[rtl]

Anyone have experience with the Beretta Stampede Marshall? If I can't find a NIB birds head Vaquero, looking like that may be the case, I may go this route.

Input appreciated.

Thanks,
rt

http://www.berettausa.com/product/product_pistols_main.htm

[Jim March]

A very similar Uberti-source gun has been available for years, but without a transfer-bar safety:

http://www.cimarron-firearms.com/thunderer-lightning.htm

It appears the Stampede Marshall is a Stampede with this Thunderer grip frame. They may even be close enough that you could order Thunderer grip frame parts from Cimarron and convert a Stampede to this layout.

This grip is a clone of the Colt Lightning DA of about 1878.

The reputation is that these feel great, but are distinctly limited in the amount of recoil they can deal with. Full-house 357 may be too wild, depends on your hands of course.

[timothy75]

I have 2 regular stampedes and they are exellent. I dont like the BH Rugers as I cant get a good grip on them just holding them and shooting them seems even harder. Whats this gun going to be used for anyway?

[Tom C.]

The Thunderer grip is quite small. I hope you have small hands. I see them only used by ladies.
I have large hands and prefer the regular Ruger Blackhawk grip with Eagle Gunfighter grips; smooth for heavy recoil, checkered for light recoil.
The second generation Vaquero has the same grip as the '73 Colt.
The birds head grips for the Rugers are available from vendors to convert a Vaquero if you can't find a Birdshead Vaquero.

[bulbboy]

I picked up a Beretta Marshal last spring - absolutely love it!! Very fun to shoot and it fits my hand perfectly! Hard to find holsters for though! I've been looking for another like it but in stainless. Looks like they don't make them. I think Ruger made one a couple of years ago - still searching

[Stainz]

My hands aren't small - but I really like the Ruger version of the BHG. I started with a 4.6" SS .45 Colt BHG Vaq - got a .357M version, but a friend talked me out of it (It is heavier than the .45 Colt version - smaller holes, I suppose.). Then, I had to have a .44 Special/Russian version - so I bought a 4.6" SS SBH .44M and a QPR SS BHG in the raw (Brownell's), and fitted same - wow! I have since added a .32 Magnum BHG. Three 4.6" SS BHG SA's - with black Micarta grips. The Rugers are identical, but the QPR is slightly different. That is one way to get a Ruger BHG...

The Thunderer's BHG is slightly smaller... or, as someone suggested at the range, '... even daintier than the Ruger BHG!'. I don't care, I like 'em! That SBH with a BHG was intended for .44 Russians and Specials - but I had to try some hoy 180gr SJHP UMC .44M's - wow! It really 'rolled', leaving the muzzle skyward, but the palm slap/recoil wasn't bad. Still, the .45 Colt is very comfortable, as is the .32M. Used BHG frames generally cannot be refitted to another Ruger frame... just get a new, ie, in the rough, QPR frame and carefully fit it. The destination is worth the journey.

Stainz

[Jim March]

Quite a few people have mentioned that the Ruger Bird's Head is astonishingly good at recoil control for a lot of people.

The Uberti Thunderer/Stampede Marshall grip frame may be somewhat close in size, but it does NOT "roll in the hand" well and can't be used with as much peak power. It does however index in the hand VERY well and at moderate power levels such as a mild 357 load, medium-grade 44Spl or the like, it's a damn fine grip.