Taurus Cowboy SA

[vega]

Hi All,

I was surprised to see this firearm. I didn't know that Taurus was making SA. Or is it just like Pietta and Uberti making for Cabela's? Any idea who the real manufacturer is? I check Taurus USA and this model didn't come up.

http://www.thegunsource.com/functions_getproductthumb.aspx?idproduct=32651

vega

 

[Jim March]

This gun has been rumored for some time, with prototypes shown at the last SHOT.

It's a transfer bar, Brazil-made SAA near-clone much like the Beretta Stampede - basically the same size and "heft" as an SAA rather than the larger Vaqueros and some EAA Bounty Hunter variants that came in 44Mag as well as other calibers.

(A rule of thumb is that if the gun in question can be had in 44Mag, it's going to be an abnormally large "SAA". Near-clones may be available in 45LC, a physically bigger shell, but pressures must be kept below 20,000psi even on the best ones such as the USFAs...on a Ruger Vaq or the Seville SAs, 45LCs can be run up into the 34k range, including at least one factory "Ruger ONLY!" load involving a 325grain @1,300fps which is liable to detonate some SAA near-clones and will damage more or less all of 'em.)

 

[Crownvicman]

I hope Taurus gets it togeher soon and starts selling these. It looks great. A good quality, modern SA with a taurus price sounds pretty good to me.

 

[Jim March]

Well the Beretta Stampede is the exact same concept (and also with transfer bar).

Dunno which will prove to be better.

I got a chance to examine a Stampede recently. The transfer bar is "odd but good" - rather than a flat plate like a Ruger uses, it's a narrower but thicker bar that's barely wider than the firing pin. It works because it fits into a precise channel within the hammer face...a bit like how the FA 97 transfer bar works but with more metal than the FA.

I though the Stampede transfer bar was an elegant, tough, no-rattle approach somewhat "nicer" overall than Ruger's.

Beretta has another advantage in that they already have that slick "Marshall" version - their equivelent to the Ruger bird's-head but Beretta copies the Colt Lightning grip frame, which is very appropriate to the horsepower levels the Stampede frame can deal with - 357Magnums, 45LC without going +P...

 

[vega]

A good quality, modern SA with a taurus price sounds pretty good to me.

The price is listed $368.00 at Gun Source. Isn't that the same price as Stampede? Or probably $20 cheaper.

vega

 

[Crownvicman]

Well, they would also most likely have that taurus lock built in, and could be sold in my state, unlike the stampede.