Beretta Stampede or Taurus Gaucho?

[applesanity]

Any American male raised on apple pie and baseball has at one time or another wanted to be a cowboy, yes? You can't be a cowboy without a Peacemaker, and I've always wanted one. The things I want in a SAA/ clone are:

1. .357/.38spl - because circumstances do not allow me at current to do my own reloading, and 45LC is so very expensive.
2. 7.5" barrel - I think the longer barrel looks better (although I'm not 100% on practicality)
3. a decent safety device - why, in this modern age, be limited to 5 rounds for 6 chambers?
4. Modest price - I don't plan on CAS (not yet) or having a safe queen; just some range/plinking fun

Now, if Ruger made a 7.5" Vaquero for .357, there would be no contest. As such, Stampede or Gaucho, or am I missing some other choice? Or should I rethink my restrictions?

 

[ugaarguy]

Now, if Ruger made a 7.5" Vaquero for .357, there would be no contest. As such, Stampede or Gaucho, or am I missing some other choice? Or should I rethink my restrictions?

Ruger does indeed offer the New Vaquero with 7.5" bbl in both .357 Mag and .45 Colt. The New Vaq is also on a smaller frame which is true to SAA size. Without spending the money for a USFA or Colt built SAA I'd take the Ruger New Vaq. Actually, since you want a transfer bar safety so you can safely carry with all six chambers loaded, you've eliminated the USFA and Colt SAAs.

The only other gun I'd take a look at is the new Big Bore Rough Rider from Heritage Mfg. It's built in the US from Italian parts, and is a good value. If you find them on sale they can be worth it. Otherwise I'd spend the little bit more money on the proven Ruger - which is still less expensive than the Beretta.

 

[applesanity]

I'm looking at the Ruger product page, and the longest NM Vaquero they offer in .357 is five and half inches. Or does Ruger need to update their databases?

The restrictions I had are more like preferences or guidelines. It's not set in stone. I just don't want to shoot myself in the leg/foot, literally - like that numbskull with the FA revolver. I guess I'll have to be extra extra careful, instead of just extra careful.

 

[ugaarguy]

Well I thought I'd seen New Vaqs in 357 with 7.5" bbls at work , but maybe they were all 45 Colts. Of course, many times distributors will get special runs or exclusive guns made for them with non cataloged caliber/bbl length combinations, finishes, grips, etc. Davidsons is a big one for Ruger exclusives. I'll see what I can dig up at work over the next few days.

If you are open to a true SAA clone without transfer bar, and carrying five loaded hammer down on an empty chamber, take a look at the Uberti line. Uberti is under the Beretta/Benelli corporate ownership, and the Stampede is, in short, a fancied up Uberti with a transfer bar and the Beretta name (and price tag).

 

[ewayte]

Go with the Beretta - the Italians have been making SA revolvers for years, the Brazilians, not so long.

 

[dogngun]

Of the 2 you mentioned, I'd go with Beretta.
I personally would buy a Uberti,because I like the old Colt type flat spring trigger, and don't like the mushy coul spring trigger of the "safety" type single actions, but you want the "safety" hammer block revolver.
Rugers are better made than either of your two choices, if you don't mind the shorter barrel.

Enjoy.

Mark

 

[jack the toad]

Actually, since you want a transfer bar safety so you can safely carry with all six chambers loaded, you've eliminated the USFA and Colt SAAs.

You may not consider the Colt Cowboy as a SAA but I thought the Cowboy
can carried safely with all 6 chambers loaded. Just what I've heard.

 

[Sistema1927]

I will be the first vote for the Gaucho. I have a pair of CCH 5.5" .45 Colt revolvers that have held up very well to over 18 months of CAS. I have had 0% problems with them.

Just earlier this week I gave them a thorough cleaning, and while I have rubbed some blueing off of them in strategic points they are still good and tight. An additional benefit of the Tauri was the fact that they needed no action jobs, and were CAS slick right out of the box. I have Rugers as well, and they needed work, springs, etc., but not so with the Gauchos.

 

[Black Knight]

Have you looked a a 5 1/2 inch barrel? I would go with the Ruger or Beretta in 5 1/2 inch. It is easier to handle and faster.

 

[Jim March]

Don't buy a Gaucho, period.

There have been more trouble reports on them here and on other forums than...hell, basically any other revolver. VERY serious QC issues.

The Stampede, Gaucho and New Vaquero are all "basically the same gun" - SAA-class size and handling but with transfer bar safeties.

I think the New Vaq is best and love mine in 357. But in one sense it's the least authentic: it loads with the hammer down, versus half-cock. The Ruger loading drill is faster and with the New Vaq they've finally got the loading gate lining up with the cylinder bores on each click (a noted lack on the older large-frame models).

The good news: quality control is superb on these "mid frames", some of the best Rugers produced in years. They're also compatible with a lot of large-frame Ruger action parts, grip frames and the like. Mine wears a SuperBlackHawk lower-slung hammer. Ruger is now doing a special run with short barrels called the "Montado" with that hammer . You can also graft Bisley or Bird's Head parts on it, producing guns Ruger hasn't seen fit to make (yet). Very cool.

Unfortunately the New Vaq in 357 doesn't come with a 7.5" tube. You could put one on: barrels from the large-frame series fit the mid-frames. But you may find that 5.5" is a more useful tube overall...good power but more packable.

ALL that said, the Beretta is a good gun. Some have shown up cheap on CDNN, you might check there first.

 

[tinygnat219]

I have the Taurus Gauchos and they are... alright. Definitely get the Rugers.

 

[DMK]

I've been looking at the Uberti SAAs. They are beautifully made guns. I think I'd choose one over a Beretta. After all isn't Uberti making the Berettas anyway?

 

[McCall911]

If not a Uberti SAA clone, then I second the vote for a Beretta Stampede.

 

[LubeckTech]

Beretta now owns Uberti but does anyone know if the Stampede's are Uberti guns??

 

[Hawk]

I've got an Uberti - couldn't recommend it to anyone wanting to carry a six shooter with six loaded. It's got some sort of safety but nothing that would convince me to top it off.

Although owned by Beretta, the Uberti transfer bar is conspicuous by its absence. Cimarron's Uberti is also sans transfer bar.

The Colt, STI and USFA all have pricing and safety issues in the context of the OP. The Freedom Arms 97 is sweet, has a transfer bar, but is priced dearly.

I think he's got it narrowed down correctly for his priorities. I would cast my lot for the "Ruger with a shorter barrel", but... it's a shorter barrel.

Edited to add: The Stampede is made by Beretta's Uberti division but it's not the same firearm as Ubertis bearing Stoeger markings.

 

[McCall911]

Beretta now owns Uberti but does anyone know if the Stampede's are Uberti guns??

I had heard as much but don't know if it's true.

I should be more trusting of what I read on the internet, shouldn't I?

 

[Jim March]

The Beretta Stampede and Uberti Colt SAA clones are close cousins, almost certainly share a lot of parts, quality and metallurgy is similar, transfer bar on the Beretta is the biggest difference.

 

[raginrednek]

sa

i had the old vaquero bisley and got rid of it. i have 2 cimarron 357 with wolf springs. they are as smooth as some customs i tried. they shoot to point of aim with all the ammo i tried. cheaper than the rugers too.

 

[jad0110]

I also think you've got it narrowed down pretty well, for meeting your stated priorities. Of the two listed, I would go with the Beretta myself. Though a number of people have gotten good Gauchos (including Sistema), I too have heard about a lot of lemons.

On the other hand, though the Stampedes are nice guns, I have heard some say that Beretta's customer service sucks (if you do have a problem). That may or may not be true, I have no personal experience.

In that regard, you may want to consider a shorter barrel Ruger New Vacquero.

Since you indicated you prefer a transfer bar gun, that does eliminate the Ubertis and Cimarrons. My own preference is for a Uberti Cattleman with a 4 3/4" barrel.

You are right BTW: the SAA and it's clone are as American as baseball and apple pie. That same bug has bitten my father. Enjoy your future cowboy gun!

 

[applesanity]

Well hmm. Suddenly that transfer bar safety doesn't feel so important anymore. You gotta pull the parking brake if you're parked in neutral on a hill; at some point, it should become second nature to keep an empty chamber under the hammer.

 

[jad0110]

Well hmm. Suddenly that transfer bar safety doesn't feel so important anymore. You gotta pull the parking brake if you're parked in neutral on a hill; at some point, it should become second nature to keep an empty chamber under the hammer.

As long as it is second nature .

The easiest way to do it is:

Load 1, skip one, load 4 more (basically, until you get around to a loaded chamber). That will put the empty chamber under the hammer.

 

[Jim March]

Yeah, until you cock it. And then all bets are off. Don't drop it, and for damnsure don't get in a wrestling match for it.

Look, I *like* having that transfer bar in there. And if I'm going to ever press the gun into CCW duty or even home defense that goes double.

And then there's that sixth shot...

 

[applesanity]

Now I'm also considering the cimarron/uberti's as well, now that peer pressure had talked me out of a *need* for transfer bar safety. I was at a local range and they had 7.5" cimarron for sale, and the longer barrel, I felt, just really appealed to me.

As for finishes - I like the nickel, but the color case hardening and charcoal blue finishes are great too. What are your preferences, and how's the caring like - and how long-lasting is it?

I did a long THR "search" for info on nickel finishes, so I'm all up to date on that. But the case hardening info was lacking. Then I find out that some of these have fake case hardening....

 

[McCall911]

Then, of course, if it's just going to be for the range and not for carry, you won't even need to worry about whether there's a transfer bar safety or not. Just load all six and shoot!

 

[DMK]

Then I find out that some of these have fake case hardening....

It's my understanding that most, if not all modern guns having case hardened finishes are heat treated properly first. The case hardening is done only for cosmetics, to get that old fashioned look.

I have no idea how durable it is, but it's probably about the same as bluing I'd imagine.