Ruger New Vaquero grip frame question

[Doug.38PR]

I handled a new Vaquero for the first time tonight at Cabelas. I really liked it.

The ONLY thing that really felt wrong about it, or at least odd, when comparing it to a Uberti SAA Clone was that the grips on the frame were too short from front to back. They may have not been as wide either.

Is there a way to compensate for this? Larger grips (NON rubber) where it still looks like a good western gun?

 

[flatgate]

There are several very skilled grip makers here on Ruger Forum.

They can help you!

flatgate

 

[G2]

The $40 rosewood grips that are on shopruger.com give the grip the attributes you seek.

They are really laminates, picture is not correct, but what shows up looks good, well crafted and fit good.

Took the 44 mag flattop and made it a different gun to shoot,,, for the better. IMO

 

[gak]

+1 most any of our (RF) gripmakers' and others' grips (other than "Gunfighter" types) will fill the hand more. I believe what you're perceiving re the front-to-back part is instead the combination of narrowness you mention and very modest all 'round circumference, since the profile--viewed from the side--is supposed to be close to that of the Colt's and (mostly) hence Ubertis, though the latter two are not directly interchangeable from my experience.

 

[Doug.38PR]

well, I was handling the Vaquero with a Uberti Cimmeron/Cattleman gun last night and noticed the Uberti fit my hand better. I looked at it and the bottom of the grip frame was longer on the Uberti than the Vaquero. The tail of the "hogleg" end was longer, if that makes sense

 

[gak]

Doug, I think that sounds about right and one reason a Colt grip won't just bolt right up. I had a set of 3rd Gen eagle Colts fitted to my Cimarron. Only reason they worked was my smith--an SAA specialist--had some oversize (anomaly) grips from Colt that could be worked to fit the Uberti frame.

 

[Doug.38PR]

Okay. Great. What I'm hearing from everyone is that while this is common, it is certainly not a problem and is easily resolved

 

[Hondo44]

I handled a new Vaquero for the first time tonight at Cabelas. I really liked it.

The ONLY thing that really felt wrong about it, or at least odd, when comparing it to a Uberti SAA Clone was that the grips on the frame were too short from front to back. They may have not been as wide either.

Is there a way to compensate for this? Larger grips (NON rubber) where it still looks like a good western gun?

The New Vaquero grip frame and grips are closest to the Colt and clones. Sounds like you would prefer the original Vaquero grip frame and grips. They are 3/16" longer, front to back, between the trigger guard and front grip strap, the grip frame is 1/16" thicker and the grips are thicker. It's a simple swap.

 

[Doug.38PR]

I like the frame size of new vaq. but I just need a little more grip

 

[CraigC]

I'm confused, in comparing XR3 to Colt SAA and replica grips, I've always found them to be very, very close.

 

[gak]

I'm confused, in comparing XR3 to Colt SAA and replica grips, I've always found them to be very, very close.

Craig, I thought so too but the Ubertis (at least Cimarrons, so I assume all Uberti SAA pattern?) is just different enough that many gripmakers seem to make a distinction...and not just because of pin location (or with many, not just because no locator pin holes--being single piecers) - it's a size/shape issue. I've heard of folks fitting 3rd Gen Colts to XR3 Ruger frames without much tunkering but have no experience (but am going to try now this has come up) . My SAA specialist-smith has made a point several times about the difference between the Uberti "SAAs" and Colts.

 

[CraigC]

I know there's gonna be variations between guns and makers but he's sounding as if there is a distinct design difference. Enough to feel different in the hand, aside from the obvious grip differences. Maybe I'm just not getting a clear picture.

 

[CraigC]

I don't have my Uberti .32-20 on hand to compare but I do have three USFA's (which are supposed to follow the Uberti pattern), Rugers and a Colt. So I took their grips off and they are all so close, I seriously doubt one could actually "feel" a difference. The 3rd generation Colt is actually the biggest, standing proud over the other two but not by much. So I'm very curious to find out exactly what is going on here.

 

[gak]

I know there's gonna be variations between guns and makers but he's sounding as if there is a distinct design difference. Enough to feel different in the hand, aside from the obvious grip differences. Maybe I'm just not getting a clear picture.

I'll have to take a look at some single piecers I took off my Cim to accomplish the above Colt transplant project, as well as some Stampede "hard rubbers" I happened upon, but other than the end flare he's seeing, bet you dollars to donuts the slimness of the NVs versus the "more normal" (ie, Colt like) Uberti grip shape (thickness etc) is 99% of the felt difference...and as we've suggested, curable by either the Ruger store offering(www.shopruger.com) or Cary, Carl, etc, here--or just about anyone elses' are thicker thanthe stock NVs.

 

[CraigC]

You're probably right!

 

[Doug.38PR]

tick tick tick. The time is comming very soon for this gun to be bought.

4 inch blue steeled new vaquero 8)

 

[gak]

tick tick tick. The time is comming very soon for this gun to be bought.

4 inch blue steeled new vaquero 8)

Caliber and pics required when the deal is done

 

[Doug.38PR]

huh....well nevermind. Just got a bombshell dropped on me

 

[Doug.38PR]

huh....well nevermind. Just got a bombshell dropped on me

 

[EDK]

I like the frame size of new vaq. but I just need a little more grip

The XR3-reds don't fit my hands very well unless I use EAGLE GRIPS Ginfighter model replacements. XR-3 on the NEW VAQUERO/medium frame is even worse for me. I converted a bunch of Original Size VAQUEROS with either DRAGOON or HUNTER grip frames...factory grips are OK and custom stags or the Gunfighters are even better.

Check out CaryC or Pvt Schultz for what they offer to solve your needs.

Life is too short to have a pistol with a poor trigger or stocks (grips) that don't feel right.

 

[Hondo44]

I'm confused, in comparing XR3 to Colt SAA and replica grips, I've always found them to be very, very close.

Craig, I thought so too but the Ubertis (at least Cimarrons, so I assume all Uberti SAA pattern?) is just different enough that many gripmakers seem to make a distinction...and not just because of pin location (or with many, not just because no locator pin holes--being single piecers) - it's a size/shape issue. I've heard of folks fitting 3rd Gen Colts to XR3 Ruger frames without much tinkering but have no experience (but am going to try now this has come up) . My SAA specialist-smith has made a point several times about the difference between the Uberti "SAAs" and Colts.

gak,
I agree, they are darn close but every maker seems to have subtle differences in the curve shape. And not all Cimarrons are Uberti, some are made by Pietta like the Cim stainless SAs.

 

[Doug.38PR]

okay, some of you are throwing me with the term X3R. What's X3R?

 

[Hondo44]

okay, some of you are throwing me with the term X3R. What's X3R?

Doug,

XR3 is the number on the very first size Ruger SAs up tp c. 1962. It was a copy of the Colt SA grip frame and is very close but not exactly the same.

Each susquent change in Rugers grip frame size/shape has a different number.
This sticky and attachments there-in will illustrate and explain them all:
http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=131343