Just to be different I used a 3 screw, 6 1/2 in., .357 for my CC class. The guns had to be open during the book work so I took the cyl. out. It is not hard to conceal if you Mexican carry.
Larry
Larry
Anyone carry one?
- Thread starter badguybuster
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A SAA in the right hands is almost as fast as a DA revolver for the FIRST 5 SHOTS. The problem is that if you need to reload, good luck with a SAA!
Unless it was my ONLY gun, I would never carry a SAA (except in a S.A.S.S. Match of course).
Chief38
Unless it was my ONLY gun, I would never carry a SAA (except in a S.A.S.S. Match of course).
Chief38
wogentry
Member
I sometimes carry an old Colt SAA in .44 Special. It is more comfortable to conceal than my Model 24, Pre-28, or Model 22. I carry spare rounds in a speed strip (to hold them together and they work okay with the loading gate) though as previously mentioned it does load a 'mite slow. It does point naturally though and it is accurate. Other wise I sometimes carry the Colt 1911
C.S.63
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No I do not carry a S/A, But why not, If you are comfortable with one and are proficient then go for it!!! Be proficient with what ya got!! Sure would be nice to find an affordable single stack mag for .44spl/44mag Like those for the 45acp?
Reload? Remember most are not LEO'S,
(sure do not want to be on the receiving end of 6 or 16)
Reload? Remember most are not LEO'S,
(sure do not want to be on the receiving end of 6 or 16)
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Larry from Bend
Member
I've been carrying this Ruger 44 Special around the place quite a bit for the last year and a half. It's usually concealed but not always. It's very accurate and not at all picky about reloads. I load it quite a bit heavier than the store-bought ammo.
indiandave
Member
Once in awhile I carry a Uberti Colt clone in .357 magnum. This is mostly when I'm walking my dogs on the trails by my house. I open carry it. You can tell the people from NY and NJ. Their eyes get really big when they see my gun. LOL.
Frizzman
US Veteran
I worked for a LE agency many years ago that allowed officers to carry virtually anything off duty as long as it was .38/.357 or bigger. There was one guy who carried a short barelled Ruger Blackhawk. I think it was a .357. He was a source of amusement to the other officers. Bear in mind that the issue weapon was a S&W M-10 HB. That was not exactly a sophisticated, high capacity handgun. He tried to qualify with it a couple of times and failed miserably. Unfortunately, he wasn't required to qualify with it to carry it. That was crazy by today's standards. The second time he showed up at the agency range with it and did poorly with it, the RO told him not to bring it back and advised him to get an appropriate handgun.
I have several single actions but would never carry one for serious social encounters with other humans. I don't think the, "Its all I have" excuse is valid. If you carry for the defense of yourself and others, its encumbent upon you to get, maintain and practice with an appropriate handgun for serious fighting. Self-defense is not a game and bad choices can prove lethal to yourself and others. Why handicap yourself with an antiquated design. Show me any military or LE agency that issues or authorizes single action revolvers for duty.
But if that's what somebody wants to use, its their choice. I just think that the old hack of aimed fire with few rounds as opposed to "spray and pray" is a false argument. One can have a fast to deploy weapon that is capable of efficient reloads and be an excellent marksman too. I have never been in a situation where I wished I had less ammo or had a slower gun.
I have several single actions but would never carry one for serious social encounters with other humans. I don't think the, "Its all I have" excuse is valid. If you carry for the defense of yourself and others, its encumbent upon you to get, maintain and practice with an appropriate handgun for serious fighting. Self-defense is not a game and bad choices can prove lethal to yourself and others. Why handicap yourself with an antiquated design. Show me any military or LE agency that issues or authorizes single action revolvers for duty.
But if that's what somebody wants to use, its their choice. I just think that the old hack of aimed fire with few rounds as opposed to "spray and pray" is a false argument. One can have a fast to deploy weapon that is capable of efficient reloads and be an excellent marksman too. I have never been in a situation where I wished I had less ammo or had a slower gun.
sq hunter
Member
worked for guys that shot for a living. wild bill, wyatt earp and so on.
You can always new york reload.
You can always new york reload.
With 5 rounds of .357, .44 or .45 you will have plenty of time too reload. It is the "pray and spray" with a wonder nine that need to be concerned with a reload. Larry
BCDWYO
Member
I read an interesting point from Masaad Ayoob once regarding carrying a SA revolver. He pointed out that for carrying on horseback it may be advantagous in that if you fire a double action or semiauto from a horse and the horse spooks, your natural reflex may be to flex your finger (which is already on the trigger since you just fired), thus setting up a possible AD second shot. A single action revolver is the only format where that would not be possible.
Having said that, I haven't been on a horse in years, and I would not personally carry a SA revolver for the reasons already stated!
Having said that, I haven't been on a horse in years, and I would not personally carry a SA revolver for the reasons already stated!
Back circa Y2K, I bought a Ruger Vaquero 45 Sheriff's Model 3.5" thinking I might try to carry it. I never tried to CCW it, but did carry it in the woods quite a bit. It's the old model Vaquero, not the New, so is a pretty stout gun. Fun and pleasant to shoot and plenty accurate.
old curmudgeon
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Whether the subject is my profession, which I worked at for 56 years or my favorite sport which I have engaged in for 71 years, I find that everyone in the room knows more about it than I.
So I do not try to change anyone's mind or have the temerity to teach them.
So I will simply relate my experience.
I carry a Blachhawk .45 Colt every day, all day. 16 hours a day most days and some days for longer.
I own three 1911's, all made by the top name manufacturers.
I have several of the smaller revolvers, again top names including S&W from .22 to .45 Colt and most everything in between.
I have long guns from .22 to the Marlin octagonal barrel lever action .45-70 Government.
None of them have a trigger as good as the Blackhawk. Surprisingly the best of the others is the .45-70. I bought it used so I have no idea whether it has had a trigger job, but it is really my ideal trigger on a long gun.
The worst triggers I own are on the 1911's.
So all of that said is to point out that if you want to hunt or to take long shots, the Blackhawk has the ideal trigger.
As for CCW, I can draw and shoot the first shot faster than I can shoot the first shot with any of the 1911's or the 9mm S&W. No contest.
The second shot will not be as quick, but the important thing to me is that the first shot will be in the kill zone at 7 yards on a B57 target. So will the next five.
I always figured that first shot is by far the most important. Either the BG is going to run like hell when I shoot that first shot or become highly offended and try his best to kill me.
I don't care for the second option, so I prefer the first shot to be on target.
Shooting from one hand width above the belt buckle.
Because it points naturally for me.
For CCW, I carry Cor-bon 200 gr. hollow points that have approximately 25% more muzzle energy than a .45 ACP.
I spend some time in the woods every week in bear country. Not, grizzly. Black bears.
So in the woods, I load it with a 300 gr. that will kill any bear.
Self protection and police work are two entirely different things and the weapon for one may or may not be appropriate for the other.
Edited to add that I realize that .45 ACP can be purchased in so many loads that the above comparison is reckless.
But then so can .45 Colt be purchased in much more powerful loads than I carry. Hand loads for a Blackhawk can go even hotter.
My point is that the Blackhawk is about as versatile as it gets and it suits me the b est of all my hand guns.
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Not only is a SA revolver an antiquated design it is also made out of antiquated material. Why would anybody in their right mind and knows everything about guns want a gun made out of metal when they can have a modern gun made out of plastic? 
Larry
Larrytoyfarmerjj
Member
All my sign actions are to large for cc... I do carry my .357 S&W 60. While it is a double action... I love its trigger pull.
old curmudgeon
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I should have added that since I retired I can dress in any way I see fit so concealment is not a problem for me.
My only handgun at the moment is a Ruger Vaquero Birdshead in 45 ACP.
I do carry it in a D.M. Bullard Bodyguard holster, which carries it just behind the hip with aggressive forward cant angle.
It conceals nicely under just a tee shirt, and I practice with it weekly. Single action is not the BEST choice for CCW, but it is my current choice.
It is not my forever carry mode, but am buying a house and cannot afford anything else at the moment.
6 rounds of 45 ACP from a 3.75" barrel, in a very accurate revolver, will suffice for now.
I do carry it in a D.M. Bullard Bodyguard holster, which carries it just behind the hip with aggressive forward cant angle.
It conceals nicely under just a tee shirt, and I practice with it weekly. Single action is not the BEST choice for CCW, but it is my current choice.
It is not my forever carry mode, but am buying a house and cannot afford anything else at the moment.
6 rounds of 45 ACP from a 3.75" barrel, in a very accurate revolver, will suffice for now.
Badkarma 1
US Veteran
Had the Birdheads version myself and used it a lot around the place. Never worried about lack of a fast reload, but then I did have Cor-Bon 250gr. loads in it too. You touch one of them off in this little howitzer and YOU KNEW IT! Dale
LoboGunLeather
US Veteran
For what it may be worth, I have a small but steady demand for concealment holsters for Colt SAA's, Ruger NM Blackhawks and Vaqueros. So I know that there are some folks out there relying on these weapons for defensive use.
On some occasions I carry this one. Uberti Cattleman .45 with a 4 5/8 barrel.
Left over from my Cowboy Action Shootin days. I won several matches with it and am just as comfortable with it as any of my Smith revolvers or semi autos.
Even did some fast draw work with it years back...I was no Bob Munden, but got a best of .37 seconds in 2001..and hit my target too!!
I still love shooting it and out to 35 yards it's very accurate.
Left over from my Cowboy Action Shootin days. I won several matches with it and am just as comfortable with it as any of my Smith revolvers or semi autos.
Even did some fast draw work with it years back...I was no Bob Munden, but got a best of .37 seconds in 2001..and hit my target too!!
I still love shooting it and out to 35 yards it's very accurate.
