Ordered SAA - USFA Deal on their site

[sgtdevildog]

I have finally ordered my first SAA clone. I've been trying to find one locally and had pretty much given up. Today I find on the USFA website that if you order on the web in 45lc they will throw in a 45 acp cylinder for free! I am not affiliated in any way with USFA. So, since they dropped the price of the SAA $100 and threw in the 45 acp cylinder (I already shoot 45 acp) I decided what the heck. I'll report back as to time frame, fit, etc. Now the wait begins.

 

[absolute0]

So, since they dropped the price of the SAA $100 and threw in the 45 acp cylinder

Man, that's some sweet action!

 

[cpirtle]

You'll be happy I'm sure - USFA's are fine guns! (typing as I head to their web site to check out this deal..)

 

[sgtdevildog]

When I was looking locally this weekend one shop had a used rodeo for over $700 - so I figured this was a great deal. With the money saved I may have to slap some ivories on it.

 

[ImARugerFan]

What's an SAA?

 

[sgtdevildog]

Single Action Army

 

[JohnBT]

I'd been looking at the PreWar model off and on for a few months, but this is an interesting deal.

"that if you order on the web in 45lc "

Okay, maybe I'm dense - or more dense than usual - but their site says something about ordering from what they have in stock. Where do I see what's in stock?

Do I have to call the gun shop and have them check the distributor's site?

And what about options like grip upgrades, etc?

Yeah, I know I could call USFA, but this is more fun.

And one more question, or two, for anyone who has an opinion - Is there a practical difference between the one-piece walnut and the two-piece walnut stocks? Blued hammer - yes or no?

John

 

[Hawk]

Yeah, I know I could call USFA, but this is more fun.

Both I and my dealer had a bear of a time getting USFA to come to the phone. I believe this may have changed with Acusport taking on the line. Also, I don't believe they had "stock on hand" when I was poking about.

I wound up calling Turnbull. The SAA-alike went out that day and I had it the following day. Instant gratification at the cost of paying the tariff on what I believe is the equivalent of the pre-war. And it's still a USFA although I was mildly surprised to note that Turnbull has his own serial numbers.

Still, it's nice to see USFA actually trying to sell product for a change - and that promotion looks like a very nice deal indeed.

 

[JohnBT]

Now I remember why I never ordered a USFA revolver - somebody mentioned Turnbull and I started looking at his guns.
____

Digression...

Oh right, and then I had to spend 4 weeks learning a lot of new tax code and redoing my parents' taxes because of unexpected reportable income from a trust that had been paying for my mother's nursing home care. They sent the info to us in March!!!! All of a sudden deductable medical (3 surgeries), nursing home and assisted living expenses became very important. And then there was the blasted Alternative Minimum Tax, refiguring the estimated quarterly payments, qualified vs. non-qualified dividends...nevermind...I know I deserve a gun from Mr. Turnbull.
_____

Thanks for putting me back on track.

John

 

[Pilot]

When I was looking locally this weekend one shop had a used rodeo for over $700

That's way too mcuh. You can get a new USFA Rodeo for less than $700. Check the on-line gun sources.

 

[sgtdevildog]

I sent an e-mail to customer support asking if changes to grips, etc. could be made with the order, or if the special only applied to stock pistols "as is" - I'll report back when I hear something. Yes, the local used $700 was way out of line and I imagine it will be there a while, especially with USFA dropping prices.

 

[JohnBT]

Thanks, I'm still thinking about them all. I haven't even decided on a caliber, although I'm leaning towards a medium caliber with a 7.5" barrel. Just a plinker, but nothing with target sights.

John

 

[Glockman17366]

I'm kind of interesting in the Rodeo or SAA.
Can you get bird's head grips on them?

 

[owlhoot]

The USFA single action is a nice gun. The Rodeo though lower priced is the same gun internally as the pre-war. With the pre-war you're paying the extra bucks for a superior finish. One will be just as accurate as the other. Do a Google on "Longhunter." He is offering some very attractive prices on fully tuned Rodeo models.

 

[sgtdevildog]

Modification/Shipping Update -

I had a voice mail from USFA - they said they couldn't upgrade the grips because of the fitting/possible rebluing of the back strap and trigger guard and that they could change the hammer if I wanted. They also said if I didn't change anything it would probably ship out today! Order Monday - shipped Wednesday - not bad at all I wish everything happened that fast. Now to wait for a deal on their .22 and I'll be set for a while. If it ships this week I'll try and get some pics posted on Monday or so. My first single action - woohoo.

 

[JohnBT]

Great, thanks for the update. I'm going to be too busy today to figure out what I want.

I know, I'll retire and then I'll have time to buy guns and shoot them. I feel better now.

John

 

[sgtdevildog]

Spoke with Gary at USFA - am switching the hammer for one that's CCH and he said it should ship late this week or early next week. Says they are selling a bunch of .45's on this sale. I just noticed the dealer I'm using locally has a used USAF (looks like a SAA) for $2,000! I'm sure the dealers won't be happy with on-hand stock when they drop the prices like this.

 

[LAH]

Here it is: http://www.usfirearms.com/

 

[Hawk]

I know I deserve a gun from Mr. Turnbull.

The USFA is a fine product.

But, I'm here to distract you as before. "Eye on the prize" and all that.
Turnbull

Or, you could get both, I suppose.
Hard to argue with USFA's pricing on their offering.

..mmmm... Carbona

 

[JohnBT]

Oh yeah. I like it, I like it. Too many choices. Honestly, I could get both and I really like the USFA PreWar for some unknown reason. .45 LC and .45 ACP wouldn't be too bad.

Skip to the end, I have questions that might end up being a new thread, but we're having fun here so I'll bump the thread with questions.
____________

First off...

So I did a search on Longhunter as suggested and liked what I saw. Anybody who promises me a nice trigger gets my attention. I've been spoiled I guess. (Somehow, in 1972, I managed to buy a 5.5" Single-Six with an honest 2-pound 1-ounce factory trigger.)

www.longhunt.com/firearms/usfa-sa.shtml

He/they rework some of the USFA's and for $900 you get a USFA SAA plus:

Special Features:

1. Premium Action Job
2. Rear sights widened from .108 inch to .140 inch
2. Forcing cone cut to 11 degrees
4. Comes with a crisp, no creep trigger pull
5. Replace factory flat “hand” spring. The frame is drilled and a Ruger style coil spring is installed for reliability.
6. Factory main spring is replaced with a Lee's Gunslinger flat spring for a smooth, reliable cocking motion while maintaining a quick hammer drop
7. Factory flat “trigger/bolt” spring is replaced with a wire spring for added strength.
8. Hammer is relieved .007 inch on each side through hammer slot to eliminate drag marks. For that special custom look, the hammer is then jeweled (plain finish on request)

Barrel lengths: 4 ¾", 5 ½", 7 ½"

Calibers: 32 WCF, 38 Special, 38 WCF, 44 Special, 44 WCF, 45 Colt
_____________

Given that I simply want a plinker - no SASS shooting planned, no handgun hunting, just plinking - here are the questions. USFA has a great deal going with their sale, but I'm trying to decide what I really want.

1. I'm thinking 5.5" or 7.5" and leaning in the direction of 7.5". Any real reason to go one way or the other, or just preference?

2. Which caliber? I'm 57 and not getting any younger, but I'm still 6' and 205. I enjoy shooting .45 ACP, but shoot a lot of .38 Sp. wadcutters too. I even shoot some 9mm, but like .45 better. I don't reload, I'm lazy. If I did it would be 28 ga. Should I go ahead and get a .38 Sp. and be done with it or get something a little louder?

I think I have money burning holes in a couple of pockets.

John

 

[Hawk]

I'm no expert on SAA-alikes but if the question involves the best function rather than aesthetics, one might look at the STI. "Race ready" out of box, no 'smithing required and shoots great. Two pound trigger with minimal creep.

'Course you're back to hot salt bluing but Turnbull still handles the color. It was within a nickel or dime of the Turnbull offering. One pays one's money and takes one's choice.

I'm guessing you're looking at a Turnbull, a USFA and an STI.

Might as well throw in a Colt while you're at it.

Mine, which actually are only 4 (Turnbull, STI, Uberti and Ruger) are all in .45 Colt.
Good excuse to get into reloading.

I still don't shoot CAS and haven't decided which I'll buy to make up a pair but I'm leaning toward a second STI. STI has proven to me that forcing cones cut to 11 degrees are neither needed nor desirable. Three degrees and equal to line-bored beats sloppy every day of the week. Somebody on SASSWire ran the equivalent of 22 stages with Goex with the .003 cylinder/barrel gap and 3 degree forcing cone and the thing still was running while the "wallered out" alternatives would have seized up. There's something to be said for precision although it certainly wasn't intuitively obvious it would actually perform better with black powder.

 

[JohnBT]

STI makes revolvers too? Oh boy.

(runs off to look...)

 

[JohnBT]

So far so good. From the Gunblast review...

"The trigger pull on my sample Texican measured an average of just under two pounds; 1 lb., 15.2 ounces, to be exact. Also, it was extremely consistent from pull to pull, not varying by more than an ounce either way. "

(runs off again to read some more)

 

[Hawk]

(runs off again to read some more)

You're toast.


Too bad SASS took the review down that Lou Graham wrote - it was the best of the lot.

Be prepared to be picked on - it costs more than a base model Colt. This will puzzle many, astonish some and offend a few. A few of us will understand and cheer you on.

 

[sgtdevildog]

I went with the 5 1/2 since I don't need clearing leather speed or long distance shooting. Since I already shoot a lot of .45acp the dual chambering will be fun. The STI's are getting good reports, I think USFA has been at it a bit longer and there wasn't much of a wait to get one. Since it's a fun gun I doubt it will ever get to a smith for tuning unless the trigger is just horrible.