It's all relative. Large targets at short range aren't much problem with sights that glare. I've even managed pretty good 50-75 yd. accuracy with the shiny sights on my blued SA's. But for consistent accuracy shiny sights are a no-no. Flat black paint, smoke/carbon, matte finishes et al are band-aids.
It got to be enough of a problem for me that I sought a solution and found it in a 50 lpi checkering file.
Before-
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After-
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I've since done this on four of my SA's and the difference is amazing.
35W
I fought the 32-20 bug as long as I could. Finally cratered when I found that DiXie has them on sale for $450. Pretty and plenty accurate!
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35W
35 Whelen
Very nice! Shoots as good as it looks and at a decent price too!
You did well sir, very well!
Very nice! I imagine that pulls double duty as an elevation guide if you push it out to 100+ yards as well.
Real nice.
I was interested in a 1st Gen 32-20 a few weeks ago at auction. I had to fold as I had already spent too much money on some other items. I don't really need a 32-20 1st Gen, but it is such a nice little cartridge.
I'll bet with the little tiny holes in the chambers and barrels that one is pretty heavy.
My next hurdle is to resist the urge to buy a 32-20 rifle. I came REALLY close to buying an 1885 Production '73 Winchester, but it would probably have needed the barrel lined, so common sense and self control prevailed (for now).
Then finding these on sale (they're still on sale) sealed the deal.
I made the mistake of walking into a local shop one day a couple of years ago. The owner knows I am a sucker for old Winchesters. He had a big grin on his face when he handed me this Winchester Model 1892, chambered for 32-20. Made in 1911. The octagon barrel and magazine tube had been replaced at some time and the bore is like new. Naturally, I walked out the door with it. That's why I was considering the 32-20 1st Gen Colt.
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35 Whelen
Not any more. Just checked and they're back to $525 ($510 for the .44 Special), at Dixie Gun Works.
I made the mistake of walking into a local shop one day a couple of years ago. The owner knows I am a sucker for old Winchesters. He had a big grin on his face when he handed me this Winchester Model 1892, chambered for 32-20. Made in 1911. The octagon barrel and magazine tube had been replaced at some time and the bore is like new. Naturally, I walked out the door with it. That's why I was considering the 32-20 1st Gen Colt.
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Howdy Again
I went through my receipts and found I paid $1200 for it. Considering modern reproductions are going for around $1300 or $1400 I think I didn't do too bad.
The stock has been refinished, and there is one big chip on the fore end.
It's tough for my old eyes to center the front sight in the little tiny V groove at the bottom of the Semi-Buckhorn sight.............
But it's a real tack driver with its like-new bore.
I guess my point is that if someone is looking for an authentic, historically correct SAA, then one might be best served with the real deal, a Colt. Sure, you can get a replica (I have one that I thoroughly enjoy because I simply really enjoy shooting a single action revolver) that functions identical to a Colt, but it’s still not a Colt. If you have the itch for an authentic SAA, I think maybe you owe it to yourself to get a Colt. Just my thought.
A lot of people, myself included, don't have $2,000+ for a range toy that's going to see occasional use.
I like nice 9×19mm pistols. That doesn't mean that I need to buy a SIG P210 instead of a CZ75SA.
For me, it's going to be a Pietta/Cimarron or NOTHING.
Colt is no longer what it once was.And your chances of having a better shooter than the Colt are pretty good too for a forth of the cost.
Colt is no longer what it once was.
I only have two or three cents worth to contribute to this. Personally I prefer Ruger SA pistols for whatever that's worth. Probably about one cent. I see nothing wrong with the imports and even own one. It's your money, spend it on what YOU want.
I live in the land of bright sunshine. I have a SS Ruger BlackHawk. With it's blued target sights it's no problem to shoot in the sunshine. I have both the Colt SSA and Remington SA in the CO2 guns just to play with. Both have a nickle (or chrome, I don't know which) finish and it is impossible to see the sights out in direct sunlight. It's just a big, bright spot on top of the guns even wearing sunshades. My solution was to tape off the top strap and top third of the barrel and spray them with Rustoleum rust reformer paint. It looks funny but I can see the sights.
Seems a little stupid for Colt to stop selling them, even if, like Winchester, they had someone else make them. Just having Colt logos on them would command a higher price.
It wouldn't be the first time they had done something like that anyway, i.e., the Butler single shot derringers with Colt's name on them.
If what you want is a single action that's safe to carry with a round under the hammer, that's true.View attachment 815785 Rugers aren’t replicas, but they’ll certainly do for shooting....