Tallball
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- Oct 2, 2014
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I recently purchased a used .44 magnum single-action revolver and thought I would write a short review, just in case anyone is curious about these guns.
It is a large single-action revolver. Someone can correct me if I'm mistaken, but I believe it is a close copy of the Colt 1873, though slightly larger. It has the half cock like the Colt, as opposed to the Rugers I am used to. It has a blue finish that is worn in certain spots. The grips are nice-looking rosewood. JP Sauer (part of Sig now) imported these into the US starting in the 50's or '60's and ending in the 70's. It is the "Western Marshal" model, made in West Germany.
I have wanted a .44 magnum for quite some time, and my goal was to get a functioning one for less than $300. After a month or so of haunting GB I won the Sauer with a $299 bid. When I picked it up at my local ffl a week or two later I liked the looks of it. It is obviously a well-made revolver, even though it is old and worn now. It has a notch sight and the trigger is unusually small. The cylinder has a little more play than I would prefer, but not enough to worry me. My only concern was that cocking the hammer was extremely easy and the trigger pull unusually light, in both cases much lighter than what I am used to.
I took it to the range today. After I warmed up with some .22's and a .32, I loaded up the Sauer with .44 specials. The cylinder rotates more easily than my Ruger Blackhawk. I cocked it, which took about no effort, and started to aim at the target seven yards away. It went off the moment my finger touched the trigger at all, and blew a nice big splintery hole in the wood a foot above the target! The range officer was concentrating on drinking his coffee and was thus spared the necessity of explaining to me that such actions are inadvisable.
I was careful on the next shot and got pretty close to the bullseye. The super light trigger made for accurate shooting and the recoil from the .44 specials wasn't particularly noticeable. My rule of thumb for "combat accuracy" is to be able to hit a paper plate virtually every time at ten yards, and the Sauer does that easily.
So I decided to try some .44 magnums. I shoot .45 Colt, .45 acp, and .44 special regularly, so I was curious to see how it compared. The shells looked awfully big going into the cylinders. I wrapped my extra-long hand around the grip, tucking my little finger under the grip as I have to do with many handguns. I cocked it, aimed carefully, timed my breath, and slowly squeezed the trigger. And just then someone hit me with a stick right at the base of my thumb! There was also a hole in the paper target sort of near where I was aiming. What a coincidence, I thought, and tried again. Pow! Someone hit my hand with a stick again! And there was another hole in the paper.
I shot the other four, and my hand was stinging. But I got most of them fairly well on target. I shot another six, and decided it was enough punishment for the time being. Later, after I finished sighting in my old Savage model 4 at the 25-yard range, I decided that my hand was up to another six licks. I shot off a sandbag and surprised myself by getting them all in a fairly decent group.
I like the gun. I'll just shoot .44 specials for now. The grip seems more narrow than my Ruger. If I can find some bigger grips for the Sauer, the magnums should be more pleasant. All in all it is a nice old single-action revolver and seems to me like a pretty good deal for $300.
It is a large single-action revolver. Someone can correct me if I'm mistaken, but I believe it is a close copy of the Colt 1873, though slightly larger. It has the half cock like the Colt, as opposed to the Rugers I am used to. It has a blue finish that is worn in certain spots. The grips are nice-looking rosewood. JP Sauer (part of Sig now) imported these into the US starting in the 50's or '60's and ending in the 70's. It is the "Western Marshal" model, made in West Germany.
I have wanted a .44 magnum for quite some time, and my goal was to get a functioning one for less than $300. After a month or so of haunting GB I won the Sauer with a $299 bid. When I picked it up at my local ffl a week or two later I liked the looks of it. It is obviously a well-made revolver, even though it is old and worn now. It has a notch sight and the trigger is unusually small. The cylinder has a little more play than I would prefer, but not enough to worry me. My only concern was that cocking the hammer was extremely easy and the trigger pull unusually light, in both cases much lighter than what I am used to.
I took it to the range today. After I warmed up with some .22's and a .32, I loaded up the Sauer with .44 specials. The cylinder rotates more easily than my Ruger Blackhawk. I cocked it, which took about no effort, and started to aim at the target seven yards away. It went off the moment my finger touched the trigger at all, and blew a nice big splintery hole in the wood a foot above the target! The range officer was concentrating on drinking his coffee and was thus spared the necessity of explaining to me that such actions are inadvisable.
I was careful on the next shot and got pretty close to the bullseye. The super light trigger made for accurate shooting and the recoil from the .44 specials wasn't particularly noticeable. My rule of thumb for "combat accuracy" is to be able to hit a paper plate virtually every time at ten yards, and the Sauer does that easily.
So I decided to try some .44 magnums. I shoot .45 Colt, .45 acp, and .44 special regularly, so I was curious to see how it compared. The shells looked awfully big going into the cylinders. I wrapped my extra-long hand around the grip, tucking my little finger under the grip as I have to do with many handguns. I cocked it, aimed carefully, timed my breath, and slowly squeezed the trigger. And just then someone hit me with a stick right at the base of my thumb! There was also a hole in the paper target sort of near where I was aiming. What a coincidence, I thought, and tried again. Pow! Someone hit my hand with a stick again! And there was another hole in the paper.
I shot the other four, and my hand was stinging. But I got most of them fairly well on target. I shot another six, and decided it was enough punishment for the time being. Later, after I finished sighting in my old Savage model 4 at the 25-yard range, I decided that my hand was up to another six licks. I shot off a sandbag and surprised myself by getting them all in a fairly decent group.
I like the gun. I'll just shoot .44 specials for now. The grip seems more narrow than my Ruger. If I can find some bigger grips for the Sauer, the magnums should be more pleasant. All in all it is a nice old single-action revolver and seems to me like a pretty good deal for $300.
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