Guys, don't now what to buy the rugar vaqaro 0r the stampede in 45 long colt, would anyone have info on either guns for acuracy and reliability.

gravedigger...Ruger=reliability & frame strength (if you want to shoot hot loads)

Stampede seems to be a "great looking" gun, but that is about all I know about it...

If you're going to get a Uberti made SAA clone, (which is what the Stampede is; Beretta owns Uberti) I would look at the Cimmarron guns...more of a selection, and just as good looking in my opinion!!!!

I've had a stainless steel Ruger for many years, and just got the Stampede with plastic grips last week. My observations so far:

Ruger: Its accuracy was very disappointing at first. Always shot left and down. Took me a long time to realize that it wasn't me. With a little tweaking, it now shoots pretty much to point of aim. It is a beefier gun, and my son and I like to sometimes shoot the Cor-Bon 45 colt magnum +P loads. Usually at the end of our session. Just yesterday my son loaded up the Ruger with 6 magnum cartridges and hit 4 bullseyes. He took that target home. The stainless steel is easy to take care of, and the gun really fits my extra large hands well.

Stampede: More accurate to the original Colt size and feel. Uberti copied the Colt dimensions exactly. I like the authentic styling, the "triple click" hammer (like the original Colt), and the fact that it loads and unloads like a Colt. (You have to put the hammer on half cock). I also like the transfer bar safety on the Stampede. (This is not authentic) I did look at some other Uberti Colt clones, but they all had an original style hammer. For me, it was just a safety issue. My son and I are used to the Ruger transfer bar system, and the Stampede works just like the Ruger. The Stampede shot to point of aim right out of the box, and it consistently shot the best groups of the day. We did not try the magnums in this gun. When I got home and cleaned the guns, the Stampede's "Case Color Hardening" started to bubble off when exposed to Gun Scrubber. This was a bit disappointing. Didn't expect real case color, but thought it would be more like gun blue than paint.

If I had to get rid of one, I would keep the Ruger.

Thankyou PianoPlayer for your reply i was leaning twoards the ruger myself.

gravedigger - well, I have a little first hand info for you now...came home from the gun show this weekend with a Ruger Vaquero in .45 Colt!!!! Put a quick 100 rounds through it on the way home, and no complaints. Not the most accurate 25 yard gun I have ever shot, but it was probably more me than the gun. The gun functions perfectly, and at least at close range shoots pretty close to point-of-aim.

I'm wishing I had gone with the 5 1/2" or 7 1/2" barrel... Oh well, maybe that will give me an excuse to get another one!!!! :)

Well that would be a good excuse to get another LOL, believe me i would use that excuse, but you have to say there great guns.