So I graduated Purdue yesterday and I have a lot of money that I have saved up while working in school. Thus, I need to buy myself a gift. I've settled on a 4 3/4" Colt SAA clone. I have narrowed it down to an EMF Great Western II in nickel with faux ivory stocks or the "Evil Roy" signature model by Cimarron. I definitely want coil springs instead of flats because I intend on shooting this gun very frequently. Also when I'm not shooting it, I will probably do a lot of snapcap dryfiring with it. I just wanted to see what you all think the best model is. I would appreciate any other suggestions. I'm looking to spend less than $700 or so on the gun. Thanks!
Which SAA Colt clone?
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Josey
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The Italians make most all of them. The Pietta/EMF Great Western IIs have a good reputation. Pietta has improved their QC greatly, before 2000, I would have said no to a Pietta. They are now making a fine product. Cimmaron uses Uberti to make their line. They are fine on the outside and poor to fair inside. They are NOT worth the upcharge. Taylor's has been building a solid reputation with Uberti products. AWA is shaky and spotty on QC. Mateba manufactures their Ultimate 1873s. Their past history of poor quality and poor customer service would make me think twice though. I wonder if Beretta will continue in te SAA clone market? Their Stampede line is poorly made and iffy in QC. If it were me, I would buy a stainless Outfitter SAA from Taylor's. www.taylorsfirearms.com
targetshootr
member
USFA makes some nice Colt repos but to get ahold of them you may have to drive by and throw a rock through a window. Their customer service is lacking.
nero45acp
Member
If you want a nearly indestructable single action that looks similar to a SAA, go with a Ruger, but it's not a true SAA clone.
If it were me and I had $700 to spend, I'd go with the USFA Rodeo. Very well made and despite your spring concerns, I believe that the Rodeo would provide you many years of reliable shooting.
nero
If it were me and I had $700 to spend, I'd go with the USFA Rodeo. Very well made and despite your spring concerns, I believe that the Rodeo would provide you many years of reliable shooting.
nero
XavierBreath
Member
You are really going to get a variety of answers on this one!
Most of the SAA clones are manufactured in Italy. Cimarron seems to consistently have the cream of the crop. Theirs are the best fitted, best finished, and they have the nicest color case hardening. I do not know for sure, but whoever the real manufacturer is, they seem to have several different grades. When the revolvers are divided up into Ubertis, Armi San Marcos, Pietta, etc.... It seems as though the quality is, in descending order, Uberti, Pietta, ASM. Cimarron is a very nicely fitted and finished Uberti.
I can honestly say that I have not yet seen a Cimarron that was not a beautiful gun, and a good shooter as well. I cannot say that about the others, but I have not seen them all either.
FWIW, the Italian SAA colnes have a single leaf mainspring. I personally prefer this set-up. It's easy enough to place a new one in the gun, and there are some high quality ones out there.
Most of the SAA clones are manufactured in Italy. Cimarron seems to consistently have the cream of the crop. Theirs are the best fitted, best finished, and they have the nicest color case hardening. I do not know for sure, but whoever the real manufacturer is, they seem to have several different grades. When the revolvers are divided up into Ubertis, Armi San Marcos, Pietta, etc.... It seems as though the quality is, in descending order, Uberti, Pietta, ASM. Cimarron is a very nicely fitted and finished Uberti.
I can honestly say that I have not yet seen a Cimarron that was not a beautiful gun, and a good shooter as well. I cannot say that about the others, but I have not seen them all either.
FWIW, the Italian SAA colnes have a single leaf mainspring. I personally prefer this set-up. It's easy enough to place a new one in the gun, and there are some high quality ones out there.
I went today and ordered a Taylor's Model 700 as seen on this page: http://www.taylorsfirearms.com/1873.html
I just got the blued/CH model because I intend on doing a high volume of shooting with it so I don't want to deal with any plating issues that may arise.
Regarding springs and such, what do I need to replace to get this gun ready for more serious action? I'm not going to fan it or anything, just a high volume of rounds.
Concerning finishes, how common was the nickel finish vs. the blued/CH? From what I gather, the nickel finish was very rare and rarer still in a user gun. Does anyone have any info on this?
I just got the blued/CH model because I intend on doing a high volume of shooting with it so I don't want to deal with any plating issues that may arise.
Regarding springs and such, what do I need to replace to get this gun ready for more serious action? I'm not going to fan it or anything, just a high volume of rounds.
Concerning finishes, how common was the nickel finish vs. the blued/CH? From what I gather, the nickel finish was very rare and rarer still in a user gun. Does anyone have any info on this?
targetshootr
member
I believe USFA is the one youre thinking of. They make nice guns but getting my Rodeo right has been a nightmare. It reached the point that I didn't know what else to do but complain to the Better Business Bureau. Maybe that'll work. We'll see.
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