As some know, I have been lusting after a Colt SAA clone and H*ll bent on getting a Rodeo. I was thinking about waiting for the Ruger New Vaquero, as I like my Blackhawk, but with the alledged teething problems and great rep of the Rodeo, I got the Rodeo. It arrived at my FFL yesterday and I picked it up today and I am NOT dissapointed, Fit and finish look excellent. I got the 4 5/8" barrel and it balances nicely. The four clicks upon pulling back the hammer back is music to my ears. The actiion seems smooth and the trigger pull is fine for this type of gun. I may get some Wolfe springs, but want to shoot it stock first, which will be tomorrow. The matte blue finish is attractive and practical. The black hard rubber grips fit nicely and the cylinders line up at half cock perfectly. There's no horse on it, but for $475 OTD, who cares! I'll post a range report with pics tomorrow.
Finally obtained the USFA Rodeo
- Thread starter Pilot
- Start date
- Status
Standing Wolf
Member in memoriam
Pictures, please. Lots of pictures.
I boought one two years ago and i love it
feels like a colt only better fitting than any made in last ten years.
It is timed perfectly not a mark on the cylinder between bolt cuts.
also hardly a visable defect anywere and it was an even 450 all up.
shoots about 3 inches at 4o yarsdd
feels like a colt only better fitting than any made in last ten years.
It is timed perfectly not a mark on the cylinder between bolt cuts.
also hardly a visable defect anywere and it was an even 450 all up.
shoots about 3 inches at 4o yarsdd
Mine has the Pre-War treatment and requires careful handling. It is perfectly time, accurate from the bench (though I'm not particularly good with the 4/35" barrel) and the chamber/ bore measurements are a perfect .452.
I padded the main spring -leather between spring and frame and put in a Heinie round wire trigger bolt spring. This reduced the trigger pull from 4 pounds to just under 2.
the holster is lined with fake, non-hygroscopic fleece.
I padded the main spring -leather between spring and frame and put in a Heinie round wire trigger bolt spring. This reduced the trigger pull from 4 pounds to just under 2.
the holster is lined with fake, non-hygroscopic fleece.
Last edited:
Mossyrock
Member
I will second what MEC said, and add a bit. I looked at one of the "full dress" USFA SAAs the other day and had the oportunity to compare it to a Rodeo. Basically, they are the same except for the finish. Timing, lock up and trigger pull were superior to the last three Colts I have owned, one of which needed work before it would even shoot! The finish on the full dress USFA was nothing short of flawless! The only thing it need to get ready to go to the dance was a set of aged ivories. Polish, blue and color case was absolutely superb and better than ANY Colt SAA I have seen. Having said all that, the Rodeo, for less than HALF the price of the full dress, is a great example of a working single action. I would take one over any Ruger single action, new model or old, unless that Ruger had been worked over by a master smith like Hamilton Bowen. I suspect that a full dress USFA is in my not to distant future...unless I lose patience and buy a Rodeo instead! 
P.S. Just to let you know how smitten I am by these single actions, other pictures that MEC has taken of this gun are my current computer wall paper. Thanks, Mike!
P.S. Just to let you know how smitten I am by these single actions, other pictures that MEC has taken of this gun are my current computer wall paper. Thanks, Mike!
OK, I just got yelled at by my wife for cleaning my guns in the den. She didn't notice the Rodeo yet, and I may be able to pass it off as my Ruger Blackhawk, but I doubt it, so I'll come clean when we're at the range later. A couple of pics until I can get some better ones and a range report later. Yes that's Jack O'Connor on the cover of the new Midway catalogue, my favorite gun writer.
Mec,
Where'd you get the holster with the special lining? Very nice.
Mec,
Where'd you get the holster with the special lining? Very nice.
Last edited:
Gunsnrovers
Member
Enjoy. I love my Rodeo. Fitted up some nice wood grips and picked up a nice rig for it. Great shooter. I love going to the desert with my Rodeo and Marlin and only one caliber of ammo.
Thanks for the info Mec, guess I'll have to "settle" for something from Old Western Reproductions.
Range Report:
The gun shoots as good as it looks, actually better. I put 50 rounds of Ultramax 200 grain cowboy loads throuhg it today. As soon as I get my reloading gear set up out here, I'll fine tune some loads, but for now its factory stuff. I shot at 15 yards, very informally, not really for groups but to get the feel of the gun. At 15 yards it seems to shoot about 2 inches low with the 200 grain light load. We'll see what happens with different bullet weights and loads. The gun groups well, and I was averaging about 2 inches with a flyer now and then. This was probably me getting used to the pistol as I shoot mainly semi-autos and this is very different from an HK P7, BHP or CZ product. Refreshingly simple, yet classic, and it balances very well with the 4 5/8 barrel. The grips feel thin to me as I'm used to other guns, but I quickly picked up on how this design soaks up recoil. Very easy shooting gun with a very satisfying feel and excellent accruacy for an out of the box SAA clone. Its a keeper and a real joy to shoot and have in my collection.
Range Report:
The gun shoots as good as it looks, actually better. I put 50 rounds of Ultramax 200 grain cowboy loads throuhg it today. As soon as I get my reloading gear set up out here, I'll fine tune some loads, but for now its factory stuff. I shot at 15 yards, very informally, not really for groups but to get the feel of the gun. At 15 yards it seems to shoot about 2 inches low with the 200 grain light load. We'll see what happens with different bullet weights and loads. The gun groups well, and I was averaging about 2 inches with a flyer now and then. This was probably me getting used to the pistol as I shoot mainly semi-autos and this is very different from an HK P7, BHP or CZ product. Refreshingly simple, yet classic, and it balances very well with the 4 5/8 barrel. The grips feel thin to me as I'm used to other guns, but I quickly picked up on how this design soaks up recoil. Very easy shooting gun with a very satisfying feel and excellent accruacy for an out of the box SAA clone. Its a keeper and a real joy to shoot and have in my collection.
Gunsnrovers
Member
My Rodeo with Gunfighter grips and a Old West Reproduction rig.
The rig is first rate.
The rig is first rate.
Bart Noir
Member
I just got one in the 5-1/2 inch length, in the "real" caliber. That's the .45, for you people without a decent sense of history! And I agree with you folks, it is as solid and well made as any SAA I've every handled. The web site tells me that the color case hardened finish on the hammer is now an "option". I asked about a .45 ACP cyclinder and they had 1. Only 1. For $210 and the gun in their hands, they would fit this cylinder. I passed on that.
How are those Gunfighter grips shaped different from the facotry ones?
Bart Noir
How are those Gunfighter grips shaped different from the facotry ones?
Bart Noir
IMHO, the USFA is the ONLY SA that feels like the pre-WWII Colt, and yes, I have owned, handled and fired lots of those old Colts. Even Colt has changed things in the post-war guns, and none of the other makes have things quite right. I like the Cimarron and Ruger guns, but they just don't have the same feel, although the Ruger is the best modern design SA.
Jim
Jim
- Status
