After enjoying the 3" USFA Rodeo Storekeeper with Ejector for the past two months, yesterday I couldn't resist this used but hardly fired 3.5" Vaquero in 45 Colt. Only blemish on it was a touch of fluffly rust in the rear sight recess below the notch. It wiped right out and I expect the liberal shot of Corrosion-X will prevent it from coming back. Bore is clean and bright and the rifling is sharp. Chambers are clean, too. Case colors on the frame are gorgeous, and the pic doesn't do the gun justice.
The trigger pull is virtually creepless and very crisp. A little heavier than that of my 3" USFA Storekeeper, but not by much.
UPDATE -- RANGE REPORT: Had to work Saturday reprogramming a Motoman robot for a client, but after church on Sunday I headed for the range in between downpours. Sure enough, I get the Subie unloaded and the guncases on the bench and it cuts loose with another gullywasher. Forunately the benches are under substantial roofing. It rains for 10 mins, but about halfway through the shower an elderly gent from several benches down walks up and inquires what I have to shoot. I told him "a few 45 handguns and an M1 Rifle." That's all it took to prime his pump. I racked the op rod so that it latched back and handed him the M1, and then I listented politely for the next 45 minutes to stories of his exploits in the post-Korea US Army where he fired and carried an M1 Rifle, his boot camp experiences, MOS training, favorite Army ancedotes, the proper way to dig a foxhole with an effective grenade trap, etc, etc. Twice I tried to give him a full 8-rd clip but he wouldn't shoot. Finally his grandson ran out of .22 ammo and they left. I had 10 mins left before needing to be at my next stop, and my next stop was a seven minute drive from the range.
Now that the backstory is out of the way, I put ten rounds through the 3.5" Vaq at 25 yds, firing at a dark spot on the berm since there was no time to set targets or claybirds on edge. The rounds were 6 gr of Titegroup under a Berrys 230 copper-plated RNFMJ intended for the 45ACP. I find they shoot just as well from newer 45 Colt barrels. With the exception of one flyer that I pulled to the right, all ten shots pretty much hit the dark spot, which became a large depression in the wet earth. The Ruger Vaq shoots almost as well as the USFA Rodeo Storekeeper does with the same reloads. They are both keepers.
I wish the Ruger had the Colt lockwork; I keep trying to cock the Ruger halfway in order to load or empty it, then remember that I merely have to flip open the gate. I like all them clicks the Colt makes, too. BUT, OTOH the Ruger can be carried with 6 in the wheel . . .
Noah
Looking forward to reading how this one shoots!!! 
