DA/SA Modern Revolver...The choice for the modern cowboy?

[MCgunner]

I knew a Ranger. He carries a Sig. The guy's a pretty tough hombre, though. Mess with him at your peril. It ain't all legend. Thing about a Ranger, though, the few I've met, they are very professional. They are the best of the best.

 

[Arcticfox]

Yes, and that reason is that the Colt SAA performed better in the testing the Ordnance Department did, and was considered simpler (it had fewer parts) and more robust. Both are single action however

Daniel! You are a lady, and an Aussie! How do you know so much about the US cavalry?

 

[461]

Most Cowboys I've seen in the last several years have ridden quads instead of horses and usually had a lever or bolt gun over the bars and usually no sidearm. I'm no Cowboy and will never be one but I think any good, serviceable handgun of .357 or better would be plenty suitable.

Right now I'm all about my new 4" Redhawk but my 4" GP-100 is still my favorite DA.

 

[Dienekes]

Not really qualified as I made my living elsewhere doing something else (which involved wearing a good pistol anytime I had my pants on). But do live out in the sagebrush and up until a year ago we had horses--and the 30 years prior. We didn't shoot off horses (much) either. Not a good idea as those rocks really hurt.

However I found that a Ruger Security Six 4" in a good Sparks or GI flap holster has travelled well on horseback, ATV, and Piper Cubs. A 1911 in a GI holster or belt slide is fine, too. SAs are more "period" but I prefer the above two.

If I needed a heavier pistol I would use a bobbed OM Ruger flat top .44, but it mostly gathers dust.

 

[Rexster]

Texas Rangers do tend to pack their 1911 pistols in really nice custom leather. They are issued a SIG P226 chambered in .357 SIG, as are other Texas Department of Public Safety peace officers such state troopers, but the Rangers have some latitude in what they can carry, and most I meet like the 1911; it seems to be their tradition. The state standards for all Texas peace officers require that a qual course be fired at least once a year with all weapons used for law enforcement purposes, so Rangers qual with their SIGs, and also with all the other fun things they carry.