1873 saa
- Thread starter Blondie
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The Italian replicas have come up in quality in recent years, but they can still be something of a crapshoot & are not the equal of a Colt.
The Colt is still being made in three barrel lengths and several calibers. They are well made.
Denis
The Colt is still being made in three barrel lengths and several calibers. They are well made.
Denis
You want an heirloom, get a Colt.
You want a shooter, get an Uberti, Cimmaron Arms, EAA Bounty Hunter or Ruger Vaquero. The Uberti and Cimmaron are Colt-clones while the Bounty Hunter combines the Colt action with a Ruger transfer bar firing system. The Ruger is a Ruger.
You want a shooter, get an Uberti, Cimmaron Arms, EAA Bounty Hunter or Ruger Vaquero. The Uberti and Cimmaron are Colt-clones while the Bounty Hunter combines the Colt action with a Ruger transfer bar firing system. The Ruger is a Ruger.
sixgun MAK
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The current run of 3rd generation Colts are as fine and well made as they ever have been. The bad news is you will pay $1200+ for one. If money is not the issue, I'd get a Colt.
If $1200 seems too steep, for $500 or slightly less, you could get an Uberti. Uberti makes guns for Cimmaron also.
I've been down this road many times myself, and many times been bitten. I currently own only Colts as I have given up on Italian quality. Every Italian gun I've owned has had parts break due to cheap steel. Accuracy also has been a real issue with some also.
I've also had Old Ruger Vaqueros. These guns are tanks and better suited for large hands. For ME, they never really felt balanced. I've since sold all of mine, but due regret not keeping one.
What might be best would for you to go to a local cowboy shoot and introduce yourself. Everybody will have a different opinion on which gun you should buy. Most of these folks will let you shoot their guns allowing you to decide for yourself which gun you like best. Not only make and model, but barrel length as well.
The Italian guns have received a reputation in recent years of improved quality. Therefore my dissapointment with them may no longer be an issue. My advice on these guns if you were to go that route would be to buy a new one. Also, buy a few spare parts just in case. Stick with either 45 colt or 357. These calibers are sized right. I've had a few 44-40s that were so mismatched in dimensions my groups at 20 yards were so wide, I couldn't always hit a paper plate......off of a rest.
Best of luck.
If $1200 seems too steep, for $500 or slightly less, you could get an Uberti. Uberti makes guns for Cimmaron also.
I've been down this road many times myself, and many times been bitten. I currently own only Colts as I have given up on Italian quality. Every Italian gun I've owned has had parts break due to cheap steel. Accuracy also has been a real issue with some also.
I've also had Old Ruger Vaqueros. These guns are tanks and better suited for large hands. For ME, they never really felt balanced. I've since sold all of mine, but due regret not keeping one.
What might be best would for you to go to a local cowboy shoot and introduce yourself. Everybody will have a different opinion on which gun you should buy. Most of these folks will let you shoot their guns allowing you to decide for yourself which gun you like best. Not only make and model, but barrel length as well.
The Italian guns have received a reputation in recent years of improved quality. Therefore my dissapointment with them may no longer be an issue. My advice on these guns if you were to go that route would be to buy a new one. Also, buy a few spare parts just in case. Stick with either 45 colt or 357. These calibers are sized right. I've had a few 44-40s that were so mismatched in dimensions my groups at 20 yards were so wide, I couldn't always hit a paper plate......off of a rest.
Best of luck.
ReloaderFred
Member
My wife shoots Great Western II's from EMF for SASS, and really likes them. After regulating the front sights, which you have to do on most SAA's, they've been flawless. She puts about 1,500 rounds of .38's through her guns per year, and she's been shooting about four years now. That's more shooting than most SAA's will see in a lifetime, so I would say the quality is just fine.
I shoot Ruger Blackhawks for SASS. Yes, they're tanks, and so were the old model Vaquero's, but the new Vaquero is much closer to the size of the original SAA, so you might look at those. I had a New Model Vaquero in stainless steel that was NIB, but I traded it for NIB Marlin 1894 Cowboy in .45 Colt. The other guy figured he got the best of me, but I knew I got the best of him, so it was a good deal all around.....
Hope this helps.
Fred
I shoot Ruger Blackhawks for SASS. Yes, they're tanks, and so were the old model Vaquero's, but the new Vaquero is much closer to the size of the original SAA, so you might look at those. I had a New Model Vaquero in stainless steel that was NIB, but I traded it for NIB Marlin 1894 Cowboy in .45 Colt. The other guy figured he got the best of me, but I knew I got the best of him, so it was a good deal all around.....
Hope this helps.
Fred
Hmmm...Blondie...Manco...neither of us really have a name, do we?
Anyway, here are a few heuristics that may help:
If you want a real Colt SAA of the current design generation/version and can spare the cash, then get a Colt. For some there can be no substitute.
If you want an SAA of equal quality that is slightly more authentic to the first-generation Colt SAAs of 1873 and costs a bit less, then get a USFA SAA.
If you want a rather authentic SAA in form and function just to shoot a lot and don't care much about the finish, saving hundreds of dollars, then get a USFA Rodeo.
If you want a gun strongly resembling the SAA but has a transfer bar safety and costs several hundred dollars less, then get a Ruger Vaquero.
If you want the biggest, strongest single-action revolver that somewhat resembles the SAA, then get a Ruger Blackhawk.
If you want a fairly authentic SAA that costs several hundred dollars less and can accept a somewhat mediocre but still authentic-looking finish, then buy a Uberti or Pietta SAA (some resellers such as Cimarron Firearms offer additional options, such as better finishes for additional cost and The Man With No Name inlaid silver rattlesnake grips if you're into that sort of thing). Heritage Manufacturing is another option to look into (if you don't mind the transfer bar).
If you want an SAA that is the most authentic in every way to the 1873 SAA with the exception of a slightly (very slightly) larger cylinder, and you can afford to pay a bit more than you would for a current-generation Colt, then get a USFA US Pre-War model.
If you want the closest 1873 SAA clone/reincarnation available and are willing to drop a couple grand on it, then get a USFA Old Armory Original--1st Generation Specifications model. Otherwise, you could try to get an actual first-generation Colt SAA, but it would be an antique.
MachIVshooter
Member
It is my opinion that the Uberti replicas are very good guns. The examples I have are shoot well and have excellent fit & finish. They are true to the original design. That said, if you want one that is outwardly authentic, but with the additional safety of a transfer bar system, the Uberti-made Beretta stampede are just such a gun. I have one in .45 Colt and love it. I've shot it side by side with real Colts and could discern no difference in shooting and handling qualities.
Not that I wouldn't love to have a real colt, but for less than half the cost, the Uberti's represent an excellent value. While I'm a big fan of Made in USA, I have no issue with owning Italian made firearms. They've been in the game a long time over there in the Gardone valley, and Italians certainly know how to make mechanical things that are both highly functional and esthetically pleasing.
Not that I wouldn't love to have a real colt, but for less than half the cost, the Uberti's represent an excellent value. While I'm a big fan of Made in USA, I have no issue with owning Italian made firearms. They've been in the game a long time over there in the Gardone valley, and Italians certainly know how to make mechanical things that are both highly functional and esthetically pleasing.
dogngun
Member
I have had SAA's by several makers, have one now
made in Italy by Pietta that is a gem. I like the flat spring style SAA over the Ruger single actons because of the trigger feel, just a personal preference.
The Italian made SAA's I have seen and owned recently are of fine quality at a more realistic price, and my Pietta outshoots most all of them.
Buy an Italian gun and see how you like it before you spend $1400 on a new Colt-you will lose more firing the first shot from the Colt that you will spend on a good, used imported SAA, and you might not get a better gun.
Colts are instant collectables now.
mark
made in Italy by Pietta that is a gem. I like the flat spring style SAA over the Ruger single actons because of the trigger feel, just a personal preference.
The Italian made SAA's I have seen and owned recently are of fine quality at a more realistic price, and my Pietta outshoots most all of them.
Buy an Italian gun and see how you like it before you spend $1400 on a new Colt-you will lose more firing the first shot from the Colt that you will spend on a good, used imported SAA, and you might not get a better gun.
Colts are instant collectables now.
mark
LightningMan
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If you really want to spend some $$$$ Freedom Arms makes IMO the finest SA around, and are accurate out of the box. LM
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