COLT single action Army revolver, advice needed.

[Sergio Natali]

I've been recently itchin to buy a Colt "single action army" revolver to use at the range, and I'd like to hear some feedback from the fellows guns owners on the forum. Nothing really old, I was thinking about a 2nd generation really. I think I'd prefer the 7.5" barrel but I'm a bit intrigued about shorter ones too.
In terms of caliber, I was thinking about .38/.357 due to price and availability, but some people seem to prefer .45 long colt. surely more "traditional".
Any advice?

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by luger.parabellum

I've been recently itchin to buy a Colt "single action army" revolver to use at the range...I was thinking about .38/.357 due to price and availability...

Sergio, your choice of caliber seems to indicate that you would accept a 'retro' SAA. There is a company here that imports the Italian clones of old western revolvers, Cimarron F.A. Co.. The quality is excellent; they advertise that the parts of their SAA revolvers will interchange with Colt. I bought one of their Colt 1872 Open Top revolvers in 38 Special and it is outstanding. 7 1/2" bbl, Army grip. Made by Aldo Uberti. It's not an original, but it can be shot without trepidation.

I have only come across one SAA that needed work in my lifetime; it had a broken flat spring (either the sear spring or the hand spring; I don't recall which). It was fairly easy to repair using a reworked flat mainspring from a Browning 380 but getting those old screws out without damaging them is best done in a dedicated fixture.

[kzullick]

I shoot a Ruger New Vaquero, one tough gun at a fraction of the price. I also prefer .45 long colt. My Ruger is stainless with a 5" barrel. Lots of fun!

[K.Wilhelm]

I agree with sheepherder- if you're going to use it for a shooter, why pay Colt prices? The Italian clones (Uberti products mostly) seem to be well made and are generally good shooters. As far as caliber, .45 Colt would be my choice, but I handload. If I didn't load my own, the cheaper .38/.357 would probably be the way to go. KW

[Sergio Natali]

I've looking around and a newish Colt (2nd or 3rd gen) would cost about USD 2,400.00 (compare photos enclosed) while a Chaparral about USD 340.00 but I doubt about its quality.

[Curss]

Well... whatever caliber you choose, make sure you add a Winchester lever action rifle in the same chambering as well!

[lugerholsterrepair]

.45 Long Colt is the only way to go. There is something to be said for tradition. You can shoot.38/357 in almost any gun. Why cheap out now?
I agree with the Colt clone concept. If your going to go cheap it makes sense to buy a clone. IMO Cold 3rd generation are no better than a clone.
Ruger New Vaquero..Ruger makes a quality pistol but their old SAA copies were far from a SAA in style/form. Maybe they changed..I don't know. Most modern manufacturers put way too many warning labels plastered all over..I hate that. Ruger has been in the forefront of this nonsense.
Remember, .45 Colt! Nothing less than throwing a thumb size chunk O lead downrange!
Everytime I shoot mine I think of all those cowboy movies..science fiction actually.. where the good guy is shot in the shoulder and is smiling at the dance in a white arm sling with the gal pal that night. Reality is..if you put a .45 Colt slug in a sock and whacked a guy in the head it would put a pretty good dent in his cabeza. At 1200 FPS? Deadly serious. Pieces will fly off. Good Luck!

[Sergio Natali]

Thanks Jerry for your advices, put also in a very funny way after all! :-)

Quote "...Most modern manufacturers put way too many warning labels plastered all over..I hate that." Unquote

I totally agree with you Jerry, I wouldn't mind it that much on a CZ, with all the respect, but big inscriptions, rails and all sort of things on what should be a classic 1911 really hurts me!

Sergio

[rhuff]

I enjoy shooting the SAA handguns, maybe a throw back from the Sat. morning "B" western movies. A good condition Second Gen Colt SAA will be quite expensive, but definitely a quality piece that will appreciate. I am not impressed with the early 3rd Gen Colt SAA.

If you are a handloader, then 45 LC is the caliber to have.....if not, the ammo can get quite expensive. I know nothing about the ammo situation and prices where you live.

I have clone SAAs and a 1871 Open Top Cimarron in 44 Caliber with the Navy Colt grip frame. The cost is MUCH lower for the Uberti clones, and they are fun to shoot. As an investment, then either a Colt SAA, or a USFA SAA if you can find one.

Happy hunting and let us know what you decide on.

[wlyon]

I have a Uberti revolver repro and lever rifle both in 44-40. They are both well made and fun to shoot. Bill

[Hugh]

A 2nd gen Colt SAA will be much more expensive than a 3rd gen gun, they are in the "collectors" status now. The current production 3rd generation Colts from around 2000 and newer are top quality. The USFA guns are also top quality but have become as expensive as Colts due to no longer being produced and attaining "collector" status also.

I agree with what others have said; since you are in Italy, buy a Uberti for 1/2 or less the price of a Colt, unless you just have to have a COLT!

The SA's in 38/357 caliber are much heavier than the 45 due to the smaller holes in the bbl and cylinder (more steel adds to weight), and to me, just do not have the "balance" of the 45 caliber SAA. Besides, the 45 is the traditional "cowboy gun".

[rolandtg]

Originally Posted by sheepherder

Sergio, your choice of caliber seems to indicate that you would accept a 'retro' SAA. There is a company here that imports the Italian clones of old western revolvers, Cimarron F.A. Co.. The quality is excellent; they advertise that the parts of their SAA revolvers will interchange with Colt. I bought one of their Colt 1872 Open Top revolvers in 38 Special and it is outstanding. 7 1/2" bbl, Army grip. Made by Aldo Uberti. It's not an original, but it can be shot without trepidation.

I would second Cimarron. Good quality. I have this one I got from my Dad.
.45 LC. Not really my thing but a well made pistol that's fun to shoot.

[Ron Wood]

The best Colt clone I have handled and also own is one that was assembled, factory tuned and finshed by AWA (American Western Arms) from parts obtained from Pietta in Italy. It has a crisp trigger pull and fantastic timing...I have cycled the action easily over a hundred times and there is still no "drag mark" on the cylinder. The gun was such an exact copy that Colt sued AWA and won so the guns are no longer produced...really too bad. If a similar gun could be obtained in Italy from Pietta I think it would be a great choice.

[Patronen]

There was a Single Action made by Beretta at one time. I am not sure if it is still listed by them? It might have been called a Stampede or something like that? I can't vouch for that model but Beretta has well, the Beretta name going for it and a lot of their products at least to me seem to be of good quality.

[Hugh]

Yes, the AWA guns were very nice, here is SN11, with real Ivory grips, allegedly belonged to the founder of the company.

[Sergio Natali]

First of all I want to say thanks to all of you.

Then I think it's amusing that I live in Italy and I'm looking for a Colt SA revolver, while almost all of you mentioned Pietta and other italian clones of Colt.
I don't want to sound "snobby" but I always tend to prefer to get "the original".
In fact I was considering buying the second revolver I pictured above, the one without box, it's a 2nd generation made in 1968 still in excellent conditions, BUT its caliber is .357 Mag.
I'm a reloader, in the last 12 years I'm sure I've reloaded thousands and thousands of cartridges especially .45 ACP, but also .40 S&W, 9x21 IMI, 38 Spl, .357 Mag. and some 308 Winch.
Now I don't really know what to do, I think I'll perhaps wait until I find a 2nd generation cal 45 LC

Thanks again!

Sergio

[Patronen]

Sergio, I do not think that wanting an authentic built Colt is snobby. It is along the same as wanting a DWM built Luger to a Mitchell stainless or a FN built Hi-Power to a FEG built one and the list goes on. The .357 mag option would not be bad in my opinion.

[Hugh]

Sergio,
Buy a 45 Colt caliber and get an extra cylinder for 45 Auto!
To read more about Colt SAA's, go to www.coltforum.com, revolvers, Single Action

[Sergio Natali]

Thanks again Dave and Hugh.

Talking about cal .45 Auto in revolvers, some years ago I wanted to buy myself a S&W "625 Jerry Miculek" revolver 4" barrel cal 45 ACP, but I didn't go that much overboard for it.
Call me "difficult" if you want, but to me the 45ACP can only be fully enjoyed it in a gooooood traditional, classic, 1911 without frills.

By the way in the meantime I joined also the above mentioned Colt forum!

[Hugh]

"Call me "difficult" if you want, but to me the 45ACP can only be fully enjoyed it in a gooooood traditional, classic, 1911 without frills."

You mean like this 1916 one???