If I want a single action 45 that I can shoot and use for a long time what's a good choice? I want a lighter one than a blackhawk. Was told the cheaper ones don't hold up well with extended use

New Vaquero maybe?

No price concern, Freedom Arms 97


Price concern, sorry but it's Ruger.

Cimarron or uberti? Those aren't quality?

There's a sale on Cimarron right now, can't recall the seller. Gunbroker? $395?

A lot of it depends on the power level you want to use. If you're OK with 250-grain bullets at 900 fps, then you have lot of options. For more power, you need a Ruger Blackhawk or Bisley.


Okie John

Uberti/Cimmaron are good quality though not as robust as the Ruger. If you're limiting your loads to factory or moderate reloads, a Uberti is a fine choice. If you're wanting to shoot heavy loads go with the Ruger.

Get a Flattop convertible.

This. And get the convertible model with a .45 ACP cylinder (for all the reasons you already know). The gun will outlive you, your kids, and your grandkids.

https://ruger.com/products/vaqueroStainless/specSheets/5144.html

Ha! 'flave and I were posting at the same time!

Genius minds and all that...

I have a Ruger 44 spec flat top. It is a hammer with cast loads and Unique. Suspect the 45 is the same
I was surprised at the nice finish on this pistol. Lipseys special edition as I remember

Blackhawk has the aluminum grip frame. 37.4 ounces.

The newer Ruger's with three digit SN Pre-fixes will not handle as stout of loads that the older Two digit pre-fix numbers will handle. However, the newer frames are trimmer and are well balanced. My advice is to Ruger over the import stuff. Do check out the older Rugers against the newer ones and make your decision.

You talkin’ Vaqueros or all of them?

Flattop or new vaquero. I am too lazy to look up weights, but I believe both come with a steel grip frame vs the Blackhawk aluminum. The bigger gun may weigh less.

I just picked up one of the Lipsey’s stainless Blackhawk Flattop convertibles in 45LC/45ACP with the 4 5/8” barrel. It weighs right at 40 oz, and being a mid-framed model (as all the New Model Vaqueros and Blackhawk Flattops are now), you cannot use the Tier 3 Ruger Only loads like you can with the large framed models. That’s fine with me, it will still handle Tier 2 ammo which works fine for deer hunting at reasonable ranges, and as I have a truckload of 45 ACP, it will primarily shoot that through the second cylinder. Haven’t had it out to the range yet, buy it feels great in the hand, and is a great looking revolver.

Ruger now uses their medium frame on both Vaqueros and Blackhawks. The medium frame will have a three digit pre-fix in the serial number. I am not positive, but medium frames are offered in 44 special, 45 Colt, 45 ACP and 357 Mag. I don't know which frame is currently being used for the 41 Mag, 10MM, or 30 carbine.

The super Blackhawk frame is being used for 44 mag, 454 Casull and 480 Ruger.

Ruger Super Blackhawks are still a heavy frame.

Note the three digit SN pre-fix which denotes this Ruger as a medium frame.

Lots of good info posted already. As noted, it depends largely on whether you want authentic Colt operation and handling, or a little more strength and far better durability from a mid-frame Ruger.

Modern Colts and clones are good strong revolvers capable of sending the RCBS 45-270-SAA (which drops about 285 grains) from 900 to 1000 fps while staying within 14,000 PSI. Brian Pearce has done considerable load development with this bullet for the various pressure levels of 45 Colt loads.

https://www.riflemagazine.com/magazine/PDF/HL%20246partial.pdf

Colts and clones are more prone to breakage of small parts such as the bolt and hand springs, but they are cheap and it pays to keep spares on hand. This applies to heavily-used blackpowder Colt clones as well. Music wire bolt springs are available (from Dixie Gun Works etc) which essentially eliminate breakage of that part, but they often lighten the trigger pull by at least a pound. This is fine but if your Colt/Clone has a three pound pull to begin with, take that into account.

As noted it is hard to beat a 4 5/8" New Model 45 Blackhawk for a lightweight, powerful single action. I've had several and with their aluminum ejector rod housing and grip frame, feel lighter in the hand than my 4 5/8" New Vaquero. But the NV balances better and while it's limited to Tier II.20,000 PSI loads, I like it better than any Ruger SA I've ever had. Ruger came very near to duplicating the Colt SA grip with the three-digit guns and they point and handle far better for me than any other New Model.

I am pretty sure the New Vaquero and Flat Tops are on the same frame and the Blackhawk and Super Blackhawk are the same size frame including the 5 shot Bisleys.

I believe this is correct.

FA specs show this at 35.5 oz (1/2 oz more for octagon bbl). Mine was bought used and I've shot 25,000 to 30,000 rnds (most rnds I've ever put thru a revolver). It also has an auxiliary 45 ACP cyl. Shoots "Ruger Only" or standard 45 Colt loads (ACPs w/aux cyl). Five shot, small frame (basically same size as Colt SAA). Downside - PRICE.



Paul

If you give us some details as to what you plan to do with the gun, what loads you want to be able to shoot, fixed or adjustable sights and how long a barrel you want maybe we can narrow it down a little for you....

Bob

Don't care about the sights. Going to shoot the 900 fps 240 grain load. Would like to use for fun as well as be able to hunt deer

That pretty well sums it up. I had a blue Flattop 44 Special and found a Stainless one. My 45 Colts are full size Vaquero and full size blackhawks. Problem is if you get stainless it's all steel and slightly heavier. If you get a blue one with an alloy grip frame it's slightly less weight. Enough to make any difference? That's up to you. The Convertible is a fun idea for sure.

Here is my Ruger Vaquero Bisley (orig. model), with stag grips and a brass front sight overlay- makes it much easier to see, especially against a black or dark target. I carry it with 325 gr. cast bullets, at around 1100 fps- great load for black bear and mtn. lion country, IMO.

Vaquero.

I like fixed sight guns but adjustable can make life much easier.

Ahhh......No.
incorrect

Steer us straight.

I believe vaquero's and flattops use the same frame.

The New Vaquero is build on the 3 screw sized 357 frame. Colt sized. Before the larger frame came about when Ruger wanted something stronger for the 44 mag

And they started making that sized again. And they made it in 45 colt.

2 different sized frame.

The New Vaquero is not the Vaquero, and has nothing to do with new/old model before anyone says anything

Go research it and thank me before you shoot full house Ruger loads in a New Vaquero

A quick way to tell the frame size for all Blackhawks other than Vaqueros is to look for the letter code NV (for New Vaquero IIRC) in the catalog designation - not the model number.

E.g,:
Ruger Bisley Flattop RURNVB-445-SPCL - mid-size frame
Stainless Bisley Flattop RUKRNVB-444-SPL
Stainless "regular" Flattop .44 Spl RUKNVB444SPCL
Ruger Blackhawk .45 Convertible RUBN455X - no NV - this is built on the "44 Magnum" frame
Ruger Blackhawk Flattop .45 Convertible RUNVB-44X
Ruger Blackhawk .357 convertible RUBN34X - built on the large frame
Ruger Blackhawk Flattop .357 convertible RUNVB-

It gets tricky for original large frame Vaqueros and mid-size frame New Vaqueros:
Vaquero "Small Frame" .357 RUNV34
But the Talo Vaquero .44 Magnum which is definitely not on the mid-size frame is RUKBNV-455-I - also has NV in the catalog designation.

Ruger is no help, they don't say which is which on their website and they don't use the term New Vaquero, just Vaquero. At least not that I can find or that is readily apparent. If someone knows where they make those distinctions I'd love to be enlightened. Lipsey's has the term "Small frame" in their descriptions of some Vaqueros whereas it is missing in others, like the Talo .44 Mag, but I have no idea how consistent they are with that.

I'm really surprised that any firearms company wouldn't make clear designations about those frame sizes, especially with lawyers circling like buzzards over road kill waiting for any chance to sue. Ruger will tell you not to use anything but factory level ammo but still, they really threw some monkey wrenches in the idea of "Ruger only" loads when they introduced the mix and match mid-size frames.

Or just put one of each size next to one another........obvious

Everyone should have both.

[/quote]


And they look smaller

My Blackhawk 45 convertible is only a couple years old. it's definitely the big frame, two-digit serial prefix.

Seems to me the older first Vaqueros, were all built on the magnum frame, as are the Blackhawk, Super Blackhawk, Super Blackhawk Bisley.

Then the New Vaquero and the newer Flat-Tops are in the smaller frame.

Yes.

I have no idea what 257x50 is trying to convey.

That there are 2 size of frames.

There are 45 convertibles in both sizes.

Don’t fire full house loads in the smaller frame.

Edit. I reread. Flat tops to me are the old 3 screw flat tops.
Sorry

Roger that.

And they look smaller
[/quote]
Yeah, it's pretty easy to see when you have them side by side. I was thinking more of someone looking on gunbroker or somewhere you wouldn't be able to compare or see it first hand.

So...........this would actually be correct then

A great reference for this thread

https://rugerforum.net/ruger-single-action/114047-blackhawk-frame-size.html

Here is my contribution to this thread.
3rd Generation Colt SAA convertible, 45ACP, 45 Colt.
Weight with the heavier 45ACP cylinder 2lb, 51/4 oz., the real Ivory grips may also add a few oz.to the weight.
I shoot standard loads of both calibers. Sweet shooting rig, I favor the 45ACP due to the cost of factory ammo.

Beautiful Colt JB. It just don't get any better than that.

Hell, wish I could have a Super Redhawk size grip made up for my Super Blackhawk... only complaint I have about mine is that the grip is just too damn small. Light... 7" barreled Super Blackhawk is still my favorite.

Phil

The Hogue is an eyesore, but it sure feels good with the heavy loads.

That is a sweet looking Colt. Congratulations and thank you for sharing.

I like that one a lot.

Winner

I have the new model Blackhawk 4 5/8 inch barrel in 45 Colt. Hard to beat it.

The exact opposite is the case.

Between the Blackhawk and the Flattop, all having the same barrel length I'd be surprised if there were more than 3 oz between all the guns. I have original Vaqueros and Blackhawk, and Bisley Blackhawk in 45 Colt. All are nice guns. Don't see how you can go wrong with any of them.
The major choice is convertible or not. There are some good loads out there for any of them. Even the lightest model will handle anything in North America.

The Pachmayrs look a little better but still not as nice as wood stocks. I agree though, that square-backed trigger guard is a finger-killer without them.

ChigsGrips fixed my same issue.

Huh?

Read the post wrong, disregard

That was what I said

Sorry I read it wrong.

Think I’ll start saving my pennies, and making space/selling off some to make room for one of those 3rd gen convertible Colt 45’s.

This .357 old model Flattop weighs 2 pounds 5.5 ounces according to my digital postal scale.





This custom medium frame flattop .45 convertible weighs 2 pounds 2.7 ounces according to the same scale, though I swapped the standard stainless grip frame for an aluminum one. :

That is one beautiful Colt, jb. And those ivory grips are the shizzle.