The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - Ruger New Blackhawk 45 Colt, still strong as ever?

**44 AMP** · April 1, 2014, 09:24 PM

Understand that even a gun that isn't up to the "Ruger only" .45 Colt loads can still get a 250gr up in the 900-1000fps range (barrel length depending). But that is top end for the gun.

Since there were Blackhawks, and Super Blackhawks before the lockwork change in 73, all those guns made afterwards are called "New Model", and so marked. (note, "New Model" and not "New").

There was no Vaquero back then, and so there are no "new model Vaqueros", there are only "Vaqueros" and that is how they are marked. In conversation we sometimes call them original Vaqueros to try and reduce confusion with the current fixed sight SA, which is named the "New Vaquero" (and NOT "New Model" Vaquero).

Both the Vaquero and the New Vaquero have the same lockwork system (transfer bar) as the New Model Blackhawks, and as far as I know, the NEW VAQUEROS have that (thankfully hidden) internal lock.

April 1, 2014, 09:24 PM	#10
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,832	Understand that even a gun that isn't up to the "Ruger only" .45 Colt loads can still get a 250gr up in the 900-1000fps range (barrel length depending). But that is top end for the gun. Since there were Blackhawks, and Super Blackhawks before the lockwork change in 73, all those guns made afterwards are called "New Model", and so marked. (note, "New Model" and not "New"). There was no Vaquero back then, and so there are no "new model Vaqueros", there are only "Vaqueros" and that is how they are marked. In conversation we sometimes call them original Vaqueros to try and reduce confusion with the current fixed sight SA, which is named the "New Vaquero" (and NOT "New Model" Vaquero). Both the Vaquero and the New Vaquero have the same lockwork system (transfer bar) as the New Model Blackhawks, and as far as I know, the NEW VAQUEROS have that (thankfully hidden) internal lock. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.