mic214
.30 Stingray
Colorado
Posts: 109
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Post by mic214 on May 1, 2016 12:12:21 GMT -5
I have two holsters that I use for my 7-1/2" single actions. The first one is a DeSantis crossdraw rig that is perfect for when you are riding in a Jeep or on an ATV: The other one is an old Safariland belt holster. It is great for packing the 7-1/2" pistolas when out in the woods:
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mic214
.30 Stingray
Colorado
Posts: 109
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Post by mic214 on Apr 12, 2016 12:41:32 GMT -5
I have a set of original Bisely Vaqueros' in .45 Colt. One is in stainless steel and other other is factory full blued. Both have 5-1/2" barrels: The blued one started out with the standard color cased hardened style finish. The original owner had a "Squib" load that bulged the barrel, so he sent it back to Ruger for a new barrel. The finish was wearing thin, so they did the re-blue job on it for him. I think it turned out pretty nice. My other Bisley Vaquero is chambered in .44 magnum. It originally had a 4-5/8" barrel. I had that swapped out for a 7-1/2" tube:
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mic214
.30 Stingray
Colorado
Posts: 109
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Post by mic214 on Apr 3, 2016 11:38:34 GMT -5
I got my Bond Arms derringer to use in cowboy action shooting. Mine is chambered in .45 Colt/.410 and has the 3-1/2" barrels. I have carried it on occasion when out in snake country riding my ATV loaded with the .410 rounds....
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mic214
.30 Stingray
Colorado
Posts: 109
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Post by mic214 on Apr 3, 2016 11:29:11 GMT -5
Back when I first became a LEO in the late 70's, I carried a Colt Commander in 9mm for a short period of time. I had two of them back then, a blued one that had a spur hammer and a satin nickel one that had a ring style hammer. Both were great pistols. I ended up switching out to a BHP for more magazine capacity. Unfortunately I ended up selling off both of my 9mm Commanders. I knew a trooper in a neighboring agency that carried a 9mm Colt Govt Model and that was a sweet shooter. I wouldn't mind picking up one of those someday. My current BHP is a 73C series. I have installed a set of MK-III grips and a ring hammer from an Argentine HP. I had the ambi safety installed by Don Williams:
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mic214
.30 Stingray
Colorado
Posts: 109
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Post by mic214 on Apr 3, 2016 10:29:06 GMT -5
Thanks all for the kind words! I think I'm going to do a short write-up on tools to go with it. Great post……Very informative! I would love to see your write up on the tools……
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mic214
.30 Stingray
Colorado
Posts: 109
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Post by mic214 on Mar 21, 2016 21:52:15 GMT -5
mic214 You have inspired me to keep acquiring Ruger single-actions. Yep. I too find the 44 mag/Special the most versatile cartridge, in terms of variety of loads available, availability of factory ammo almost anywhere at reasonable cost, effectiveness as a rifle round also. I have two Smiths in .44, a 4" Mountain Gun and an early 629, 6". In addition to two Security Sixes, I have two OM stainless Vaqueros in .44 mag with 4 5/8" barrels, as matched set, fully customized. For years I wanted, but could never find one with the Bisely grip, 5 1/2" barrel in 44 mag. But recently I came across a NIB (unfired) Bisely SBH, 7 1/2" barrel, blued for %569.00. I wanted it as a horse pistol, which it now is. I found that the 7 1/2" barrel length offers superior (for me) pointing and handling qualities and with the Bisely grip I can shoot even heavy loads one-handed from the saddle. Right now I am considering switching to a ghost ring rear sight for fast target acquisition without my glasses. By the way, I live in Cave Creek, Arizona, so we're distant neighbors. What I love about the Southwest is the sun, the culture and the rich history, not to mention the vast open spaces we still have. Thanks for sharing your collection with us. Best Regards, John Hansen Hey John, I think my affinity for single actions and the 44 caliber comes from my upbringing where I read everything I could that was written by Elmer Keith and Skeeter Skelton. At one time I did have a Bisley Blackhawk with a 7-1/2" barrel chambered in .44 magnum. I carried it a lot as my back up pistola when I was hunting hogs in Texas. I thought it was great hunting pistol, but I found that the most comfortable carry position was cross draw due to the barrel length. It did have a nice balance to it. I am contemplating having a stainless Bisley grip frame installed on my stainless 5-1/2" SBH as, for me, I think it would be the ultimate woods pistola. I do love living in New Mexico. We have some rugged country here, but that is my idea of heaven. My parents live in Payson, which I see is not too far from you. That is sure some pretty country up that way too……… Hasta, Mick
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mic214
.30 Stingray
Colorado
Posts: 109
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Post by mic214 on Mar 21, 2016 13:43:19 GMT -5
An enviable collection! Looks like lean toward the 44 mag more than the other calibers. Which one do you shoot the most and what is your preferred barrel length? I carry and shoot the stainless 5-1/2" SBH the most, although the .44 Special Vaquero is slowly catching up to it for time in the holster.... . The SBH was an anniversary gift from my lovely bride many years ago. To me, the caliber is very versatile and the barrel length is perfect for packing in the woods. We live up in the high country of southeastern New Mexico, so bears are a frequent visitor around the hacienda.
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mic214
.30 Stingray
Colorado
Posts: 109
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Post by mic214 on Mar 20, 2016 23:34:56 GMT -5
I thought it was time to break out all of my Ruger single actions and give them a little sun.... So starting at 12 o'clock and going clockwise: 1) Stainless 5-1/2" SBH .44 mag 2) Stainless 5-1/2" Bisley Vaquero .45 Colt 3) Blued 5-1/2" Bisley Vaquero .45 Colt 4) Stainless 4-5/8" Vaquero .44 Special 5) Blued 4-5/8" 3 screw Flat Top Blackhawk .357 mag 6) Blued 4-5/8" Vaquero .44 mag 7) Blued 7-1/2" SBH .44 mag 8) Stainless 7-1/2" New Vaquero .45 Colt 9) Stainless 7-1/2" New Vaquero .45 Colt 10) Blued 7-1/2" Bisley Vaquero .44 mag 11) Blued Super Single Six 9-1/2" barrel .22lr/.22mag 12) Single Six 9-1/2" barrel .22lr 13) Blued 7-1/2" Vaqureo .44 mag 14) Blued 4" Bearcat .22lr (Center)
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mic214
.30 Stingray
Colorado
Posts: 109
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Post by mic214 on Mar 20, 2016 18:38:00 GMT -5
This is my Ruger Vaquero in .44 Special:
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mic214
.30 Stingray
Colorado
Posts: 109
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Post by mic214 on Mar 20, 2016 14:50:04 GMT -5
While I have shot (And carried) my .44 Special Vaquero quite a bit, the only target photos I could find were from a year ago, shortly after I picked it up. I set up my target at 15 yards and used the bench rest to put a few rounds through my .44 special. I was shooting the Magtech 240 grain lead flat point cowboy loads, which were moving out at around 760 fps (According to the specs on the box). Here is my first group with a 6 o'clock hold on the orange dot: For my second group, I held dead center: It appears that at this range with this ammo, it shoots a little high and to the right so for my third group, I held just to the left of center at about 8 o'clock (I threw a flyer on this group out at about 2 o'clock in the 8 ring): My last two groups were also shot holding just a little bit to the left of center at about 8 o'clock. It was pretty sunny out and I was getting a lot of glare off of the stainless front sight of the Vaquero. So I took it to a friend of mine who was a gunsmith to see if we could correct that problem. He taught me how to serrate the front sight with a proper file. Using his 22lpi checkering file, I serrated the front sight on my .44spl NV. Here are a couple of pics of the serrated front sight on my .44 special NV along side one of my .45 Colt NV's that had not been worked on:
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mic214
.30 Stingray
Colorado
Posts: 109
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Post by mic214 on Mar 20, 2016 11:44:38 GMT -5
My stainless 5-1/2" Bisley Vaquero in .45 Colt along with a pair a pair of stainless Ruger New Vaquero's also in .45 Colt: Since the above photo was taken, I have acquired another Bisley Vaquero. This one is also a 5-1/2" in .45 Colt and has had a factory full re-blue done on it by the previous owner: My other Bisley Vaquero is a .44 magnum version that originally had a 4-5/8" barrel on it. I had that switched out to a 7-1/2" barrel:
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mic214
.30 Stingray
Colorado
Posts: 109
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Post by mic214 on Mar 20, 2016 11:38:01 GMT -5
I've one of the polished SS 3.75" Nm Vaquero Sheriffs in 44spec.. Also love it ! I like the upswept hammer, very positive handling in cold weather, with gloves. Kinda a BP hammer ? Do recall hearing quite a few folks swapping that hammer out though. Must be a bunch of them laying in parts boxes, sadly. Those Sheriff's Model Vaqueros are really nice. I wouldn't mind having one of them myself either! The factory hammer works fine for me, but I actually have thought about swapping out the hammer for a SHB hammer down the road. I think it is something I could easily do myself. mic214.... a good series of photo, the second of which poses a young Vaquero with two boxes of .44 Special from the early 1980's----Winchester 200 grain Silvertip JHP and Federal 200 grain swaged Lead Hollow Point. Fired from a 5-1/2" Redhawk, these Winchester and Federal .44 Specials accounted for several whitetails. Broadside lung shots at ranges from 20 to 40 yards, the effect was anything but dramatic. As though the modest POW of the shot blended with the moseying impact of the bullet in a moment of confusion. Flight for two consisted of wandering off, only to keel over a short distance away. One practically stood still and fell over when its brain ran out of oxygen. I've seen the same thing from a similar 90 pound deer lungshot with a Colt Python and .357 Mag 180 JHP at 1,000 fps (Federal #357G, bullet introduced in .357 Magnum). Said loads would not be my choice for large deer. The El Paso Saddlery M7 Tanker is a fine throw-it-over-your-shoulder-and-go rig, which can be slung back out of the way for wood handling and other chores. David Bradshaw Thanks! You are correct about the Winchester and Federal ammo being from the early 80's. I bought it during the "Dirty Harry" phase of my LEO career, where I packed a 4" S&W Model 29 off duty for a bit (Similar to what Skeeter Skelton himself did for a while). When out in the woods, I carried full house .44 magnum ammo (Federal 180 grain JHP's), but for "Social work" I carried the .44 specials as I could control it easier. The EPS "Tanker" holster is a great rig for when I am riding in a vehicle (Truck or Polaris Ranger moslty). I also have a "Guide's Choice" Alaskan chest holster made by Diamond D Leathers. It is for my 5-1/2" Ruger SBH, but the Vaquero rides nicely in it as well.....
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mic214
.30 Stingray
Colorado
Posts: 109
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Post by mic214 on Mar 19, 2016 23:24:07 GMT -5
You mean like this one? That is an absolute beauty!
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mic214
.30 Stingray
Colorado
Posts: 109
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Post by mic214 on Mar 19, 2016 18:20:37 GMT -5
Nice stuff for sure! Only thing I don't like about the New Vaqs is the hammer shape. Just looks odd to me. What make holster is the first one pictured? That holster is called a "Tortilla Rig" from El Paso Saddlery..... If your Vaquaro was built to the same standards the Lipsey's 44 Special Bisley Flattops were, you have a gem. Absolutely the best gun I have ever gotten from Ruger and I am a huge Ruger fan. I would love to have a Lipsey's Bisley Vaquero in .44 Special....I have a neighbor who has one with a 4-5/8" barrel, but he isn't letting go of it..... I am working on getting a Colt New Frontier in .44 Special with a 5-1/2" barrel....That is my dream gun.... !
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mic214
.30 Stingray
Colorado
Posts: 109
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Post by mic214 on Mar 19, 2016 17:40:39 GMT -5
About a year or so ago, I traded into a real nice stainless Ruger Vaquero with a 4-5/8" barrel that is chambered in .44 Special. It came with a set of Hogue imitation ivory grips, but no box or papers. In doing a little research, I discovered that this pistol was one of 503 that Ruger made for Lipsey's. According to the serial number, this one was made in 2010. This was confirmed from a member on another board who works for Lipsey's that this is, in fact, one of their special runs from Ruger. According to him (Jason), my pistol was shipped to them in March of 2011 and it had the black checkered grips on it then. This is one of 503 that Ruger produced for Lipsey's in .44 special. Apparently they also produced 500 blued Vaqueros in .44 special with the 4-5/8" barrel length. Lipsey's also had 510 stainless Vaqueros in .44 special with 3-3/4" barrels and 510 blued Vaqueros in .44 special with 3-3/4" barrels made up for them by Ruger. I was able to score a set of factory black checkered grips for it from a member on another board: I dug through my "Box o' Holsters" and found a couple of other holsters that fit this .44 spl Vaquero. The first is a "Tanker" rig from El Paso Saddlery: The second is a Threepersons holster made by S.D. Myers:
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