling out the paperwork. It was the fastest gun decision abd purchase I have ever made.

Mine is the .45 ACP as well, I didn't really expect great accuracy from a fixed site revolver. I was quite impressed to shoot at 25 yds and be able to cover all six shots with an open hand and closed fingers, it makes me look really good. Even though I'm a semi auto guy, I have always appreciated the form and function of a revolver, but there is more there to enjoy when shooting a single action in particular!
WASP...those grips look awesome on the stainless Vaquero .45 acp!

I want one but in .45 Colt...my latest 'favorite' caliber (for about 4 years now!)
 
#16 ·
I love those grips on that stainless Birdshead:)


Use some Mother's Mag Polish on the chambers so the empties drop out a bit easier, and use 7-round 1911 mags as "speedloaders", loaded with 6 rounds.

I found 6 Mec-Gar 1911 mags for a long ago sold SA, Inc. 1911 I used to have, now I got 6 speedloaders for my Vaquero:)
 
#23 ·
Welcome to the forum. That Ruger will serve you well. One trick I learned from a friend who has one: He carries his spare .45ACP ammo in a 1911 magazine, he says it loads easily, carries easily, & is quiet. If I ever have a SA in .45ACP that's the way I'll carry spare ammo.
Enjoy.
 
#35 ·
I think a 4 5/8" Birdshead .357 would be pretty sweet
The first run of birdshead revolvers built on the larger Vaquero frame included a short run toward the end of 4 5/8 inch .357 birds-heads. I was looking for the short barrel and passed at the time but I remember them. I would like to see a 3.75 inch .357 birdshead though, like the Montado, it wouldn't eject well probably.
 
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