Quote:
Originally Posted by tabs
1. SS is a durable and rust resistant..so yes for outdoor carry
2. U have to lug the beotch with you..so yes the shorter B is not only a weight savings but can be pulled from the holster quicker...in an emergency.
3...45 WHAT? LC or ACP....both are heavy cartridges when compared to the 357round ..the choice should be 44 mag or 357 mag...as the utility of the 2 45's is lessor than the 357...Let us just put it this way the 357 was developed for Law enforcement use back in the 1930's...the round can penetrate car bodies...so for whatever you might want a cartridge for the 357 should be adequate..unless you have a pissed off Grizzzz coming after you....than I would be of the mind of throwing either the 44 or anyother pistola cartridge gun at the Grizz and start running for my life...if that is the case only a 375 HH would make me stand and ask the Grizz if he feels lucky today....SO 357 is the answer.to the question.
OHH BTW with that Grizz a 416 Rigby would make me feel even better....
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I agree on the first two points, but vehemently disagree on the third.
The Ruger Vaquero comes in .45 Colt. The Blackhawk is available in a "convertible" model, coming with both a .45 Colt and a .45 ACP cylinder. The latter is worse than useless in a single action, which will not accept the half moon clips that make the rimless .45 ACP viable in a revolver. So. let's dismiss the .45 ACP altogether, at least for the purposes of this discussion, and move onto the .45 Colt.
As an all-around backpacking, woods bumming round, one can do no better. Especially if one does not reload. The big, heavy, slow moving bullet of the .45 Colt is far more effective on the kinds of targets one is likely to engage in the wilderness than the .357. For urban use, I can see a fast stepping, light bullet hollow point load from the .357 as superior against the two legged predators one is likely to encounter. But, out in the wilderness, penetration rules. The .45 Colt's 250 grain lead bullet has it in spades. The .357 is lacking in this regard, unless one is a hand loader who can put up some specialized heavy cast bullet loads. Even then, while it may penetrate, it simply leaves a much smaller hole. I would very strongly recommend the .45 Colt, and I do so from personal experience of having taken game with both. The big .45 is a very noticeably better killer on wild animals.
The Ruger New Vaquero is a different gun than the original Vaquero. It's a lot smaller. The original was built on the Super Blackhawk size frame, which is a good deal bigger than the original Colt Peacemaker. The New Vaquero, at the behest of the Cowboy Action shooting fraternity, has been "downsized" to match the size of the original Colt. It is now a very handy little gun. I bought one just last year to save wear and tear on my Colt, and it has now become my primary all-around carry gun when I'm out bumming around our Cascades. Mine is the 4 5/8" barrel, which is by far the handiest for an all day carrying single action.
So, in short, go with the stainless 4 5/8" .45 Colt. I can't think of a better outdoorsman's sidearm.