1873 SAA which caliber would you guys get ?

[candymancan]

So i want to get a Uberti cattleman 2 1873 5.5 inch, but im not sure which caliber i should get. I dont hunt or anything like that. I might occassionally wear it for self defense just because. But itll just mainly be another gun in my collection to shoot at the range with.. They have 2 options im looking at.. 357 or 45lc.

Im sure either would be fine, but looking at the ammo cost, 45lc seems to come in mainly boxes of 20 which is silly, and its 1.50$ a round on ammo seek, vs boxes of 50 for 357 at .80 cents a round..

Thats a big difference in ammo costs. But all i can ever find are the 45LC,357 i havent seen in 8 months that ive been looking.

 

[Jimster]

.45 and load your own with black powder.

 

[candymancan]

Thats what i was just thinking, because i have two 1851 navy, and already have tons of black powder. I just need a loading station to load the bullets. I could probly cast my own lead shots too

 

[Jimster]

Now you’re getting into the groove! Best decision ever!

 

[candymancan]

Curious how many grains of bp do 45 lc usually take ?

 

[Jimster]

As much as will fit in the case and still be able to seat the bullet to the proper depth.

 

[candymancan]

lol ok

 

[ontarget]

I have Ubertis in 45 Colt and 357 Mag.
You can't go wrong either way, but the 357 will definitely be cheaper if you shoot factory ammo. I reload for both so it's a wash for me.
I still haven't tried the BP loads in the 45, but I will sooner or later.
OP, @Jimster was serious, you don't ever want any air gap in your BP load, you know that from loading your percussion revolvers.

 

[Rexster]

Some time in the late Nineties, I decided upon .45 Colt, when I bought my first single-action revolver. I cannot remember all of the reasons, but I was already familiar with .357 Magnum, in my several Ruger and S&W DA revolvers. I believe that I wished for less sound and fury, than the .357 Magnum.

 

[jeff-10]

I originally had my eye on a Uberti Cattleman in 45 Colt. It had the polished blue finish and faux ivory grips. Instead I went with a Taylor Smokewagon 357. Which is basically the same gun imported by Taylor. Couldn't be more happy. Realistically the gun just handles really well with 38 Special.

 

[jaguarxk120]

You will want to load 35 grains of FFFG and the Lyman 454190 bullet or the 454424 bullet.

 

[Chevelle SS]

I have SAAs in 45 Colt, 44-40, and 357 Magnum. I'd recommend 357 Magnum if this is your first; lower cost and more availability.

 

[Pat Riot]

As much as I love .45 Colt in a Single Action I would recommend the .357 if you don’t hand load your own ammo. .38 Special and .357 can be found cheaper than .45 Colt and in more variety.

 

[Jimster]

I say that now is the time to begin your reloading hobby. .45 Colt is an excellent round to learn on. After you get your feet wet in reloading you won’t have to select your next firearm based on what cheap ammo is available. Don’t ever limit yourself. Life is too short.

 

[.38 Special]

Thats what i was just thinking, because i have two 1851 navy, and already have tons of black powder. I just need a loading station to load the bullets. I could probly cast my own lead shots too

If you don't mind being "limited" to BP and whatever factory smokeless loads you can find/afford, this actually is a very good plan. A generation or two ago it was often recommended that the way to learn handloading was with blackpowder, as it's impossible to create an overload. There are a few tricks to loading metallic cartridges with black, but they are not secrets and can be explained in a few paragraphs. And the loads themselves can be at least as accurate and powerful as smokeless. The only downside is the cleanup, with which you already are familiar - and once you have the tools and experience to load black, deciding to load smokeless involves nothing more than the purchase of powder and a scale.

If you have the least inclination to learn handloading, I would buy the .45 and the few tools and bits you will need to start loading for it.

 

[.38 Special]

There's even a fellow here on THR trying to sell .45 Colt dies. The gods obviously have spoken.

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/wts-45lc-and-44mag-dies-sets-ohio.894341/

 

[Roverguy]

44-40 and load black powder. The case is better than modern 45LC brass for mitigating blow back, though the thinner case mouth brass does require a little more finesse in loading, and the 44-40 is a mighty powerful round.

 

[NeroM]

Curious how many grains of bp do 45 lc usually take ?

Black Powder = with 255 yr SWC lubed with SPG (or other BP lube)- I use 32 gr FFFG and a 0.06 fiber wad. Slightly more or less BP is ok, 32 has been a good spot for my shooting. Also, many use
FFG, Triple F has been more consistent for me.

 

[Cowhide Cliff]

Curious how many grains of bp do 45 lc usually take ?

About 36 in modern solid head casings if you fill to about 1/8 inch from the top.

The most fun with black powder is to use Schofield brass and about 28 grains of powder with a 200 grain bullet. Plenty of fire and smoke with less recoil and not using up as much powder.

My go to load for cowboy action is Schofield brass and 28 grains of 2f under a 200 grain JP45 big lube bullet.

 

[RealGun]

Uberti has added some features that purists and those who run guns hard in CAS definitely do not like. In looking for a mate to my older Uberti El Patron, one with 4 clicks and no added safety business, I went to what seemed like the last Pietta GWII in 45 Colt on the planet, post COVID-19 shortages. It lacks the finish and sweet trigger of the El Patron, but in competition I don't even notice. It is probably about the same grade fit and finish as Uberti's Cattleman.

 

[Steve S.]

You can purchase any SAA caliber as you wish but I can guarantee you that you will always want a .45 Colt - it is the quintessential SAA caliber - you might as well scratch that itch from the get-go and reload.

 

[Tallball]

If you don't reload, 357. In normal times 38 special is the cheapest and most plentiful centerfire revolver ammo. I've shot mostly 38's through mine.

If you do reload, whichever trips your trigger. I would be a very sad Tallball if I could only have one or the other. The 45 is a big boomy shooter. 357's have some snap to them and go crack when they break the sound barrier.

 

[RealGun]

While 1873s were 44-40 black powder, mating ammo with rifles, the later 45 Colt is much more authentic than 357 Magnum. I shoot a pair of them in SASS using Trailboss and 200 grain bullets. You can shoot real deal 357 in one of these guns because of thicker steel around it but not "+p" or "Ruger only" loads of 45 Colt, although max SAAMI spec loads are a hand full, if you like testing the edge.

 

[Llew Taranau]

.45LC.

 

[Cowhide Cliff]

Uberti has added some features that purists and those who run guns hard in CAS definitely do not like. In looking for a mate to my older Uberti El Patron, one with 4 clicks and no added safety business, I went to what seemed like the last Pietta GWII in 45 Colt on the planet, post COVID-19 shortages. It lacks the finish and sweet trigger of the El Patron, but in competition I don't even notice. It is probably about the same grade fit and finish as Uberti's Cattleman.

True purest have not been affected by this because a true purest will be wanting a BP style frame and Cimarron still offers the BP old model frame with the traditional Colt style 4 click action.