Single Action Lovers

[lizziedog1]

Why do many of us love single action revolvers?

They are a design that should be obsolete. They are slow to load and unload. They are not the fastest guns to rapid-fire. Yet, they remain popular.

Most automobiles now come equiped with power windows and automatic transmissions. Those are features that make driving a bit easier. I don't think many drivers looking for a new car will go out of their way to get one with with manual windows because they have an old-fashioned feel to them. I doubt if any television comes without a remote any more. Again, a modern feature for convience.

Yet, with all the semi-auto pistols and double action revolvers on the market, some go out of their way to purchase songle action revolvers.

Again, why? Any theories?

I think one reason I like them is because I grew up in the era of westerns dominating television. I watched shows like Bonanza, the Virginian, Rawhide, and so on. I loved the six guns that the characters were using. My parents even bought me a set of cap-firing single action revolvers for one of my birthdays. When I got a bit older, I saved up and bought a C02 powered single action revolver. It was one of the lamest guns I ever owned. But I loved that thing.

Why do you like single action revolvers.

 

[RugerBob]

I would have to say that being in my 40s and I like westerns probably plays a big part in it. We have 4 45s and 2 38s ruger vaqeuos that the wife and I use often. Next to them tho, I sure like my 1911. I go thru ammo slower with my single actions and that plays a roll as well. I do cast my own bullets for all of these.
Another thing may be less to go wrong, with simpler action and all. But thats just my 2cents......Bob

 

[critter]

Lots of nostalgia associated with the old SA's.

However, if you want REAL horsepower in a handgun, big old SA's are one of the better choices. Semiauto's have a hard time handling the 'big boomers' and some do not really get into the pseudo-rifle type handguns.

Besides, they are FUN!

 

[BullRunBear]

Well, let's see:

Nostalgia - I grew up with all those TV westerns in the 1950s.

Comfort - Certain SA grips, especially the Colt SAA size and style, fit my hand. I like the way a SA rotates in my hand under recoil instead of the push from DA and the muzzle flip of semis.

Versatlity - They can handle anything from the popgun power levels to fire breathing rounds for each caliber. (Can you tell I have Rugers?) They are very forgiving of handloading variations.

Pace - I like the slower pace they require. Except for defense I'm not in a hurry anymore, preferring accuracy to speed. And I'm not blowing through ammo as fast.

History - Todays SA derive from cap & ball revolvers which I REALLY enjoy. That's why I have 6 C&Bs. Also, I like to use the 45 Colt Rugers with black powder cartridges when in the mood. They are fun to load, accurate, and very comfortable in recoil.

Maintenance - I think they are easier to clean and maintain.

Appearence - They just look so good!

Jeff

 

[foghornl]

Sometimes, I'm just in a "Cowboy Mood"...

have a .357 Vaquero, .357 Blackhawk, .22LR/.22Mag Single-Six and a Pietta blackpowder "Navy Colt"

Any of those are much cheaper to shoot than the .45ACP 1911's...

 

[CajunBass]

Campfires and cattle trails. Mesquite and Cactus. Saddle leather, and the jingle of spurs.

I know next to nothing about such things personally. Just what I've seen in movies and on TV.

I just know I do like single action revolvers.

They are slow to load and unload.

Big deal. I'm in no hurry to shoot up my ammo.

I suppose someone should post a picture.

 

[bannockburn]

For me it's more of an historical connection, not just through television and movies when I was growing up, but more so with the time period that they were so prevalent in. Sort of like a connection in time for me, between the mid 1800's right up to today.

There's also something about the design of the single action revolver that has fascinated me all these years. My first store bought gun was a Hawes Western Marshall in .22LR and .22 Mag. This was followed soon after with a Ruger Super Single Six and a Super Blackhawk. Over the years I have any number of them with the latest addition to the single action collection being a Ruger Vaquero in .45LC.

 

[Slamfire]

Maybe be slow to reload but I am not shooting combat courses with any of mine.

I like the fact that SA revolvers are simple, reliable, and can be tuned to have an excellent trigger.

I have a USFA Rodeo in 45 LC. You get a lot of power in a very compact package.

Or I can get a lot more power in a bigger package with my Super Blackhawk.

 

[Old Fuff]

If you exclude personal protection as a primary use, single action revolvers are still a vary practical handgun platform. In relative terms they are often (but not always) inexpensive, rugged, and accurate. Because they can handle a steady diet of heavy magnum loads, thay are still favored by many outdoorsmen. Then of course there is the historical perspective which has been pressed forward not only by movies and TV, but SASS and other "cowboy shooting" games. It should come as no surprise that they remain popular.

 

[CraigC]

Same reason I like curvacious brunettes with pale skin......I just do.

Some folks like all the modern advances and amenities they can get. Others still like to change gears and despise nonsense like GPS, ABS and airbags. If life is a journey and not a destination, who wants everything to be automated? Why are you here if everything is done for you???

Some even still use blackpowder and flintlocks!

"Modern", whatever that means, isn't always better for everybody. The bottom line is that you have to do what appeals to you. Who cares about what everybody else is doing??? I'm a single action and levergun fancier because I love them. I love blued steel, walnut, tasteful engraving, color case hardening, iron sights, hand-fitting, leather, stag and ivory. As much as I love to shoot, if all I could shoot was "modern" guns, I wouldn't shoot at all.

Life without cool old stuff (or at least old-lookin' stuff) ain't worth livin'.

 

[Bearhands]

I have always owned and shot double action revolvers until last year when a "hanker'n " for a Ruger Blackhawk changed all that... I bought a 50th Anniversary 357 4 5/8" and fell in love with it the first time I shot it. Then again when I cleaned it!...... so simple, fast and fun. The accuracy I've achieved with both 38 wadcutters and 158gr hunting ammo continues to please me to no end. Sure it is slower to load and unload and is a pretty hefty chunk of steel to lug around but it has most certainly earned top honors (shared with my S&W Mod 14) for it's ability to put a smile on my face.

 

[Wil Terry]

ARE YOU standing there telling us there are other types of pistols available that are NOT single actions ??!!! Yeah right !!! YOU BIG FIBBER !!!

 

[Ronsch]

I do not know about fast, but I can slip fire (using the thumb of my non-trigger hand - NOT FANNING) pretty darn fast, generally hitting a 8" steel plate from 15 yards at least 4 times.

 

[Standing Wolf]

I've never owned a car with an automatic transmission. I wouldn't have power windows if I could avoid them. I doubt I turn on the air conditioner more than ten minutes a year, and that's just to verify it still works.

 

[eastbank]

my three ruger hunting-working single action,s. top a 45lc blackhawk with extra 45acp cylinder, middle a 44 mag vaqcaro, bottom .22 bearcat. eastbank.

 

[VINTAGE-SLOTCARS]

I have two Rugers in 45 colt. The feel and "sound" it makes cocking it is awsome. Almost the same attention getting as a shotgun being racked.

 

[murf]

simple. rugged. elegant.

murf

 

[Dave T]

My reason would have to start with watching all those Westerns back in the '50s but I then add that my first two center fire handgun were Ruger SAs. I was doomed to have a few in the safe, like my small collection of early 44 Blackhawk flat-tops:



Got a couple flat-top 357 Mags to go with these but need to take some more pictures.

Dave

 

[Hondo 60]

They are a design that should be obsolete. They are slow to load and unload. They are not the fastest guns to rapid-fire. Yet, they remain popular.

If it's good enough for John Wayne, Gene Autry, The Lone Ranger, Bret Maverick, Randolph Scott & countless other white-hatted good guys it's good enough for me!

 

[oldways]

Because they look, feel, and shoot so well.

 

[MCgunner]

Simple, RUGGED, powerful for their weight. Nothing beats a Blackhawk on the trail IMHO if you need power in a compact revolver. Not much in North America I don't feel well armed against with my .45 colt and heavy 300 grain handloads. Great gun to shoot with a 255 cast flat nose, too, and about 8+ grains of Unique. My .357 has taken hogs and deer with a 165 grain Keith style SWC at 1470 fps from a 6.5" barrel. You don't need double action in the field OR fast follow ups. Placing your first shot is paramount.

No, I don't consider the SA revolver as my first choice in concealed carry, but my Blackhawks have their uses and my cap and balls are great fun. My Ruger Old Army is as accurate as most modern weapons and is quite powerful, but it's a bit inconvenient for field use compared to my Blackhawks.

My NAAs are technically single actions and DO have their concealed carry uses.

 

[JellyJar]

Three reasons to own SA revolvers...

1. Fun

2. Fun

3. Did I say Fun?

 

[RugerMcMarlin]

I think single actions feel and point the most naturaly, of any handgun, if muscle memory plays a part it may actually have started with our cap guns. The popularity of the Colts, Rugers , have caused the clone manufactures to copy as close as possible to acheive that same feel. With any other style of handgun each subsequent manufacturer has a better idea and so no discernable pattern. Only other handgun that comes close is the 1911 and its many clone. But if it was a natural pointer for everyone we wouldnt have arched mainspring housings. But I could be wrong.

 

[Jonah71]

They will always be classics imo. I really enjoy shooting mine. Especially the old long bbl 3 screw. And like Foghornl said, "Sometimes I just get in a cowboy mood."

 

[Red Cent]

I grew up amongst the Saturday Matinee with the edge of your seat antics with Hopalong Cassidy, Roy Rogers, and Gene Autry. At that time the costumes (hard to call them clothes now) were awesome. And I have always been intrigued with leather.
I always liked the profile of the 4 3/4" at certain angles. The working revolver that looked "right".
I have owned SAs for over fifty years and they still feel great in my hands. And if you shoot SASS, you are surrounded by every make imaginable and everybody has decent leather.
I don't own any buscaderos and I don't own any of the "old period" leather. The coolest leather is worn by the Virginian (TV show), Peter Brown (Lawman), Steve McQueen (Magnificent Seven), and Michael Behn (Tombstone). Well, his looked good even though they were somewhat "period".