Ruger New Vaquero 512 vs 513 prefix

[Wild Eagle]

I'm looking at two Ruger New Vaqueros.  Both are same model number, both either unfired or fired only a few times.  One has a 512 serial number prefix and the other is a 513.  Is there any reason to favor one serial number prefx over the other?  The guns are identical twins as far as I can tell otherwise.  Looking to get one for a back up to my main match guns that are both 513 serial numbers.

[Badlands Bob #61228]

I am not aware of any changes Ruger has made to the New Model Vaquero since it was introduced in 2004.  They are all durable.  Either one of those will last a lifetime and be exactly like the rest of them.  

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

Do they have the internal lock?

[Badlands Bob #61228]

Oppps.  Forgot about the internal locks.  Totally worthless attempt to placate lawyers.  I have a pair of 510's with the internal locks that have functioned flawlessly for 19 years.  

[Skullbone Willie]

I have a 510 and a 513 as my set of 38’s, one has the internal lock and one doesn’t, other than the hammer springs they are identical as far as I’m concerned. 

[Lucky R. K.]

The CAO really sets them off.

Lucky 

[Garrison Joe, SASS #60708]

Be aware of the internal lock in grips.   Ruger has quit providing parts for the hammer assembly for those, no keys for the lock available any more, so if you want to remove and tune the guns, you are in for some work. 

 

Take off the grips to make sure neither gun contains the discontinued and unsupported locks!  GJ

[Uncle Ethan # 94321]

I have both 512 and 513. They are identical. I couldn't tell one from the other shooting them.

[Buckshot Bear]

8 hours ago, Skullbone Willie said:

I have a 510 and a 513 as my set of 38’s, one has the internal lock and one doesn’t, other than the hammer springs they are identical as far as I’m concerned. 

 

What make grips are those?

[Hoss]

Not sure who made those, but I just put a set of mesquite grips from texasgrips.com on a vaquero. He has lots of options available, very good price. Check them out! 
 

[Wild Eagle]

Thank all of you that replied.  I appreciate your knowledge.  This also reminded me about the lock.  I knew it existed but was not thinking about it as part of my search criteria.  The two Rugers I have do not have the lock, so I really don't want one on my backup either.  Thanks again.

[Kid Rich]

I have both really no difference in working on them. Just a very small difference in removing the springs to replace them.

kR

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

18 hours ago, Garrison Joe, SASS #60708 said:

Be aware of the internal lock in grips.   Ruger has quit providing parts for the hammer assembly for those, no keys for the lock available any more, so if you want to remove and tune the guns, you are in for some work. 

 

Take off the grips to make sure neither gun contains the discontinued and unsupported locks!  GJ

You can remove the locks and use a formed #10 fender washer in its place.

[Garrison Joe, SASS #60708]

Or order a Ruger Bearcat mainspring seat from one of the parts supply houses....I found some in stock today at Numrich.   Advantage of the Bearcat seat is it has a divot cut into the top surface to allow inserting a compressed-spring retention pin when you disassemble.   GJ

[Eliphalet R. Moderator]

17 hours ago, Buckshot Bear said:

 

What make grips are those?

 

Those are the older version Eagle Gunfighter Grips.

 

[Skullbone Willie]

17 hours ago, Buckshot Bear said:

 

What make grips are those?

Eagle Gunfighter

[watab kid]

one of mine is a 510 series the other two are 513s , they all run the same ans look the same , whatever the differences are they dont matter 

[Three Foot Johnson]

I don't know just when the lock was discontinued, but I have two identical 511 prefix NV's only eleven numbers apart, one with the lock and one without. Both made in 2010 according to Ruger's site.