The Freedom Arms model 97 mid-frame in 357 is quite possibly the best overall SA wheelgun ever built. It has about the same heft as the Colt SAA, it's stronger, accuracy is just unreal, the ergonomics are perfection itself.
Prices start at $1,400 but at that, it's a FAR better value than a Colt SAA.
FA's "model 83" series is a HUGE frame originally designed for the 454Casull mega-magnum. Big, clunky, potent as hell...basically a specialized hunting tool. Magnum Research's "BFR" series is another variant on the same concept, and a lower-price source for "factory built handcannons" using a Ruger-compatible action.
Colt's SAA is a good gun, excellent metallurgy compared to most of the Italians, but there's still often some final tuning/action work desired by people who buy them to shoot them.
Colt's "Cowboy" on the other hand is their lower-cost equivelent. Every report describes it as a "turd" or worse. Avoid at all costs.
If what you want is a classic Colt-type with no integral safety (sixgun carried five-up like the old days) and that real Colt SAA feel/heft, the single best value is probably the US Firearms (USFA) guns. You can get them as a fairly plain finish "Rodeo" for about $500, or prettier variants for more money that shoot just like a Rodeo (which is to say, VERY well). They're made in the OLD Colt plant, and are generally considered better guns than the real current-production SAA. Basically, USFA makes just one gun - when they finish it themselves plain, it's a Rodeo, when they ship it unfinished to Turnbull Restorations it ends up looking drop-dead gorgeous - see also:
http://www.gunblast.com/Cumpston_USFA-PreWar.htm and
http://www.gunblast.com/USFA_Rodeo.htm
The various Italian clones of the SAA are the cheapest option, running as low as $200 for a Cabella's Millenium. They range from marginal to quite good; the best of these are probably the Ubertis imported by Cimmarron and hand-inspected/tuned in the US. Cimmarron also specs some models that are unique to them, including Bird's-Head and Lighting-type grip frame models. Like the SAA and USFA critters, these are safely carried "five up", hammer down on an empty cylinder.
Exception: Uberti, the biggest of the "Spaghetti SAA" houses, has been bought by Beretta. The first new Beretta SAA is the interesting Stampede - early specimens are being reviewed very favorably; these may be the best Italian SAAs made. And like the Rugers and Freedom Arms, there's a transfer bar safety for true six-up carry. Uberti is apparantly still selling the non-safety SAA clone series under their own name plus selling to Cimmarron, etc.
Finally, there's the Rugers. The Vaquero is mechanically identical inside to the Blackhawks, varying only in finish and sights. Since the New Model Blackhawk/SuperBlackHawk design is basically unchanged going back to 1973, the aftermarket support is simply enormous. These guns are a bit oversize from SAA spec; handling is charitably described as "different" and for some, closer to "clunky". But their strength is just legendary...in 45LC, they can handle double or more the horsepower of 45LC in any of the above guns (Freedom Arms being a possible exception) and hence you find "45LC+P" fodder from Cor-Bon, Bufallo Bore and others marked "Ruger ONLY!!!" that will scatter an Italian SAA clone across half a shooting range. And that's with an all-stock Ruger - several good gunsmiths re-chamber them as five-shots in wild calibers WAY up past the original specs and the frames can take that just fine.
The Ruger "Bisley variants" are notable as being able to handle the most recoil of any of the SA types. The gunsmiths rechambering them in 454Casull, 475Linebaugh and similar "supermagnums" often recommend the Bisley grip type.
There's a whole thread on the various upgrade bits available for Ruger SAs:
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=80872
Some of these can help tune out the "clunkiness" with grip and hammer changes.
(An interesting factory Ruger option is the "Hunter variant" SuperBlackhawks - these have a very heavy barrel and factory scope rings and mounts. Basically a specialized hunting tool...the new Bisley-ized variant of these is the best of them in my opinion.)
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Upshot: I think the sexiest feel and best accuracy for the price is the FA 97, in five-shot 45LC or my choice would be the 357 sixgun variant. There's no other SA I'd prefer, genuine Colt SAA included.
Since I can't afford it, I'll do a Ruger soon and tune it myself to get the feel I want.
If the goal is ONE gun for multiple real-world roles like woods defense, personal defense and SA plinking/target fun, the Rugers are better than any of the SAA pattern guns simply for raw power and toughness.
BUT the handling and feel on the SAA patterns is still nicer, esp. when comparing stock guns. Of the SAAs, the USFA and Stampede stand out as values...go peruse the comments and reviews on both over at
www.sassnet.com as the "Cowboys" there report their experiences.
Hope this helps.
