Ultimate Colt SAA

(please enter 1 caliber, 1 barrel length, and 1 finish)

  • .32-20

    Votes: 1 1.6%

  • .357

    Votes: 5 8.1%

  • .38 Special

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • .45 Long Colt

    Votes: 15 24.2%

  • .44-40

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • .38-40

    Votes: 1 1.6%

  • 4 3/4"

    Votes: 3 4.8%

  • 5 1/2"

    Votes: 4 6.5%

  • 7 1/2"

    Votes: 1 1.6%

  • Colored Case/Blue

    Votes: 23 37.1%

  • Nickel

    Votes: 9 14.5%
  • Total voters
    62
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towhead

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Oct 27, 2008
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I'm interested to know what everyone thinks is the best combination of caliber, barrel length, and finish for a Colt SAA.

Thanks for your input.
 
calaverasslim,

The post got up before the poll did, I don't know why. Anyway, is a 44 wcf or 44 special the same as a .44-40? I got the chamberings from Colt's website, I didn't see a 44 wcf or 44 special listed. Thanks.
 
I would like a 45 colt with a 5.5" barrel and blued with a case-hardened frame and a brass 1851 navy grip.
Really would rather have it silver plated and Ivory grips, but wasn't listed.
 
i would like a 45 Colt with blue/ color case but I doesn't care about barrel length. The 7.5" would give it better aim, less barrel rise and might be easier to shoot longer distanse. The 4.75" would be faster on the draw and easier to pack. The 5.5" is just in the middle. The only SAA style gun I have ever shot is my EAA Bounty Hunter with a 4 5/8 barrel on it.
 
I always believed that the original caliber is best and a 7.5 inch barrel gives the best performace for that cartridge. I prefer blue but nickle does look mighty pretty.
 
.44 Spl., 4 3/4", nickel.

BTW the best Colts are probably made by USFA and Ruger, depending on how much you have to spend and what you intend to do.
 
The way you set up the poll won't allow for multiple picks so I can't answer the poll as asked.

If you are going for original it would be a 44-40, 7.5" blued barrel and Color Case hardened frame.

I would (and did) pick for myself a .45 Colt in a 5.5" blued barrel and Color Case hardened frame.
 
I would (and did) pick for myself a .45 Colt in a 5.5" blued barrel and Color Case hardened frame.
Click to expand...
Agreed.

Just to be different, I might personally pick the 7.5" barrel, but that's just so mine would stand out :)
 
Towhead wrote:
The post got up before the poll did, I don't know why. Anyway, is a 44 wcf or 44 special the same as a .44-40? I got the chamberings from Colt's website, I didn't see a 44 wcf or 44 special listed. Thanks.​

.44-40 is the same as .44 WCF. .44 Special is not listed on the Colt website because they do not currently offer a .44 Special chambering. However, you can get an extra .44 Special cylinder to match your .44-40 gun. I recently sent my .44-40 in to Colt and had them fit a .44 Special cylinder. It cost $268 including return shipping and took about 5 weeks.
 
.45 Colt and 4 5/8 barrel. Its the best balanced and best round. The poll would not let me vote for that.
 
44 special, with a spare cylinder in 44-40 if you like, and look something like mine:

ColtSAAengravedLS.jpg

They all come out of the Colt Custom Shop, you just have to talk to the man when ordering about caliber and options. I got carried away.:) I didn't vote in your poll because it's not complete without 44 special.:uhoh:
 
I cast a vote for .44 Special and a 5.5-inch barrel. 240-250 grain lead SWC loaded to 950 fps. The clones will handle that pressure level, and it will equal or exceed the .45 Colt's ballistics fired from the more common
4.75-inch barrel with a 250-grain bullet, and won't give much up with the same loads fired from a 4.75-inch barrel.

The old Special is a marvelously accurate cartridge, and is easier to load for than the .45 due to less air space in the case...which is one of the reasons that I never really cared that much for the big Colt round...even though I own a couple of New Vaqueros chambered for it.

The .44 WCF or .44-40 is another one that shouldn't be underestimated. Thin brass makes it a little persnickety to load for...but with a 205-grain cast bullet, it can be loaded up to exceed the ballistics of the old .41 Magnum "police" round that consisted of a 210-grain LSWC at an advertised 970 fps...which actually didn't produce that level of velocity. Testing of several lots showed that it rarely hit more than about 900 or so. The .44-40 will break a thousand easily from a 5.5-inch barrel and nudge it from a 4.75 tube.
 
Though I like Colts, Rugers ain't bad.
Wayne.jpg
 
ArchAngelCD,

I've tried to go back and edit the poll to allow multiple voting. I really thought I checked the "allow multiple voting" bubble. Anyway, if anybody out there knows how to edit a poll please let me know.
 
.44 Special.
4 3/4" barrel.
Blue/case color.
Black factory grips.

Mine happens to be in .45 Colt, and that's not too bad either!

(The elusive .44 Special one is giving me something to look for.)

IMO: Small-bore SAA's like my 5 1/2" 32-20, or any length .357 just don't balance right. Too much steel left if they don't drill the holes big enough!
 
45Colt all the way Barrel length 7.5, Blue finish. Add some beautiful custom grips, Sandal Wood would be nice, and walah!! A beautiful revolver that is functional. Anything like nickel would probably end up as a safe queen.


*scurries back into hole*
 
Uh, it would not let me select the three choices as instructed. Only CCH finish was filled when I clicked. My other choices were .45 Colt and 7.5". The poll did not say ultimate for what purpose, so I went with the historic original horse cavalry pistol. A war weapon, with no concessions to concealed carry.
 
Or carry at all.

The 7 1/2" barrel works fine for it's intended use. For a horse pistol when carried mounted.

In todays world, few of use still ride a horse to work.

That makes a 7 1/2" too long for comfortable carry in a belt holster when you set down in a car or truck seat. Or set on the ground in a hunting blind and stick the muzzle in the mud.

I have been there & done that with 7 1/2" Colt SAA's.

Now all of mine are 4 3/4", or 5 1/2", like the military finally converted all the long ones too.
 
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