Ruger New Vaquero question . . . .

bedbugbilly · September 12, 2010, 07:00 PM

I recently bought a New Vaquero - blued, 5 1/2 barrel in 357 so I can shoot 38 specials (for some reason my favorite cartridge). I know that some of you use them for CAS and the like so I posted this question here as hopefully some of you who have one will give me your thoughts.

I had a chance to finally do some shooting with it today and I love it. I think it is a great revolver! Rugged construction, well balanced, etc. However, I have a minor issue with the factory grips. Is it me, or do the factory grips on the New Vaquero seem to be too thin? I don't have large hands - at least they aren't the size of "Hams". It just seems to me though that it would be more comfortable to grasp if each of the grips were about a 1/8" - 3/16" thicker. Or am I just "nuts" and being too picky??? Do some of you think the same as me? If so, can someone recommend some replacement grips that would take care of the problem - something that looks western" or "period" that would make the entire grip a little heftier to wrap your hand around. I've looked at some of the grips from the various suppliers but can't tell if when put on the pistol, they would be thicker overall. Thanks for any input you can provide - even if it is just to tell me I'm "nuts"!

jmortimer · September 12, 2010, 07:03 PM

Feel for you but in reverse. I had an "old" Vaquero and the grips were too big for my hands so I put on some thinner Eagle Grips. Got a "new" Vaquero which fit my hand like a glove. Hopefully some one can I.D. some larger grips for you.

mavracer · September 12, 2010, 07:38 PM

either 41 magnum from rugerforum.net or pvt schultz on ebay make exellent grips for new vaqueros.they both fill my hands better than the factory grip.
here are links
http://rugerforum.net/parts-accessor...ip-panels.html
http://stores.ebay.com/Privates-Custom-Grips
pics of my grips from 41mag

and pvt schultz

denster · September 12, 2010, 07:46 PM

What mavracer said. +1 if you want more handfilling grips. Personaly I like the factory grips because they feel more Colt like and the New Vaquero is the first Ruger single action I've felt was worth owning in a long while.

bedbugbilly · September 13, 2010, 09:14 AM

Thanks to all of you for your help & advice. Mavracer - thanks for the photos! Nice looking pistols and I can tell just from the photos that the grips are more what I'm looking for in regards to "filling my hsnd". I'll check in to the sources and see what I can come up with.

denster - I've had the opportunity over the years to handle and examine a few original Colt SAA but have to honestly say that it's been so long I don't really remember what they actually felt like. It's not that I'm really dis-satisfied with the factory grips - I could live with them if I had to. I don't shoot competition - just target shooting and plinking. I'm no "marksman" for sure but hey, it's all about having fun anyway. After finally getting to shoot my New Vaquero yesterday for the first time, I'm thinking that I need to have thicker grips and maybe it would help. If I put thicker grips on it and my shooting doesn't improve . . . . yikes! I'll have to come up with a better excuse!

At 57, this is one of my first encounters with the "new fangled cartridge guns" and I have to say, I love it! I would have loved to have a "real" Colt SAA but after looking at prices and what I was going to use it for (general plinking and target), I just couldn't justify the cost. After reading a lot and researching, I decided on the New Vaquero as it was "Colt SAA like". I know a lot of fellas who have the "old" Vaqueros think they are better than the "new" Vaqueros". I didn't have an "old" one to compare the "new" one to but I have to tell you. I love my New Vaquero and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone. It's well built, rugged, well balanced and a joy to shoot. As I said, the factory grips are just a little too thin for my hand but if that is the only fault that I can find with the revolver, I think it speaks highly of what a great product it is. In fact, I'm hoping that I can sometime run across one with a shorter barrel to add to my "shooting iron family"!

I'm having so much fun with this "new fangled cartridge gun" that I'm even planning on getting a press and supplies to reload the empty brass I'm producing! Yikes! One thing sure can lead into another . . . .

Many thanks to everyone - I really appreciate your help! Sincerely, BB

denster · September 13, 2010, 09:44 AM

Billy. Enjoy your New Vaquero. The only thing that caused me to buy one, after some bad experiences with early Vaqueros, was getting interested in cowbot fast draw and not wanting to subject my colt clones to the abuse. I decided once I got it to try some live ammo and found "hey this is pretty nice".

Noz · September 13, 2010, 11:23 AM

The cowboys like the thinner grips because of the speed that they are grabbing them and getting them into action. The larger grips are far superior when it comes to absorbing recoil from heavy loads but that is not a factor in cowboy shooting.

Rifleman1776 · September 13, 2010, 11:59 AM

It's not the grips, it the hands.
Everyone has different size and shape hands.
Factory grips are made to a fairly arbitrary average.
Buy or make some grips that feel best for you.

September 12, 2010, 07:00 PM	#1
bedbugbilly Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 2009 Posts: 3,287	Ruger New Vaquero question . . . . I recently bought a New Vaquero - blued, 5 1/2 barrel in 357 so I can shoot 38 specials (for some reason my favorite cartridge). I know that some of you use them for CAS and the like so I posted this question here as hopefully some of you who have one will give me your thoughts. I had a chance to finally do some shooting with it today and I love it. I think it is a great revolver! Rugged construction, well balanced, etc. However, I have a minor issue with the factory grips. Is it me, or do the factory grips on the New Vaquero seem to be too thin? I don't have large hands - at least they aren't the size of "Hams". It just seems to me though that it would be more comfortable to grasp if each of the grips were about a 1/8" - 3/16" thicker. Or am I just "nuts" and being too picky??? Do some of you think the same as me? If so, can someone recommend some replacement grips that would take care of the problem - something that looks western" or "period" that would make the entire grip a little heftier to wrap your hand around. I've looked at some of the grips from the various suppliers but can't tell if when put on the pistol, they would be thicker overall. Thanks for any input you can provide - even if it is just to tell me I'm "nuts"! __________________ If a pair of '51 Navies were good enough for Billy Hickok, then a single Navy on my right hip is good enough for me . . . besides . . . I'm probably only half as good as he was anyways. Hiram's Rangers Badge #63

September 12, 2010, 07:03 PM	#2
jmortimer Junior member Join Date: January 24, 2010 Location: South West Riverside County California Posts: 2,763	Feel for you but in reverse. I had an "old" Vaquero and the grips were too big for my hands so I put on some thinner Eagle Grips. Got a "new" Vaquero which fit my hand like a glove. Hopefully some one can I.D. some larger grips for you. Last edited by jmortimer; September 12, 2010 at 09:49 PM.

September 13, 2010, 09:14 AM	#5
bedbugbilly Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 2009 Posts: 3,287	Thanks to all of you for your help & advice. Mavracer - thanks for the photos! Nice looking pistols and I can tell just from the photos that the grips are more what I'm looking for in regards to "filling my hsnd". I'll check in to the sources and see what I can come up with. denster - I've had the opportunity over the years to handle and examine a few original Colt SAA but have to honestly say that it's been so long I don't really remember what they actually felt like. It's not that I'm really dis-satisfied with the factory grips - I could live with them if I had to. I don't shoot competition - just target shooting and plinking. I'm no "marksman" for sure but hey, it's all about having fun anyway. After finally getting to shoot my New Vaquero yesterday for the first time, I'm thinking that I need to have thicker grips and maybe it would help. If I put thicker grips on it and my shooting doesn't improve . . . . yikes! I'll have to come up with a better excuse! At 57, this is one of my first encounters with the "new fangled cartridge guns" and I have to say, I love it! I would have loved to have a "real" Colt SAA but after looking at prices and what I was going to use it for (general plinking and target), I just couldn't justify the cost. After reading a lot and researching, I decided on the New Vaquero as it was "Colt SAA like". I know a lot of fellas who have the "old" Vaqueros think they are better than the "new" Vaqueros". I didn't have an "old" one to compare the "new" one to but I have to tell you. I love my New Vaquero and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone. It's well built, rugged, well balanced and a joy to shoot. As I said, the factory grips are just a little too thin for my hand but if that is the only fault that I can find with the revolver, I think it speaks highly of what a great product it is. In fact, I'm hoping that I can sometime run across one with a shorter barrel to add to my "shooting iron family"! I'm having so much fun with this "new fangled cartridge gun" that I'm even planning on getting a press and supplies to reload the empty brass I'm producing! Yikes! One thing sure can lead into another . . . . Many thanks to everyone - I really appreciate your help! Sincerely, BB __________________ If a pair of '51 Navies were good enough for Billy Hickok, then a single Navy on my right hip is good enough for me . . . besides . . . I'm probably only half as good as he was anyways. Hiram's Rangers Badge #63

September 12, 2010, 07:46 PM	#4
denster Senior Member Join Date: April 24, 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 581	What mavracer said. +1 if you want more handfilling grips. Personaly I like the factory grips because they feel more Colt like and the New Vaquero is the first Ruger single action I've felt was worth owning in a long while.

September 13, 2010, 09:44 AM	#6
denster Senior Member Join Date: April 24, 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 581	Billy. Enjoy your New Vaquero. The only thing that caused me to buy one, after some bad experiences with early Vaqueros, was getting interested in cowbot fast draw and not wanting to subject my colt clones to the abuse. I decided once I got it to try some live ammo and found "hey this is pretty nice".

September 13, 2010, 11:23 AM	#7
Noz Senior Member Join Date: February 25, 2009 Posts: 643	The cowboys like the thinner grips because of the speed that they are grabbing them and getting them into action. The larger grips are far superior when it comes to absorbing recoil from heavy loads but that is not a factor in cowboy shooting.

September 13, 2010, 11:59 AM	#8
Rifleman1776 Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2010 Location: Arkansas Posts: 3,309	It's not the grips, it the hands. Everyone has different size and shape hands. Factory grips are made to a fairly arbitrary average. Buy or make some grips that feel best for you.