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12-22-2015, 04:21 PM
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Single Actions in .44 Special Caliber
I have an interest in single actions in .44 Special caliber and have acquired a few that I shoot. The Third Generation Colt is the latest one and the Ruger by Hamilton Bowen (with XR-3 stag grips, not factory) was acquired several years ago (it is fun to shoot and I know the Colt will be too as I have one with a 5 1/2-inch barrel that I have shot quite a bit). Click on the photos for a better look.
Bill
Last edited by Doc44; 12-22-2015 at 04:23 PM.
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12-22-2015, 06:07 PM
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The Ruger is gorgeous, Bill.
One of my favorite handguns is a 7-1/2 inch Colt SAA I bought new in 1981. Blue and case. My notes say I paid $315.95 for it, which was a good deal even then.
I also have a New Frontier, 4-3/4 inch, blue and case. It left Colt as a .44.40, so I had them fit a .44 Special cylinder to it. I've never shot the original cylinder.
The Single Action Armys are just a pleasure to hold and handle. Don't even need ammunition to enjoy them.
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12-22-2015, 06:57 PM
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I have only one .44 Special single action revolver, a 1979-vintage Colt Single Action Army model. As received by me it was unfired, but no box or papers. I have since failed to resist the urge to leave it unfired, and have enjoyed 100 rounds or so with it. Threepersons-style holster by Lobo Gun Leather, hand-carved to the original pattern.
Recently received a First Generation Colt SAA "Frontier Six Shooter" in .44-40 that pre-dates the above piece by a couple of generations. Over the coming few months I expect to have it shooting as well.
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12-22-2015, 06:59 PM
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That Ruger is really nice. Although I'm a .45 Colt guy, Ruger lists the Blackhawk now with an all steel frame in the old "Flattop" configuration. I'd love to get my hands on one of those.
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12-22-2015, 07:00 PM
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Once a year, I check Uberti.com to see if they make the Top Break (#3 replica) in .44 Special. This thread reminded me to check.
Nope. They still don't.
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12-22-2015, 07:07 PM
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I'm a big fan of the 44 Special, especially in these.
They're Uberti, 1871/72 Colt replica's in 44 Special. Fun to shoot and I can generally hit what I shoot at with them which surprised me with the tiny rear sight. I'm really sighting more or less down the barrel.
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12-22-2015, 08:19 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gen3guy
Ruger lists the Blackhawk now with an all steel frame in the old "Flattop" configuration. I'd love to get my hands on one of those.
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I keep finding myself looking at one of these. I have a 21-4 that has become a favorite shooter and 44 special a favorite cartridge. I've never owned a SA revolver so I have no idea what I'm getting into. Nothing new there!
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12-22-2015, 08:36 PM
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Wow. Those are two great looking .44 Specials. I have a few.
A 1950s Great Western that was my dad's...
Two .44-40 Colts with extra .44 Special cylinders. 1890 and 1973. Cylinder for 1890 on top not pictured.
A great shooter. John Gren conversion .44 special, black powder only. A true conversion made before Uberti started doing it.
1958 Colt. My favorite of the bunch...
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12-22-2015, 09:37 PM
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These days, I just have this new model flattop Bisley Blackhawk.
It's quite the shooter, but I struggle with the Orange grips....working on it.
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12-23-2015, 12:52 AM
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Great taste in single actions Doc44! Right now there is a Gallagher 44 Special bisley conversion in the safe and he is doing another that will replicate John Taffins Skeeter gun. Oh, I forgot there is a little USFA Double Eagle around here someplace too.
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12-23-2015, 10:13 AM
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I've got 2 1/2 in 44 spl.
First up is a standard Lipsey Flat-top with grips from Grashorn and a "poor man's trigger job and Wolff Springs.
The second is a third generation Colt Sheriff's Model with faux ivory grips (No picture)
My "1/2" is an OM Flat-top 44 mag that I shoot specials only in. Grips are legal ivory from Boone Trading here in Washington.
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12-24-2015, 02:40 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Otreb
These days, I just have this new model flattop Bisley Blackhawk.
It's quite the shooter, but I struggle with the Orange grips....working on it.
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I picked one of those up a year or so ago. It is a fine shooter and a nice packing pistol!
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12-27-2015, 10:22 PM
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Picked up a Ruger .44Spl SS Blackhawk with 4.75" bbl a few years ago when they became available. Dumped it a week later. Somehow cannot like Ruger SAs. My loss, I know.
I second the above comment about enjoying Colt SAAs even when not shooting them.
Kaaskop49
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12-27-2015, 10:25 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BUFF
The Ruger is gorgeous, Bill.
One of my favorite handguns is a 7-1/2 inch Colt SAA I bought new in 1981. Blue and case. My notes say I paid $315.95 for it, which was a good deal even then.
I also have a New Frontier, 4-3/4 inch, blue and case. It left Colt as a .44.40, so I had them fit a .44 Special cylinder to it. I've never shot the original cylinder.
The Single Action Armys are just a pleasure to hold and handle. Don't even need ammunition to enjoy them.
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You said it, friend! Nothing else comes close.
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12-28-2015, 02:10 AM
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I have this .44 Spl. One of 484 made in 1982. 5 1/2" blue with nickel cylinder.
Sorry about the pic, it's the best one I currently have.
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12-28-2015, 03:24 AM
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Some awful pretty six guns here. I have a Colt New Frontier, and my favorite, a USFA .44spec. with a factory second cylinder in 44/40. It is very accurate with a 250grn swc at about 850fps., and is a favorite fair weather woods carry gun. A couple poor pics from when I first bought it.
Larry
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12-28-2015, 11:36 AM
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All very nice. The one on the far left is my first SAA. An ivory stocked 44 Special.
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12-28-2015, 01:08 PM
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The .44 Special is one of my favorite calibers. In factory loadings, quite accurate, and much easier on the hand that the .44 Mangle-em. With handloads, it can be loaded to pretty stout levels, although I prefer not to. This is my 3rd generation Colt SA:
I have also acquired 3 Smith & Wesson revolvers in this caliber, not counting a number of .44 magnums that I mostly fire Specials in:
This is a 24-3 with a 6-inch barrel
Another 24-3, with a 4-inch barrel
And a 624 3" barrel. A Lew Horton special - perfect as a field gun.
So put me down in the "Likes the .44 Special" column!
John
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Last edited by PALADIN85020; 12-28-2015 at 01:19 PM.
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12-28-2015, 09:47 PM
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Another fan of the Colt SAA in .44 Special here, with some nice tooled leather
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12-28-2015, 10:15 PM
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.44 Special
USFA's
Flat Top shot about every other week.
Bisley never shot.
Uberti
Shot every once in awhile.
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12-29-2015, 12:03 AM
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It's DA but I only shoot it SA. Colt 1878 Frontier 44-40
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12-29-2015, 01:41 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Otreb
These days, I just have this new model flattop Bisley Blackhawk.
It's quite the shooter, but I struggle with the Orange grips....working on it.
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I have one of these Ruger Bisleys in .44 Special.
I love it. I love the .44 special.
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12-29-2015, 02:01 AM
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.44 Special built by John Gallagher on an Old Model flattop .357 frame.
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12-29-2015, 12:42 PM
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Cimarron firearms offers a variety of SA. I may cross over, jump the DA ship to the SA boat next the open top SA Revolver s in modern calibers look interesting.
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12-29-2015, 02:05 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BigBill
Cimarron firearms offers a variety of SA. I may cross over, jump the DA ship to the SA boat next the open top SA Revolver s in modern calibers look interesting.
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Earlier this year I bought a Cimarron 1851 Navy and it was a superb shooter(even with the primitive sights!). So just a few weeks ago I ordered a Cimarron 7th Cavalry 7.5" .45 Colt. Received a really nice one! The 7.5" ,45 Colt is perfectly regulated and is a super-fun shooter too...
Cimarrons are Ubertis and I'm starting to get a fair sized collection of Uberti single-actions(Third Model Dragoon...4 3/4" SAA...Navy .36..and now the Cavalry model SAA)....I want a Russian or Schofield now!
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12-30-2015, 10:43 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KEN L
I have this .44 Spl. One of 484 made in 1982. 5 1/2" blue with nickel cylinder.
Sorry about the pic, it's the best one I currently have.
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I had one of these for a while. I always liked the configuration with Colt using up nickel cylinders on these blued guns.
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12-30-2015, 11:26 AM
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I bought this new FlatTop about 4 years ago. I shoot and carry it often. A 44 Special factory load isn't of interest to me (246 grain bullet @ 750 or so) but this Ruger lets me shoot more aggressive loads that I can use.
Accuracy with 200 grain XTPs is amazing and I load 255 grain HardCasts when Griz are in the area.
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12-30-2015, 01:47 PM
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There's some really nice examples of SA .44 specials in this thread. Thanks for sharing !
Yep, .44 special is a fav with me as well. Great field pieces in the NM mountains and desert. Have only one SA in .44 special, a Lipseys special run Ruger New Vaquero .44 Spl. These seem to have an uncharacteristically smooth action for a Ruger. Usually loaded with 215 gr. hardcast flat point hand loads.
Pictured here, along with another fav, a comfy 696.
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12-30-2015, 01:58 PM
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I ordered one of these transition firearms from Cimarron several years ago in 44 SPL and after 6 months of waiting cancelled the order. Really one of the best replicas ever.
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12-30-2015, 04:14 PM
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I've only got one .44 Special in a SAA and it's a joy to shoot, although I don't shoot it as much as my 45's. It is the 5 1/2" in the picture.
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12-30-2015, 07:49 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wyatt Burp
I had one of these for a while. I always liked the configuration with Colt using up nickel cylinders on these blued guns.
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They actually made another 50 of them with nickel cylinders that the flutes were blued. Sure like to know how they did that. Seems labor intensive and costly to me. Maybe that's why they only did 50 of them!
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