Colt SSA Question

[adktim]

A little help please. I'm not a Colt Fan but came into position of something I have no knowledge of. A SSA 44 special Cal. 51/2 inch BBL. case hard frame, nickel Cylinder and the flutes are blue. The model number on the box is P1750AB. The person I got the revolver from said that only 50 were made? He also said the colt offered 44 mag cylinders for the model, but I find that hard to believe. Any way, if some one could shed some light on wheel gun I would be grateful.

 

[arjay]

It's a limited run single action army made in 82(?). He was right about the number made,but wrong about the magnum cylinder.

 

[Wyatt Burp]

I owned one identical to yours but without the blue flutes. Mine was still 1 of only 483 made when colt discontinued the SAA around 1982 (as stated above) but used left over nickel cylinders in them My cylinder was numbered to the gun, I think some weren't. Yours is a different critter. My version had no value any more than a standard .44 Special, but people have very high asking prices for yours. I don't know if they get them, though.

 

[adktim]

Thanks for the Info. I got it cheep ( I think) and have lots of 44 special brass so I thought is would be a great shooter. I hand load for a smith 624 with a short barrel, rather on the hot side. Will the colt handle hot loads or should I keep them on the mild?

 

[Wyatt Burp]

I don't like having guns around I can't take out and shoot, but I think I'd research this gun a little bit more first. You should ask over at Colt forum in the SAA section. I think people were asking way past two grand for these with the blue flutes. and I wouldn't use hefty loads in it. They can handle it but why beat it to death. I haven't reloaded for a while but I shot 240 lead bullets with 6.4 to 7 1/2 grains of Unique. I've yet to shoot my 1958 .44 special pictured above here..

 

[adktim]

Thanks for the help. I'm not a collector. it'll be a great plinker That's the same load I use in my 624 can't wait to put some rounds through it......Regards

 

[Wyatt Burp]

Let us know how it shoots. I always liked the looks of these guns with the nickel cylinders ever since I saw them advertised in Shotgun News in 1982 for around the "astronomical" price of $550. Here's the one I used to have.

 

[therevjay]

I wonder how you nickel plate most of the cyl. but blue the flutes? That is a keeper. Its probably simple. (if you know how) But something I've never seen.

No, no .44Mag SAA's.

 

[2152hq]

You 'mask' the areas you don't want the nickel plating to take to. A varnish used to be used and applied w/a brush in what was called selective plating & using a masking varnish.
I'm guessing that some sort of quicker process is used now. Using a template and perhaps a spray to apply the mask coating (what ever it is they use now) to the areas they want.
Then nickel (or what ever other plating) is applied.
Then the masking is removed with a sovent. The part cleaned and run through hot bluingprocess.
The hot blue will take to the unplated flutes but will not effect the nickel plating. A quick but carefull buffing of the nickel is usually needed to bring up the shine after the bluing.

 

[goldenlight]

Thanks for the Info. I got it cheep ( I think) and have lots of 44 special brass so I thought is would be a great shooter. I hand load for a smith 624 with a short barrel, rather on the hot side. Will the colt handle hot loads or should I keep them on the mild?

Keep them mild. The Colt SAA is an old design, and not terribly robust. Repair and replacement parts are rather expensive. ANY Colt SAA is valuable now, and yours may well be more valuable than a lot of other ones.

Even if you only plan to shoot it relatively seldom, find a good, accurate, mild load, and use that. I have a plain blued Colt SAA in 44 Special, and it's fun to shoot, and accurate.

I reload for the 44 Special, and I have one of the wonderful LH 24-3's, and that will stand up to pretty warm loads, much more so than the old Colt SAA. It's limited by recoil more than anything, but I don't shoot loads for the 24-3 in the Colt SAA, that's for sure.

Enjoy your Colt. Baby it, clean it after shooting, and it will hold its value better, too.

I love the 44 Special (and magnum, loaded down) round; it seems to have good accuracy almost built into it, at least in the revolvers I've shot it in, so far.

 

[adktim]

Went out yesterday with it. I shot OK held 3 in. groups at 25 yards. Seems to shoot high with the sight held point on, But right on with a 6 o'clock hold. I went with the person who sold me the revolver. He is trying to get me to purchase another SSA he has. This one in 44/40 Cal. It shot just as well but it has a nickel finish and the glare makes it hard to see the sights. Plus it has a black powder frame and you have to remove a screw to take the cylinder out. The push button is a lot easier. The load I was shooting seemed a little snappy to me I think I'll use the same powder charge but use a 200 grain bullet. The revolver really flips up when fired. Although I shot fast with one hand. The recoil flipped the gun up positioning the hammer in the perfect spot for you thumb to grab it (no reaching) push the muzzle down and your on target. Kinda fun Thank you all for your help.