Yet another SAA clone? Yup. Finally here.

[Hawk]

STI Texican finally made its way to my FFL today.

First impressions:

The Turnbull case color looks better than on the STI site and better than in my pics. To me, case color is an acquired taste and I'm not quite there yet. The hammer is colored - nice touch.

The trigger's pretty nice but not quite what one would confuse with a Dawson-tuned 1911 (minor creep). The weight I would guess at 4 lbs or under and consistent - very nice overall (sorry, misplaced the trigger gauge).

Lock-up is "Python-like" or better - I can detect no play in any direction. It's "bank vault" or better.

No lock, no MIM, no billboard. Also, no transfer bar - 5 up only.

For those that noted that it cost in the same ballpark as the Colt - true, but the big difference, the one that mattered to me, is that everyone at the FFL's shop and myself were cheerfully dry-firing the thing and it'll get a good workout tomorrow. When an SAA clone is sold by a race gun outfit there's never any need to post "should I shoot it?" - that's what it's made for, Turnbull notwithstanding.

I'm happy so far.

 

[Brasso]

Beautiful. I love color case hardening.

 

[Corndogg]

nice, but definitely needs a new grip

 

[Hawk]

Ivory? MMmmmm. Yummy.

 

[Brian Williams]

Either Ivory or nicely deep burled walnut

 

[bakert]

A very nice looking gun, although I do prefer smooth wood grips.

 

[bannockburn]

Very nice CCH, but got to agree with the others; I think you need new grips also. Smooth walnut with a high gloss laquer finish, or maybe a nice set of ivory handles.

 

[Jim March]

Another review:

http://gunblast.com/STI-Texican.htm

 

[StrikeEagle]

This is a good-looking revolver. The case colors look just right to me on SAA's. The 'hard rubber' type black grips also look right to me. My 2nd Gens have it, my 3rd Gen does not... it has two-piece walnut. I wish it had the hard rubber.

The 'checkering' on the grips looks a bit coarser then on the Colts or USFA guns. Is that true or just an artifact of the photograph?

How does this gun compare to a good Colt or USFA revolver of the same type?

These revolvers really interest me.

 

[Hawk]

The grips are rougher and "stickier" than others. They're not as "hard" as I'd expect "hard rubber" to be. The Gunblast review made note of something similar.

After reading the Gunblast piece it's pretty clear that as far as reviews go I should try to keep my day job.

He's no doubt right on the 2 pound trigger - it's lighter than a BHP I know to be at 3.5 pounds. Guess I need to buy a trigger gauge.

As to how it compares to a good Colt or USFA I'm not able to judge side-by-side. The only other clones I own are a Uberti and a JW New Vaq. The most obvious difference is the lock-up.

 

[Old Fuff]

If I understand correctly, the most important feature is one you probably can't see. The chambers are line-bored with the barrel, so each is concentric with the bore. Most revolvers have at least one chamber that's off, and it (or whatever number) will throw flyers outside of the main group.

If the chambers are not aligned with the bore that tight lock-up you like will more hinder then help in the accuracy department.

Freedom Arms is the only manufacturer I know of that line-bores their production revolvers, and they have established a reputation of being the one to beat when it comes to accuracy.

Now we'll see...

 

[Jim March]

Well Gunblast says it isn't "exactly" line-bored but it's something close. Nobody's sure what.

John Linebaugh doesn't line-bore exactly, rather he "line marks" his cylinders while mounted in the frame and then drills based on the marks. Linebaugh claims the results are just as good. It's possible this is what STI is doing.

 

[Cougfan2]

I know you said it is in Colt price range, but if you don't mind me asking, what exactly did you pay for it?

Great looking gun BTW.

 

[Jim March]

I have no doubt this is a spectacular gun.

But.

I find myself comparing it with my Ruger NewVaq, which cost me about half what this thing goes for even with some improvements (hammer and sight).

My gun is almost as accurate as this thing - I've pulled 2" groups at 25yds, lightly "bench resting". I have a lower-slung hammer and modified sights that beat the STI. Is my lockup this tight? Hell no. But can a NewVaq compare in overall toughness/reliability? Hell yeah.

I think if I had $1,200 to spend, I'd still buy a NewVaq and tune it up. Modifications are easier, a lot of parts from the rest of the Ruger product line (esp. ergonomics-related, grips/hammers/triggers) bolt up reliably. And I get coil springs throughout and six-up carry.

That's not to disrespect this gun. It's clear STI tuned this for CAS/SASS competition and dayum, it's quite likely to be the best out there, with USFA very closely behind, maybe a match.

 

[Hawk]

It's clear STI tuned this for CAS/SASS competition...

That was pretty much my take on it. I'd guess it may prove to be worth the cost to someone shooting in competition. As for me, I'm just an STI fanboy and I always wanted something Turnbull had breathed on that I could shoot with impunity.

FWIW, the sales fluff in the manual claims superiority to line boring but, as they say, "claims is claims". I could be wrong but it seems the precision is there to reduce wear - more intended to increase time between overhauls than to actually turn a fixed sight SAA clone into a bullseye gun. That's my surmise only.

I'm rather fond of my New Vaq as well. No modifications on mine as yet. The two products would seem to serve their respective markets well although it's too soon to really know about the STI. As Fuff noted: time will tell.

To this duffer there's a difference in the "feel" of the products. Rather like comparing a Spydie Endura to a Chris Reeve Sebenza - they're both good but they are different - what that difference is worth could be anywhere from 5.00 to 600.00. I have less than no clue what the Turnbull treatment adds to the tariff. An STI counterpart to the "Rodeo" would seem to make sense and would presumably make the price a little more in line.


@Cougfan2: MSRP is 1260.00 - I believe Talon's number is about typcial.

 

[Jim March]

Oh, and the gun this REALLY competes with is the Freedom Arms '97, esp. in 357 six-shot. The FA97 isn't as slavish a clone of the Colt SAA but it is BY GOD a damn fine gun and equally legal in CAS/SASS competition.

 

[Hawk]

Ironically, I had attempted to shift to the FA '97 during one of the several times I got fed up with waiting on the STI. My dealer couldn't come to terms with FA and I never poked into why.

I don't have the budget for both at present but I gather the FA is a superlative option on its own.

 

[Old Fuff]

Freedom Arms is clearly the established benchmark when it comes to accurate revolvers. In Metallic Silhouette competition out to 200 meters they have been known to equal some of the popular single-shots.

We will await to see what the new kid on the block can do...

 

[Jim Watson]

Ruger is hell for stout at a reasonable price. F.A. is, too, and wonderfully accurate at a reasonable price... for what you get. But neither one is a Colt or faithful copy. If you want the feel of a Colt, the others won't do it.

 

[Jim March]

Jim? The New Vaquero feels one hell of a lot like a Colt SAA. Of course, I promptly made it a bit less so by slapping a SuperBlackHawk hammer on mine .

 

[Kman]

Hawk, what cal.??? Don't change a thing, she's a beauty as is. Let us know how she shoots.

 

[Kman]

Any of you guys fondle a SAA from U.S. Fire Arms manufactured at the old colt plant? Fit and finish is superb, those guys are making nice guns, never shot one though.

 

[Gator]

I really want one, but in .44 Spl. C'mon STI!

 

[Jim Watson]

Jim... The New Vaquero I handled was heavy and sharp corners on the grips and straps hurt my hand. My Colt feels RIGHT. I won't load it beyond its strength and I don't need anything stronger.

Kman, USFA has been out of the old Colt building for a good while now. They needed a place for machinery to really manufacture guns instead of just assembling commodity parts.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

nice, but definitely needs a new grip

Ivory? MMmmmm. Yummy.

Either Ivory or nicely deep burled walnut

I think you need new grips also. Smooth walnut with a high gloss laquer finish, or maybe a nice set of ivory handles.

There are some nice grips for that revolver Here.

They have real Ivory too but they are between $395 and $500. Here's the Link.

These are not expensive but I'm not sure you will like them. I don't like them much but everyone had different tastes.

There are many others on the NET. That's a beautiful revolver, good luck with it...