vaquero grip

[hedgehorn]

I have an old model Vaquero 7.5" 44 mag. Are the grips the same as the new model? I was looking to replace them with black micarta. Thanks

 

[caryc]

Regular Vaquero = XR3-RED grip profilie

New Vaquero = New XR3 grip profile

So..........no.

All Vaqueros are new models. New model = 2 pin action with transfer bar.

Old model = 3 screw action with half cock position.

 

[hedgehorn]

Thanks caryc for the quick reply

 

[Hondo44]

If you want black grips the current blackhawk and single six grips will fit your Vaquero. They have the blackhawk medallion like shown here:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=257127318

 

[gak]

If you want black grips the current blackhawk and single six grips will fit your Vaquero. They have the blackhawk medallion like shown here:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=257127318

Except...while correct XR3 Red shape, they will tend to be undersized a skosh. leaving it a little metal proud, at least on the stainless (tried three). Whether different frame contractors between then and now or whatever, who knows. They're relatively cheap and worth a try though. Gripframes can have personalities all their own, and yours may work better.

 

[Hondo44]

How true! I put an NXR3 RED grip frame on my Montado because it banged my knuckles so bad with the XR3. And once I decided on the grips I wanted and since it was stainless, I fit the frame to the grips.

 

[caryc]

How true! I put an NXR3 RED grip frame on my Montado because it banged my knuckles so bad with the XR3. And once I decided on the grips I wanted and since it was stainless, I fit the frame to the grips.

That's great but now that you have fit the frame to a set of grips, if you ever change grips you will have to fit a pair to that altered frame.

Isn't it much easier to fit the grips to a frame?

 

[Hondo44]

Not if the grips are a little small. I kept the original frame and grips anyway.

 

[GaryA]

If you want black grips the current blackhawk and single six grips will fit your Vaquero.

I thought the new Blackhawk grips are still XR3-RED and not XR3 except that they are much slimmer than the earlier XR3-RED Rosewood grips. Is that wrong? I can see they might "fit" but it can't be very exact. What about the flare at the lower rear of the grips?

 

[caryc]

The new Blackhawk grip frames are still the XR3-RED grip profile unless you are talking about a flattop Blackhawk. Those have the New XR3 or "New Vaquero" grip frames.

 

[gak]

If you want black grips the current blackhawk and single six grips will fit your Vaquero.

I thought the new Blackhawk grips are still XR3-RED and not XR3 except that they are much slimmer than the earlier XR3-RED Rosewood grips. Is that wrong? I can see they might "fit" but it can't be very exact. What about the flare at the lower rear of the grips?

The new (non flattop) Blackhawk as well as Single Six grips are still XR3-Red profile. My experiece has been, however, that while the general size and shape of these new (black plastic/Ruger logo) grips is correct to the old/original Vaquero (and hence older NM Blackhawks), at least on the old (large frame) stainless Vaquero the grips run a little small, leaving it a little metal proud...again whether small % variance due to different gripframe contractors, or what, I don't know. I don't recall how they fit on the blued old Vaquero or Single Six, but can report on that later if someone doesn't beat me to it.

 

[caryc]

If you want black grips the current blackhawk and single six grips will fit your Vaquero.

I thought the new Blackhawk grips are still XR3-RED and not XR3 except that they are much slimmer than the earlier XR3-RED Rosewood grips. Is that wrong? I can see they might "fit" but it can't be very exact. What about the flare at the lower rear of the grips?

The new (non flattop) Blackhawk as well as Single Six grips are still XR3-Red profile. My experiece has been, however, that while the general size and shape of these new (black plastic/Ruger logo) grips is correct to the old/original Vaquero (and hence older NM Blackhawks), at least on the old (large frame) stainless Vaquero the grips run a little small, leaving it a little metal proud...again whether small % variance due to different gripframe contractors, or what, I don't know. I don't recall how they fit on the blued old Vaquero or Single Six, but can report on that later if someone doesn't beat me to it.

Ruger doesn't have any grip frame contractors. They make their own grip frames. Ruger grip frames are investment cast pieces. They are taken out of the molds and finished by hand. I've had a lot of grip frames sent to me for grips so I see the differences. As far as sanding and polishing, as I said it's a human that does it, not a machine. This is especially true of the bottom corners on the butt. I've seen them with almost sharp pointed corners and with corners that have a large radius sanded on them.

don't forget that OEM cookie cutter grips are made to just be placed on a gun and shipped out. Ruger doesn't spend any time fitting grips. The grips are just not going to fit well on all frames.

 

[gak]

The new (non flattop) Blackhawk as well as Single Six grips are still XR3-Red profile. My experiece has been, however, that while the general size and shape of these new (black plastic/Ruger logo) grips is correct to the old/original Vaquero (and hence older NM Blackhawks), at least on the old (large frame) stainless Vaquero the grips run a little small, leaving it a little metal proud...again whether small % variance due to different gripframe contractors, or what, I don't know. I don't recall how they fit on the blued old Vaquero or Single Six, but can report on that later if someone doesn't beat me to it.

Ruger doesn't have any grip frame contractors. They make their own grip frames. Ruger grip frames are investment cast pieces. They are taken out of the molds and finished by hand. I've had a lot of grip frames sent to me for grips so I see the differences. As far as sanding and polishing, as I said it's a human that does it, not a machine. This is especially true of the bottom corners on the butt. I've seen them with almost sharp pointed corners and with corners that have a large radius sanded on them.

don't forget that OEM cookie cutter grips are made to just be placed on a gun and shipped out. Ruger doesn't spend any time fitting grips. The grips are just not going to fit well on all frames.

Cary, that was my imprecise way of saying "whatever factors might account for variances over many years."
Here is the "new" NM non-flattop grip fitted to an old/large frame stainless Vaquero. The metal proud aspect is worst at the rear. The grips are slightly grip proud at the bottom (can't see here). These (actually two sets of grips) were treied on three stainless Vaqueros--one mine and two friend's-- all same result.

I'll try a shot of the blued again later--it's not loading right...but the backstrap there is still metal proud. Just not as glaring, literally and figuratively speaking.[/img]

 

[caryc]

So what you're saying is OEM grips fit like crap. We all know that. That's why people have custom grips made that fit.

 

[Hondo44]

If you want black grips the current blackhawk and single six grips will fit your Vaquero.

I thought the new Blackhawk grips are still XR3-RED and not XR3 except that they are much slimmer than the earlier XR3-RED Rosewood grips. Is that wrong? I can see they might "fit" but it can't be very exact. What about the flare at the lower rear of the grips?

Gary A, you are correct, but the original poster has an original Vaquero. So he needs XR3 RED grips which is what New Model non FT Blackhawks use.

I believe the difference in grip fit results from the fact that Vaqueros (and New Vaq and FTs for that matter) are steel and New BLKHs and Single Sixes are alum alloy and they are skimpier.

Early on, the alloy grip frames were outside contracted but long since ceased I think.

 

[gak]

So what you're saying is OEM grips fit like crap. We all know that. That's why people have custom grips made that fit.

You got it Cary, and the point being especially these newer grips "fitted" to older NMs. Just got these out of the bin to help with the OP'squestion. Normally wears hollys.