The Man With No Name
Member
- Joined
- Jul 7, 2012
- Messages
- 186
Recently I decided I was missing something in my gun collection. For me that has been fun. 1911 style guns stopped being fun to me once I got a gun (Les Baer) that was as accurate as I could have wanted and felt I had mastered. The same could be said of Glocks. I still carry one in my job but for me it is a tool now. Frankly I've owned just about every style or brand of firearm that ever interested me with the exception of one and that is a single action style revolver. I did have a Ruger Vaquero in 44 magnum when it first came out but got rid of it quickly as it just didn't feel right to me. Recently reading about the Ruger New style grip frame and how improved it is plus remembering how much fun I used to have shooting an old Heritage single action .22 a friend of mine used to bring fishing got me thinking. So here is how I've ended up buying 4 single action guns in a few weeks when I only meant 2 at most. 
I've included a Glock 17 in all photos for the purpose of scale. Also in my state law enforcement officers certified in their job to carry a gun are not required to have a permit to purchase so I have been able to buy guns on the spot which may not be a good thing for a person that likes guns.
1. I first was on a day off shopping for antiques when I noticed a gun store and decided to just look around. I found a Heritage Rough Rider with both the .22lr and .22 magnum cylinders, birds head cocobolo grip, and black satin finish. It felt good in my hand and was so cheap I just couldn't resist.
It shoots much better than I expected. I haven't used the magnum cylinder yet but with 22lr it is fairly accurate and with 22 Remington Golden Bullet shorts it is consistently under a half inch out to 15 yards handheld. The cylinder has an uneven gap. It doesn't bind but it's around .001 at the bottom and .005 at the top. I was going to contact Heritage about it but it is so accurate I don't think I want them to mess with it any.
2. A few days after I got it I carried it to a local range/gun store. In their display were multiple Uberti single action revolvers. I thought the Cattleman line was the bargain out of all of them so I went ahead and bought one in 45 Long Colt with a 4.75" barrel and walnut grips that same day.
Frankly I was instantly amazed at the accuracy, the excellent trigger, and how gentle the recoil was of it even with a full power load. I've already ordered a holster for it intending to use it as a concealed carry piece.
3. Just yesterday I made a special trip. Someone had mentioned about the reliability of Ruger's vs. the Uberti clones. I'm still researching that but I figured I'd look around at what was available online. I found someone in my state with a Talo Distributer special that seemed like a perfect concealed carry piece for those times I wanted something just a bit smaller than the Cattleman. A Ruger in stainless steel with the birdshead grip frame, 3.75" barrel, slim grips, and in 45 acp only! I'm a big believer in the 45 acp round and have amassed a huge collection of 45 acp ammo over the decades. I have no problem with the recoil of the 45 Colt round and if a four legged predator is a possibility then I actually prefer it but for the two legged variety I have faith in the 45 acp as long as it launched from an accurate gun. I haven't had a chance to take this one to the range yet but I have a large enough selection of ammo that I have high hopes in finding atleast one load that it likes. Once I'm sure of the accuracy I'll order leather for it.
4. While looking around in the same store I noticed a gun I had read about but hadn't had a chance to actually handle yet. An Uberti Old West Defense revolver in .38 special (built on the 22lr frame), birdshead grip, and with a 3.5" barrel. They had only one and it was used. I've never been a big fan of buying used guns but decided I might as well handle it while I was there. The gun is flawless. It became very apparant that whoever had it hadn't shot it much. The base pin was still tight (almost too tight for my tastes) and the finish was perfect (not even one tiny drag mark on the cylinder). For close to $150 off the price of brand new I couldn't pass it up. I haven't shot it yet either of course but have high hopes for it also.
Now my questions.
1. Does anyone know the exact number of Vaqueros like I have in 45acp only that Talo's aquired? I've seen 4 different answers so far and not one seemed to speak with authority. In the end I may have to contact Talo's just for an answer it seems.
2. The Old West Defense revolver has been modified in one way. It is supposed to have a two position base pin but has been ground off so it now now longer functions as a safety in the second position. This was obviously done by a gunsmith as it is perfectly flush. Although I prefer a one position pin I would like to have a two position pin in case I ever decide to sell the gun one day. Does anyone know a source for this or if Uberti can be contacted directly for one?
I've included a Glock 17 in all photos for the purpose of scale. Also in my state law enforcement officers certified in their job to carry a gun are not required to have a permit to purchase so I have been able to buy guns on the spot which may not be a good thing for a person that likes guns.
1. I first was on a day off shopping for antiques when I noticed a gun store and decided to just look around. I found a Heritage Rough Rider with both the .22lr and .22 magnum cylinders, birds head cocobolo grip, and black satin finish. It felt good in my hand and was so cheap I just couldn't resist.
It shoots much better than I expected. I haven't used the magnum cylinder yet but with 22lr it is fairly accurate and with 22 Remington Golden Bullet shorts it is consistently under a half inch out to 15 yards handheld. The cylinder has an uneven gap. It doesn't bind but it's around .001 at the bottom and .005 at the top. I was going to contact Heritage about it but it is so accurate I don't think I want them to mess with it any.
2. A few days after I got it I carried it to a local range/gun store. In their display were multiple Uberti single action revolvers. I thought the Cattleman line was the bargain out of all of them so I went ahead and bought one in 45 Long Colt with a 4.75" barrel and walnut grips that same day.
Frankly I was instantly amazed at the accuracy, the excellent trigger, and how gentle the recoil was of it even with a full power load. I've already ordered a holster for it intending to use it as a concealed carry piece.
3. Just yesterday I made a special trip. Someone had mentioned about the reliability of Ruger's vs. the Uberti clones. I'm still researching that but I figured I'd look around at what was available online. I found someone in my state with a Talo Distributer special that seemed like a perfect concealed carry piece for those times I wanted something just a bit smaller than the Cattleman. A Ruger in stainless steel with the birdshead grip frame, 3.75" barrel, slim grips, and in 45 acp only! I'm a big believer in the 45 acp round and have amassed a huge collection of 45 acp ammo over the decades. I have no problem with the recoil of the 45 Colt round and if a four legged predator is a possibility then I actually prefer it but for the two legged variety I have faith in the 45 acp as long as it launched from an accurate gun. I haven't had a chance to take this one to the range yet but I have a large enough selection of ammo that I have high hopes in finding atleast one load that it likes. Once I'm sure of the accuracy I'll order leather for it.
4. While looking around in the same store I noticed a gun I had read about but hadn't had a chance to actually handle yet. An Uberti Old West Defense revolver in .38 special (built on the 22lr frame), birdshead grip, and with a 3.5" barrel. They had only one and it was used. I've never been a big fan of buying used guns but decided I might as well handle it while I was there. The gun is flawless. It became very apparant that whoever had it hadn't shot it much. The base pin was still tight (almost too tight for my tastes) and the finish was perfect (not even one tiny drag mark on the cylinder). For close to $150 off the price of brand new I couldn't pass it up. I haven't shot it yet either of course but have high hopes for it also.
Now my questions.
1. Does anyone know the exact number of Vaqueros like I have in 45acp only that Talo's aquired? I've seen 4 different answers so far and not one seemed to speak with authority. In the end I may have to contact Talo's just for an answer it seems.
2. The Old West Defense revolver has been modified in one way. It is supposed to have a two position base pin but has been ground off so it now now longer functions as a safety in the second position. This was obviously done by a gunsmith as it is perfectly flush. Although I prefer a one position pin I would like to have a two position pin in case I ever decide to sell the gun one day. Does anyone know a source for this or if Uberti can be contacted directly for one?
