Selecting a SAA Clone

[AJD]

Well, I guess you just have to ask this question..

Do I want a Single Action Army or copy a that closely follows the original?

Or

Do I want a Single Action Revolver?

Its been common knowledge for a very long time that a single action Ruger Blackhawk will shoot right along side and certainly outlast a SAA. So its best to figure out what you want.

I wanted a something very close to the original. No flat faced hammer, no coil springs, no fake chemical applied to the frame to make it look like color case hardening. In fact these go even further, having the carbona blue finish of the 1st Generation Colt SAA's and having the conical firing pin like the originals. In reality, US Firearms is the "real deal" when it comes to the SAA today.

US Firearms Pre-War's.

309281[/ATTACH]"]


Read about them here.

http://www.gunblast.com/Cumpston_USFA-PreWar.htm

 

[wooderson]

USFA Rodeo from Long Hunter - extensively modified, only a couple hundred more than a Ruger + action job.

http://longhunt.com/firearms/usfa.shtml

alternately, if you don't like the Rodeo finish, there is his New Vaquero mod for about the same price as a New Vaq purchased locally + an action job.

http://longhunt.com/firearms/ruger-nv.shtml

 

[Father Knows Best]

Personally, I'm glad I bought both. They're two different guns/platforms. They're both accurate. It really comes down to personal preference.

Agreed. As I said, I have three Ubertis, three Rugers, and several Colts. I like them all for different reasons. If someone is just starting out, though, and wants a single action revolver for cowboy shooting, then I believe that the Ruger is generally the best choice. If you just want a "cowboy gun" like they use in the western movies, though, a Colt or USFA or Uberti or other Colt "clone" will probably make you happier. Of course, like most things firearms-related, once you get bitten by the SA revolver bug, you'll end up acquiring several examples of each!

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Like "Father Knows Best" said, Navy Arms revolvers are made by Uberti but like he also said, Uberti revolver are "rough around the edges." Navy Arms goes over the revolver and "fixes" all the rough spots. They also change the springs to Wolf Springs and they make it a better revolver for right around the same price. (IMO of course)

 

[Rexster]

FWIW, I just had a local dealer put back a Ruger Montado for me, which is a limited run of New Vaqueros. While I very much like traditional SA sixguns, and have more than one Colt SAA and quite a few USFA sixguns, I really liked the feel of the Montado, which has a hammer like that of the Super Blackhawk. Traditional is nice, but modern is good, too. Of the choices listed in the opening post, I would much prefer the New Vaquero, largely based on my experience using Ruger DA sixguns as carry and duty guns.

 

[Jim March]

Yeah, the Montado is a special run of short-barrel 45LC New Vaquero with "SuperBlackHawk" hammers - except that the hammer thumbpad checkering pattern has been changed and in my mind, not for the better. The real SBH hammer has curved side-to-side serrations that make hammer-slipping a breeze. The Montado has a checkered pattern.

Not bad, just that I like the SBH pattern better.

I was able to drop in a Brownells-sourced SBH hammer to my New Vaq with zero gunsmithing. I did spend an extra $20 on a set of Ruger-sized screwdriver bits.

Some people drop the hammer even lower, to the Bisley. It's all good.

 

[Rexster]

I have a Ruger Bisley, so I know what that one feels like, albeit of course with the Bisley grip, not the NV grip. I always liked the feel of cocking the SBH, except for the grip itself being a little large. I agree with the checkering on the Montado hammer feeling a little strange and new, though of course, being stainless steel, if I end up not liking it, it can be suitable modified with no need to refinish.

 

[buttrap]

Here is my idea of a single action army revolver.

 

[jsmosby]

xxxx

 

[Z_Infidel]

If you read the revolver manual available on the Cimarron site, it mentions the guns having a tranfer bar safety, to be used in conjunction with the quarter-cock position. Does anyone know any more about the actual transfer bar setup in these guns?

 

[YosemiteSam357]

If you read the revolver manual available on the Cimarron site, it mentions the guns having a tranfer bar safety, to be used in conjunction with the quarter-cock position. Does anyone know any more about the actual transfer bar setup in these guns?

I think it would depend on which specific model you're talking about.

Cimarron is just a trade name, a company that imports guns and sells them in this country. Guns are made for Cimarron by Uberti, Pietta, among others. I have a Cimarron "Pistolero" (the cheap one, with a brass grip frame and dull oxide finish), and it's a Pietta gun. This gun does not have a transfer bar - it has a hammer mounted firing pin.

-- Sam

 

[RPCVYemen]

The Hornady manual lists 300 gr loads at 1300 fps 45 LC for Ruger/TC only. That's a lot of foot pounds, and a lot of momentum. 1126 ft pounds.

I had thought that the New Vaqero uses the same frame as the Blackhawk. If that's true, couldn't you shoot the Ruger/TC only loads in them? Maybe I am wrong - I get confused between the Bisley, Vaquero, etc.

Not that I'd want to - I think that would not be a load you'd want to shoot all day long.

Mike

 

[Lone_Gunman]

The Old Model Vaquero used the same frames as the Blackhawk, but the new model Vaquero uses a slightly smaller frams that is more the size of a SAA.