Blackhawk vs SAA?

Which should I get?

  • Ruger Blackhawk

    Votes: 93 85.3%

  • Uberti SAA

    Votes: 16 14.7%
  • Total voters
    109
  • Poll closed .
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Gunny

I have an older EMF (Armi San Marco), Hartford U.S. Cavalry Model that I picked up many moons ago (speaking of moons I really like those silver moon inserts on your grips too!). I was on my way out of a gun show when I passed by a table that had this gun and two 5 1/2" Artillery Models, all of them EMF Hartford Models. They were used (I think one of them had a box but no manual), and were priced about the same. One of the Artillery Models was missing a frame screw and the other one was a little rough around the edges. The Cavalry Model was in great shape and I since have always wanted one that was the one I went with.

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I didn't vote because if you're anything like me, you're going to get one, and then want the other as well.

I have 2 NM Blackhawks (.357 and .45 Colt) and one recently acquired Super Blackhawk in .44 mag (as most are). I love all 3 of them.
Now I'm jonesing for a SAA clone. When I do scratch that itch, it will likely be in .44 Special. No particular reason other than I want a dedicated .44 Special.

One thing though. People tend to write off the SAA clones when people talk about hunting. There's not a deer in North America that you can't kill with a standard 255 grain SWC bullet moving at around 900 fps, a load you can shoot out of your Colt or Colt clone safely.
Now if you're going after moose, grizzly or thinking about taking really big game like water buffalo, then sure the heavy loads that are unsafe in your SAAs are certainly more desireable.
But if you're hunting deer or hogs in the lower 48 and you love SAAs, don't let it bother you. It'll do the job fine.

Just wanted to put that out there. I'm sure someone will disagree though.
 
IMO the Blackhawk is the obvious choice, unless you are specifically looking for a gun for cowboy action shooting.
 
I also vote Blackhawk. Especially the Convertible.

It will make up the cost for the extra cylinder in about 3 boxes of ammo of ACP vs LC.
 
Driftwood Johnson said:
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.
Click to expand...

Actually, the cylinders of the Uberti's are not the same size as a Colt, they're larger. The cylinder of a Colt:

Colt%20Cylinder%20Diameter%20red_zps8aorrogq.jpg

The cylinders of a couple of Uberti's:

Uberti%20Frisco%20Cylinder%20diameter%20red_zpszjesbjno.jpg

Cimarron%20Cylinder%20diameter%20red_zps9murzhnq.jpg

Now the cylinder of a Flat Top Blackhawk.

Flat%20Top%20Blackhawk%20Cylinder%20Diameter%20red_zpszbz6cbwy.jpg

So as we see, the cylinder of the Uberti is for all practical purposes the same diameter as the "new" Flat Top Blackhawk and New Vaquero. This of course means they are similar in strength which stands to reason since Uberti still makes available 45 ACP (SAAMI 19K and 23K in +P) cylinders for their 1873 revolvers.

Since we've drifted to the subject of the New Vaquero, I can tell you as a former owner of one, they don't have the same feel as a like configured Colt or Uberti. I once owned a 4 5/8" New Vaquero and a 4 5/8" Uberti, both in 45 Colt. Although physically very similar, the Ruger weighed exactly 3 oz. more. Where that extra weight was, I never figured out!

So to answer the original question, it's personal preference. The only thing I think the Blackhawk might have over a Uberti is adjustable sights. But then again, I've killed quite a bit of game with SA revolvers, out to right at 50 yds., and none of the revolvers used had adjustable sights.


CraigC said:
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.
Click to expand...

Very profound and true statements.

Good luck with your choice, you really can't go wrong either way.

35W
 
35 Whelen said:
Although physically very similar, the Ruger weighed exactly 3 oz. more. Where that extra weight was, I never figured out!
Click to expand...
Same for the flat-top. The Super Blackhawk is only very slightly heavier than the New Model .44Spl Blackhawk. I never have been able to figure out why but it really takes a lot of the steam out of the .44Spl argument. The Old Models with the aluminum grip frame are significantly lighter.

I also agree that the Colt-style action does not preclude hunting, or even adjustable sights. Find the right load for your SAA and get it properly zeroed and nothing is safe within 50yds or so. There is also the option of the flat-top target model or the Callahan. The .44Mag has an 1860 grip and is only very slightly larger than the SAA frame. Traditional half cock actions and fully capable on game.

IMG_9299b.jpg
 
Do you plan to use the sights to aim? Would you like to hit things at 25 or even 50 yards? Do you plan to load different power levels and want to adjust the sights for those loads?
Then the answer is clear the blackhawk has good adjustable sights. The SAA clone the sights are terrible.

If you are shooting CAS with the gun and want to look traditional then the Uberti is your gun.
 
I have an Italian made replica of the 1873 Colt, and a Super Blackhawk. Owned a couple of other Rugers, as well. The Ruger rules for function, the 1873 replica for look and feel...so get both!

BTW, I had a late model Colt SAA, and it shot very very poorly, but that's only a sample of one, FWIW. I'm sure the rest are better because they certainly couldn't be worse (and I doubt as bad.)
 
Sappyg2.0 said:
Blackhawk.
A plain and simple gun. Easy to maintain.

Why not look at that new model vaquero?
Click to expand...

I just snapped up a used Vaquero (not the new model) in 45 Colt from another forum. I love the Vaqueros.

I agree with others that say you can most definitely hunt with the Colt clones. I have Cimarron Piettas (gorgeous revolvers) and Ubertis. Those deer and pigs have no idea they have just been killed by a fixed sighted revolver. :D
 
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Master Blaster said:
Do you plan to use the sights to aim? Would you like to hit things at 25 or even 50 yards? Do you plan to load different power levels and want to adjust the sights for those loads?
Then the answer is clear the blackhawk has good adjustable sights. The SAA clone the sights are terrible.

If you are shooting CAS with the gun and want to look traditional then the Uberti is your gun.
Click to expand...

If you're talking about the old style fixed sights such as those found on 1st Generation Colt's and Cimarron Model P's, the tiny rear V and the tapered front sight, you'd be correct, they're a little difficult to use, but certainly not impossible.

However, most Uberti's have the rear notch that is a generous .125" (1/8") in width and the front sight that is .10" in width. These two make for a very decent sight picture, especially when a little smoke from a lighter or some flat black paint is applied to the sights.

Different power level loads, within reason, don't have enough difference in POI out to 50 yds. to matter much, and certainly not at 25 yds. When I acquire a new revolver I typically work up an accurate hunting load running 1000 +/- fps and regulate the sights so that load strikes a couple of inches high at 50 yds. Then I find a good practice/small game load running 775-800. The 200 fps difference amounts to very little difference out to 50 yds. and I can usually aim at the top of my 12" 75 yd. gong with the lighter load and ring it with boring monotony. I can't imagine twiddling with sights just because I changed loads, what a pain.

The beauty of fixed sights, at least to my way of thinking, is there are no teeny screws, springs and detent balls to come loose, or fragile blades to get knocked off.

Don't sell fixed sights short when it comes to accuracy....

Frisco%2050%20yds%20290%20gr%20SWC-1%20edit_zpsr5tmgiqp.jpg

(Notice the similar POI's of the two loads below which are about 200 fps difference in speed)

Uberti%204.75%20%20RCBS%2044-250%2050%20yds.-text_zpskvvp6ixu.jpg

Uberti%204.75%20%202%20RN%20edited_zpsw9rkxzxq.jpg

Cimarron%20Model%20P-red_zps6yq3fxbi.jpg

Uberti%20Hombre%2075%20yds%20reduced_zpslf9vhmoa.jpg

Sauergroup_zpsbcb506f1.jpg

35W
 
bannockburn said:
I have an older EMF (Armi San Marco), Hartford U.S. Cavalry Model that I picked up many moons ago
Click to expand...
Same here. I bought it directly from EMF back in the 1980's. It compares favorably to my 2nd Generation Colt SAA, when they are placed side by side.

The original one-piece grip on the ASM (numbered to the gun) was undersized. (The metal of the backstrap and trigger guard overhung the wood by about 1/16" - 1/8" all around.) I substituted a one-piece grip from an Uberti Cavalry Model, which was a perfect fit other than a slight difference in angle at the very bottom of the butt. (The inspector's cartouche on the Uberti grip is laser-cut instead of stamped like on the ASM.)

The ASM uses a flat hand spring, like the Colt. Its only concession to modernity was a "Swiss safety" cylinder pin, with the two notches. I changed it out for an Uberti "no safety" cylinder pin (one notch), which fit perfectly.
 
35 Whelen

Some mighty fine lookin' (and accurate too), shootin' irons you've got there sir! Especially like the Uberti Frisco model!
 
Panzerschwein said:
Gang I've decided on the Blackhawk.

Specifically, the 5 1/2" model in .45 Colt's and .45 Automatic Colt's Pistol, a convertible model.

Leather already being made and I plan to get some stags for it. Thanks, all!
Click to expand...

Excellent choice. Probably the gun I most regret getting rid of was an early Ruger Blackhawk 4 5/8", 45 Colt/45ACP convertible. That revolver was superbly accurate with 45 ACP match ammo. A 5 shot, but I would have never converted it.
 
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