Buying first Colt SAA (clone) - Cimarron vs Taylor's & Co

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mpofficer31a

mpofficer31a

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Hello All,

I've lurked here for a few years, but I just joined and this is my first post. I'm ready to buy a SAA clone (in .45 LC) and I'm looking for opinions on Cimarron vs Taylor's & Co. I believe both are made by Uberti and Pedersoli, but I'm not sure.

I'm looking for something fun to shoot and not something I would carry regularly, but I also want something that works regularly/repeatedly. I'm not looking for a real antique or a high value piece of history.

I've built, worked on many, many ARs and semi-auto pistols, but I know extremely little about revolvers, just that I want to get a fun to shoot single action revolver.

I'll reload most of the rounds I'll be shooting, and I don't plan to get crazy making +P+ rounds; just standard 45 LC loads are planned.

Given the available Colt SAA clones available, which are the best value? Cimarron, Taylor's or other brand?

Please give me your opinions / experience.

Thanks in advance!
 
The main manufacturers are Ubertii and Pietta. There are several importers that carry both.

Uberti introduced a new passive safety system a few months ago that they call the Cattleman 2. It retains a hammer mounted firing pin for a “Classic” look but the pin does not protude far enough to contact the primer unless the trigger is held all the way back as the gun is fired. Some mistakenly call this a “floating” firing pin. It’s retractable not floating.

Uberti deleted the so called “safety notch” from the hammer on this system. For this reason some people call it a “Three Click” revolver (the Colt style lockwork has four clicks).

Some shooters are unaware that a Colt style single action revolver should not be carried with a live round under the hammer. Ruger spent a lot of money to develop the New Model Single Action revolvers with their transfer bar ignition system. In my opinion Ruger has the very best design for a single action revolver if you want one that can be fully loaded and carried.

Reports on Uberti’s system are mixed. I know two local cowboy action shooters who experienced light strikes. Reportedly they can be fixed.

I’d recommend a “traditional” Pietta revolver (they make some models with a transfer bar). They retain a Colt style lockwork (keep an empty chamber under the hammer) and some features that I like better than Uberti’s models. They tend to be pretty slick out of the box and are often less expensive than a comparable Uberti.

EMF sells then as the Great Western 2. I like their Deluxe Californian best. You can also get them from Cimarron as the “Frontier” line.
 
Crunchy Frog said:
Ruger spent a lot of money to develop the New Model Single Action revolvers with their transfer bar ignition system. In my opinion Ruger has the very best design for a single action revolver if you want one that can be fully loaded and carried..
Click to expand...

Was Charter Arms the first one to put transfer bar safety?
 
My experience is with a sample of one. A Taylor’s Runnin Iron, made by Uberti. It hits to point of aim with 250 grain LSWC, I load 8.5 grains of Unique. The only thing, is the screws do back out sometimes. Blue locktite ended that trouble. I’ve read that is common on single actions.
 
The new Ruger Vaqueros feel and look more like the Colt SAA than the older models which were bigger, heavier & sturdier. For strength, reliability & ability to carry 6 rounds the Ruger is in my opinion the best option especially if you think you may want to shoot hotter 45 LC loads. I know a lot of CASS shooters that shoot Italian made clones & they are fine guns but the Ruger is a stronger, more modern design that basically feels and shoots like the original Colt SAA without costing a small fortune.
 
Same. I have had clones and Rugers. The Blackhawks are easier to shoot, due to the larger adjustable sights.
 
Since Uberti changed to the retractable firing pin , I would try to find a Pietta with the 4 click hammer , it will be a closer clone of the Colt . If I couldn’t find one I would get the Ruger Vaquero . I have a Taylor’s Uberti Smoke Wagon Deluxe , before the change .
 
Pietta is a closer clone. It has the 4 clicks. These are imported so must have a safety. It is on the cylinder base pin. They are made with a extra notch and are a touch longer. You can replace it or modify it easily with a stock one.
 
I have three single action revolvers that are Colt SAA-like in their configuration: a Beretta Stampede (an older Uberti design), a Armi San Marco Hartford Model (a much closer copy of the Colt SAA), and a Ruger Vaquero (the older, larger version). All are chambered for the .45 Colt cartridge and all are very well made. I also have several Pietta made black powder revolvers which are also very well constructed with a high level of fit and finish. For a close to authetic copy of the Colt I would have to go with the ASM U.S. Cavalry model. For a nicely designed and quality finish then the Beretta would be my choice. The Ruger is probably the strongest of the three being built on a slightly larger frame and is a pure delight to shoot. Balance and handling is first rate with all of them.
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I have a few SAAs from various vendors.

EMF New Dakota by Army San Marco in .45 Colt. Traditional 4 clicks, cylinder pin safety
upload_2020-9-19_7-53-59.png

Cimarron Thunderball 8 by Pietta in .45 Colt. Traditional 4 clicks, cylinder pin safety
upload_2020-9-19_7-57-54.png

Taylor's Engraved Cattleman by Uberti in .45 Colt. Traditional 4 clicks, cylinder pin safety as well as old style hammer safety.
upload_2020-9-19_8-6-42.png

Uberti Cattleman (imported by Stoeger) in .357 Mag. Traditional 4 clicks, cylinder pin safety as well as old style hammer safety.
upload_2020-9-19_8-10-21.png

Ruger Vaquero Large Frame in .45 Colt. Ruger transfer bar safety, 2 clicks, opening loading gate unlocks cylinder.
upload_2020-9-19_8-44-45.png

Ruger Single-Ten in .22LR. The latest take on the Single-Six, functions just like the big boy above.
upload_2020-9-19_8-45-19.png
 
Thanks. The engraving is really nice. I was originally apprehensive about it since it's photo engraved, but the hand chasing does the trick. It truly looks hand made, and has very nice depth. I highly recommend it if you're looking for an engraved gun, but don't want to spend $2000+ for similar coverage hand engraving. The only thing I wish is that they also offered it on a color case /blued model.
 
Crunchy Frog said:
The main manufacturers are Ubertii and Pietta. There are several importers that carry both.

Uberti introduced a new passive safety system a few months ago that they call the Cattleman 2. It retains a hammer mounted firing pin for a “Classic” look but the pin does not protude far enough to contact the primer unless the trigger is held all the way back as the gun is fired. Some mistakenly call this a “floating” firing pin. It’s retractable not floating.

Uberti deleted the so called “safety notch” from the hammer on this system. For this reason some people call it a “Three Click” revolver (the Colt style lockwork has four clicks).

Some shooters are unaware that a Colt style single action revolver should not be carried with a live round under the hammer. Ruger spent a lot of money to develop the New Model Single Action revolvers with their transfer bar ignition system. In my opinion Ruger has the very best design for a single action revolver if you want one that can be fully loaded and carried.

Reports on Uberti’s system are mixed. I know two local cowboy action shooters who experienced light strikes. Reportedly they can be fixed.

I’d recommend a “traditional” Pietta revolver (they make some models with a transfer bar). They retain a Colt style lockwork (keep an empty chamber under the hammer) and some features that I like better than Uberti’s models. They tend to be pretty slick out of the box and are often less expensive than a comparable Uberti.

EMF sells then as the Great Western 2. I like their Deluxe Californian best. You can also get them from Cimarron as the “Frontier” line.
Click to expand...
As for now if you buy the Old Model P from Cimarron it still has the 4 click Colt action. That is my suggestion.
 
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The Old Model P from Cimarron still has the 4 click Colt style action. How long they will still be able to get them that way from Uberti is unknown.
 
Dudemeister
The engraving is really nice. I was originally apprehensive about it since it's photo engraved, but the hand chasing does the trick. It truly looks hand made, and has very nice depth. I highly recommend it if you're looking for an engraved gun, but don't want to spend $2000+ for similar coverage hand engraving. The only thing I wish is that they also offered it on a color case /blued model.
Click to expand...

I sort of went the same route last year when my wife asked me what I wanted for Christmas. I was looking at a couple of different black powder revolvers from EMF when I came across an engraved Pietta Remington NMA. Didn't hurt matters either that it was on sale at the time and that she was able to get me a conversion cylinder for it too! Nothing all that fancy with the engraving; guess I just liked the way it set the gun apart from all the other typically blued Remingtons out there. The faux ivory grips were a nice touch!
mmLIwSi.jpg
 
If you buy one you will buy more. Bad addiction but better than many others.

Taylors and Cimarron import Uberti, Pietta and Pedersoli. Uberti is owned by Beretta. EMF is owned by Pietta and imports exclusively their products.
Several models sold by all three importers are similar but not exact. Some are close to exact just different names and grips.
Ruger is a different animal all together. All are fun to shoot. One just won't do.

Cimarron 1872 Open Top.jpg DSCN3781.JPG DSCN3797.JPG 20191221_161727.jpg 20200519_165607.jpg Taylor's Cattleman.jpg 20190819_124524.jpg 20200112_091919.jpg 20200112_091919.jpg

Just realized I don't have pictures for 1875 Outlaw, Man With No Name, and another 1873 SAA.
Waiting on an 1860 Conversion to ship.
 
Dudemeister said:
I have a few SAAs from various vendors.
Click to expand...

Caution: Nit Picking Warning.

Single Action Army, as well as SAA are registered trademarks of the Colt company.

Colt will sue the pants off any company that infringes on their trademark. They did it years ago with ASM.

So what you have there are Replicas of the SAA. Sometimes called Colt Clones.

Whether a Ruger is a replica of the SAA is up for debate. Since they bear a strong physical resemblance to a SAA on the outside, some think they are replicas of the SAA.

Others think that because the internal mechanism is radically different than a Colt, they are not replicas of the SAA.

You can probably guess where I stand on that.

Anyway, Nit Picking Warning Over.
 
...and considering this entire thread is about Taylor's and Cimarron single actions, you decided to nit pick on my post because ...?
 
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