Ruger Vaquero Instructions Manual

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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. 
						

							When firing any revolver, be sure all persons are a
safe distance to the rear of the shooter. When fired,
all revolvers discharge gas and particles through the
clearance gap between the cylinder and the rear of
the barrel. These particles of lead, powder grains or
lubricant are projected broadly sideways at high
speed and thus can injure a person who is standing
too close to the revolver. When firing any revolver,
always be certain that nothing – including either of
your hands – is in the path of the hot gas and
particles which are discharged from the front and
sides of the cylinder. When shooting, adequate eye
protection is essential. Shooters and bystanders must
wear shooting glasses. Hearing protection must also
be worn. Exposure to shooting noise can damage
hearing.
HOT GASES EXIT
BARREL/CYLINDER GAP
13
TO LOAD AND FIRE
1. Do not load the revolver until you are ready to use it.
2. Note – The loading gate cannot be opened unless the hammer and trigger are
fully forward, and the hammer cannot be cocked once the gate is opened.
3. Open the gate. This permits the cylinder to rotate.
4. Turn cylinder clockwise, by hand, and insert cartridges in chambers.
5. Align a chamber with the barrel and close the gate. The revolver is now in its
normal carrying condition – hammer and trigger fully forward and transfer
bar lowered out of firing position.
6. Cocking – To fire the revolver, the hammer must first by manually cocked.
When cocking the hammer, have a firm hold on the grip with the shooting
hand, and DO NOT TOUCH THE TRIGGER WHILE COCKING THE HAMMER.
TOUCH THE TRIGGER ONLY WHEN YOU ARE READY TO FIRE. With the fore
portion of your thumb firmly on the hammer spur, draw the hammer fully to
the rear until it stops. Then permit the hammer to move forward (it will only
move slightly) until the trigger engages in the hammer at full cock.
7. Firing – Once the hammer has been cocked, a light pressure on the trigger
will disengage the trigger from the hammer. The hammer will fall forward
striking the transfer bar and the revolver will fire.
8. After firing, the hammer will remain down. To fire subsequent shots, fully
release the trigger and repeat steps 6 & 7 above for each shot.
CAUTION:The recoil of any centerfire caliber causes the
muzzle of the gun to flip upward with substantial force. The
shooter need not be apprehensive, but be prepared. Keep a firm grip
on the revolver and hold it away from your face when firing.!
!WARNING – FIRING 
						

							The safe carrying position for the
Vaquero and Bisley Vaquero
Revolvers is with the hammer
fully down and the trigger
forward. In this position the
hammer does not contact the
firing pin. See page 10. In older
(1953-1972) Single Action
Revolvers, the hammer, when in
the full forward position, does rest
against the firing pin.
Accordingly, never car
ry an “oldmodel” revolver with the hammerfully forward and the cartridge inline with the firing pin because alight blow to the hammer canreadily cause discharge.It is
always safest to carry the hammer
down over an empty
chamber
regardless of the revolvers type.
See page 27 for details about our
free safety conversion offer for
“old model” Ruger Single Action
Revolvers.
14
DRY-FIRING: Going through the actions of cocking, aiming, and pulling the
trigger of an unloaded
gun is known as “Dry Firing.” It can be useful to learn the
“feel” of your revolver. Be certain the revolver is unloaded and that the gun is
pointing in a safe direction even when practicing by dry-firing. The Ruger New
Model revolvers can be dry-fired without damage to the firing pin or other
components.
“FANNING”:NEVER fan any revolver. Fanning is an unsafe way to fire a gun and
it is abusive to the revolver mechanism.
ALWAYSCARRY
NEW MODEL SINGLE ACTIONS
WITH HAMMER DOWN.
WARNING – SAFE CARRYING POSITION! 
						

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TO ‘UNCOCK’ (DECOCK) THE REVOLVER
If your revolver is cocked, and you wish to let the hammer down to its forward
position (against the frame), proceed as follows: USE EXTREME CARE WHEN
ATTEMPTING TO DECOCK THE REVOLVER, AS THE THUMB SLIPPING
DURING THIS PROCESS CAN RESULT IN AN ACCIDENTAL DISCHARGE IF
THE TRIGGER IS HELD TO THE REAR.
1.Make cer
tain that the revolver is pointing in a safe direction (See Rule 2, Page
35).
2. Make certain both hands are dry and not impeded in any way – gloves,
bandages, cold, etc.
3. Grasp the revolver (if right handed) so that the thumb and forefinger of your
left hand are firmly holding the frame, forward of the trigger guard. Thus,
your left hand is in full control of the revolver (See Figure a, below).
4. Place your right thumb firmly on the hammer spur and, with your thumb
securely in control of the hammer, squeeze the trigger only enough to permit
the hammer to ‘break free’ of the trigger. At that instant, IMMEDIATELY
RELEASE THE TRIGGER and then slowly permit the hammer, STILL SECURE
UNDER YOUR THUMB, to move fully forward to its resting position against
the frame. NOTE: It is imperative that finger pressure be removed from the
trigger just as soon as it is free of the hammer. Then, properly, the trigger and
hammer will move towards their fully forward rest positions together (See
Figure b, below).
Practice this important gun handling skill with an unloaded revolver until you
have developed the proper control and ‘touch’ to decock your revolver safely. The
key to safe decocking is having the weight of the revolver controlled with one
hand, while the thumb and forefinger of the ‘shooting hand’ control the hammer
and trigger.
4
3 1
2
a.
b.
a.With the thumb controlling the hammer as shown above, (1) squeeze trigger
to permit hammer to ‘break free’ (2).
b.When hammer is free, IMMEDIATELY release trigger (3). Then lower hammer
slowly to its resting position completely down against frame (4).
DECOCKING (UNCOCKING) THE REVOLVER 
						

							16
The revolver is now in its normal carrying condition -- hammer and trigger fully
forward and transfer bar lowered out of firing position.
CAUTION:The hammer must be carefully eased fully forward before
the hammer is drawn back to the full-cock position for the first shot.
The hammer should be drawn with a firm positive motion to the full-
cock position for each shot, thus actuating the working parts for complete
indexing. Unless this procedure is followed in any single-action revolver, the
cylinder is apt to be out of index when fired.
!
TO UNLOAD OR EJECT CARTRIDGE CASES
Keep revolver pointed in a safe direction!
Do not attempt to unload when the hammer is cocked.
If the hammer is cocked, it must first be decocked. (See “To Uncock The
Revolver”, p. 15)
Then: 
1. Open the gate. This permits the cylinder to rotate.
2. Turn cylinder clockwise, by hand, to align a chamber with the ejector rod.
3. Push the ejector rod rearward, by means of the thumb-piece on its forward
end, so that it slides through the chamber to push out the cartridge or fired
case. Release spring-loaded ejector rod. Repeat until all chambers are empty.
4.Check to be certain that all
cartridges have been removed, then close the gate. 
TO REMOVE OR REPLACE CYLINDER
1. Open the gate. This lowers the cylinder latch into the frame.
2. Press base pin latch (on left side) and withdraw base pin.
3. Remove cylinder from loading gate side of frame.
To replace cylinder, simply reverse the above procedure. Holding the gun with
the barrel pointed away from you and in a safe direction, rotate the cylinder 1/4
turns in a clockwise direction to ensure that pawl is correctly positioned on
cylinder ratchet, before replacing base pin. Finally, close the gate.
WARNING: Never remove, replace or carry a loaded cylinder.
The cartridges can fire if their primers are struck.
! 
						

							Never clean, lubricate,
disassemble or work on a
revolver while it is loaded.
Never install or remove a loaded
cylinder. A loaded cylinder can
discharge if dropped or struck.
Read instructions before
disassembling gun.
UNLOAD BEFORE CLEANING
17
Do not eject unfired cartridges onto any surface where the cartridge primer
might strike a solid object and discharge the cartridge.
CORRECT UNLOADING SEQUENCE
!WARNING – DISASSEMBLY
3
12
4
REPEAT
FOR ALL
CHAMBERS
The user of a RUGER®VAQUERO or BISLEY VAQUEROrevolver
should carefully read all disassembly directions and study all the illustrations and
the Parts List in this manual before attempting to take the gun apart. Know the
names and location of the parts before removing any of them. Although the
NEW MODELrevolver mechanism is composed of only a few parts, it is
essential that the disassembly and reassembly operations be carried out with
knowledge and care.
Only a few tools are required: A screwdriver or two to remove the grip panel and
grip frame screws, and a drift punch to remove the hammer and trigger pivots
(pins). A small plastic-faced hammer can be useful in drifting the trigger pivot
out and in.
3
12
4
REPEAT
FOR ALL
CHAMBERS 
						

							18
The tip of the screwdriver blade should perfectly fit the grip frame screw slots. A
tip too large will scrape away metal, while too small a tip will damage the screw
slots.
Before taking the gun apart, set up to do it properly. Cover the work surface with
a soft cloth so that the gun finish (and sights) will not be damaged, and provide a
tray into which the parts can be put as they are removed from the gun
.
DISASSEMBLY
(Make Sure Revolver is Unloaded!)
1. Open the gate and rotate the cylinder a few times to be certain the revolver is
unloaded. Leave the gate open.
2. Press in fully on the left side of the base pin latch, and while holding it in
that position, withdraw the base pin. Remove the cylinder and close the gate.
This is as far as you need to go for routine cleaning.
DETAILED DISASSEMBLY:
1. Remove grip panel screw and remove grip panels.
2. Draw hammer rearward to full cock position. Insert a short length (about 1”)
of nail or pin into the small hole at the lower end of the hammer strut. (The
purpose of the pin is to confine the mainspring when the hammer is
released.)
3. While maintaining thumb pressure on the hammer spur, squeeze the trigger
and ease hammer down to full forward position.
4. Remove the five screws which fasten the grip frame to the cylinder frame.
5. Pull the grip frame rearward and downward to separate it from the cylinder
frame. (If the grip frame does not readily separate from the cylinder frame,
draw the hammer rearward a short distance.) Remove the mainspring
assembly from the grip frame, but do not r
emove the small pin that is
confining the mainspring.The mainspring assembly will later be reassembled
into the frame as it is.
Do not ‘lose’ the pawl spring and plunger (located in a hole in the
rear of the left side of the cylinder frame, just above the grip frame
screw hole) or the cylinder latch spring and plunger (located in
the hole above front of the trigger guard bow in the grip frame).
6. Remove the trigger pivot (pin) as follows: using a screwdriver as shown in
Figure 1, p. 16, depress the gate detent spring so that the end of the spring
which rests in one groove of the trigger pivot is free of the groove. Then, use
a drift and hammer to push the pivot completely out of the frame.
CAUTION: Press the screwdriver blade tip against the spring
carefully and be certain the blade does not slip off the spring
and damage the frame or injure the person holding the gun.
! 
						

							19
7. Remove cylinder latch, gate detent spring, and gate.
8. Remove hammer pivot. Then remove the hammer/pawl assembly and the
trigger/transfer bar assembly. (Note that the hammer is attached to the pawl
and the transfer bar is attached to the trigger. See Figure 2).
The revolver is, at this stage, disassembled as far as it needs to be for major
cleaning and maintenance. However, if it is necessary to go beyond the above
steps, the following cautions and suggestions should be useful:
Ejector/Ejector Housing:Wrap one hand firmly around barrel and housing when
loosening the screw. Remove screw, then carefully lift housing (which contains
compressed spring and ejector rod) away from the barrel.
Base Pin Latch/Nut and Spring: The nut must be held firmly (with jaw-protected
pliers) while the latch is being unscrewed. Don’t lose the spring. When
reassembling, be certain the nut and spring are on the left side of the frame. (See
Parts Drawing, pp. 33 & 34).
REASSEMBLY
(Make Sure Revolver is Unloaded!)
1. Assemble pawl to hammer and transfer bar to trigger as shown in Figure 2.
Partially insert hammer/pawl assembly in its recess in the frame. Insert
trigger/transfer bar assembly in its slot in the frame. Then simultaneously
complete insertion of the two assemblies into the frame.
2. (Refer to Figure 1). Align hammer in frame and insert hammer pivot with the
grooved end of the pivot on the gate side of the frame. (The long screw,
XR01901, when also inserted on the gate side, will intersect the groove and
lock the pivot in place. See step number 11, p. 21).
(Groove in
 Hammer Pivot)
(Groove in
 Trigger Pivot)
Figure 1 Figure 2
ALTHOUGH THE FOREGOING OUTLINES THE CORRECT
PROCEDURE, WE WISH TO EMPHASIZE THAT SUCH DETAILED
DISMANTLING IS SELDOM IF EVER NECESSARY. 
						

							20
3. Replace cylinder latch and gate detent spring as shown in Figure 3. Note that
the lug on the cylinder latch fits between the arms of the gate detent spring
and that the end of one of the arms of the spring is formed at a 90 degree
angle. The projection thus formed, is designed to fit through the square hole
in the bottom of the frame and to ride on the cam surface of the gate pivot.
Note also that this projection holds the loading gate back and in place.
4. (Refer to Figure 1, p. 19). Depress the
upper arm of the gate detent spring
with tip of screwdriver blade and install
trigger pivot. Pivot should be inserted
from the gate side of the frame. The
non-grooved end of the pivot should be
inserted first. (It may be necessary to
manipulate the trigger, the gate detent
spring, and the cylinder latch to align
them to receive the trigger pivot).
5. Insert the base pin, taking care to be
certain the ‘dished out’ section of the
base pin collar is adjacent to the bottom
of the barrel. The base pin must be fully inserted and locked in position by
the base pin latch. If the base pin is not fully inserted and locked, the transfer
bar may catch under the firing pin when the hammer is being cocked.
6. (Refer to Figure 4, p. 21). Unhook the ends of the trigger spring (XR03700)
from the grooved retaining pin on both sides of the grip frame.
7. Insert cylinder latch spring and plunger in hole in grip frame. (The spring
goes in first so that the plunger is on top).
8. Insert pawl spring and plunger (plunger goes in the hole first) in the hole in
the left side of the cylinder frame just above the left rear grip screw hole.
9. Install mainspring assembly in the grip frame. Be certain the strut is
positioned properly. See the Parts Drawing for correct strut positioning.
10. (Refer to Figure 4, p. 21). Draw hammer to the rear slightly and place the
grip frame loosely on the cylinder frame. Before pushing the grip frame
forward to mate with the cylinder frame, be certain that:
(a) the cylinder latch spring plunger (XR07700) is positioned so that is will
contact the bottom of the cylinder latch (rather than either side of the
latch),
(b) the pawl spring is aligned to contact the left ‘ear’ of the grip frame (and
not be bent as the ear contacts it).
Figure 3