Question for the Single Action guys

[aterry33]

I used to have a Ruger Single six that I gave away a couple years ago, leaving me without a single action revolver in my pretty sizeable revolver collection.

I have always wanted to pick up a Colt Single Action Army in 45LC (one of the newer ones, as I am not looking for a collector's item). However, they seem awfully expensive compared to the Rugers, and I have heard a lot of people say they're not very durable comparably.

What options are out there in the single action arena, and what do you recommend? What are the most popular calibers?

Thanks.

p.s. I should add that I'm not going to compete with this, just shoot for fun.

 

[Alpo]

You're right. They cost much more than a blackhawk, and a blackhawk is stronger.

But then, a Model 29 costs much more than a Redhawk, and a Redhawk is stronger.

So, do you bypass the Smith in favor of Ruger double actions?

As for my credentials, I've got one Super Blackhawk, 6 Blackhawks, 6 Single Sixes and a Bearcat. Also got one Colt, 4 US Firearms and 4 Italian Colt copies. Truth be told, the US Firearms SAA is both prettier and a better shooter than the Colt, but the Bisley Blackhawks will shoot better than any of them. 'Course, the Bisley's have been to see West Fargo, while the others are stock. Makes a difference.

 

[Smith357]

It really depends on what your plans are, if you want something to admire and shoot every on occasion the the Colt will last a lifetime, if you want to play Cowboy games and shoot hundered of rounds every weekend then that sort of wear and tear may not be what you want to inflict on a Colt. Beretta and Uberti make very nice copies of the Colt SAA. If you want to run hot loads pushing near magnum velocities then the bulkier Ruger is the way to go.

Of all the SAAs out there only the Colt is the real investment, if you buy wisely and take good care of it you will always be able to get your money back out of it and then some.

 

[Faulkner]

I really like the Ruger Vaquero with the SAA feel and handling. A quality gun that you can actually load all 6 chambers. I prefer it in .38/.357 magnum.

I've also handled and fired several of the different Italian made SAA's. I particularly like the EMF models like the 'Californian' model, which also comes in 38/357 (plus 44-40 and 45 Colt)

Cimarron, Navy Arms, Beretta, and Uberti all have some pretty nice offerings.

 

[Bat Guano]

Had a few, starting with the 1st gen. Colt SAA that I had to lie about my age to get.

Depends on what you want to do; but lately I really like a stainless Ruger NV .45. It is a FINE looking gun that is almost indistinguishable from the Colt from a couple of feet away, anvil tough, and a fraction of the price. It shoots frighteningly well, and I am refining the zero now.

I have other Rugers, ranging from fairly old to new flat-tops, and they are solid working guns.

Had a 3rd gen. Colt SAA but it had quality issues and went away. My wife developed a liking for USFA nickel, and her safe queen is better than a Colt IMHO. Her shooter is a charcoal blue Uberti.

So we are all over the lot here. My two favorites are the above NV and a Ruger .45 Convertible; fun guns that WORK.

 

[therevjay]

It really depends on what your plans are, if you want something to admire and shoot every on occasion the the Colt will last a lifetime, if you want to play Cowboy games and shoot hundered of rounds every weekend then that sort of wear and tear may not be what you want to inflict on a Colt. Beretta and Uberti make very nice copies of the Colt SAA. If you want to run hot loads pushing near magnum velocities then the bulkier Ruger is the way to go.

Of all the SAAs out there only the Colt is the real investment, if you buy wisely and take good care of it you will always be able to get your money back out of it and then some.

That pretty much sums it up. When it comes to resale, Colts are like Harleys. Better or not, they are worth more. "No pony? It's a phoney!"

 

[cmj8591]

I never owned a Colt SAA but I did buy this US Firearms on a whim. It is as good or better than any of the Colts that I have handled or shot. The case hardening is the best I've seen on just about any gun including some high priced custom jobs.

 

[Alpo]

When I got my USFAs, they told me that Turnbull was doing the casehardening.

 

[bmcgilvray]

I'm not certain what sort of durability is required of a single action as I've owned, shot, and carried this circa 1905 Colt since the early 1980's. It has even stood duty for some small amount of fairly energetic "Elmer Keith" .38-40 handloading experimentation (a cast lead 172 grain bullet at 1211 fps with 560 ft./lbs muzzle energy). In all probability it has fired no more than 1200 or so rounds in the nearly 30 years I've owned it. While that's not a whole bunch of shooting, 24 boxes of .38-40 gives quite a lot of single action entertainment.

It is still both holstered and shot on occasion, accompanying me on hunts and hikes on our old place or on deer leases. It has been completely reliable, with no parts breakage since acquisition. It's diet these days consists of the cast lead 172 grain bullet and a mild charge of Unique giving 829 fps.

 

[ACP230]

I have seen Colt SAAs, of various vintages,for sale on the Net recently. Cherry's Fine Guns currently has a bunch.
Calibers range from .32-20, to .38/.357 to .44-40 and .45 Colt. Some of the .45 Colt guns have auxiliary cylinders in .45 ACP.

If I was going to buy one, I'd probably pick one in a caliber I already reload for.

 

[Jellybean]

What options are out there in the single action arena,...?

I have an old Mitchell SAA and an AWA in the Colt clones. They have a certain appeal since every cowboy we watched on TV growing up used a Colt. However, in the real world there were other choices, lots of other choices. I also have a couple Navy Arms Schofields and I like them a lot more than the Colt types for some reason. Uberti, which made the Navy Arms replicas also makes the Laramie for Beretta, which I'd love to have one of those as it is a copy of the S&W New Model No. 3. If I had lived in the Single Action era I'd probably have chosen a S&W over a Colt.

My favorite single action though is a double action S&W with the hammer cocked.

 

[n4zov]

I have an old Mitchell SAA and an AWA in the Colt clones. They have a certain appeal since every cowboy we watched on TV growing up used a Colt. However, in the real world there were other choices, lots of other choices. I also have a couple Navy Arms Schofields and I like them a lot more than the Colt types for some reason. Uberti, which made the Navy Arms replicas also makes the Laramie for Beretta, which I'd love to have one of those as it is a copy of the S&W New Model No. 3. If I had lived in the Single Action era I'd probably have chosen a S&W over a Colt.

My favorite single action though is a double action S&W with the hammer cocked.

Well stated! About every ten years I just have to satisfy the feeling that I gotta have a SA. So I buy a Ruger or something and shoot it for a while. Then I remember why I got rid of the last one: slow to load, slower to unload, long slow hammer fall, poor trigger and doesn't really fit my hand. Then I start all over again.

 

[beemerphile]

I have Colt, Freedom Arms, Ruger, Cimarron, and others, but if I only wanted a neat one to shoot it would be my USFA Rodeo in .45 Colt.

 

[galena]

You can buy anything you want, but if it doen'st say COLT on the gun and when you cock it, it ain't no Colt.

 

[Casehardn]

I own a single action .45 colt Gunslinger from U.S. Firearms.
It is the most accurate out of the box SAA .45 I have ever owned.
..and I've had a colt 3rd gen and a Ruger vaquero (1st series).

The US Firearms investment is money well spent because they are IMHO tomorrow's classics.
Incredible fit in finish, accuracy and all made under the blue dome.

I live close to Hartford and all the local gun store owners all speak highly of Doug Donnely's product.

There are plenty of product reviews on his website.
I believe their base gun is the Rodeo, but same accuracy as the more expensive finished models.
Hope this helps...

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

I am partial to the Remington M1875 copies. I bought mine after reading about Frederick Russell Burnham, he carried one in 44-40 (mine is in 45 Long Colt). A good shooter, something a little different but still authentic.

 

[deanodog]

I chose a blackhawk convertible in 45 colt/45ACP. I already had a super blackhawk in 44 mag.

 

[keith44spl]

Aaron,

Like 'deanodog' above I too have a fondness for the convertibles...


3rd Gen. Colt chambered for the 45 Long Colt & 45 Automatic Colt Pistol cartridges.

And I carry her on those lazy days...That's when she's the best company of all.

Su Amigo,
Dave

 

[PALADIN85020]

I think a lot of people in the know would agree that probably the best-made single action today is made by the folks at U.S. Firearms. This one is a nearly exact copy of the pre-war Colt Single Action Army. The workmanship and attention to detail is superb, and they are made in America!

If you are looking for ruggedness, it's hard to beat the older Ruger Vaqueros. I've modified mine so that they load traditionally at half-cock with precision indexing. The top one, in high-polish stainless steel, is a convertible and has cylinders for both .45 Colt and .45 ACP.

 

[cmj8591]

"You can buy anything you want, but if it doen'st say COLT on the gun and when you cock it, it ain't no Colt."


The U.S.F.A. single action does say "C-O-L-T" when you pull the hammer back. It's made under the same blue dome on some of the same equipment. I guess that the only difference is that U.S.F.A. has some real quality control and isn't operating on the verge of bankruptcy.

Of course here in the People's Republic, Chairman Mao.....ah, make that the Atty General, Martha Caokley...... has decided that these guns are a danger to consumers and has outlawed the sale of them. I'm glad I got mine when I did.