Thinking SA Revolver

[red rick]

I have been watching alot of western tv shows lately and they have got me wanting a sa revolver. Here are a few that I am looking at. Anyone with any pro's or con's of them lets hear it.

( 1 ) Uberti EL Patron

( 2 ) Tayor's & CO. Smoke Wagon Deluxe

( 3 ) Cimarron Arms Model P

( 4 ) Cimarron Arms Evil Roy

( 5 ) USFA Gunslinger

( 6 ) USFA Single Action Revolver

 

[willypete]

What about Ruger?

 

[red rick]

No thanks don't want a lock and key and I don't like the way it loads.

 

[calaverasslim]

I have a number of SAA's, all of the ones you mentioned. Someone mentioned Ruger. A good choice, solid, dependable handgun but not quite a clone.

Of the ones you mentioned, the Uberti's (nr 1-4) are imports and after some tuning makes a great low end pistola. I enjoy mine.

You mentioned 2 different USFA's (5 & 6). The Gunslinger is pricey but remember, right out of the box, these USFAs are some of the sweetest shooters around

I have several USFAs in 44wcf and 45 Colt. Really enjoy those.

Top of the line are Colts. Not mentioned. I feel that the USFAs, right out of the box, are sweeter than a Colt but then there is the mystique of a Colt.

Good luck

 

[Coal Dragger]

I have handled but not shot Uberti, Cimarron, and USFA revovlers. Without any doubt in my mind the USFA is the best choice you have listed, the ones I have handled have all been excellent mechanically with tight lock up and distinct sere notches for every "click" on the hammer draw. The others are utterly sloppy in comparison.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

No thanks don't want a lock and key and I don't like the way it loads.

Howdy

Not liking the way a Ruger loads is one thing, but the way the lock is designed if you never engage it you won't even know it is there.

 

[Crunchy Frog]

I have Rugers but if you want a Colt style I can appreciate that; they have a charm all their own.

I have a suggestion; go to the SASS website, click on SASS clubs and find one near you. Contact the match director and let him (or her) know that you are interested in single action revolvers. Some clubs have new shooter clinics where you can come out and handle, and probably shoot, lots of different cowboy guns. If not you can attend a local match and see these and other single actions and get honest reviews from people that own and shoot them.

Uberti and Pietta make replicas that are all pretty good. There are variations in options, finish and with some of the models you mentioned you get a gun that comes out of the box with some of the improvements and features that cowboy shooters often make to stock guns. Keep in mind that a stock gun can be slicked up for a little money.

Back to the list, you might have a hard time finding any USFA firearm that is actually available for purchase.

 

[Lawdawg45]

Rick, your list goes from entry level copies to top of the line. What kind of use are you thinking of, plinking, hunting, competition, CCW? If your budget is limited and you go with a Uberti type clone, the first thing you should do is switch out the leaf spring for a coil. My Uberti Cattleman barely lasted 6 months with casual use of cowboy ammo. The USFA's are quality equipment, but I'd still take a Ruger OMV anyday, but I'm a multi-tasker with my handguns and Ruger hasn't let me down yet!

LD

 

[wheelyfun66]

I owned a Uberti Cattleman chambered in .357 magnum.

I usually shot .38 special in it.

It was fun, but the action was very rough.
After only a couple hundred rounds down the barrel, it began to really bind up when attempting to cock the hammer.

The hand spring broke...a cheap part, but for me, who wanted a reliable range gun and fun throwback style....I didn't want to hassle with needing to send it to someone who could "smith" it into a well-tuned machine.
(sold it to someone who probably slapped a new hand spring in it...and is having fun with it now)

I do want a USFA single action, someday.....seems like they are always in a mysterious "back-order" mode....and I often wonder if they will be around for the long haul?

There is a guy called "Longhunter" who sells SAA clones that are already tuned and reliable....check him out at:http://www.longhunt.com/
Good luck!

 

[red rick]

I am probably just going to plink with it and my only budget is my conscience.

I like the USFA's, but they seem hard to get and that might be alot of money for a plinker. Going by their MSRP with my options it would cost me over $1400.

Form what I have read the Evil Roy and The Smoke Wagon have had some Smith work done to them so they are good right out of the box. I can easily find them and at less than half the price, $600. Taylor's is located in my State about 2 hours away.

So I am leaning more to the Smoke Wagon although the Evil Roy seems more popular.
But is it better and why ?

 

[snakeman]

I would either go for uberti, or ruger

 

[Old Fuff]

Without checking, so I could be wrong...

I believe the "Smoke Wagon" has a slightly longer handle which gives those with large hands a place to put their little finger. If I'm wrong, Uberti does makes a revolver that meets that description.

Late production Uberti six-shooters are now coming with music wire springs to lever the trigger/cylinder bolt and hand. This corrects a major issue they had in the past.

On the other hand, there is a little stud or cam on the hammer that controls the cylinder bolt. Unfortunately it is part of the investment cast hammer, and the hammer is soft while the tail end of the bolt is hard. It doesn't take the bolt long to chew up the stud, and thereafter the bolt releases too soon and marks up the cylinder. The solution is a new hammer, or having a gunsmith case harden the lower part of the original one before it is used- at least very much. This doesn't seem to be a problem with Colt nor USFA, and is part of the reason they cost more.

 

[Hammerdown77]

The Cimarron Evil Roy is a really nice gun. The few that I've handled in the store were very nicely finished (nicer than any of my Rugers), and they had action jobs that were very good. You could tell they had received special attention, and the price reflected that. If you want to stay under $1k and have a nice case-colored, high polish blue SAA clone, I'd look real hard at the Cimarron Evil Roy. It's a lot of gun for the money.

 

[Jaxondog]

Ruger would be my choice, only because i have so many of them. lol

 

[CraigC]

I love my Rugers, New Model and Old Model and own more of them than any other brand. However, if what you want is a traditional Colt-style single action, the Vaquero just won't cut it. Although there is nothing wrong with a good Old Model Blackhawk.



Uberti builds a very good sixgun for the money. The pre-tuned models like the Evil Roy are probably your best value if the price doesn't scare you off. I own several Ubertis and they have been good sixguns. They're constantly improving their product and I do not hesitate to buy them.



Colt is building a very good SAA these days. Gone are the overpolished exterior surfaces and rough innards so prevalent in most 3rd generation guns. IMHO, the only Colt to buy is a new one. They are head and shoulders above most other 3rd generation guns and yet cost about the same. Choices would be simpler if USFA had not shown us how good a traditional sixgun can be. A comparably finished but better quality sixgun can be had from USFA for $200 less than a Colt. For Colt money, you can move up to the Pre-War model and have something otherwise unavailable from Colt in a very long time. What may very well be the best SAA ever produced. USFA's beauty is not only skin deep. They are as well finished on the inside as the outside and in my experience, do not need an action job. After just a spring swap they are slick with nice crisp 2lb triggers. They are built of the finest materials and are arguably stronger than any other sixgun in its class. Sorry Ruger fans.

A late model 12/22 and an earlier USPFA .45Colt:


Late model Rodeo II:

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

On the other hand, there is a little stud or cam on the hammer that controls the cylinder bolt. Unfortunately it is part of the investment cast hammer, and the hammer is soft while the tail end of the bolt is hard. It doesn't take the bolt long to chew up the stud, and thereafter the bolt releases too soon and marks up the cylinder. The solution is a new hammer, or having a gunsmith case harden the lower part of the original one before it is used- at least very much. This doesn't seem to be a problem with Colt nor USFA, and is part of the reason they cost more.

Howdy Again

The cam on a Colt hammer is a separate hardened part pressed into a hole in the hammer. Another reason why Colts are more expensive. I'm sure Old Fluff knows that. When the cam wears on a Colt hammer, it is pressed out and replaced with a new one.

Another solution to a worn cam on an Italian replica hammer is to grind it down, drill a hole where it was, and press in a Colt style separate cam. Not something the average kitchen table gunsmith is capable of, myself included.

Not sure about USFA, whether their cam is a separate part or not.

Here is a photo of a 2nd Gen Colt hammer, with the cam labeled.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Thinking SA is good. Buying and shooting SA is better. I'd look at Rigers myself.

 

[Old Fuff]

If you're going to drill a new hole for a replacement cam you'd better have a drill fixture to locate the hole. If it's off you'll never get the bolt to work right.

Don't ask why I know...

The other solution, case hardning the lower part of the hammer isn't anywhere as difficult. The trick is to use a heat-sink paste to keep the heat from spreading to where you don't want it. Paste and case hardning compound can be purchased from www.brownells.com

It should be obvious, but I'll say it anyway. Ruger, starting with the first Single Six uses an entirely different system, and in doing so avoids the issue under discussion.

 

[Frank V]

Of those on the list, I'd pick the USFA by a wide margin. However I have to say that at current prices, I'd have to look long & hard at Colt if I were going to spend the money for a USFA. They aren't really all that far apart.
Next I'd pick the Cimarron (they are made by Uberti) I've shot several & examined them, I think they are a good value for the money. I'd pick the standard over the others just because if I'm going to spend extra money on one it's going to be with a smith I know, & could pick & choose what I wanted done to it.
Good luck with your decision. Let us know what you decide.
Frank

 

[red rick]

I called USFA today and they said it will be about 12 months before they start another run of SAA revolvers. They were very helpful and gave me a couple of stocking dealers and answered all my questions.

I am waiting now for price and availabilty on a Colt from my LGS.

My LGS just called me and said that he can not find a Colt. That's one reason that I buy more guns @ GB than from my LGS lately.

 

[Coal Dragger]

If you are willing to consider a less traditional SA you could also consider a Freedom Arms... probably the finest single action revolvers ever made in a factory. A M97 in .357 Magnum would be both relatively cheap to shoot, probably insanely accurate, very durable, and with the Freedom Arms grip frame very comfortable to shoot.

Just a thought.