King of the Colt revolvers...

[tex_n_cal]

...I have always thought the most desirable of the Colt revolvers from a shooter's standpoint is one of the underdogs - not the Python, Walker, or Shooting Master, but rather The New Frontier Single Action Army, specifically in .44 Special. Call it the influence of Keith and Skelton, but since my college days I have longed for one of them. Why? Nice balance and feel, better strength than a .45 Colt SAA, the utility of adjustable sights, and the beauty of those blue/bone charcoal case colors. The .44 Special with appropriate hard cast loads can take game as big as elk.

Yes, Pythons are lovely and accurate, a blackpowder SAA has decades of history, and a Walker is a priceless artifact, but I want a .44 NF to shoot

What Colt revo gets your vote?

 

[Shootcraps]

I want a brace of SAAs in .45 Colt and with 4 & 5/8" barrels. Nickel plated and with consecutive serial numbers please.

If I can't have that, I'll take an Anaconda with a 4" barrel.

I also love Skeeter Skelton's writing. A totally cool dude.

 

[Standing Wolf]

I'm partial to the Pythons, although I've got a soft spot for Diamondbacks, too.

 

[HSMITH]

The SAA is the only Colt revolver I would actually pay money to buy. Anything else would have to be a gift....

 

[Majic]

For pure shooting the OMT (Officers Model Target) rivals the best of them.

 

[Lone Star]

I don't think they're any stronger than a SAA. The topstrap is thicker, but what'll blow from an excessive handload is the thin cylinder chambers.

Lone Star

 

[tex_n_cal]

I don't think they're any stronger than a SAA. The topstrap is thicker, but what'll blow from an excessive handload is the thin cylinder chambers.

They will never be a Ruger, however the fact that they are a .44 Special means the cylinder bores are smaller, so the walls are thicker than they are on the .45 Colt SAA's. You can't make a .44 mag out of them, but you can certainly get 250 Keith bullets moving at over 1000 fps, and that will take a lot of game.

 

[Lone Star]

tex-

Yeah, but in a given caliber, the New Frontier is no stronger in the cylinder than a SAA. Neither is a Ruger, for sure...But most people don't really need Ruger-class handloads.

I agree that this is much less important in .44 Special than in .45 Colt.

Lone Star

 

[Kramer Krazy]

I've always been a Colt fan, but not necessarily a revolver fan. I do have a 6" stainless Anaconda in 44 Mag and a 4" blued Python. I really love both of them, but prefer the Python over the Anaconda purely for caliber. I've always thought I'd like a Detective Special or a 38 spl Diamondback, but, unless I can find one at a really good price, I'll probably be more inclined to watch out for a SAA. I'll be even more inclined to find a SAA if I enjoy shooting my xmas present that I got this year....a stainless Ruger Vaquero in 357 mag. I haven't shot the gun, yet, but plan on shooting it on Monday.

 

[Gordon]

While I don't think the New Frontier is 'King Colt', a .44 special New frontier is right near the top of my most wanted list. These guns are a (relative) bargain for a Colt SAA, fetching $200-400 LESS than a SAA. Not many were made either.

 

[tex_n_cal]

Well, I just scored one, and mailed the check, so I should have it in a few days. Photos and range report will follow

 

[kennedy]

my number 1 is my 4 in python, followed by my 2nd series det special than my 4 in anaconda.

 

[saltydog452]

Colt revolvers..

I've had 3 Colt SAA revolvers. Two were New Frontier models, 357 and 44 Spcl respectively. Wish I still had them. However, they served no paticular purpose other than range guns and were foolishely sold to buy such non-essential items as groceries and utility payments.

Since then I've redeemed myself somewhat by getting a Cobra for my bride, a 4'' Python for my #2 son, and a 2 1/2'' Python for myself. All were made when the term 'Colt' was equated with 'quality'.

salty.

 

[targetshootr]

I bought one a few years ago off Gunsamerica for $650 which was a steal. And it is a great gun. It's as accurate as any I own and 44 spl is my favorite caliber. At one time I had 6 Pythons and several diamondbacks but now they total just 2. Btw, Cherry's has a couple of NFs in the $800 range.

 

[tex_n_cal]

ahhhh.....blissss.....


It's here. Pics to follow tonight....

 

[SmershAgent]

The Anaconda has a cool-sounding name, of course, and it will stop anything that moves.

However, I've been shooting a Mk3 Trooper for years, and it's as accurate as anything I've ever used.

 

[SmershAgent]

The Anaconda has a cool-sounding name, of course, and it will stop anything that moves.

However, I've been shooting a Mk3 Trooper for years, and it's as accurate as anything I've ever used.

 

[cigardad]

Forgive me for posting this one again but it gets my vote.

Colt New Service .44 Russian/S&W Special
4 1/2 inch tube

 

[tex_n_cal]

It's home... It's always nice to score a Colt, that one's been looking for for 20 years. These guns are not very common, in the mid-size barrel. Skeeter Skelton spoke highly of them, and that was good enough for me.

Regarding the strength issue, I thought it would be interesting to compare it to my Ruger Bisley .45. THAT was an interesting exercise, because there isn't that much difference! Here's some of the dimensions:

Top strap, measured over barrel - Colt .680 wide by .250 thick. Ruger - .715 wide by .245 thick.

Cylinder outside walls, at barrel end, - Colt .088", Ruger .090"

Cylinder walls, between chambers - Colt .093", Ruger .097"

The Ruger's unfluted .45 Cylinder has an O.D. of 1.73", while the .44 Colt's fluted cylinder checks 1.65" O.D.

This Colt had been lightly used. It has a serial number of 100XXNF, which makes it a 3rd generation gun. There's just a touch of wear on the front sight, and a touch of powder residue still in the cylinder. I suspect it's been fired a little. The trigger breaks very crisply at 70 oz. A little lighter would be better, but that's good compared to the typical Ruger or Italian copy. I find the cylinder a touch sloppy. That condition is easily and cheaply corrected with a Belt Mountain base pin, as my Ruger wears. I have the #5 style BMBP, which is easier to grasp than either the stock Ruger or Colt pin.

The photo is a little misleading - darn reflections anyway! The blue is very nice, uniform and deep. Compared to some other 3rd gen NF's I've seen it could use a few more pinks and greens in the case colors, , but it's still a very nice looking, and handy sixgun. I look forward to shooting this one.

 

[targetshootr]

Nice pic of a nice gun. I have been thinking of getting another 7 1/2" just to have the barrel shortened. Those measurements are pretty close to a 357 Flat Top which is a good thing. I wouldn't hesitate using warm loads in it occassionally. Is the action any better than factory? (not a good thing)

 

[tex_n_cal]

The action is quite good, smooth and a very crisp trigger. Lockup is pretty tight, and I expect will get better with the aftermarket pin. I could wish for a 2-3 pound crisp trigger, but lawyers did exist in 1980, I guess.

New Frontier .357's are not very common, in any barrel length, I can't remember ever seeing one in other than 7.5". The 7&1/2" .45 Colt, and 7&1/2" .44 special seem to be the most common examples.

This revo is only the 4th example of 5&1/2" .44 I've handled, in 20-odd years of wanting one. I have seen maybe 4 others advertised. They were $571 new, and I nearly bought one in Ft. Worth 15 years ago, but vacilated too long and missed out. In this case, the dealer had two and both sold within 3-4 days, on Gunsamerica. The 7&1/2"'s linger for years at their dealers, so you may be able to get a deal on one.

 

[targetshootr]

I think they also made a few in 4 3/4"? As scarce as hens teeth for sure. The 357 flat tops were made on the same basic size frame as Colts SAAs which is why the comparison. They make great platforms for 44 spl conversions.

 

[tex_n_cal]

Get that confounded Ruger off this Colt thread!



kidding! Old model Rugers are usually pretty nice, also.