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Old December 28, 2008, 10:11 AM   #5
CraigC
Junior member
 
Join Date: November 28, 2001
Location: West Tennessee
Posts: 4,300
Firstly, both sixguns are "New Model" Ruger single actions. "Old Model" is an official factory designation for all Ruger single actions produced from 1953-1972. Those lines do not need to be blurred. Vaquero and New Vaquero, simple.

The original .357 Blackhawks were built on a smaller, Colt SAA-sized frame with the XR3 grip frame which closely resembled the Colt. In 1962 Ruger changed from the XR3 to the XR3-RED grip frame which allowed more room behind the triggerguard at the expense of handling. Since the New Model redesign, all Ruger's centerfire single actions (except the .32 Single Sixes) were produced on the large Super Blackhawk frame. For years lots of folks complained about the unnecessary bulk of those guns when chambered in .357Mag. Then as the cowboy action market grew, Ruger introduced the Vaquero built on that same large frame. CAS shooters had no need for the great strength of those guns and wanted for something that handled better. Something closer to one of the finest handling handguns ever produced, the Colt Single Action Army. In 2005 Ruger answered with the New Vaquero. Basically a scaled down Vaquero closer to the size of the famous Colt. The XR3 grip frame was also brought back and this time in steel. They also addressed another common complaint of the New Model guns in that at the audible "click", the chambers do not line up with the loading gate. They resolved this issue with a freespin pawl coupled with a plunger that contacts the ratchet teeth on the cylinder to properly index the chambers for easier loading/unloading. So in effect, the New Vaquero and the 50th anniversary Blackhawks, are all answers to customers' wishes.

The only downside, if there is one, is that the .45Colt New Vaquero is not strong enough for those heavy "Ruger-only" loads people have become so fond of. Although it is quite capable of 20-22,000psi loads in the 260gr@1100fps range.
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