Good Colt SAA Clones

[Cougfan2]

I've always wanted a Colt SAA in 45LC, but don't have the scratch to buy an original. What are some good SAA clones. I know about the Ruger Vaquero's, but what about some of the others like Uberti or Cimarron.

Maybe some of you Cowboy Action types coule chime in.

 

[News Shooter]

You can't go wrong with a Ruger. Probably 75 percent of all the revolvers used in CAS are Rugers. Cimarron is an importer of Uberti products. Uberti makes tons of gorgeous and affordable guns. Cimarron takes the Ubertis, works on them a little bit and charges a premium for them. You can't go wrong there either.

There are other clones made by Beretta and EMF, but they are more money. There's also the Taurus Gaucho, but it isn't widely used. With Ruger you get a great product and good customer service. Remember there are two Vaqueros. There is the New RV which is more closely a copy of the Colt and the original Vaquero which is a super-beefed up thunder stick that can take hot loads.

I love single actions and have been shooting Cowboy for ten years. I can't afford a real Colt either

 

[Cougfan2]

Just checked out the Ruger web site and my jaw dropped when I saw this!

www.ruger-firearms.com/Firearms/FAProdView?model=5121&return=Y

I would never shoot it, but WOW!

 

[News Shooter]

Yep, I was fondling one the other day. But for that price for another couple hundred you can get a Colt

 

[cpirtle]

I shoot the Old Model Vaquero's with Birdshead grips in CAS and they are rock solid.

How much of a "clone" are you looking for? If you are looking for a true clone of the SAA from a purist aspect the Ruger is not the gun as they are fairly modernized. The new model is closer but still not a clone.

Many wil disagree with me but I had great luck with my Taurus Gaucho. Very close to being a clone basically with the exception of a transfer bar safety.

 

[BobCat]

No personal experience here, but a number of people I know praise the Uberti SAA clone sold by Cabelas. It is about $300 and available in .45 Colt only.

Try http://www.cabelas.com/ and drill down to Cowboy Action and thence to firearms.

 

[Hawk]

Just checked out the Ruger web site and my jaw dropped when I saw this!

I got one of those. It's machine engraving but still nice. My dealer was evidently unaware some on gunbroker were charging MSRP and had a sticker in the 900s on it.

The trigger has more creep than the Uberti but isn't bad - probably the transfer bar. I've put a couple hundred rounds through it and expect the gold-ish signature on the top won't be long for this world. I don't personally buy guns that won't get shot - the Duke would've considered a safe queen a travesty, IMHO.

I remain bemused by comments that "for that amount of money you could get a Colt". To each their own but I intend to shoot mine and would generally prefer alternatives for that purpose even if priced at or over the Colt tariff. If my intent was to bury it in a safe next to a mutual fund certificate, the Colt would be the runaway winner but I'm not particularly interested in that aspect of the hobby. I would guess that few people buy Turnbull USFAs to save money over a Colt.

 

[Cougfan2]

How much of a "clone" are you looking for?

I really would like one as close to the original SAA Colt as I can get. I'll check out the Gaucho. Thanks, Cpirtl!

 

[nalioth]

No personal experience here, but a number of people I know praise the Uberti SAA clone sold by Cabelas. It is about $300 and available in .45 Colt only.

Try http://www.cabelas.com/ and drill down to Cowboy Action and thence to firearms.

Yep, the Uberti Cattleman. Very inexpensive, very offensive to "purists"(it's not color case hardened or polished blue and shiny), but shoots just fine and dandy.

 

[Cougfan2]

Cpirtl, I checked out the Taurus web site and it appears the Gaucho only comes in 38/357, or am I missing something? I'm interested in .45LC.

 

[Jim March]

The Gaucho, Beretta Stampede/Stampede Marshall and Ruger New Vaquero are all "close size/feel clones of the SAA but with transfer bars".

Of the three the NewVaq is the least authentic because you reload with the hammer fully down - just open the loading gate and go. The Beretta and Taurus load on the half-cock. The Ruger system is arguably "better" in that there's less steps and it's fractionally safer because the hammer is DOWN fully during the reload.

In the New Vaq and 50th Anniversary 357 Blackhawk, Ruger fixed the problem with the Old Vaq (and other New Model large-frame SAs) where the cylinder bores didn't line up with the loading gate on each "click".

The worst thing about the New Vaq is the fake-color-case. Ruger's newest chemical process (introduced somewhere in the Old Vaq era) at least no longer *attracts* rust. But on my gun, while it's not rusting it is wearing to a plain gray versus mottled on places my finger rests along the right lower frame. It's not "bad", I just don't like fake anything. There's been a distributor run of all-blue with white micarta grips that looks sharp and Ruger didn't DARE desecrate the Wayne gun with fake-case. Or there's stainless, or worst case the fake-case can be refinished later.

There have been quality control issues reported on the forums on the Gaucho. Enough so that I wouldn't buy one. The Beretta is not getting negatives so if you need that half-cock, go there.

 

[cpirtle]

Nope, they make it in 45 colt, never speant much time on their web page though.

Here's one

I have no affiliation with that guy, just did a quick search on Gunbroker and it turned up a ton of them.

 

[Jim March]

One note: despite issues with the finish, I am *very* pleased with my NewVaq in 357. It's a truly sweet gun. Even sweeter now with a SuperBlackHawk hammer, spring kit and improved sights . The Rugers are supremely compatible with aftermarket and home gunsmithing .

 

[cpirtle]

Jim, Beretta's finish is fake too, it also only has a half cock - no additional clickin'

I started CAS with a Beretta, Taurus and an old model Ruger BH, of the three the Beretta was my least favorite, but still an excellent gun.

I know there are negative reports on the Gaucho, I just never had any problems.

FWIW, I'm a huge Beretta fan and not-so-huge Taurus fan so my suggestion goes against the grain of what I'd normally say.

 

[Z_Infidel]

You might want to look at United States Firearms also. They make some very nice guns, and their Rodeo model carries a pretty attractive price. USFA's guns are supposedly very similar to the original Colts, so no transfer bar.

www.usfirearms.com

 

[Hawk]

What we need is a Turnbull Ruger:

The shop that sold me my Uberti is trying to sell that thing. Please forgive the chastity belt - he sells a fair number of Colt SAAs and wire-tieing hammers is an unfortunate habit he's gotten into.

 

[Cougfan2]

Thanks to all for you input. This gives me lots of options to think about. Think I'll hit the big gun show in Puyallup, WA on Oct 13/14. There are bound to be some there.

 

[tinygnat219]

I really would like one as close to the original SAA Colt as I can get.

+10 for Z-infidel, he beat me to it. USFA is the one you want. These guys are doing what Colt should have been doing. They are even doing the manufacturing in an old Colt building.

www.usfirearms.com

Gauchos are...ok. I own two in .357 stainless, with 4 3/4 and 5 1/2 inch barrles. If I had thought it through, I would have bought Rugers. The Gauchos have the looks and feel of the original SAAs, but they have the Taurus tendency to develop "quirks". One of mine has developed light primer strikes using a particular ammo (Georgia Arms .38 SPL), and the other has developed a bit of trigger slap when using anything but .357 Magnum.

Get the Rugers for value for the money, get the USFAs for as close to the original as you can get. These guys out-Colt Colt.

 

[Hawk]

I really didn't need to stumble across this.

Turnbull Rugers
John Wayne Rugers

What's next?
John Wayne USFA?

http://www.usfirearms.com/cat/john_wayne.asp

MMmmm, Yummy.