I'm going to buy a single action revolver.

Status
Not open for further replies.
CoalTrain49

CoalTrain49

Member
Joined
Jan 10, 2014
Messages
5,175
Location
Somewhere in WA.
I just don't know which one so maybe the SA revolver connoisseur's can help me decide.

I have a bunch of S&W's in J, K and N frames already. The only SA revolver I ever owned was a 5" Ruger Blackhawk about 50 years ago that I really liked but I sold it. Probably nobody has ever done that. :D

I have about $2000 saved up to buy this revolver. Here's what I'm looking for.

44 Special or Mag. I can load both but would probably only load the mag to around 1000 fps. I shot a friends Anaconda so not going there with 1450 fps mag loads. The recoil isn't something I want to deal with. I'm an old guy and I did all the mag stuff a long time ago.

SAA style frame

Adj. sights preferred but I like the look of the cowboy guns like the SAA Colts also.

I don't need a Colt revolver to experiment with 44 but I'm not ruling those out. I have a few Colt 1911's and I shoot 45 ACP more than anything else. I like the cartridge enough that I bought a S&W 625.

Not interested in 45 Colt as I already have lots of brass and dies for 44.

Freedom Arms 97 is probably a little above my top so right now they aren't something I'm considering.

I'm going to shoot this revolver a lot. I'm not buying it for resale or to impress my bros at the range.

What would you buy for 2K?
 
I vote for Ruger SBH too. Since you have a 2k budget, If you like stainless. Get one in stainless. If you don't mind DA/SA. I suggest a SW 29. The felt recoil is less. My neighbor has a 29. He lets me take it out. And mild to hot loads are more enjoyable.
 
https://lipseysguns.com/ruger-bisley-flattop-44-special-revolver/

A Bisley flattop .44 Spl. would be an awesome addition to anyones set of guns. They’re sturdy enough to handle the “Skeeter loads” of a 250 gr SWC over 7.5 gr Unique while being portable enough to carry on the hip all day while hiking in the woods or working the field (for the farm or ranch types).

I wasn’t able to find a Bisley when I was in the market, so mine is the standard frame 5.5” version. With just about every load I try I’ve found that it’s amazingly accurate and fun to shoot. :thumbup:

88D0715B-8221-430D-8818-D7E1C9D2A268.jpeg

Good luck with your search. :thumbup:

Stay safe.
 
True, the Ruger offerings top notch.
I personally don't care for the "built like a tank" feel.
I like the SAA clone size and weight better.
I believe Cimmaron offers an adjustable sight 44 mag that might fit your needs.

Other than brass and dies, is there another reason you don't want a 45?
The 45 Colt and the 44 Spl are pretty close in ballistics I believe.
 
If you want adjustable sights then that kind of limits your selection to Blackhawks, which are great revolvers. For $2000 you could get a nice Ruger and get yourself some nice leather and still have plenty left over for other things.
 
Adjustable sights - Super Blackhawk
Fixed sights - Vaquero, but your barrel lengths are limited in 44 Mag.
 
544A98BC-3E18-464A-9DC2-8E08673F84C3.jpeg C39458D4-DB9F-4345-AFF5-C079860BA056.jpeg D5C26766-D274-47EF-8555-84D2AAFF46C9.jpeg 63250019-DCC1-4C5B-954B-9358ED7B1F3B.jpeg 9C07079F-F349-4D0E-8B6F-653DC8C43D40.jpeg AFC48642-485D-4135-8228-3AECB1B05583.jpeg 3FA55C72-D41B-4B28-871A-C3C6EF46D824.jpeg I really enjoy my .44 spl flattop Blackhawk. I mounted a Bisley hammer and Bisley trigger, but the hammer pinched the web if my hand. I love the Bisley trigger though.

I prefer a XR3-RED alloy grip frame which lightened the gun and made it much handier. Here are pics which show both the blued steel grip frame and the alloy frame which I modified the grip frame shape and thinned the wood grip. One picture shows how much I removed compared to an unmodified XR3-RED grip frame. I really like this gun.
 
Last edited:
I'm not a big fan of Single Action Army style revolvers but I do have Ruger Blackhawks in 45 Colt, 44 Special, 357 Mag/9mm Convertible, 327 Fed Mag Single Seven and a 22 RF Convertible Single Six.

I like having them and it gives me a connection along with my lever action rifles to the "old wild west".

Ruger revolvers are well built and reliable. You cannot go wrong with them. They can be obtained with adjustable sights, which all of mine have.

I prefer rubber grips and not all Blackhawk grip frames will accept the available rubber grips on the market. Otherwise, the trigger gaurd wraps my fingers. There are ways to grip then revolver that eliminate his issue but I have not tried it yet (let your pinky wrap around the base of the grip).

I cannot comment on the foreign made singkle action revolvers as I have not tried them. I'd like to have a Colt SAA but backlogs are longer than I care to worry about so I don't try to obtain one.
 
index.php

Same advice from me. Get a ruger 44spl flattop.
I love mine
 
CoalTrain49 said:
...I have a bunch of S&W's in J, K and N frames already. The only SA revolver I ever owned was a 5" Ruger Blackhawk about 50 years ago that I really liked but I sold it. Probably nobody has ever done that.

I have about $2000 saved up to buy this revolver. Here's what I'm looking for. 044 Special...Freedom Arms 97 is probably a little above my top so right now they aren't something I'm considering. I'm going to shoot this revolver a lot. I'm not buying it for resale or to impress my bros at the range.

What would you buy for 2K?
Click to expand...
If I am in you shoes, I will look into storage, pick few revolvers I don't use, sell them, plus $2000 already saved, purchase FA 97, and never look back.
 
A bisley super blackhawk or super blackhawk hunter model would be good. I have a plow handle 7.5" and i put hogue rubber on it, the wood hurt.
 
My Ruger Super Blackhawk is my favorite handgun.

$2,000 is plenty to buy a Super Blackhawk with nice big adjustable sights AND a nice Italian SAA model with fixed sights.

Why choose when you can have both?
 
Tallball said:
My Ruger Super Blackhawk is my favorite handgun.

$2,000 is plenty to buy a Super Blackhawk with nice big adjustable sights AND a nice Italian SAA model with fixed sights.

Why choose when you can have both?
Click to expand...

Sounds good to me. I did that only it was many years between purchases. I bought the SBH back in the '70's and recently purchased a Taylor & Company 44 mag.
 
CoalTrain49

New-A Ruger Flattop Blackhawk in .44 Special would be my first choice.
blp3fF0.jpg

Used-An original Ruger Vaquero in .44 Magnum would be my first choice (my original Vaquero pictured here is in .45 Colt but it would look the same as a .44 Magnum model).
KMDK8FD.jpg

The original Ruger Vaqueros in .44 Magnum were available with a blued finish or in stainless steel. Barrel lengths were: 4.62", 5.5", and 7.5".

There are also two newer Talo exclusive models in stainless with 3.75" barrels; with one having a birdshead grip and the other having a plow handle grip.
 
I salute your choice of a .44 Special. If you don’t need the ability to shoot .44 Magnum you can get a revolver in a well proportioned size.

A Colt 1873 pattern revolver will hit all of the nostalgia points but not every importer has .44 Special. Cimarron was once about the only source of .44 Special Uberti firearms. I prefer the Pietta revolvers but I’m not sure they make a .44 Special. Try Cimarron; the sell Pietta as their “Frontier” line. Try Taylor’s and Company, too.

Ruger is a good choice and offers a .44 Special in its New Model Flattop Blackhawk as noted above. Excellent choice but of course it has adjustable sights.

Ruger made a limited run of the fixed sight New Vaquero in .44 Special some years ago. They are not common but as it happens a friend of mine has one for sale or trade. If that would suit you send me a PM and I will inquire.

The advantage of the Ruger is that “under the hood” it’s a modern revolver with a proven transfer bar ignition.
 
75307CB1-1CF6-4F05-B98F-6E4C7BD7C018.jpeg 19F782FE-6394-42D4-9537-24FD9258A801.jpeg 784D7F09-065E-49DE-BC59-E473440A4733.jpeg DB6765C0-0B79-4010-908F-428880DECD58.jpeg I know I posted before, but I cleaned up my alloy frame and mounted it again with an alloy ejection rod housing. There is 6 oz difference between the alloy and steel parts. Makes a big difference in the feel and balance. I modified a set of Altamont Santos Rosewood grips to fit the frame.

This Flattop 44spl is one of my favorite handguns.
 
Hahaha I didn’t realize how many of us had 44 spl flattops. I’m glad to see they are well loved.
 
I had a Ruger Vaquero Bisley in 44 mag that I regret trading away for a trap shotgun. I strongly preferred the Bisley grip. I usually shot 44 special in it, but would usually pop off 10-12 magnums every time I took it out. Just my opinion, but I don’t like the looks of adjustable sights on a single action revolver. Though I admit, if I was going to hunt with it, I’d probably get adjustable sights, However, I enjoy the fixed sights for a little more challenge when plinking, etc. The Bisley was pretty well regulated, and was right on for me at 25 yards. I just bought a Uberti El Patron 357 mag to scratch that itch, but I haven’t had it out yet. It promises to be a bit less expensive to shoot , so there is that.
 
Thanks for the replies. I'll have to look at FA 97 again. I can always sell my 625-8 and to cover the cost. I shoot it a lot but a 44 Spl could easily replace it.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

W
  • Locked
Single action .45's!
Replies
6
Views
743
Jim March
J
E
  • Locked
Going to pick up a single action in .45 Colt
Replies
15
Views
878
Jim March
J
N
  • Locked
Colt Revolvers?
2
Replies
38
Views
3K
thatguy
T
F
  • Locked
Redhawk .44 or .454?
2
Replies
30
Views
2K
DammitBoy
D
MCMXI
  • Locked
.45 Colt revolver recommendations ... (maybe even a classic)?
2
Replies
44
Views
3K
jjohnson
J
Back
Top