dope bag data & comment Ruger Bird’s Head Vaquero

RUGER VAQUERO MANUFACTURER: Sturm, Ruger & Co. (Dept. AR), 200 Ruger Road, Prescott, AZ 86301; (928) 541-8820; ccording to the black stocks.While the large-bore revolver. www.ruger-firearms.com : .45 Colt Single Single Action Army was Bird’s Head Vaqueros ACTION TYPE: single-action AShooting Society never offered by Colt with are available in traditional center-fire revolver (SASS), Cowboy Action a bird’s head grip, the carbon steel with a blued FRAME: color case- hardened investment shooting (CAS) is the double-action Colt finish and a color case- cast carbon steel or fastest growing shooting Lightning and Thunderer hardened frame or in high- high-polish stainless steel 3 sport in America. Cowboy were made with a polish stainless steel that BARREL: blued or stainless 3 ⁄4" RIFLING: six-groove, Action competition bird’s head frame, and that looks very much like a 1:16" RH twist requires entrants to use a shape has become nickel-plated finish. Sights CYLINDER CAPACITY: six Western-style, single- extremely popular with are in keeping with SIGHTS: fixed, blade front; notch in slot rear action center-fire revolver today’s cowboy shooters. Western tradition as well— : single-action, 1 of at least .32 caliber. At Offered only in .45 Colt, namely a fixed blade front 3 ⁄2 lbs. pull 1 most CAS shoots, approxi- the Bird’s Head Vaquero is sight and a rear sight con- OVERALL LENGTH: 9 ⁄4" 3 WIDTH: 1 ⁄4" mately half the competitors relatively compact for a sisting of a notch in a slot 1 HEIGHT: 5 ⁄4" pack Ruger single-action WEIGHT: 38 ozs. revolvers, with the Vaquero ACCESSORIES: plastic carry far and away the most pop- case, trigger lock SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE: ular choice. In 2002, Ruger $576 expanded the Vaquero line with a new model that will surely have strong appeal cut into the top strap. for Cowboy Action com- Ruger developed the petitors. Called the Bird’s original Vaquero for mod- Head Vaquero, this new ern cowboys, and the model combines a stan- Bird’s Head Vaqueros are avail- design has proven to be a dard Vaquero frame and able in traditional carbon steel very rugged and reliable 3 cylinder with a short, 3 ⁄4" with a blued finish and a color single-action six-gun. All barrel and a “bird’s head” casehardened frame or in high- versions of the Vaquero, grip frame with smooth, polish stainless steel. including the new Bird’s

The American Rifleman has used the phrase “Dope Bag” at least since WARNING: Technical data and information contained herein are intended to provide information 1921, when Col. Townsend Whelen first titled his column with it. Even then, based on the limited experience of individuals under specific conditions and circumstances. They it had been in use for years, referring to a sack used by target shooters do not detail the comprehensive training procedures, techniques and precautions absolute- to hold ammunition and accessories on the firing line. “Sight dope” also ly necessary to properly carry on similar activity. Read the notice and disclaimer on the contents was a traditional marksman’s term for sight adjustment information, while page. Always consult comprehensive reference manuals and bulletins for details of proper training judging wind speed and direction was called “doping the wind.” requirements, procedures, techniques and safety precautions before attempting any similar activity. 68 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN February 2003 SHOOTING RESULTS

.45 Colt Vel. @ 15' Energy Group Size In Inches (f.p.s.) (ft.-lbs.) Smallest Largest Average Winchester CB45C 687 Avg. 262 1.66 6.30 3.10 250-gr. LRN 9 Sd Federal C45LCA 819 Avg. 335 2.77 4.4 3.34 225-gr. SWCHP 38 Sd PMC 45 CA 741 Avg. 305 2.67 6.29 4.95 250-gr. LRN 11 Sd Average Extreme Spread: 3.80

3 Measured average velocity for 10 rounds from a 3 ⁄4" barrel. Range tem- perature: 73°F. Humidity: 31%. Accuracy for five consecutive, five-shot groups at 25 yds. from a sandbag. Abbreviations: LRN, (lead round- nose), Sd (standard deviation), SWCHP (semi-wadcutter hollow point).

Head model, are built with not push fired cases fully coil springs rather than clear of the cylinder. leaf springs and employ a However, we found that modern transfer bar safety pointing the gun’s muzzle system—making these upward while unloading guns safe to carry with the allowed the fired cases to hammer down and all six fall clear. chambers loaded.With We fired the Bird’s Head this safety system, the Vaquero for accuracy from hammer cannot reach the a sandbag rest with three firing pin unless the trig- different brands of factory ger is pulled. Pulling the .45 Colt ammunition. The Cocking the Bird’s Head Vaquero causes the fire-control trigger releases the trans- revolver proved capable of mechanism to make multiple, audible clicks that are sure to fer bar to snap into posi- shooting five-shot groups please tradition-minded Vaquero customers. 3 tion where it transfers the averaging around 3 ⁄4" blow of the hammer to the extreme spread, which we the mild, lead bullet hand- ably. Although the front firing pin. judged very good for a loads popular with CAS blade is of sufficient width Due to the abbreviated short-barreled revolver. competitors, we found the for a clean sight picture, barrel, the base pin of the Groups were consistently Bird’s Head exceptionally the small notch rear sight Ruger Bird’s Head Vaquero about 2" left of center and pleasant to shoot, and bul- was difficult for some older is about 1" shorter than right on point of aim. Right let impact points very near shooters to use and those found on standard, out of the box, the test gun point of aim at 25 yds. As prompted younger shooters longer-barreled Vaqueros. sights were regulated well expected, the short barrel to wonder how shootists in The pin has a large, flat enough with factory ammu- produced muzzle velocities the “Old West” hit any- head that proved easy to nition for the large, close- lower than catalog figures thing. Trigger pull was remove for cleaning and range targets used in CAS with factory ammunition long with considerable routine maintenance. The competition. normally fired from longer take up, but a crisp break 1 ejector rod on the Bird’s When shooting full barrels.We found this dis- measured at about 3 ⁄2 lbs. Head Vaquero is also power factory loads, the crepancy amounted to When cocking, the fire shorter than those on Bird’s Head Vaquero barks about 10 percent of catalog control mechanism makes standard Vaqueros.When with authority, but remains muzzle velocity: about 80 multiple, audible clicks pushed to its rearward controllable and comfort- f.p.s. with Federal ammuni- that are sure to please limit, the ejector rod does able to shoot.When firing tion and 60 f.p.s. with tradition-minded Vaquero Winchester factory ammu- customers. nition. The reduced muzzle We experienced no The transfer bar safety system velocities did not have any malfunctions whatsoever in prevents the hammer from effect on the vertical point our tests. Despite its com- reaching the firing pin unless the of bullet impact at 25 yds. pact dimensions, the trigger has been pulled (l.). The Nonetheless, light hand- revolver balances well, and ejector rod is nearly 1" shorter loads that barely meet the the grip is comfortable. than on standard Vaqueros and does not push fired cases fully SASS requirements of 650 Shooters with small hands clear of the cylinder (below). f.p.s. minimum in longer- will especially appreciate barreled revolvers should this model. be checked in the Bird’s Ruger’s new Bird’s Head Head Vaquero and adjust- Vaquero revolver com- ed upward if necessary. bines tradition, reliability, We found the stainless safety and a modest price steel sights hard to see and to offer real value to shoot- difficult to align properly in ers seeking a Western- bright light. Blackening the style, single-action revolver sights helped consider- for CAS events. AMERICAN RIFLEMAN 69 February 2003 dope bag data & comment

FABARM Paradox Over-Under

ABARM recently res- shotguns is rifled for the ing slugs. Rather, the urrected the Paradox last 6" in the Paradox tradi- FABARM is intended for FABARM PARADOX Fname with its Paradox tion. However, unlike the hunting fast game birds MANUFACTURER: FABARM Lion over-under field shot- Paradox ball and shot shot- such as dove, quail, rail or S.p.A., 31 Via Averolda, I-25039 Travagliato, Italy gun. Available in 12 or 20 guns of a century ago, the other small game at close IMPORTER: Heckler & Koch, ga., both with 3" chambers, FABARM Paradox shotgun ranges. The slow rate of Inc. (Dept. AR), 21480 the lower barrel of these is not intended for shoot- twist rifling in the lower, Pacific Blvd., Sterling, VA 20166; (703) 450-1900; fixed choke barrel is www.hecklerkoch-usa.com designed to open the pat- GAUGE: 12, 3"; 20, 3"(tested) The lower barrel of the tern quickly but evenly for ACTION TYPE: boxlock over- fast, close-in shots.We under shotgun Paradox Lion is rifled (l.) for the RECEIVER: casehardened last 6" to open patterns evenly recently received a 20-ga. alloy steel 7 and quickly. The steel Paradox Lion for NRA test BARRELS: blued, 23 ⁄8", monobloc has two lumps—the and evaluation. chrome-lined, Tribore rearmost having a bite for the upper, Paradox rifling Paradox Lion barrels lower with red fiber-optic sliding locking piece in the bot- 7 are 23 ⁄8" in length with a front and brass mid bead tom of the standing breech in ventilated mid-rib CHOKES: interchangeable, classic Browning fashion screw-in choke tubes (below l.).The casehardened between the barrels and a upper barrel only: full, finish contrasts nicely with the 0.25" diameter ventilated, modified, improved steel top rib. Mounted on cylinder high-polish blue barrels and TRIGGER: single, selective: the rib are a high-visibility, 3 gold-plated trigger (below). 5 ⁄4 lbs. pull upper; 1 fiber-optic red front bar 6 ⁄4 lbs. pull lower sight and brass mid-rib STOCK: oil-finished walnut: 5 length of pull, 14 ⁄8"; drop bead. The chrome-lined, 1 at heel, 2 ⁄2"; drop at 1 smoothbore upper barrel comb, 1 ⁄2" has FABARM’s Tribore OVERALL LENGTH: 41" three diameter bore con- WEIGHT: 6 lbs., 5 ozs. SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE: tour system with inter- $1,199 changeable, screw-in choke tubes. The chrome- 70 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN February 2003 SHOOTING RESULTS AVERAGE OF 10 PATTERNS AT 40 YDS. The FABARM Paradox sports an attractive casehardened receiver—a feature being seen more often on modern over-under 98 6 7 shotguns—and a schnabel fore-end tip. 11 11 9 9 were even and attractive; recoil with magnum the crosshatching on the loads—especially with 3" 10 13 7 6 upper surface of the venti- loads—was very heavy. In lated rib was particularly this connection, we sug- 10 9 8 6 well done and the rib gest FABARM consider itself was perfectly flat porting both barrels of the Improved Cylinder Paradox and straight. Paradox Lion to reduce Choke Choke High-grade walnut with recoil and speed recovery a semi-gloss finish is used for a second shot. =Point of Hold to stock Paradox Lion shot- Paradox barrels as Federal Field Load AE20F 3 guns. The fore-end has a offered by FABARM are 20-ga., 2 ⁄4", 1-oz. No. 6 Lead Copper Plated Average Pellet count: 222 very distinctive schnabel intended to offer open Measured Velocity @ 3 ft.: 1175 f.p.s. on the front end and the choke or improved cylin- Total Hits 81 (36%) Total Hits 58 (26%) butt stock has a full pistol der performance with shot 21" Inner Circle 45 (20%) 21" Inner Circle 31 (14%) grip. Checkering is of the loads as the rifled section 30" Outer Ring 37 (17%) 30" Outer Ring 27 (12%) cut type with 22 lines-per- has no choke and the twist inch of a flat diamond pat- rate is not fast enough to lined lower barrel is unfired barrel. tern with a double border impart sufficient spin to rifled for approximately Both barrels and the on both the fore-end and blow the patterns. To test the last 6" with six lands trigger guard are finished pistol grip. A soft, black this, we patterned the having a right hand twist with a high-polish blue rubber recoil pad is stan- lower, Paradox-rifled bar- of approximately 1:28". while the receiver has a dard as are front and rear rel with the same shot Selective, automatic casehardened finish. Light quick detachable sling load as the upper barrel ejectors are standard, and fleur-de-lis engraving swivel studs. A Wund- with the improved cylin- both alloy steel barrels are embellishes the bottom of hammer swell on the right der choke tube installed, silver-soldered into a steel the trigger guard, top side of the pistol grip will then compared the two in monobloc with two lever, monobloc and find favor with right- the accompanying table. lumps—the rearmost receiver sides and bot- handed shooters. Both offered open choke having a bite for the tom. The trigger is gold- The Paradox Lion bal- performance; however, the sliding locking piece in plated for contrast and ances approximately 1" lower, Paradox-rifled bar- the bottom of the standing there is a small gold lion behind the pivot pin in the rel opened up the pattern breech in classic Browning escutcheon in the bottom receiver. This is somewhat evenly an additional 10 fashion. The trigger is a of the receiver. The overall behind the balance point percentage points. This single-selective type with result is tasteful, yet differ- of many over-under shot- would prove a big advan- a selector switch on the ent, as casehardened fin- guns, but it makes for a tage on close, fast targets. sliding safety button. The ishes are somewhat more lively gun that dove The FABARM Paradox safety is non-automatic unusual on modern, over- shooters prefer. Indeed, Lion shotgun re-opens an and blocks the sears. under shotguns.We found we found the FABARM old, but proven, perspec- There are also inertia the wood-to-metal fit Lion had very fast han- tive on fast-handling, blocks in the fire control evenly proud around the dling with excellent bal- over-under field shotguns system that prevent upper and lower tangs, ance. Perceived recoil with that will have appeal to doubling by using recoil but level on the receiver field and target loads dove, quail, rail or small to reset the sear of the sides. Blueing and polish proved moderate, however, game hunters.

The Paradox sports a high-visibility, fiber-optic red front bead and a brass, mid-rib bead on its ventilated steel rib.

AMERICAN RIFLEMAN 71 February 2003 dope bag data & comment

GAMO MULTI-SHOT MANUFACTURER: Gamo Gamo Multi-Shot Industrias S.A., P.O. Box 16, Barcelona, Spain E-08830 IMPORTER: Gamo USA (Dept. AR), 3911 S.W. 47th Ave., Air Rifle Suite 914, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314; (954) 581- 5822; www.gamo.com CALIBER: .177 ACTION TYPE: break-action, irguns have always break-barrel, single-cock- whose energy drives the single-cocking air rifle been attractive to ing operation. pellet downrange. Gamo RECEIVER: blued tubular carbon steel shooting enthusi- As the action is opened, lists the Multi-Shot’s cock- 1 A BARREL: 17 ⁄2" blued steel asts interested in low-cost a steel arm on the left side ing effort as 33 lbs. RIFLING: 12-groove, 1 marksmanship practice or of the receiver rotates the With a length of 17 ⁄2", 1:9" RH twist shooting fun at home in a cylindrical magazine.The the barrel is made up of an MAGAZINE: eight-round synthetic cylinder garage or basement. Since magazine is removed by inner rifled steel sleeve SIGHTS: fixed front post, airguns produce little depressing the projections 1/4" in diameter that is adjustable U- notch rear noise and even less recoil, on both sides and pulling bonded to a black with fiber-optic inserts, receiver grooved for they allow a shooter to upward after the action is synthetic shroud running scope attachment focus on shooting funda- opened. An arrow molded the full length of the bore. TRIGGER: two-stage 1 mentals, such as breath into the face of the maga- The Multi-Shot’s sights adjustable, 4 ⁄2 lbs. pull 1 STOCK: length of pull, 13 ⁄4"; and trigger control or zine indicates its clockwise feature contrasting colored 1 drop at heel, 1 ⁄2"; drop at 1 sight picture and align- rotation. For single loading, fiber-optic inserts in both comb, 1 ⁄8" ment, or specific tech- one must place a pellet or front and rear units.The OVERALL LENGTH: 43" niques such as position or steel air rifle shot in the front assembly is a fixed WEIGHT: 6 lbs., 7 ozs. ACCESSORIES: scope stop weak-hand shooting. cylinder at the 12 o’clock post with a 0.4 mm diameter SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE: $189 Gamo has made a position, since the maga- red insert. Slightly larger, strong presence in this zine rotates when the action yellow, 0.6 mm diameter market by focusing on is opened.The Multi-Shot inserts enhance the rear with a satin oil finish. Its special-purpose airguns, cannot be loaded or fired U-notch.The rear unit is bulky dimensions and such as those that match without the magazine finger-adjustable for silhouette are a significant the profile of standard because its absence cre- windage and elevation via aid to better offhand firearms or high-velocity ates a gap between the knobs on its top and left shooting. Contours for the models for plinking or cylinder and the bore. side. Additionally,the Multi- stock include a pro- hunting. Recently we Although the magazine Shot’s receiver is grooved nounced pistol grip, raised received the new Multi- capacity is eight rounds, for the attachment of a Monte-Carlo cheekpiece Shot air rifle for testing. the action must be opened scope and is provided with and a hard rubber The Multi-Shot features an after every shot to re-set a scope stop to help prevent buttplate that is curved so eight-shot repeating sys- the trigger, cock the action rearward scope slippage. that the toe is more pro- tem consistent with its and compress the piston For the stock, Gamo nounced than the heel. name paired up with spring in the air cylinder chose beech hardwood The Multi-Shot’s manual 72 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN February 2003 SHOOTING RESULTS

The Multi-Shot has a .177 Vel. @ 15' Group Size In Inches cylindrical magazine (f.p.s.) Smallest Largest Average with a capacity of Gamo Match 1163 Avg. 0.66 1.29 0.83 eight rounds. 7.5-gr FN 35 Sd Gamo Hunter 1198 Avg. 0.79 1.53 1.14 7.7-gr. RN 38 Sd Gamo Magnum 1297 Avg. 0.75 1.43 1.08 7.5-gr PTD 36 Sd Average Extreme Spread: 1.02

1 Measured average velocity for 10 rounds from a 17 ⁄2" barrel. Range tem- perature: 65° F. Humidity: 82%. Accuracy for five consecutive, five-shot groups at 10 yds. from a sandbag. Abbreviations: FN (flat-nose), RN (round-nose), PTD (pointed) ,Sd (standard deviation).

receiver grooves, but given the stock’s gener- ous length of pull and the gun’s negligible recoil, short eye relief did not safety consists of a finger prove to be a problem in lever inside the trigger our testing. Gamo match guard just forward of the and hunting pellets and trigger blade. An “F” and also steel air rifle shot an “S” molded into the bot- were used in our tom, the trigger guard pro- accuracy and velocity vide the shooter with a testing and pellets from visual index of the safety’s Crossman and RWS condition. Just behind the tested for functioning as safety lever is the trigger well. Results shown in the blade with a gently curved accompanying table are Gamo’s Multi-Shot is a break-action airgun (bottom l.) that contour and smooth face. consistent with similar includes dial-adjustable sights (top l.), a screw-adjustable trigger The trigger is a two-stage break-action air rifles we (top r.) and a non-slip, synthetic buttplate (bottom r.). design adjustable via a have tested in the past Phillips head screw mount- decade. ed flush to the bottom of The eight-round the trigger assembly just magazine enhanced shoot- sized airgun.Youths or solidly against the shoot- behind the blade. ing pleasure by cutting small-statured shooters ers leg or hip. Take-up in the trigger of down on reloading time may find the gun bulky if When looking at airguns, our test rifle proved to be a and tedium. It eliminates not over-heavy.The Multi- beauty is often in the eye of bit mushy and it broke at the need to fish a tiny Shot initially breaks open the beholder. Some can 1 4 ⁄2-lbs.-pull with minimal pellet or steel air rifle shot for cocking with little seem like overweight pop- overtravel. For accuracy out of its container after effort. Often the grip of guns and others like flimsy testing we attached a BSA every shot, and its capacity shooter’s hand was toys. But if you want a full- CatsEye airgun scope to the is generous enough that enough to release the bar- size airgun accurate enough Multi-Shot using the grooves you would probably want rel, but resistance increases for impromptu practice or on the receiver.There is no to change or re-set targets so much that we found two casual shooting fun that is more than an inch or two of once you’ve shot it dry. A hands were needed to easy to load, the Multi-Shot 1 front to rear adjustment for 13 ⁄2" length of pull makes finish the cocking stroke may be just what you are eye relief in the Multi-Shot’s the Multi-Shot an adult- even with the gun braced looking for.

The bulk and power of Gamo’s Multi-Shot make it an attractive airgun for adult shooters.

AMERICAN RIFLEMAN 73 February 2003