New to Single Actions: Ruger vs Ubertis?

[NoirFan]

I’ve been shooting revolvers for over ten years and I’ve never owned a single action, but these days I’m starting to like them more and more. I’ve been thinking about getting a matched pair in 45 Colt just for fun. I’m split between the converted Ruger Old Army (http://www.gunblast.com/BeltMtn-OldArmy.htm), Uberti 1858 Conversion (https://www.uberti-usa.com/new-army-conversion-revolver), and Uberti Open Top Conversion (https://www.uberti-usa.com/army-conversion-navy-conversion-and-open-top-revolvers).

My priorities are, in this order: ease of cylinder quick-swap, ability to shoot smokeless 45 Colt loads without worries, long term durability, ease of maintenance, accuracy, and cool historic looks. Strict historical correctness is not a priority as this is just for fun, and I might send them off for engraving at some point anyway. I'm leaning towards the Old Army for its looks and ruggedness but I appreciate any opinions on these guns or others.

Thanks

 

[PapaG]

You will probably have to find a couple used old army revolvers as they are no longer in production. Also, the conversion cylinders are a little short for anything longer than cowboy loads and certainly not for anything stout. I'd suggest a couple of Vaquero or Vaquero Bisleys as you can shoot anything you want in the 45 Colt category. If Authenticity is important, go for Uberti or similar.

 

[DPris]

Hands down, the Ruger.
The strongest frame & most durable action of the bunch.

Ruger does still make 'em,, dribbled out in tiny runs for TALO.
Contact either Ruger or TALO for help in tracking down a pair.

Ruger had been using NOS parts leftover from older production, but they've steadily been adding new current production parts to the gun.
Denis

 

[Stubert]

I have an Old Army, and have researched the conversion cylinders. They are not inexpensive and they are not quick or easy to load. You would be much better off with a Blackhawk or Vaquero.

 

[DPris]

I had a stainless Ruger OA with conversion cylinder.
Not that hard to load, and speedwise you're not looking for a combat pistol here.
Denis

 

[Obturation]

Ruger, no contest in my opinion. Not too historical but just stronger and better mechanically

 

[JeffG]

I have no experience with Ubertis. I've been a Ruger shooter for 40 years. It's uncommon to say a company has never let me down. Ruger has never let me down. I'll say that twice for their revolvers.

 

[Drail]

And I'll second that. I love everything Uberti makes but they don't compare to Ruger.

 

[Armored farmer]

The ruger will last you and your kids, but the Uberti will scratch the itch too. You could nearly buy a pair of uberti el patrons for the price of one ruger Vaquero.

Unless you are planning to compete, or shoot a buuuunch...
The Uberti will likely outlast you.

 

[Buckeye63]

Im a Ruger guy ... With new Rugers .. Buy what you handle ..don't buy unless you fo handle ....thats all ,I'm saying ...

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/796735746

Id get this ^^^^ great deal !

 

[Crunchy Frog]

First the obligatory pitch: come to a cowboy action match. You will find others who appreciate guns of this type and the only thing more fun that shooting Old West Hardware is shooting them at steel targets.

Changing cylinders is not necessary unless you want to hassle with cap and ball. A decent cartridge revolver will handle modern smokeless ammo or ammo loaded with black powder or a black powder sub.

I shoot Ruger New Vaqueros. They are rugged and safe to carry fully loaded. I use them in cowboy action shooting where we load revolvers with five rounds anyway. If I wanted a revolver to carry in the field with six rounds I would buy a Ruger.

The Uberti open tops (the repros of the early cartridge revolvers, I mean) are cool but I’d recommend getting a solid frame revolver.

If I wanted an authentic repro of a Colt SAA I would call EMF in California and order a Great Western 2. It’s the Pietta revolver that is the closest to the Colt.

 

[Armored farmer]

Im a Ruger guy ... With new Rugers .. Buy what you handle ..don't buy unless you fo handle ....thats all ,I'm saying ...

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/796735746

Id get this ^^^^ great deal !

That's where mine came from.

 

[bannockburn]

I have an older Vaquero that's a hoot to shoot and is extremely accurate to boot! This would be my first choice if I were starting up with single action revolvers. Next up I would be looking at an Uberti single action of some sort (mine is a Beretta Stampede but still made by Uberti), as I feel they have a certain quality about them that you don't always find with some of the other replica single action manufacturers.

Still another way to go is with a replica black powder revolver with the addition of a centerfire cartridge cylinder (I have a Pietta New Model Navy along with a .38 Special conversion cylinder). Easy to load and swap out the cylinder and still maintains the appearance of a black powder gun.

 

[Catpop]

RUGER! No contest over long haul!

 

[45 Dragoon]

Noir Fan,
From what you listed as your choices, the Remington and open top are "factory conversions". Since they are cartridge guns, there's not much need for swaping or changing cylinders. The Ruger Old Army (used as in the link you provided) is a " drop cylinder " cartridge setup meaning you remove and install the cylinder each time to load and unload. (I'm assuming your not saying you want the ROA to stay as a C&B shooter ?)

Anyway, folks here have pointed you to "cartridge" Rugers and that may be what you meant instead of ROAs. I agree with the folks saying you should handle each one and see what feels best to you. As stated the Ruger will probably cost the most and it is a robust revolver but it is a rather heavy S.A. The Uberti Navy conversion (38 spl) is a very nice revolver. With the appropriate things done to it, it is every bit as "robust" as the Ruger (in a lighter package!)! The same goes for the Remington! With a coil converted action and appropriate things done, it is an amazing package . . . every bit as tough as the Ruger. I'm not knocking Ruger, I have Rugers as well but it is possible to give "Ruger durability" to these other revolvers as well.
So, try each and pick the one that's right for you.
I'll try and post a pic of the action upgrades for each.

The pictures at the top are the Remington and Colt Navy conversions. The lower pic shows a ROA with a trigger spring relocation (even though the full view, taken earlier, still has the spring and plunger behind the trigger) and bolt block in place. They are all tougher than the original Ruger setup.

Mike

 

[NoirFan]

Hi all, thanks for the replies.

View attachment 821755 View attachment 821756
Anyway, folks here have pointed you to "cartridge" Rugers and that may be what you meant instead of ROAs.

Well I've looked at the currently made Ruger single actions and while they're no doubt stronger, I'm just not in love with the way they look. I actually really like the way the basic Blackhawk functions, but it's a little too modern for me. I wonder if a gunsmith could "old-westify" it with an under barrel web...

I have an Old Army, and have researched the conversion cylinders. They are not inexpensive and they are not quick or easy to load. You would be much better off with a Blackhawk or Vaquero.

Interesting, thanks. I did look at the Vaquero but I'm not much a fan of the SAA profile guns, I more prefer the streamlined Remington look or the massive open top profile (Walker, Dragoon, etc). Since this gun would be just for fun the looks are pretty important to me.

The ROA is near perfect aesthetically but as you say the conversion accessories ain't cheap and you can't load the cylinder on the gun. I've got some more research to do..

 

[CraigC]

Really depends on what you want. If you want a traditional sixgun with a traditional action, the Ruger just ain't gonna scratch the itch. I've got dozens of Rugers but no Old Armies for this reason. If the Colt is an elegant lady, the Ruger is a sumo wrassler.

Swapping cylinders is only practical or even advisable in the Ruger. You can't get a gated conversion so removing the cylinder is already necessary. No reason to do with in a gated conversion with an ejector and on the Colt style, you really don't wanna anyway. Aesthetics are important but you still have to shoot and operate the thing.

I have Richards, Richards-Mason conversions as well as the 1871-1872 Open Top cartridge model. The latter is the most refined and most user-friendly of all the topless Colt designs. It has no conversion ring, the best ejector, it's the quickest to reload. I just wish the rear sight were in the hammer. None of them can be operated as quickly as the Colt SAA so there are concessions to be made there. The OT is my favorite and I wouldn't trade mine for a crate of Remingtons or Rugers.

 

[Armybrat]

 

[Armybrat]

Or then again you could try the real thing...

 

[RealGun]

Based on my experience, there is a very strong chance that either choice will need to go back for repair or replacement, so part of your comparison should be to look a the warranty terms. I am out of luck on a $700 street price Cimarron, because it was disassembled enough to analyze the problem and determine that it was something Cimarron should fix. My several dealings with Ruger were much more fair and satisfying, as long as it was a gun still in production or new enough for parts to be available.

 

[doubleh]

Ruger for me. No explanation except I like them better than the others.

 

[Dframe]

Advantages to both. Pick the one you like best. For me it's a Colt SAA

 

[JohnB-40]

I went with a Ruger Vaquero. Besides liking the way the revolver looked,Ruger's customer service was high on the list of considerations when purchased.
I hope Ruger doesn't loose sight of how important their CS is to the company brand. Their AR-556 was the choice for my first AR among the field of entry level ARs because of this also.

 

[CraigC]

Based on my experience, there is a very strong chance that either choice will need to go back for repair or replacement.....

i think folks that have the problems are unaware at how statistically insignificant they really are. If there was a "strong" chance that a Ruger would have to be sent back, I would have had a lot more of them.

I have had to send exactly TWO guns back to the mothership, out of over 200. One Ruger and one Cimarron. Both companies sent a brand new replacement. That said, most issues can be eliminated before you ever fill out the 4473.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Well I've looked at the currently made Ruger single actions and while they're no doubt stronger, I'm just not in love with the way they look. I actually really like the way the basic Blackhawk functions, but it's a little too modern for me. I wonder if a gunsmith could "old-westify" it with an under barrel web...

Howdy

Spend enough money, and you can probably accomplish just about anything.

If you are looking for the 'streamlined' Remington look, with the web under the barrel, you are talking about the Remington Model 1875.






Uberti makes a pretty good replica of these. The only real difference from the originals is the way the cylinder pin is removed. They call the 7 1/2" barrelled version the 'Outlaw'. Chambered for 45 Colt, available Nickel Plated or Blued and 'case hardened'. Their 'Frontier' model has a 5 1/2" barrel, blued and 'case hardened', 45 Colt. Their 1890 Single Action 'Police' is a pretty good replica of the Remington Model 1890. These had the web under the barrel cut down. The reason it is called 'Police' is because these were issued to some of the Indian Police on some of the reservations.

https://www.uberti-usa.com/outlaw-frontier-and-police-revolvers

The web under the barrel of the 1875 Remington really did not add much strength to the gun, it was mostly a stylized nod to the appearance of the loading lever on the 1858 New Model Army Remington Cap & Ball revolvers. The web was attached to the underside of the barrel with one screw, and there was a pin pressed into the front of the frame that fit into a hole at the rear of the web.






On the 1890 Model the web had been cut down.





The pin pressed into the frame is visible poking slightly through its hole in the web on the underside of the 1890 Model.






This is my old EuroArms Remmie with its R&D conversion cylinder that allows it to fire 45 Colt ammunition. You can see how the shape of the loading lever has been mimicked by the Model 1875 Remington.






Regarding removing cylinders, there is no need to do so with a cartridge revolver. Most of them have a loading gate on the right side to remove empties and reload with live ammo.

The 'Conversion' revolvers are a bit different. Some of them use a loading gate, some, like my old Remmie, do not. But it is so quick and simple to remove the cylinder on the 1858 Remington that it really does not matter that there is no loading gate.

I lower the loading lever, pull the cylinder pin forward, and pop out the cylinder. Takes about ten seconds. Reload, and reverse the process. About another ten seconds to put the cylinder back in. This actually may be quicker than reloading a Colt, where you have to eject the empties, then reload, one chamber at a time. I'll have to try some time to see which is quicker.






It should be noted that the grip shape of the Remington Models 1875 and 1890 are a bit different than the grip shape of a Colt. The grip of the Remingtons extends back a bit further, providing a bit more space for the index finger behind the trigger guard.