ruger VAQUERO, BISLEY VAQUERO User Guide
INSTRUCTION
MANUAL
FOR
RUGER
®
VAQUERO
®
&
BISLEY VAQUERO
SINGLE ACTION REVOLVERS
For Product Service on this Model Please Call:
(603) 865-2442 (See p. 24)
STURM, RUGER & Company, Inc.
Southport, Connecticut 06890 U.S.A.
THIS INSTRUCTION MANUAL SHOULD ALWAYS ACCOMPANY THIS FIREARM AND BE
TRANSFERRED WITH IT UPON CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP, OR WHEN THE FIREARM IS LOANED OR
PRESENTED TO ANOTHER PERSON.
MRN, KMRN & BMRN/1-03 C
R3
READ THE INSTRUCTIONS AND
WARNINGS IN THIS MANUAL CAREFULLY
BEFORE USING THIS FIREARM
BLUED &
STAINLESS
STEEL
CALIBERS
.357 Magnum,
.44 Magnum, .44/40 &
.45LC
!
Sta
te-By-State Warnings
Certain states require by law that their own specified warning
notices in larger-than-normal type be conspicuously included
by the manufacturer, distributor, or retail dealer with firearms
sold in that state. Sturm, Ruger sells its products in
compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Because our
products may be sold in these states, we include the following:
California:
Connecticut:
“UNLAWFUL STORAGE OF A LOADED FIREARM MAY
RESULT IN IMPRISONMENT OR FINE.”
Florida:
“IT IS UNLAWFUL, AND PUNISHABLE BY
IMPRISONMENT AND FINE, FOR ANY ADUL T TO
STORE OR LEAVE A FIREARM IN ANY PLACE WITHIN
THE REACH OR EASY ACCESS OF A MINOR UNDER 18
YEARS OF AGE OR TO KNOWINGLY SELL OR
OTHERWISE TRANSFER OWNERSHIP OR POSSESSION
OF A FIREARM TO A MINOR OR A PERSON OF
UNSOUND MIND.”
WARNING
!
“Children are attracted to and can
operate firearms that can cause
severe injuries or death. Prevent
child access by always keeping
guns locked away and unloaded
when not in use. If you keep a
loaded firearm where a child
obtains and improperly uses it,
you can be fined or sent to prison.”
ADVERTENCIA
!
“A los niños los atraen las armas
de fuego y las pueden hacer
funcionar. Ellos pueden causarses
lesions graves y la muerte. Evite
que los niños tengan accesso a las
armas de fuego guardándolas
siempre con llave y descargadas
cuando no las esté utilizando. Si
usted tiene un arma de fuego
cargada en un lugar en que un
niño tiene acceso a ella y la usa
indebidamente, le pueden dar una
multa o enviarlo a la carcel.”
2
Maine:
“ENDANGERING THE WELFARE OF A CHILD IS A
CRIME. IF YOU LEAVE A FIREARM AND AMMUNITION
WITHIN EASY ACCESS OF A CHILD, YOU MAY BE
SUBJECT TO FINE, IMPRISONMENT OR BOTH. KEEP
FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION SEPARATE. KEEP
FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION LOCKED UP. USE
TRIGGER LOCKS.”
Maryland:
“WARNING: Children can operate firearms which may cause
death or serious injury. It is a crime to store or leave a loaded
firearm in any location where an individual knew or should
have known that an unsupervised minor would gain access to
the firearm. Store your firearm responsibly!”
Massac
husetts:
“WARNING FROM THE MASSACHUSETTS ATTORNEY
GENERAL: This handgun is not equipped with a device that
fully blocks use by unauthorized users. More than 200,000
firearms like this one are stolen from their owners every year
in the United States. In addition, there are more than a
thousand suicides each year by younger children and
teenagers who get access to firearms. Hundreds more die from
accidental discharge. It is likely that many more children
sustain serious wounds, or inflict such wounds accidentally on
others. In order to limit the chance of such misuse, it is
imperative that you keep this weapon locked in a secure place
and take other steps necessary to limit the possibility of theft
or accident. Failure to take reasonable preventive steps may
result in innocent lives being lost, and in some circumstances
may result in your liability for these deaths.”
“IT IS UNLAWFUL TO STORE OR KEEP A FIREARM,
RIFLE, SHOTGUN OR MACHINE GUN IN ANY PLACE
UNLESS THAT WEAPON IS EQUIPPED WITH A
TAMPER-RESISTANT SAFETY DEVICE OR IS STORED
OR KEPT IN A SECURELY LOCKED CONTAINER.”
3
New Jersey:
“IT IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE TO LEAVE A LOADED
FIREARM WITHIN EASY ACCESS OF A MINOR.”
New York City:
“THE USE OF A LOCKING DEVICE OR SAFETY LOCK
IS ONLY ONE ASPECT OF RESPONSIBLE WEAPONS
STORAGE. ALL WEAPONS SHOULD BE STORED
UNLOADED AND LOCKED IN A LOCATION THAT IS
BOTH SEPARATE FROM THEIR AMMUNITION AND
INA CCESSIBLE TO CHILDREN AND ANY O THER
UNAUTHORIZED PERSONS.”
North Carolina:
“IT IS UNLAWFUL TO STORE OR LEAVE A FIREARM
THAT CAN BE DISCHARGED IN A MANNER THAT A
REASONABLE PERSON SHOULD KNOW IS
ACCESSIBLE TO A MINOR.”
Texas:
“IT IS UNLAWFUL TO STORE, TRANSPORT, OR
ABANDON AN UNSECURED FIREARM IN A PLACE
WHERE CHILDREN ARE LIKELY TO BE AND CAN
OBTAIN ACCESS TO THE FIREARM.”
Wisconsin:
“IF YOU LEAVE A LOADED FIREARM WITHIN THE
REACH OR EASY ACCESS OF A CHILD YOU MAY BE
FINED OR IMPRISONED OR BOTH IF THE CHILD
IMPROPERLY DISCHARGES, POSSESSES, OR EXHIBITS
THE FIREARM.”
****************** *****
Please check with your licensed retailer or state police for
additional warnings which may be required by local law or
regulation. Such regulations change constantly, and local
authorities are in the best position to advise you on such legal
matters.
4
WHY ARE WE INCLUDING A FIRED CARTRIDGE CASE
WITH EVERY RUGER PISTOL AND REVOLVER?
Certain states and jurisdictions now require that all newly manufactured pistols
and revolvers must be accompanied by a cartridge case, which has been test fired
from that gun at the factory. The case must be placed in a sealed container
bearing certain information concerning this test cartridge.
At the time of retail sale in those jurisdictions, firearms dealers must forward
such test cartridge to a designated destination such as their State Police
Laboratory. As independent Ruger Distributors have nationwide markets without
territorial restrictions, we have decided to include a fired cartridge case with all
new Ruger pistols and revolvers, to minimize the possibility of inadvertent noncompliance with these laws.
Retail customers located in other states, where laws or regulations do not require
the dealer to so act, may be assured that the fired cartridge case they receive with
the firearm at the time of retail purchase is proof that your new Ruger firearm
has undergone our normal test firing procedures during manufacture.
5
This firearm was originally sold
with a key-operated locking
device. While it can help provide
secure storage for your unloaded
firearm, any locking device can
fail. All guns are designed to fire if
they are loaded and the trigger is
pulled. Therefore, never install the
locking device inside the trigger
guard or in any way that it can
possibly pull the trigger! Do not
leave the keys in the lock.
The ultimate responsibility for
secure storage of any firearm
must depend upon its owner and
his or her individual
circumstances. Guns should be
securely stored unloaded, in a
secure location, separate from
their ammunition.
See “Storage Warning” section of
the manual, p. 22
NEVER INSTALL
LOCKING DEVICE
INSIDE TRIGGER GUARD
WARNING – LOCKING DEVICES
DO NOT INSTALL
INSIDE TRIGGER GUARD
INSTALL LOCK
AS SHOWN HERE
!
6
FIREARMS SAFETY-YOUR RESPONSIBILITY
SAFETY MUST BE THE FIRST AND CONSTANT
CONSIDERATION OF EVERY PERSON WHO
HANDLES FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION.
This Instruction Manual is designed to assist you in learning how to use and care
for your RUGER
®
VAQUERO®or BISLEY VAQUERO revolver properly.
Please contact us if you have any questions about it.
Only when you are certain you fully understand the Manual and can properly
carry out its instructions should you practice loading, unloading, etc. with live
ammunition. If you have any doubts about your ability to handle or use a
particular type of gun safely, then you should seek supervised instruction.
Such personalized instruction is often available from gun dealers, gun clubs or
police departments. If none of these sources can help you, write to the National
Rifle Association, 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030-7400. They will
assist you.
The person with a gun in their possession has a full-time job. You cannot guess;
you cannot forget. You must know how to use your firearm safely. Do not use
any firearm without having a complete understanding of its particular
characteristics and safe use.
Remember: There is no such thing as a foolproof gun.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
General Information and Mechanical Characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Ammunition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Handling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
To Load and Fire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
To Uncock (Decock) The Revolver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
To Unload or Eject Cartridge Cases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
To Remove or Replace Cylinder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Disassembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Reassembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Care and Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Care of Stainless Steel Revolvers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Care of “Color Case Finished” Frames . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Fixed Sights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Service and Parts Policy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Parts Drawing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 & 34
The Basic Rules of Safe Firearms Handling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Warranty Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
“Ruger”, “Blackhawk” and “Vaquero” are registered U.S. trademarks.
Locking Devices 5 Safe Carrying Position 14
Alterations 7 Disassembly 17
Lead Exposure 11 Lubrication 22
Ammunition 12 Storage 23
Handling 12 Parts Purchasers 26
Firing 13 Malfunctioning Parts 27
OTHER CAUTIONS AND WARNINGS APPEAR
THROUGHOUT THE MANUAL.
WARNING–ALTERATIONS
This product was designed to
function properly in its original
condition. Alterations can make it
unsafe. Do not alter any part or add
or substitute parts or accessories
not made by Sturm, Ruger & Co. Inc.
DO NOT ALTER ANY GUN
!
7
!
FIREARMS ARE DANGEROUS WEAPONS–
READ THE INSTRUCTIONS AND WARNINGS IN THIS
MANUAL THOROUGHLY AND CAREFULLY BEFORE USING.
GENERAL INFORMATION
AND MECHANICAL CHARACTERISTICS
The mechanisms of the RUGER®VAQUERO and BISLEY VAQUERO,
like the other Ruger “New Model” single action revolvers, differ significantly
from that of any other single action revolver. The information and instructions
which follow apply only
to the Vaquero and Bisley Vaquero revolvers.
The RUGER
®
VAQUERO®and BISLEY VAQUERO have fixed sights
and either a “color case hardened” or polished stainless steel finish which evokes
the classic single actions of yesteryear. The BISLEY VAQUERO uses the
patented Ruger Bisley grip frame, grips, hammer and trigger, but is otherwise
identical to the fixed sight RUGER
®
VAQUERO®single action revolver.
In this manual the words NEW MODEL refer to the VAQUERO
®
and
BISLEY VAQUERO revolvers which utilize the same Ruger New Model
Blackhawk mechanism.
WARNINGS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE ARE
FOUND ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES:
The patented Ruger New Model single action revolver mechanism incorporates a
transfer bar. The transfer bar – which is raised into firing position as the trigger
is pulled to the rear – transmits the energy of the hammer blow to the firing pin.
This transfer bar mechanism makes a “safety” notch unnecessary.
The gate (loading gate) can be opened only when the hammer and trigger are
fully forward. Opening the gate immobilizes the trigger, hammer, and transfer
bar. When the gate is opened the cylinder is unlatched and can be turned for
loading or ejection. When the gate is closed, the cylinder latch functions in the
normal manner. The loading notch is therefore unnecessary in the New Model
design.
Unlike the earlier single action revolvers which have four hammer positions –
“cocked,” “loading,” “safety” and “all the way forward” – the New Model has only
two hammer positions – “cocked” and “all the way forward.”
8
Parts referred to frequently are indicated by arrows.
NOMENCLATURE
New Model Blackhawk Shown
(Vaquero Has Fixed Sights; Otherwise Identical)
IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTE
OWNERS OF ALL “OLD MODEL” (PRE-1973) RUGER SINGLE ACTION
REVOLVERS, INCLUDING BEARCATS WITH SERIAL NUMBERS BELOW
93-00000, SHOULD WRITE FOR DETAILS CONCERNING OUR FREE
SAFETY CONVERSION, WHICH CAN HELP PREVENT ACCIDENTS
CAUSED BY A BLOW TO THE HAMMER IF THE USER HAS FAILED TO
TAKE THE BASIC SAFETY PRECAUTION OF KEEPING AN EMPTY
CHAMBER UNDER THE HAMMER. See Page 27.
9
NOMENCLATURE
EJECTOR BASE PIN
BASE PIN LATCH
CHAMBER
GATE (Loading Gate)
CYLINDER FRAME
GRIP FRAME
TRIGGER PIVOT
TRIGGER
HAMMER
PIVOT
HAMMER
Bisley
Adjustable Sight Model Shown
(Bisley Vaquero Has Fixed Sights; Otherwise Identical)
10
Mechanism shown at rest. Transfer bar is not in line between hammer and firing pin. This
is the carrying position.
Mechanism shown with trigger pulled and hammer beginning to fall. Transfer bar is in
firing position, between hammer and firing pin.
The mechanism of the RUGER®VAQUERO & BISLEY VAQUERO
provides maximum security against accidental discharge. As with any other
firearm, however, the New Model must be used with strict attention to correct
safety practices. In addition, the revolver should be inspected frequently to assure
that it is working properly.
The Ruger New Model revolver mechanism is illustrated below. The same basic
mechanism is found in the entire line of Ruger New Model single action
revolvers – Single-Six, Blackhawk, Super Blackhawk, Bisley, Vaquero and Bisley
Vaquero Models.
TRANSFER BAR
LOADING GATE
LOADING GATE CAM
GATE DETENT SPRING
CYLINDER LATCH SPRING
& PLUNGER
TRIGGER SPRING
EJECTOR THUMBPIECE
EJECTOR ROD
BASE PIN
CYLINDER LATCH
TRIGGER & CYLINDER
LATCH PIVOT
EJECTOR HOUSING
HAMMER PIVOT
MAINSPRING
STRUT
TRANSFER
BAR
FIRING PIN
TRIGGER
TRIGGER SPRING
11
AMMUNITION
The table below shows the correct type of ammunition for use in each of the
revolvers listed.
Model Caliber Ammunition
Vaquero, Bisley Vaquero .357 Magnum .357 Mag and .38 SPL
Vaquero & Bisley Vaquero .45 Colt .45 Colt
Vaquero & Bisley Vaquero .44 Magnum .44 Mag. and .44 SPL
Vaquero .44-40 .44-40 reg. & high speed
WARNING - LEAD EXPOSURE
Discharging firearms in poorly
ventilated areas, cleaning
firearms, or handling
ammunition may result in
exposure to lead and other
substances known to the state of
California to cause birth defects,
reproductive harm, and other
serious physical injury. Have
adequate ventilation at all times.
Wash hands thoroughly after
exposure.
SHOOTING OR CLEANING GUNS
MAY EXPOSE YOU TO LEAD
Notes on Cartridges listed in the table above: .357 Mag is 357 Magnum. .45 Colt
is also called .45 Long Colt. .44 Mag is .44 Magnum. .44 SPL is .44 Special.
Notes on the .44-40 cal.: Ruger Vaquero revolvers using the cylinder chambered
for the .44-40 cartridge can use all factory loadings of this ammunition, both
regular and high speed. Do not use any other ammunition in the .44-40 cylinder.
!
Any time the revolver is loaded, the hammer is
cocked and the trigger is pulled and held to the
rear, it will fire. Cocking the gun or pulling the
trigger should only be done when you are ready
to fire immediately.
NEVER DROP OR STRIKE ANY REVOLVER –
COCKED OR UNCOCKED. CARRY AND HANDLE
THE REVOLVER IN SUCH A MANNER THAT
THE HAMMER WILL NOT BE STRUCK.
NEVER CARRY ANY REVOLVER
WITH THE HAMMER COCKED.
12
!
WARNING – AMMUNITION
Death, serious injury, and damage
can result from the use of wrong
ammunition, bore obstructions,
powder overloads, or incorrect
cartridge components. Always wear
shooting glasses and hearing
protectors.
IMPROPER AMMUNITION
DESTROYS GUNS
?
WARNING –HANDLING
HANDLING
CARRYING: Unlike “old model” single action revolvers, which should always be
carried with the hammer down on an empty chamber to prevent accidental
discharges caused by a blow to the hammer, the Ruger Vaquero & Bisley Vaquero
may be carried with all chambers loaded. When the hammer and trigger are fully
forward at the same time, the transfer bar is lowered out of firing position and
the hammer rests directly on the frame, not on the firing pin.
AMMUNITION (CARTRIDGES) NOTICE
WE SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIM RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DAMAGE
OR INJURY WHATSOEVER OCCURRING IN CONNECTION WITH, OR
AS THE RESULT OF, THE USE IN RUGER REVOLVERS OF FAULTY, OR
NONSTANDARD, OR “REMANUFACTURED” OR HANDLOADED
(RELOADED) AMMUNITION, OR OF CARTRIDGES OTHER THAN
THOSE FOR WHICH THE FIREARM WAS ORIGINALLY CHAMBERED.
!
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