Contemplating purchase of a backup gun?
I'm liking the Ruger Vaquero Birds Head in 45LC maybe in a 3.75" barrel. Seems like it would make for a nice compact model.
Also have my eye on the Taurus Gaucho in 45LC w/ a 4.75" barrel?

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Does anybody have info on if the Ruger Birds Head 45LC or the Taurus Gaucho can handle Buffalo Bores "HEAVY 45COLT +P" ammo?

The disclaimer at the bottom of this ammo listing on the BB website reads the following...

"These Heavy .45 Colt +P loads are safe in all LARGE FRAME Ruger revolvers.
(includes Blackhawk, Super Blackhawk, all pre-2005 Vaquero, Bisley, Redhawk)

These Heavy .45 Colt +P loads are NOT intended for the New Model Vaquero (small frame)."

Any feedback would be most appreciated,

p.e. in Sitka, AK

Back-up gun? For bear? A short barreled double action might be a better choice. As far as the guns handling the big Buffalo Bore ammo, I think their website clears up any questions you may have. Neither of those guns would be a safe bet to use that ammo. If you want a good single action to handle big bad ammo, get a 4 5/8" Blackhawk in 45 Colt. If you want a good double action, the choices then multiply... Multiple DA models made by S&W, Ruger, Taurus, and Colt will all do a superb job.

I have to agree with Mancannon. The new Vaquero is made smaller for the cowboy action crowd. I am glad I bought the older one that will handle hot loads with heavy boolits. I would also buy a Blackhawk because it will digest the heaviest loads forever.
The Taurus is also a small frame revolver for the cowboy guys. It's a nice gun but I would not shoot heavy loads.
Some of the shooting sports are ruining it for us hunters. The companies have to realize that there are two needs for their guns and produce for both. Archery hase gone the same way with bows made to shoot with nothing but a release and light arrows real fast for 3D shooting. Guys are hunting with these things!

OOPS, my spelling has gone the way of the Dodo too!

Mancannon & Bfrshooter,
Thanks much for the feedback.
New to this handgunning thing and I'm hooked. Just shot a buddy's ruger in a 454 Casull this past weekend. Kinda' intimidating prior to firing, he talked it up like my arms were gonna' be recoiled off or something. I just let the recoil rise & fall, was on target at about 15/20 ft out. Sure is fun researching around for a new handgun. I typically rifle hunt and am planning up a Prince of Wales Island or Cordova archery hunt for black bear next spring. Was thinking about a small older frame/pre-2005 Ruger for a backup/lightweight hip gun.

tks again for the guidance, sure glad I didn't get stuck with a new smaller frame ruger.

Pat

I know this topic is from over a month ago but I had to add my opinion. Ruger doesnt make the new model in a 45 colt birdshead with a 3 3/4" BBL. So the BB ammo would be fine for an old model vaquero. I have the same gun and I shoot my heavy reloads (330 and 360gr hardcast) out of it. Your biggest problem will be dealing with the recoil.
Scott

I would be have to be a fan of the Ruger Redhawk Alaskan in .454 and you can shoot the 45LC out of it too. You can have reduce recoil with the 45LC and to have a backup the .454 is about as big as you will need.

Remember if the pistol has a short barrel and you don't kill the bear in 6 shots it won't hurt as much when he's shoves it where the sun don't shine.

I'd imagine that a heavy loaded birdshead 45 colt would be much more painful and difficult to shoot than a 454 casull.

It's darn tough to beat a S&W 4" 44 mag for a combination of packability, shootability and power. I wouldn't want to carry anything milder than a 44 mag for a backup gun, nor would I want it packaged in anything smaller than a 4" full sized DA gun.

I shoot a good deal of 45 Colt. I have shot both the Buffalo Bore 300 gr. and 325 gr.
In my Ruger Bisley Blackhawk (cut to 5.5") the 325 is a handful. I would not recommened it in a bird's head. IN your country a stainless Ruger BH would seem to me ideal. I am not familiar with the Gaucho's capacity with heavy loads.

The Vaquero is Rugers large frame just like the blackhawlk. I have a birdshead vaquero ,the thing you need to know is you have to regulate the sights to the load you are shooting.

With fixed sightes you need to adjust velocity to point a impact, or file the front sight to raise point of impact.

The birds head will handle anything the blackhawlk will. The grips are very comfortable, and the gun very compact. I like mine and don't feel held back because it's not a double action.

I shoot the heck out of my Bisley Vaquerro but would hesitate to do the same in a birdhead. Not for a dangerous situation where the small size may cause problems with drawing the hammer and pointing under stress.
I do not believe the gaucho will handle the heavy loads for extended shooting practice.
Be careful with DA's as well. My SW 525 started coming apart, screws loosening and grip sliding around after a couple hundred practice loads. The BB hot loads are a real stup above.
My Blackhawk handles them extremely well as does my biseley vaquerro. I did have to do some adjusting to the sights but I think I prefer the no sights for a backup as it would really only be used in a point and shoot situation anyway.
Frank

First, a single action revolver as backup for dangerous game? Come on. Have you ever had anything that would eat you charge you? Do you have any idea how fast a bear can move? Do you honestly think that even if you had time to unholster your handgun, you would have the time (or the presence of mind) to cock it, aim it, and fire it? With a DA it's draw, point, and squeeze, and even that takes a LOT of practice to do under pressure. If you choose to do it, it's your life. Basic Darwin.
Second, after checking out this month's Gun Tests review of the Taurus Gaucho in 45LC, I would say it was a poor choice for anything. The sample shot 7-8" high at 25yds with four different kinds of commercial ammo. The only cure for that is a taller front sight, and the Taurus Gaucho has an integral sight, not a pinned on one that would make it a simple operation. That means grind it off and solder or weld on a new one. Supposedly they would do that under warranty, but why trust a company that would let something like that out of the factory in the first place. No inspection? No quality control? Me, I could do without a $500 paper weight. You?

P.E. I'm kinda with these other guys regarding the value of a double action in the role of bear protection. Of course, you actually live in Alaska, and I have only just been there once on a fishing trip so you know your situation better than I do.
I took a stainless Redhawk 5.5-inch in .44 Magnum with heavy 320-grain handloads. Even this gun was not easy for me to shoot rapid-fire DA, and our Tlingkit guide, a Wrangell native, was pretty amused by the whole idea of a little bitty handgun for bear protection along the tributaries of the Stikine, where you might have 15 to 20 feet of open gravel bar between the stream and the wall of brush a grizz was going to come bounding out of.
His advice was to empty the gun at the bear as fast as I could, then throw it at him if he wasn't already on me. His personal bear protection? A Mossberg 12-gauge pump loaded with Brennekes, and a dog to sound the alarm first.