Why do folks like SA revolvers still?

Why an SA revolver over DA?

  • Nostalgia

    Votes: 26 18.8%

  • I like the more deliberate way of doing things; a slower pace

    Votes: 39 28.3%

  • Something else

    Votes: 73 52.9%
  • Total voters
    138
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35 Whelen said:
Regarding the knuckle-bashing, first, I'm not a fan of the pinky-under-the-grip method. I'm sure it's fine for close range, informal shooting, but it's a bit difficult to effectively control the recoil generated by a .45 caliber 250 gr. bullet. Second, SA revolvers are more effectively controlled, and knuckles not bashed, when the revolver is held such that the barrel is aligned with the forearm. Doing so not only moves the rear of the trigger guard away from the knuckle of the middle finger, but it causes more grip-to-palm contact which aids in controlling the revolver. Try it.
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Nope.

Completely happy with the pinky curled under the grip.

Been doing so for about 20 years.
 
Smaug said:
I wonder if this translates to compact carry guns to you? Do you not mind having to tuck the pinky below the grip on a subcompact carry gun because of your experience with SA revolvers?
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I wouldn't know.

I don't have any subcompact carry guns.

My favorite semi-auto is a 9mm 1911.

Have you ever noticed it is impossible to place your finger behind the trigger guard on most semi-autos?

So knuckle bashing is not an issue.
 
The pinky under hold is what works for me.

Strong%2001b.jpg


270OKIE said:
Huh, I've only shot cowboy spec loads in my Pietta as it's not designed for much more than that and if a 255gr .452 cal bullet at 700fps was good enough for Wyatt Earp then it's good enough for me lol.
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They'll handle more than people think. This is a Pietta .45 convertible and the .45ACP +P runs at 23,000psi.

004.jpg
 
Smaug said:
I'm not criticizing the choice, but just want to understand it better. I think I'm younger than the typical SA revolver aficionado. (45) With respect, maybe it's a generational thing?

To me, a DA revolver that has a SA option does the same thing, and more efficiently, while retaining the same fixed barrel accuracy:
  • Faster lock time
  • Faster reloading
  • DA option
Is it a nostalgia thing, for folks who grew up watching cowboy shows, or is there something more to it? For example, I've read that SA revolvers with the traditional cowboy grip tend to rotate upwards in recoil rather than push back. From the few times I've shot one, that arch still gives a pretty good thump right in the palm of the hand.

Is it akin to choosing a lever action rifle over an automatic rifle, where a slower, more deliberate way of doing things can be more satisfying?
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I like any sort of firearm if it's made from metal and wood and decent quality. Low quality things are made from plastic. Some of the firearms I like are single actions, but many are SA pistols like PPK's and 1911's, lever guns and M1 Garands, bolt action Remington rifles, Browning Citoris, and of course the Browning Auto 5. If I see a firearm made with plastic and rubber I am not going to own it because such things don't last.
 
Smaug said:
I used John Taffin's starting load:
  • 255 gr. HiTek-coated SWC "Keith bullet"
  • 7.0 gr. of HP38
SOURCE LINK

It's the one with the Lyman 452424 bullet from this table; a standard load. It's about 900 fps, right around what Smokin Gator and others think Earp would've used. It's more stout than a factory 44 Special out of the same size gun, but you wouldn't mistake it for a factory 44 Magnum, either.

I tell you one other thing: No one was fanning the hammer and making any accurate rapid fire shots with them!

View attachment 1115007
Click to expand...

Same load I use except the bullets are 454424 - the bullets that Keith actually used in 45 Colt. I use W-W 231 (an old lot from before Hodgdon).
 
What do you do with your pinky on guns where the grip is not long for you to get all four fingers on the frontstrap of the grip? My original Ruger Vaquero with gunfighter grips has just enough room for all four fingers. My 44special Ruger Flattop doesn't. I bought a set of extended grips from Texas grips for it.
 
Smokin Gator said:
What do you do with your pinky on guns where the grip is not long for you to get all four fingers on the frontstrap of the grip? My original Ruger Vaquero with gunfighter grips has just enough room for all four fingers. My 44special Ruger Flattop doesn't. I bought a set of extended grips from Texas grips for it.
Click to expand...

As has been posted several times on this thread, I ALWAYS curl my pinky under the grip. I never try to cram all four fingers onto the grip. Notice how curling my pinky under the grip moves my hand slightly lower on the grip, which in turn opens up a space of about 1/4" between the rear of the trigger guard and the knuckle of my index finger. I discovered a long time ago that cramming my entire hand onto the grip resulted in the knuckle of my index finger being in contact with the rear of the trigger guard. When held this way, any amount of recoil caused the trigger guard to whack my knuckle, and that hurts. Gripping the revolver this way prevents my knuckle getting whacked in recoil and I can shoot a single action revolver this way all day long with my stout Black Powder 45 Colt ammo and it does not hurt. This photo shows me holding a 2nd Gen Colt, but I do the same with every single action revolver, including various Rugers,


pou0NbDlj.jpg
 
Single action revolvers are still popular with shooters for several reasons.
1. For heavy loads, they are viewed as 'stronger'. As a rule, they can handle greater pressure for a greater number of shots without as much wear (top strap stretching, cylinders expanding) than double action revolvers or semi-automatic pistols of similar size and weight. (They probably are stronger, most everyone is convinced at least.)
2. For heavy loads, the curved shape of the grips make the arm feel a bit less brutal in recoil.
3. Trigger mechanisms are simpler and allow 'cleaning up' a trigger simpler.
4. For many shooters, they are safer and more obvious.
5. Perhaps it stems from nostalgia, shooting a SA revolver is more fun in general.
6. Generally, SA revolvers are slower to load and reload. Given the goal of a single action revolver, this is not an issue.
 
Sistema1927 said:
In this day and age, many wonder why people still like any type of revolver, or any type of single-shot, or any type of double barrel.

The "low drag, high speed" crowd tend to think that if you can't mag dump 17 rounds in 4 seconds, or 30 rounds in 6 seconds, you are some kind of antique. However, some of us know better.
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How right you are!
Seems it is like they want to lay down a suppressing fire, while the other guy might be doing: One shot one kill!
 
Driftwood Johnson said:
As has been posted several times on this thread, I ALWAYS curl my pinky under the grip. I never try to cram all four fingers onto the grip. Notice how curling my pinky under the grip moves my hand slightly lower on the grip, which in turn opens up a space of about 1/4" between the rear of the trigger guard and the knuckle of my index finger. I discovered a long time ago that cramming my entire hand onto the grip resulted in the knuckle of my index finger being in contact with the rear of the trigger guard. When held this way, any amount of recoil caused the trigger guard to whack my knuckle, and that hurts. Gripping the revolver this way prevents my knuckle getting whacked in recoil and I can shoot a single action revolver this way all day long with my stout Black Powder 45 Colt ammo and it does not hurt. This photo shows me holding a 2nd Gen Colt, but I do the same with every single action revolver, including various Rugers,


View attachment 1115547
Click to expand...

My question was to those people who don't put their pinky under the grip. Do they just leave it hanging at the bottom of the grip with no contact? With my USFA rodeo I have my pinky under. As I mentioned my original Vaquero has room on the front for all four fingers and that feels and works well for me.
 
Everybody has different sized hands and fingers so no grip fits everyone the same. On my New Blackhawk I got the extended grips from Texas grips and love it. I can get all the fingers on the grip.
My New Vaquero fits just fine with my pinky uner it. I dunno why and can't explain it. But I love my 45LC Vaquero more than my Blackhawk 357.

Edit: My SP101 .357 fits great with a Hogue grip too.

blackhawk4.jpg Vaquero Cowboy.jpg
 
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If the grip on my single actions allow a comfortable grip with all four fingers I don't place my pinky underneath. If the grip is too short then I put the pinky under. For the one gun I decided to try the extended length grips and do like them.

With my 44 caliber Ruger Vaquero shooting 44 special black powder I can control the recoil and get back on target quicker for successive shots shootin one handed with all fingers on the front of the grip.
 
plainsdrifter said:
Everybody has different sized hands and fingers so no grip fits everyone the same. On my New Blackhawk I got the extended grips from Texas grips and love it. I can get all the fingers on the grip.
My New Vaquero fits just fine with my pinky uner it. I dunno why and can't explain it. But I love my 45LC Vaquero more than my Blackhawk 357.

Edit: My SP101 .357 fits great with a Hogue grip too.

View attachment 1115644 View attachment 1115645
Click to expand...


I sold the 3 Vaqueros I had and replaced them with 5 Blackhawk and 2 Single Sixes.

The Blackhawk grip fits me better. The NM Vaquero grip was enough smaller to feel awkward. Luckily they make both and lots of replacement grips, too.
 
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