Ruger Vaquero Instructions Manual

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...

State-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...

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 cr
imeto store or leave a loaded
firearm in any location where an individual knew or should
have known that an unsupervised minor would...

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
INACCESSIBLE TO  CHILDREN AND ANY  OTHER
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...

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...

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 VAQUEROrevolver 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...

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...

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...

9
NOMENCLATURE
EJECTOR    BASE PINBASE PIN LATCH
CHAMBER
GATE (Loading Gate)
CYLINDER FRAME
GRIP FRAMETRIGGER PIVOT
TRIGGERHAMMER
PIVOT HAMMER
Bisley
Adjustable Sight Model Shown
(Bisley Vaquero Has Fixed Sights; Otherwise Identical) 

10
TRANSFER BAR
LOADING GATE
LOADING GATE CAM
TRIGGER SPRINGGATE DETENT SPRING
CYLINDER LATCH SPRING
& PLUNGEREJECTOR THUMBPIECE
Mechanism shown at rest. Transfer bar is not in line between hammer and firing pin. This
is the carrying position.
TRIGGER SPRINGCYLINDER LATCH
TRIGGER & CYLINDER
LATCH PIVOTEJECTOR HOUSING
HAMMER PIVOT
TRIGGERBASE PIN
EJECTOR RODFIRING PIN
MAINSPRING
STRUTTRANSFER
BAR
Mechanism shown with trigger pulled and hammer beginning to fall. Transfer bar is in
firing position, between...