Ruger New Vaquero Birdshead Grip Frame

Help Support Ruger Forum:

usmc69

Bearcat
Joined
Nov 7, 2008
Messages
20
Location
Florida
I am thinking of changing out the birdshead grip frame for a regular sized grip frame. Has anyone done this? If so what frame did you use?
 
Use any Ruger grip frame you like, they all interchange with the cylinder frames.
Here is a 50th Blackhawk that came with a steel XR3, these grip frames are thinner and smallish, especially to bigger paws.
So I changed it out to a Brass Hunter, which is a Super Blackhawk "Size", but with a rounded trigger guard. Thus you don't have the Square back of the Dragoon trigger guard to smack your knuckle.

1726526819518.jpeg


This 45/45ACP had the same XR3, again I don't care for it so went with the Birdshead, kinda backwards of what your wanting but showing you,,, The do what you like options.
50279025353_88a2fa3d68_c.jpg


Now with all that said there is a difference in the Heights of the Early -vs- Current Cylinder Frames, when that happened??? I'm not sure,, but it's a small hurdle.

A take off Ruger Gripframe will get close to fitting gun/gun but most likely will need some adjusting.
example: My Birdshead above came off a gun like yours.

Finally, RW Gripframes makes some really neat and unusual, very high quality, and fit up even better than a Ruger/ Ruger.
But you can get some really neat custom stuff. NDIH, just have used some of Ronnie's stuff and it is superb.


Here is a Brass #5 Keith on a Single Seven 327M. Originally a Blued Steel Bisley, neat & nice BUT I always wanted a Keith#5 and with RW making them in Brass it's Really cool, and this gun shoots.
51946907669_1094d03435_c.jpg

51945613237_9e837e16c4_c.jpg
 
Last edited:
Here's another thought, A Birdshead is nothing but a ROUND BUTT XR3-RED/ Standard Gripframe as you called it.
This picture was way back when Qualite (a manufacture of brass grip frames, no longer in business) They added a slug of material so you could make it into a Birdshead from a "standard"
The line shows a Birdshead grip panel outline.

Take a pair a "standard grips" and put them on your Birdshead, and then figure out how to fill the missing area in.
Smith & Wesson does this all the time, taking a Round Butt and converting it to Square Butt.
Referred as RB to SB conversion.

53104059667_390e91b347_c.jpg

Both of these S&W's are Round Butt Guns that have the Square Butt conversion on them.
53672740645_333d220734_c.jpg
 
Use any Ruger grip frame you like, they all interchange with the cylinder frames.
Here is a 50th Blackhawk that came with a steel XR3, these grip frames are thinner and smallish, especially to bigger paws.
So I changed it out to a Brass Hunter, which is a Super Blackhawk "Size", but with a rounded trigger guard. Thus you don't have the Square back of the Dragoon trigger guard to smack your knuckle.

View attachment 54284

This 45/45ACP had the same XR3, again I don't care for it so went with the Birdshead, kinda backwards of what your wanting but showing you,,, The do what you like options.
50279025353_88a2fa3d68_c.jpg


Now with all that said there is a difference in the Heights of the Early -vs- Current Cylinder Frames, when that happened??? I'm not sure,, but it's a small hurdle.

A take off Ruger Gripframe will get close to fitting gun/gun but most likely will need some adjusting.
example: My Birdshead above came off a gun like yours.

Finally, RW Gripframes makes some really neat and unusual, very high quality, and fit up even better than a Ruger/ Ruger.
But you can get some really neat custom stuff. NDIH, just have used some of Ronnie's stuff and it is superb.


Here is a Brass #5 Keith on a Single Seven 327M. Originally a Blued Steel Bisley, neat & nice BUT I always wanted a Keith#5 and with RW making them in Brass it's Really cool, and this gun shoots.
51946907669_1094d03435_c.jpg

51945613237_9e837e16c4_c.jpg
I'd love to have a birdshead grip on one of my 4-5/8" stainless blackhawks.
I've got one from 1981, that I bought new, and a recent production 357/9mm convertible that I've yet to shoot.

I also have a new vaquero 45acp, but it will stay original.
 
Use any Ruger grip frame you like, they all interchange with the cylinder frames.

Now with all that said there is a difference in the Heights of the Early -vs- Current Cylinder Frames, when that happened??? I'm not sure,, but it's a small hurdle.

A take off Ruger Gripframe will get close to fitting gun/gun but most likely will need some adjusting.
example:


I believe it happened when they introduced the Bisley grip frame. The transition is now as shown on the Keith #5 you show. 😁
 
Top