Ruger Vaquero

Lore & Background

The Ruger Vaquero was introduced in 1993 to meet the growing demand for quality modern firearms used in the sport of cowboy action shooting. The first version was a 7.5-inch barreled revolver chambered in .45 Colt with a simulated color case-hardened frame and a blue barrel, grip frame, and cylinder. This was followed by models with 5.5-inch and 4.625-inch barrels, mirroring the common barrel lengths of the Colt Single Action Army. The three versions were offered in stainless steel and other calibers including .44 Magnum, .357 Magnum, and .44-40 Winchester. Originally all Ruger Vaqueros shipped with walnut grips incorporating a Ruger logo medallion. In 1998 some models began shipping with faux-ivory grips, and limited runs with gold inlay and engraving were offered.

Like the New Model Blackhawk, the Vaquero does not require the hammer to be half-cocked for loading and unloading, and uses a transfer bar mechanism that prevents the cartridge under the hammer from being fired without the trigger being pulled. The original Vaquero was marketed from 1993 until 2005 and was slightly larger than the Colt Single Action Army. In 2005, Ruger introduced the "New Vaquero" which incorporated a smaller frame based on Ruger's XR-3 grip frame, making the pistol closer to the size of the Colt Single Action Army. The New Vaquero comes with checkered black plastic grips and has the safety warning relocated beneath the barrel for aesthetic reasons.

Three grip variants exist for Vaqueros: the standard grip similar to the Colt Single Action Army, the Bisley variant with a longer frame suited for larger hands, and the Birdshead grip similar to the pattern found on Colt M1877 and M1878 models. In 1999 a limited run of 500 guns in stainless steel and 500 guns in blue with color case-hardened frames were offered by Davidson's with a 3.75-inch barrel and shortened ejector rod housing, called the "Sheriff's Model". In 2005, this barrel was added as a standard option.

Reader's Guide

The Ruger Vaquero holds significance as a modern interpretation of the classic single-action revolver, specifically designed for the Cowboy Action Shooting sport that surged in the 1990s. Its key legacy lies in combining traditional aesthetics—such as fixed sights, case-colored frames, and period-appropriate finishes like gloss stainless steel resembling 19th-century nickel plating—with Ruger's modern safety features. The transfer bar mechanism allows safe loading of all six chambers, a departure from the original Colt Single Action Army's half-cock loading procedure. The original Vaquero was built to safely fire higher-pressure .45 Colt ammunition than black powder chamberings, with significantly thicker cylinder walls, leading to Ruger-only recommended handloads in many reloading manuals. However, the New Vaquero, with thinner cylinder walls, is not considered safe for those loads, though Ruger states it handles +P and +P+ ammunition without issues. The introduction of the New Vaquero in 2005, with its smaller frame closer to the Colt SAA dimensions, allowed it to accept two-piece stocks made for the Colt Single Action Army, further bridging the gap between modern manufacturing and historical authenticity. The Vaquero's various grip options—standard, Bisley, and Birdshead—and limited editions like the Sheriff's Model and the San Diego Sheriff's Association commemorative in .40 S&W demonstrate its adaptability to both historical recreation and modern shooting needs.

Did You Know?

• The Ruger Vaquero was introduced in 1993 to meet demand from the Cowboy Action Shooting sport.
• The original Vaquero was slightly larger than the Colt Single Action Army; the New Vaquero (2005) is closer to Colt dimensions.
• The Vaquero uses a transfer bar mechanism, allowing safe loading of all six chambers without a half-cock position.
• In 1999, Davidson's offered a limited run of 500 stainless and 500 blue 'Sheriff's Model' Vaqueros with a 3.75-inch barrel.