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All -

When I think of a SAA - I think Colt ($$$) and Ruger.

Got curious - what's the general take on non-Ruger/Colt SAA style revolvers?

Cimarron
Uberti

Those 2 come to mind - any others?

USFA single actions are hard to beat if you can find some. I have several Uberti revolvers that have served me quite well. I do, however, generally shoot Rugers.

Colts will hold their value better than the others.

If you can swing it, get the real deal.

Just for a shooter, I like Rugers, but get them tricked out to run like a Colt. There are several good CAS smiths who can work their magic on those Rugers.

All said, nothing tougher than a Ruger.

IMHO,

DF

yep, agree with all that. If you don't want creep in the Ruger SA trigger (and I don't), you HAVE to let a gunsmith work on it.

I have a set of New Vaqueros worked over by Wes Flowers, link below. They have the hammers welded up, the transfer bars removed and are set up to "run like a Colt". They're just as safe as a Colt and are short stroked.

To me, they're even faster than my Colts and IMHO, tougher guns.

http://westfargogunsmith.cas-town.com/

DF

Short stroked New Vaquero vs. SAA.

So, my best (as in fastest) "non-Ruger" is a Wes Flowers full action job New Vaquero.

My main non-Rugers, most used in cowboy action shooting. .38 Spec. SAA's bought used, already engraved by a retired Weatherby factory engraver living in TX. Grips are dead elephant with deep dish medallions by Nutmeg Sports.

Maybe not the fastest, but definitely the best looking ones to wear. Guess I "be styling" more than competing...

DF

USFA guns were great quality guns made here. Sadly, they are no more.

Cimarron and Uberti are essentially the same guns as Cimarron is a distributor of Uberti guns which are now owned by Beretta. You get a wide variance in quality with the Uberti made guns over the years. General concensus is that Ubertis are better made than their competition, Pietta. The two main distributors of Ubertis over the last few years have been Taylor and Cimarron. Most seem to think Cimarron's spec's are better. You also have Uberti as a distributor of their own guns. Beretta also had some Uberti's under their name for awhile. I think you have to look at the individual Uberti-made gun rather than determining the Importer/Distributor for who has the best quality. Some feel Italian made SAA's are soft. I have no experience with Pietta guns as far as ownership but feel the majority is right in that they seem somewhat inferior to an Uberti. On a good day, Uberti is equal to an average Colt. On a bad day, not.

You've got some other stuff like Arminus, Sauer-made guns, etc. These vary but are found used and I take it you are talking about newly-made SAA clones or "clonish" guns. Great Western's were great guns and made here. Virginian Dragoons varied and were huge.

I don't participate in the sport, but on paper at least � or I should say at www.taylorsfirearms.com � the deluxe versions of the Taylor's & Company models specify that they already offer customized features. These are Uberti pistols. They come with "custom tuning, custom hammer and base pins, trigger pull set at three pounds, jig-cut positive angles on all triggers and sears for crisp, reliable action, a coil-loaded and, and wire bolt."

I have not compared these to Cimmaron's customized "Evil Roy" models, also Ubertis, but I suspect they are pretty similar.

A friend had his Cimmarons tuned up for the sport by a local gunsmith and he said they had such hair triggers that he was uncomfortable and was having them detuned.

I used to have a 3rd Gen Colt .45LC and much prefer them, but the costs are so high today and the Cimmarons look like a better value for sporting purposes.

Colts do cost more but hold their value better.

So, in the long run they may actually be more cost effective.

DF

No doubt you're right. The demand remains constant, from what I've seen over the years.

I bought one of the Taurus Gacho in 45 LC 5.5" shoots well and to POI. Ocasional use how do they hold up?

Taurus CS isn't the best, so owning one is a crap shoot from what I've heard. I guess time will tell on how they do. I don't know anyone running them.

DF

I have heard good things about the Beretta Stampede

Just scratched an old itch and bought a Uberti-made .44 Russian Schofeld.

The directions clearly assert that the pistol has a hammer block which would mean that you do not need to keep the hammer over an empty chamber. Mine does not have the block! I called the distributor who said that, despite the directions, there are two versions -- one with, one without the block -- but same directions. Unlike most other SAs in addition the cylinder rotates clockwise so the empty cylinder must be to the left on top not the right and the directions also fail to mention this.

Everything else is fine on the piece. And it is after all period accurate w/o the block. Potentially unsafe yes in the hands of the ignorant -- but accurate. At least I didn't learn the hard way like Three-toes McGurk.

Beware and be careful.

1B

I had one for a while. They're nice pistols, somewhat complicated, but well made. There is no way that design can run with a Colt or clone in cowboy action type shooting. That's my opinion and experience. I do like the way they unload and load better than the Colts.

DF

A catch-up note on my previous post. Returned the 44 Russian to the distributor. Their smith checked it out and said that it does have a hammer block! The problem was that I was releasing the hammer so slowly that it was bypassed. Any violent hammer fall activates the block. They still recommend hammer down on an empty chamber so whatever block is in there is not 100% reliable IMO.

1B

I really love the looks of the Schofield and hope to add one to the safe one day.

Ive become a fan of the Uberti's lately and have added several to my "list". Rifles included.

I am considering a Uberti Stallion in 38Spl or a Model P of some kind in 357. How easy is it to get parts if you need them? I have been cautioned about main spring breakage and cylinder latch spring breaking as well...
Im not a Cowboy Action Shooter so this will be for recreational shooting. How durable are the Colt clones from Uberti?

Mark

I have Rugers in various calibers and I have one Cimarron, in 44 Special. For looks I've never seen a pistol better looking than that Cimarron.

I got in to CAS a little over a year ago and bought a couple of Uberti .44 Specials; a 4 3/4" and a 5 1/2". I decided to also bide my time and find a Colt .44 Special in 5 1/2" because everyone said they were "better".

In the mean time, really since the first of the year, I have fallen head over heels in love with the 4 3/4" Uberti and have wrung it out to the nTH degree. I'm blessed to have a range at my home along with lots of lead, powder and primers. Since the first of the year I've gone through 2K primers the vast majority of which have been for loads for the Uberti in question. I've loaded it exclusively with 260 gr. SWC's and other than load development, have fired about 80% of those bullets at around 850 fps. The remaining loads were the same bullet with around 950 fps which became my hunting load.

The ol' girl is as tight and accurate as ever and is my constant companion when I'm outside and became the first handgun I've ever used for deer.














I've decided against a Colt as the way I would use it, it'd just decline in value and besides, I can wear out (if that's even possible) 3 or 4 of these Uberti's for the price of one Colt!


I also have a New Model Vaquero in 45 Colt and it seems to be built like a tank but I've only run a couple hundred rounds through it.

Getcha one and don't look back!!

35 WN

Great report.

DF