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I acquired a 3.5 inch 44 magnum Original Size VAQUERO last fall...some one did some expensive custom work on it...just wish it hadn't been magna-ported!...I could have gotten some "style points" at a cowboy action shoot wearing it. I switched out the standard hammer and trigger to a good set with a SUPER BLACK HAWK hammer and DRAGOON grip frame. The little &*^% kicks some with full power loads!

With the XR3-red grip frame and short barrel, you want some well designed and well fitted grips...the light weight is going to accentuate all the shortcomings of the factory grips. I'd try EAGLE GRIPS Gunfighter model. It would be "a bear to shoot" with the cheese graters on the new FLAT TOPS in my opinion.

The FORT in Big Timber Montana had two of these little jewels when I visited them and SHILOH SHARPS monday afternoon. IIRC, $625.

Of course it is! I put new shoes on all of mine that fit. ESPECIALLY if it's a "working gun".

EDK,

Sounds like a neat gun! What other custom work does it have besides what you did? My 4 5/8" 44 Mags could use a bigger grip, maybe a stainless Hunter 44 grip w/round trigger guard.

I wouldn't want the Magna ported barrel either but maybe someone with another sheriffs model would. If so you could swap barrels with them.

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Jim
Ruger single action "collector, accumulator, builder and shooter"
NRA Life
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My Orignal VAQUERO custom Sheriffs model was bought used for $350 out the door. Magna-ported, custom dished muzzle crown, SUPERB total blue job like an older SUPER BLACK HAWK. I added the DRAGOON grip frame that fit d*** near perfect and a SBH hammer and trigger I got from 2 Dogs awhile back. Unfortunately it shoots about 8 inches low with 250 grain Keith boolits, but relief is a trip to the milling machine away. I toy with the idea of re-barreling or selling it, but it is such a neat little gun and the sight issues are a no brainer. RUGER must agree with the introduction of the 3.75 inch SUPERS.

On the other Original Size VAQUEROS, I installed DRAGOON and HUNTER grip frames. Lately, I've also went to a SBH hammer...I have several 5.5 inch stainless guns with this set up that are in transit for trigger jobs at ALPHA PRECISION. A HUNTER grip frame and SBH hammer handle almost as nice...maybe better!....than a BISLEY. Either is a good choice.

Relief should only be a jewelers file away?

I really like mine.Only problem was every shot the cylinder pin would move forward (I could actually pull it out with my fingers).Ruger sent a new base pin spring and latch but I went ahead and bought a sheriff model base pin (Belt Mountain).Had to cut most of it off and grind the rest so the cylinder would come out.It's about the same size (length) after grinding as the one that came in the gun.I ordered three more pins but brownells only had two in stock.Now says "discontinued" .

They do have that power packed look---great BEAR GUN like the unfluted cylinder on this gun

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vietnam medic 196th LIB. americal Divison 3/21 INF.B-co. Firebase Center also the resident forum collector of aftermarket MICRO-SIGHT Co. RSS's

Like Lee Martin suggests, just says "bear gun" all over it! I have no use for one--already having a passel of .44s, Mags and Specials--that'll do most of this one's duty reasonably well...yet, strangely, I want one Can't quite place it, but someting intrinsically right about the thing!

Ya know, I've got plenty of "real" 44's, so I certainly didn't need this shorty version, but as others have said, I just had to have it.

WAYNO.

Saw #87-97013 at the Des Moines show this weekend. Anybody have any other numbers to report on this one??
Chet15

87-96090

WAYNO.

87-95396

87-95298

i got one - 87-95395__howdy mrbumps! my grips didnt fit right! changed mine to stags!__bedrockfred

Thanks everybody for providing sn's on this one!
Chet15