Last year the Territorial Governors voted to allow the Montado and Super Blackhawk hammers in a standard Vaquero. The Montado and Super Blackhawk hammers are functionally the same, the only difference between them being that the Montado hammer is checkered and the Super Blackhawk hammer is grooved.
I have found that the hammers drop in with no fitting needed, so far although it may be possible that some fitting would be needed on your gun. Don’t worry, you can always just install your original parts if needed. Be sure that if you do any fitting you don’t fit your frame to the hammer. Fit the hammer to the frame. The key is to always file or sand on the CHEAP parts!
Remember, working on your own guns is unwise.
You will pinch your fingers and swear.
Don’t do it.
If you decide to work on your own guns you are doing it at your own risk.
It will be really sad if you have to take your gun parts to a gunsmith to put it back together for you!
If you do this, don’t sue me when the gun malfunctions.
I’m specifically telling you not to do this!
I mean you!
Here are four different hammers available for the full size vaquero. From left to right, Bisley, Montado (note checkering), Super Blackhawk, Standard. There is also a higher than standard hammer that comes on some of the new model guns.To install the new hammer you need to take your Ruger apart. The directions in the instruction manual that came with your gun provides diagrams and instructions. Here is how I do it:
Unload the gun!
Unload the gun again!
It is a good idea to take the cylinder out before you start.
Make sure the gun is unloaded!
Remove the grip screw and take the grips off the gun.
Cock the hammer and put a pin in the hammer strut hole to retain the hammer strut with spring captured.
Pull the trigger and allow the hammer to go forward. You may have to push it forward.
Remove grip frame screws.
Don’t forget to remove the three screws on the bottom.
One of the rear bottom screws is longer than the other. Make a note where this one goes.
Note the little spring here. This is easy to lose and easy to forget!
Here is the spring. Note the little end cap that goes in the hole first.
Note the pin in the grip frame forward of the trigger. don’t forget this one!
Remove the hammer strut and spring.
Unhook the trigger spring.
Push the trigger spring pin out.
Remove the trigger spring.
If you haven’t already done so, remove the cylinder.
Here are the guts.
Remove the hammer pin.
Note the groove in the pin. This allows the longer screw to capture the pin.
If you can, put the gun in a vice. If not, turn it over and try to hold it. Then use a punch to push the spring down and push the trigger pin out. This is sometimes hard to do. You may need to get someone to hold the gun for you if you don’t have a vice.
Remove the trigger pin.
Now you can lift the trigger out. The transfer bar will sometimes come with it.
The hammer will pull out now along with the pawl.
The cylinder bolt comes out.
The loading gate spring comes out now.
The loading gate may fall out so you might as well take it out now.
Putting the parts back in
Slip the loading gate into place and the install the loading gate spring.
Install cylinder bolt.
Here is the trigger and transfer bar.
Here is the hammer and pawl.
Slip the hammer/pawl in first and hold it there, then the trigger and transfer bar.
The two assemblies in together.
The hammer pin going in.
Insert the trigger pin, this one is tricky because you have to depress the loading gate spring at the same time.
Here the trigger pin is fully in place.
Make sure the loading gate spring is under the indicated spot on the loading gate.
Remember this little assembly? Install the pin and spring in the grip frame as shown.
Don’t forget this little spring and cap assembly! install the cap on the spring and put it cap first into the top hole of the rear of the grip frame.
Ease the gripframe into place.
Make sure you don’t pinch the spring here when you install the gripframe.
With the gripframe flush against the gun’s frame begin to install the gripframe screws, but don’t tighten them all the way yet.
Remember to put the grooved end of the hammer pin in the right place to catch the longer screw.
Place the trigger spring in place, make sure it goes over the trigger and not under it.
Install the trigger pin.
Slip the trigger spring over the pins that hold each leg.
Check your trigger to make sure the spring returns the trigger to the forward position. If it doesn’t then you probably have the spring under the trigger instead of over it.
Make sure the cylinder bolt is present and working.
Slip the hammer strut into place. This can be done with grip frame screws tight, on some guns! But it is easier if you leave the gripframe screws loose to give yourself a bit of wiggle room. Now tighten all the screws.
Make sure the cylinder pin is fully in place and test the hammer/trigger function.Install cylinder and make sure everything still works.Now you can install the grip panels and go shoot your gun. Enjoy the new hammer!
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