.357, or ,45?

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

45 Long Colt , the real deal.......

[NMOutlawCuz]

.45 (5 1/2" Barrel).

[Outrider #72622]

I own 4 Vaqueros.  A matched pair in SS with 7.5 inch barrels, a Vaquero Bisley blued with 5.5 inch barrel and a Birds Head Vaquero with 3.75 inch barrel.  All are 45s.  Big guns should shoot big bullets.

The 38 special was not invented until 1899 and the 357 magnum not until 1935 which means they ain't "old west" cartridges.

OK... let the flames begin!   

What year was your transfer bar invented?  My Rugers are .357 and I love them.  I figured as long as I wasn't going for an authintic gun, why worry about an authintic caliber!   

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[Cyrille]

Nit picking heretic! it's the caliber that's being discussed not the "transfure bar" We realize that the Rugers aren't authentic to the "old west"

[Kid AtHeart]

I chose 2 Vaqueros in 4 5/8 " stainless.  I got 38/357 because I already had a lever action in 38/357, also I was already setup to reload 38s.  Love those Vaqueros.

Horse Mud

[Ringo Steele]

I have had several Vaqueros in the past few years. The 1st was a 45 colt with 7.5" barrel, later added a 4 5/8 version. Sold those to go with a 44 M to go with the 44 carbine I had. Hard times hit, so I had to part with all before I got a chance to replace the 45's with the 44's. Later got the 44's, but had trouble with my wrist, and didn't like the 3-4 day after-effects of the recoil shooting full-house BP loads (don't like downloading, just my quirk). I now enjoy a 5.5" SS 357M original Vaquero with black micarta grips, and use it along side my 36 C&B's, when I am not shooting frontiersman, and 1894C Marlin carbine.

I have no regrets. BTW...I save about 40% in powder and about the same in lead costs, which helps out on my always-tight budget! 

[Piney Woods]

Let's see what I have on hand...

• two old-model .45 Vaqueros - 4 5/8" - bead blasted SST
• two old-model .357 Vaqueros - 4 5/8" - bead blasted SST
• two new-model .357 Vaqueros - 4 5/8" - bead blasted SST
• two .357 50th Anniversary Blackhawks - 4 5/8" - blue (unfired)
• two new-model .32 H&R Vaqueritos - 4 5/8" - bead blasted SST
• one old-model .32 H&R Vaquero (large grip frame - looking for another one of these) - 4 5/8" - SST
• two 22 LR Single-Sixes - 4 5/8" - bead blasted SST (great for cheap practice)

Then there are the ones long gone...

• one .357 Blackhawk - 6 1/2" - blue (never shoulda let that one get away)
• two 22LR Single-Sixes - 6 1/2" - blue
• one .22LR/WMR Single-Six - 6 1/2" - blue
• one .22LR/WMR Single-Six - 6 1/2" - SST
• one .45 old-model Vaqueros - 4 5/8" - blue
• three .45 old-model Vaqueros - 5 1/2" - blue
• one .45 Bird's-Head-model Vaqueros - 3 3/4" - blue
• two .45 Bird's-Head-model Vaqueros - 3 3/4" - SST (shoulda kept one of these for a carry gun)

Wow! This can get expensive!

[Bookworm]

Wild Bill Hickock and many others used a Colt Navy .36 calibre. While it was a cap and ball, there were many 38 and even 32 cartridges guns used in the 19th century. Not everyone had a horse to help carry 4 pounds of defensive iron/steel when a smaller gun would suffice. That said,  my SA Rugers are 44/45.

http://www.texasranger.org/dispatch/4/ColtNavy.htm

[CalFred]

.45 Colt

[Major E A Sterner]

38 Extra Extra Long Colt

[Four Eyed Floyd]

Got 2 new model stainless 4 3/4 barrels and 357. Just started to reload 357 with holy black, been shootin' 38's in black. gotta love that smoke and flame.  ;DAll 3 of my levers (73, 92, 94) are 357 too.