I keep seeing folks say that "Well, if the Vaquero is legal..." and "there weren't many options when the Vaquero was made legal". The 1st statement; well, ok, that one flies. The second: No way! I don't know about the rest of you folks, but I've been shooting in organized cowboy action matches since 1985, and there were several options for shooting back then. Rugers, modern class; Colt, and clones thereof, traditional class; cap & ball i.e. 1851, 1858, 1860s etc, black powder.
The arguments about good quality at a reasonable price were just as revelant then as now. And the solutions were the same. Either spend the money for a Colt, or buy a clone and have a competent gunsmith rework the thing to make it work better. And that may not actually be necessary. Case in point: I still have the EMF Dakota I started shooting with. After buying a Colt for me to match the EMF 1873 rifle I bought, my wife starting shooting the Dakota (in fact we shared the gun for several matches). When my son started shooting, they shared the Dakota until the budget fit more guns into it. After buying her a Colt, my son continued shooting the Dakota. He shot it for a couple of years until winning a Hatford Model EMF that had been customized by Bill Oglesby. That Dakota is still serviceable and sees some use in practice and plinking.
I simply feel that anyone shooting Rugers belongs in the Modern Class, whether a Blackhawk or Vaquero. The Big Boy and even the '97 Winchester shotgun should also place 'em in a Modern class. However, to feel that they shouldn't be allowed to compete is simply elitist.
However, I can't throw stones, I load my own ammo, shoot light loads, and have polished and honed my guns to race condition. Does that make me a "Gamesman"? I think not, light loads allow me to shoot more and enjoy that shooting, polishing and honing parts so they operate smoothly means they don't break as often, again allowing me compete more.
New shooters should be made welcome, shoot what ya brung attitude. If they don't have something appropriate, loan 'em one! When I first started I shot what I brought and wore what was in my closet: Levis, snap shirts and a straw hat. After a couple of monthly matches I felt uncomfortable and wanting to fit in better, I upped my wardrobe to include more period correct attire. Same when I started mounted shooting, I didn't own a 1800's styled saddle, so I rode what I had until a more period correct saddle appeared in my tack room.
Point is: Make the new shooter welcome, explain the spirit of the game, period attire, etc. and the rest will take care of itself. Big reason why I ain't Rendevouin' it. They simply put down everything that isn't historically correct and anyone that doesn't have the correct stuff right off the bat isn't welcome.
A little tolerance is not a BAD thing. 'Nuff said.