...He stated there isnt much difference in weight, there isnt much. A little less than 3 ounces. He stated that adjustable sights make it a more versatile gun, and they do. Not much there about the need to kill cape buffalo. The uberti wont even run keiths 44 special level loads safely. Not sure why you are quoting him.
Craigc — dont care what you like or why. Thats your business. Its disingenuous to claim a difference of a few ounces is a deal breaker but then take the position you take on glock weights. Heck you got your lil taffin book there, i have two copies as well, and you have manipulated his whole concept of a packing pistol. Now a short barreled fa83 and ruger blackhawk isnt a packing pistol? 2-3 ounces makes a gun “huge” and another packable and svelte? Pushing it a bit i think
its fair to just like a saa clone or the real thing. Its fine to want one and carry it. The advantages to the ruger are still there and still real. Hope the op enjoys the uberti and ends up with both
I apologize for the delayed response as I've been out of town for a funeral. You obviously do care or you wouldn't be arguing with me but yes, let's have some intellectual honesty and I'll once again repeat much of what I've already posted. I don't reckon you actually read the "lil Taffin book" (condescension duly noted) or you'd know the guns I'm outlining are the epitome of "packin' pistols".
The blued .45 4 5/8" Blackhawk is something of an anomaly. It has big holes and aluminum parts and that makes it much lighter than most of its counterparts. My new Carryhawk, which is as light as a .45 convertible Blackhawk ever was, comes in at 38oz. However, that is with a plowhandle grip frame and for me (and a lot of folks) that makes it only good for Colt-level loads. The plowhandle is simply too uncomfortable with anything much heavier. Since I'm commenting from my own perspective and my own purposes, this is 100% valid and not up for interpretation. So in this context, the two guns would perform the same functions using the same loads, with the large frame Blackhawk coming in 2oz heavier. The only advantage on paper is the Blackhawk's adjustable sights, which are also present on the custom .44Spl I also posted a picture of. The subjective advantage is that the SAA has better balance and handling, due to having a better balance of steel throughout its construction.
Only when the Blackhawk is fitted with a Bisley grip frame does "versatility" change at all, with regards to loads and with that comes a big increase in weight. In which case it is not 3oz heavier but 8-10oz heavier, which is half to three quarters of a pound. Now let's cut the nonsense. This is not a "deal breaker". It is not a huge difference and it was never claimed to be. It is not to say that 10oz is going to keep anyone from doing anything (other than bragging
). It is to say that it is significant enough to be a factor in one's decision on what sixgun to carry. Especially if that added 10oz serves no useful purpose. In this case it doesn't. This is how I distinguished between the general purpose "packin' pistols" from the first post and the "big Rugers" which constitute heavier guns for heavier loads in the follow-up.
Light (packin' pistols)
USPFA .45x4¾" - 36oz
Ruger Blackhawk .45x4⅝"- 38oz
Ruger GP100 .44x5" - 38oz
Heavy (hunting guns)
Ruger Bisley Vaquero .45x4⅝" - 44oz (adjustable sights)
Ruger Bisley Vaquero .44x4⅝" - 44oz (fixed sights)
Ruger Bisley Blackhawk .45x5½" - 45oz
Ruger JRH Bisley .44x4⅝" - 49oz
Ruger JRH Bisley .500x4⅝" - 48oz
The Ruger Alaskan falls right in there at 44-45oz.
If you or anyone else do not make this distinction, that is your prerogative. Just don't tell me I'm doing it wrong because my choices do not align with your own.
What is "disingenuous" is to throw out the Glock 21 example as an example of a lightweight alternative based on its 30oz unloaded weight. My numbers are based on unloaded weights but adding five or six rounds to a revolver does not result in a huge change. A loaded G21 (bought mine in 1992) becomes 10oz heavier and that is significant. Especially when it gets to 40oz and is touted as a lightweight alternative to other 40oz guns. In this case, a loaded G21 is 1oz HEAVIER than a loaded Colt SAA .45x4¾". I shot Glocks for 15yrs but no longer own any because I found somethings I liked better. Here's some other interesting numbers with empty/loaded weights.
Springfield XDM .45 - 31oz/41oz
Springfield XDM 10mm - 32oz/43oz
As you can see, they're about 1oz heavier than a Glock. So not exactly lightweight alternatives to all steel revolvers, huh? Who cares anyway??? This is the revolver forum. If we wanted Glocks, that's what we'd have. IMHO, combat pistosl do not belong in the role of the outdoorsman's packin' pistol.
The uberti wont even run keiths 44 special level loads safely.
How did you come up with this?
Whatever, i just find it funny that craigc posts pics of what he calls “packing” pistols when some of them weigh more than the “big ruger” that was named at the beginning of this thread. I think its more just being consistent and not creating non existent advantages when none exist or ignoring real advantages when they really do exist. If thats what ya like go for it and love it. No more justification needed.
See the above for what I find "funny", along with the humorous assumption that I've spent little time contemplating this subject. I'm pretty sure I pictured what I labeled "big Ruger" in a follow-up post but you must've missed it. I always struggle to not take it personally when the person arguing with me has obviously NOT spent much time at all thinking about the subject at hand.
The advantages are real, not perceived, whether you want to consider/accept them or not. In the context of a general purpose sidearm, the Colt SAA and similarly sized guns like my mid-frame Ruger .44Spl serve perfectly well in the role while being lighter and somewhat smaller than the large frame guns. If you still want to choose a large frame gun for these purposes, that is your choice and no one will argue with it. I only ask that you do not argue with mine. I tend to think it did not come lightly or out of ignorance.