Blackhawk vs SAA?

stchman said:

The OP should also look at the Vaquero, superior to the Uberti unless he just has to have case hardened. IIRC, the Uberti has its firing pin mounted on the hammer while the Vaquero has a transfer bar. I would personally opt for the Blackhawk as it has an adjustable rear sight.

Click to expand...

My Vaquero has a case hardened frame. Excellent handling gun.

I voted Blackhawk, try on handle a bisley as well . Way nicer feel to me .Adjustable sights are always a plus. Especially if you want to shoot heavy /hot for caliber rounds on occasion.

If you could find one of these it would let you shoot cheap with .45 acp and some hotter 45 colts as well.
https://ruger.com/products/newModelBlackhawkConvertible/specSheets/0472.html

I picked up a 44 special flat top bisley and love it. My only issue is getting a consistent grip with the bisley. I tend to grip too high and with the lower hammer I sometimes just graises the web of my hand. Ordered a set of gunfighter grips from eagle to fix that problem. They re a little narrower than factory and have a groove to guide your hands for consistency.

I own and am fond of both.....pick the one that works for you based on its intended purpose.

I voted for the BH because I like the idea of a dual cylinder in 45 colt/45acp and the blued model with a 4" barrel weighs less than 40oz with the alloy grip frame. I have a 5.5" super BH in 44 mag and its a heavy dude to carry around. I have pop gun 240gr lead loads and full power if I want to hunt with it but in the end I don't shoot it much at all.

I would love to shoot a real Colt or clone of a Colt in 45 Colt just to see what its like.

Ratshooter said:

I voted for the BH because I like the idea of a dual cylinder in 45 colt/45acp and the blued model with a 4" barrel weighs less than 40oz with the alloy grip frame. I have a 5.5" super BH in 44 mag and its a heavy dude to carry around. I have pop gun 240gr lead loads and full power if I want to hunt with it but in the end I don't shoot it much at all.

I would love to shoot a real Colt or clone of a Colt in 45 Colt just to see what its like.

Click to expand...

Wait!!! You live in Texas and have never fired a real Colt SAA? What has this world come to.

I prefer the looks of my Uberti 7th Cav model. The Blackhawk looks funny to me. Like a Co2 BB gun.

Well Gunny what can I say? Color my cheeks red and paint an embarrassed grin on my face but no, I have never shot a 45 Colt or a 44 Special round. But if you guys here feel sorry for me and want to start a "Save Ratshooter" fund and buy me a 45 Colt revolver I will speak well of all of you forever after. Heck I will even buy my own ammo and reloading stuff and post the results. You can't beat a deal like that.

And if you have to ask what this world has come to you haven't watched the news lately. I am so glad I have the guns I have to take my mind off the stupidity of what this world has come to. What he hell are we leaving our kids????

Well, I really can’t tell you what’s in the news these days, I stopped watching that library propaganda years ago.
I really wish I could help you raise money to buy that 45, but it’s a full time job keeping my slush funds up with my gun buying.
But if you’re ever out this way, I’ll take you shootings on my dime.

I went to my favorite mom an pop gun store the other day to look around. They had a uberti 45 colt next to a Blackhawk 45 colt. I will say the uberti is a beautiful gun, but I really like the Blackhawk. So I voted with my wallet and walked out with the Blackhawk.

smike223

Great choice with Ruger though to be honest I would sorely tempted by that Uberti SAA as well!

Howdy

First off, the school marm in me will not let me answer your question without stating that both Single Action Army, and SAA are trademarks owned by Colt. Nobody else makes a Single Action Army or a SAA. If they attempted to produce a revolver with either of those names, Colt would sue the pants off of them.

Anyway, as has been stated, the replicas of the SAA as made by Uberti are very close replicas of the Colt. Although the parts are not necessarily interchangeable, the Uberti functions the same way as a Colt. The same size, which means the cylinder is basically the same size, which in turn means that hot loads cannot be fired though them. Any SAAMI spec ammo that does not exceed SAAMI Max pressure spec can be safely fired in an Uberti. This means most ammo you find on the shelf, as well as any 'Cowboy ammo'. Beware of the specialty ammo made by outfits such as Buffalo Bore. Some of their ammo is safe to fire in an Uberti, some is not. Read the specifications that Buffalo Bore has on their website to determine which of their loads can safely be fired through a Colt or a replica and which cannot.

Because the Uberti duplicates the mechanism of the Colt, they are not safe to carry fully loaded with six rounds. ALWAYS carry them only loaded with five rounds, and leave the hammer down on an empty chamber. This is not as big a deal as you might think, it is easy to get used to only loading five and lowering the hammer on an empty chamber.

The Ruger Blackhawk series is about 10% more massive than a Colt or a colt replica. This means there is more metal between the chambers, which in turn means they are able to safely digest the Buffalo Bore ammo that a Colt or Uberti cannot. Again, check the specifications on the Buffalo Bore website. Also, because the Blackhawk employs a transfer bar, they are completely safe to carry fully loaded with six rounds. A lot of folks like the idea of the adjustable rear sight of the Blackhawk, but frankly, once I sight an adjustable sighted revolver in, I seldom change the setting. I am used to Kentucky windage and elevation, which I also use with a Colt or colt replica.

Regarding the Vaquero, the only Vaquero available today is the New Vaquero. This is made on a frame about the same size as a Colt. Because of this, the amount of metal between chambers is roughly the same as a Colt or replica, and so maximum loads should again be kept to SAAMI Maximum pressure. There are those who will argue about this, but that is what I recommend. Like the Blackhawk, all Vaqueros have a transfer bar and are completely safe to carry fully loaded with six rounds.

Hunting and reloading? Then only RUGER fits the bill. IMHO

Get the Ruger first (Blackhawk or a New Vaquero), then the Uberti/Cimarron.

Catpop said:

Hunting and reloading? Then only RUGER fits the bill. IMHO

Click to expand...

That's not true at all.

Armored farmer said:

View attachment 789036
I cannot speak for the Uberti.
The blackhawk is a fine revolver, and it is so well suited for .45Colt. You cant go wrong.

Click to expand...

I'm only on my cell phone so I can't see, but what passage is on your grip?

Mn Fats said:

I'm only on my cell phone so I can't see, but what passage is on your grip?

Click to expand...

Psalm 23
I had it engraved on those grips after a particularly unpleasant task of putting down two different horses.

Tradition or strength. Longevity or reliability. American or Italian. All factors in your choice. I'm an unabashed Ruger nut with more than a few of their single actions, three of which are convertibles. Super single six, blackhawk 357, 357/9mm, 44 sp, 44 mag, 45 colt/45 acp, ROA. Plus a few autos, double actions and rifles.
Ruger all the way unless you want to have a fixed sight, sort of authentic saa. Have fun either way.

I think Ruger reinvented the single action revolver. It is much safer than Colt and its clones with the transfer bar, you can load it with 6 rounds instead of 5. No 1/2 cock is needed, a simple dropping of the loading gate frees the cylinder. A closer match to the Uberti with fixed sights would be the Ruger Vaquero. It looks and feels just like a Colt SSA.

Here's my Vaquero in .45 Colt, I love it

Safety is between the ears. It's only safer for those who do not know how to operate a traditional single action.

I love Rugers and have dozens of them but they don't scratch the Colt SAA itch.

Panzerschwein said:

That's a BEAUT!

Leaning towards a Blackhawk 5 1/2" blued .45 convertible. But will the bbl be too long? Would a 4 5/8" be better?

So many choices, wish I could afford them all but sadly that ain't so.

Click to expand...

Will the barrel be too long for what? I've got a New Vaquero with a 4 5/8" barrel and really like it. The 5 1/2" would be as good for me, just not clear the holster quite as quick.

I have both in 357.

Blackhawk if you want the capability to run rhino roller loads. Also famous for durabilty.

The Uberti is best for standard loads and playing cowboy. Nothing wrong with that that's why I got mine. Chose 357 because I didn't want to stock another caliber.

I like my New Model Blackhawk, but I love my EMF New Dakotas .

DDDWho said:

A closer match to the Uberti with fixed sights would be the Ruger Vaquero. It looks and feels just like a Colt SSA.View attachment 789419

Click to expand...

Now wait just a minute. Not trying to start a fight but there is no way a Ruger Vaquero "looks and feels" like a Colt. Good grief man, have you never handled or fired the real thing? Just can't imagine how you could make that claim.

Dave