First SAA worth the wait

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Long time wanting a real Colt SAA, got this one-off Gun-Broker last week.
3rd Gen .44 Special with a 4.75" barrel. Looks unfired and mechanics are great. No safe queen for me, I'll be shooting the **** out of it.
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I’ve got two pair (4) of Colt SAA’s and they are terrific!!! Enjoy it!!

Here is my set of Colt SAA's from the early 1980's. This set wears Ivory Grips that have since yellowed and are much better looking now that they have aged - just too lazy to take another picture right now. The picture taken here had too much light used when I snapped the photo so the appear white - I assure you they are not.

The action on these Colts is spectacular too and they are actually quite accurate.
 

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Around 3500.00 out the door. Got in a little bidding war with a couple of others who wanted it too. SAA's don't come cheap in this condition.

Wow :eek: I guess they don't come cheap. That's even higher than I would have guessed. Beautiful gun, probably an investment, my pockets aren't that deep :(
 
Very Nice!
I hope you reload. Better yet, I hope you're a bullet caster, too.
That's the best way to get the most out of the 44 Special cartridge.
If you partake in such activities, it would be wonderful if you could post some data on the throat and bore dimensions you have with your new treasure.
In any case, ENJOY!!!
 
Very Nice!
I hope you reload. Better yet, I hope you're a bullet caster, too.
That's the best way to get the most out of the 44 Special cartridge.
If you partake in such activities, it would be wonderful if you could post some data on the throat and bore dimensions you have with your new treasure.
In any case, ENJOY!!!

I do reload and would like to hear the favorite reloads other people have been using. I'll post the bore and throat dimensions as soon as possible.
 
I do reload and would like to hear the favorite reloads other people have been using. I'll post the bore and throat dimensions as soon as possible.

I can always count on the Hercules (now Alliant) "Big Three" powders: Bullseye, Unique, and 2400. It might surprise some folks, but I've found a "light" charge of 14 grs 2400 to work well. 7.5-8.5 gr of Unique is always good; somewhere in that range you'll find your gun's "sweet spot". And, 4-5 gr Bullseye is a classic target load.
Other good powders are Herco, Red Dot, IMR 4227, to name a few.
But, efforts spent matching cast bullets to your cylinder throats and bore will reap dividends beyond just powder choices.

One caveat: if your cylinder throats tend towards the larger side (ie: .431"-.433") and you size your cast bullets accordingly, beware of sizing dies that squeeze your brass too much. I've seen sizing dies that reduce brass to an I.D. of .424" or so. Yes, you can correct this when you expand the case mouth. But, that's hard on the brass. And, you may still not get the brass open far enough down to prevent swaging your bullet base. Sizing dies can be lapped to open them up a few thousandths of an inch. Your cast bullets will be much happier.
I have a set of Redding dies that were so bad .44 Special brass ended up looking like 44-40! I asked Redding and they said that's "within spec". So, I lapped the sizing die up to where my sized case mouth was .430". The expander just kisses the case mouth to open it up to .434". My (soft!) cast bullets love it!

However, Colts have a reputation of having tight bores (.427-.429") with cylinders anywhere from .430"-.434". So, your situation may end up being very different.
 
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Something Special

Thank you for sharing about your Colt.

S&W, U.S. Firearms, Uberti, whatever the
revolvers in 44 S&W Spl is my favorite. I don’t
have a Colt (SSA or New Frontier; long
story) yet.

My current go to plinking 44 S&W Special reload;
.431dia. 240gr Lead RNFP (round nose flat point)
or Lead SWC (Semi Wad Cutter) works also.
5.0grs Alliant RED DOT, CCI or S&B LP primer
Brass is Winchester, R-P, or Starline.
Crimp is what I call medium roll crimp.
FPS approximately 800?
Bullets tumble lubed with Ben's Liquid Lube,
for Lead free barrel performance.
Primers no where near flat.

My go to commercial lead cast bullets are:
Oregon Trail Bullet Company and Rim Rock
Bullets Inc., Polson, Montana.
and
Montana Bullet Works, Bonner, Montana.
and
Chey-Cast Bullets, Cheyenne, Wyoming.
 

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Around 3500.00 out the door. Got in a little bidding war with a couple of others who wanted it too. SAA's don't come cheap in this condition.



What year is your .44spl……hard to understand how prices have escalated.



Mine was a bargain several years back at less than half the current rate
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