OT-SAA?

Paul LC · Post by **Paul LC** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 5:38 pm

Historically I tend to favor Ruger single action revolvers. Is there a tangible benefit to be gained by shelling out the huge amount of money that it takes to get an actual Colt SAA? Would it be better to get a revolver from USFA or one of the Italian replicas?

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 5:49 pm

Paul,

I'm a Ruger fan too, but no matter if it's an Old Model or a New Model, the Ruger is not a Colt. Neither is a an Uberti, or a USFA or any of the other copies.

If you want a Colt, no other will do. Even if the prices are high. If you just want a good single action to shoot, then most of them will work.

I've wanted a Colt SAA all my life. I've never had the funds to buy one.
Someday before I croak I hope to own one.
But I'll hang on to my Rugers. They are in a different class.

Joe

24thMICH · Post by **24thMICH** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 7:25 pm

I've got a Cimarron SAA. It's basically a Uberti that's been tuned up by some wizards in Texas. It's about as authentic as you're going to get.

For the money, I couldn't be happier with it. It's just a complete joy to shoot. I can't believe the balance. The recoil is so smooth it's like butter. I can fully understand why the SAA was so popular back in the old days.

.

kimwcook · Post by **kimwcook** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 8:13 pm

I have Rugers, I've had Uberti's and Cimmaron's (depending on model, one and the same) and I have Colt SAA's. There is nothing like a Colt SAA. The USFA SAA's are being touted by a large number of gun writers as equal to or better than any Colt ever made. I have no experience with these and can't put my 2 cents in. They look nice.

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 8:27 pm

Paul,
C-O-L-T. Sez, it all. IT IS THE one to own. Rugers are well made and brick-outhouse strong. But... having a tuned, well fitted COLT is absolutely heaven. I am very lucky in that I own three. I also have in my safe (they're my son's), three Colt clones that have been tuned and turned into very nice, reliable CAS guns. However, the best of them is light-years behind the Colts in the FEEL.

This one is 28 years old, has been shot in cowboy action matches for 22 years, and recently rebuilt. A Ruger might have made it that long and for that many rounds without being rebuilt, but... It still wouldn't have that "Colt" feel and name. It's been shot with both smokeless and black powder (the real stuff only) and still cleans up good enough to go out on Saturday nite!

I qualified with it as a duty carry gun with my SO in Texas and often received comments on it. Can't see it here, but...

Oh, did I mention that I LOVE my Colts?

JerryB · Post by **JerryB** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 9:10 pm

I have to agree with Griff and the others,if you can get a C-O-L-T GET IT.I bought mine in 1959. I shot my first CAS match yesterday with it and could not tell any difference than when I bought it and it laid in the Everglades for three months, but thats another tale.

Jerry

Paul LC · Post by **Paul LC** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 9:18 pm

Griff wrote:
But... having a tuned, well fitted COLT is absolutely heaven.

How are they when they're factory stock? The MSRP of $1290 is a little high for a gun that you need to send to a gunsmith to have it tuned.

Grizzly Adams · Post by **Grizzly Adams** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 9:18 pm

What Griff said!

jdad · Post by **jdad** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 9:23 pm

I paid $1145 for a NIB 7.5" 32-20 C-O-L-T. It was worth every penny. There is nothing that compares with that "click"- "click" - "click"- "click" of a Colt. It will hold its value WAAAAAAY more than a Ruger ever will.

Both go bang, but.........

Paul LC · Post by **Paul LC** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 9:33 pm

jdad wrote:I paid $1145 for a NIB 7.5" 32-20 C-O-L-T. It was worth every penny. There is nothing that compares with that "click"- "click" - "click"- "click" of a Colt. It will hold its value WAAAAAAY more than a Ruger ever will.

Both go bang, but.........

I take it to mean that even "plain-Jane" factory stock SAA's are still very nice. This is the kind of stuff I am looking for. How is the accuracy?

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 9:35 pm

Paul LC wrote:
Griff wrote: But... having a tuned, well fitted COLT is absolutely heaven.
How are they when they're factory stock? The MSRP of $1290 is a little high for a gun that you need to send to a gunsmith to have it tuned.

I guess I should have been more specific. A "tuned" CAS gun uses slightly different timing than would be needed with a stock gun that will be shot ocassionally, or even a lot at reasonable speeds. I have had this gun since 1982, (new in box) and shot it for a couple of years in CAS before having it re-tuned to run fast. By fast I mean 5 shots in less than 5 seconds. Here's a world record run. That was shot with a modified (internally) Ruger, but at this level it usually ain't the gun, its the shooter. The Single Action Army wasn't designed to run at these speeds. And you start rotating a full cylinder that fast, and stop it that fast, (has to do this every time the hammer is cocked) you can see where not having the timing critical, would beat a gun to death, I don't care what brand it is. I roughly estimate my gun has 200-300K rounds thru it, just in competition, not practice or qualifying. Top shooters in this game are practicing to the tune of 50K rounds a year.

Paul LC · Post by **Paul LC** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 9:48 pm

I can understand how a race gun like a race car would need to be specially prepped to handle the abuse, but I'm not looking for a race gun, I want to know how the factory stock family sedan runs on the road.

Post by **Chuck 100 yd** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 9:59 pm

In 1969 I bought a Colt SSA .45 colt 7 1/5 bbl. NIB at the Rod and Gun Club on post in Kitzingen Germany for $115.00 . I also bought a Colt Python .357 at the same time, also $115.00 NIB. I carried them home in a case sliped under the seat of the airplane. Those were the days!!!

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 10:54 pm

Generally speaking, the run-of-the-mill, NIB Colt SAA is nicely finished, (as good as they get), will shoot, function and give YEARS of good trouble-free service. (As with anything, they can come in yellow). Accuracy is probably as good as anyone's with similar sights. (Sure the adj. sights on a Ruger Blackhawk are much better, being of a design that is adjustable and with a wide serrated ramp front.) That said, the only adjustment to the Colt SAA sights are either bending and/or filing the front to bring the gun to POA (read Redneck fixin'). However, most any fixed sighted SA is the same. They can be regulated properly by re-staking the front sight, or turning the barrel. This is something that should be undertaked by a professional. I have one that's been professionally regulated, (I sent him some of my ammo along with the gun). But that is only needed after you decide on what ammo you're going to be using. I'm lucky, mine shoots several loads to the same point @ 15 yards. I carry CCI Lawman .45 Colt 200gr HPs. and they shoot just great along with my 185 grain handloads. The other gun I "regulated" the sights myself. It consisted of bending the sight to the left about 1/32" (half the width of the sight) and filing about 1/16" off the top. This brought it to the exact same POI as the other gun with the same ammo. When this one gets on my nerves from looking at the poor bluing after I whacked off 2-3/4" off its factory 7-1/2" barrel, too abrupt crown, and bent sight, I'll sent it off for the mods done to my other gun.
As I recall, the first SAA Colt I bought was a 4-3/4" .45 Colt in 1972. I was a 3rd Class PO in the Navy and couldn't afford it. But figured the price would never be better. I shot it with Remington factory loads 250gr lead round nose. It seems it shot to POA, with groups very respectable @ 25 yards. Off a rest it was less than 2". I shot on a Navy Pistol team and had 2 1911 models (a National Match & issue) which shot about the same as my SAA. That gun was stolen with the one pictured above being the insurance company's idea of a replacement, or a cruel joke; (7-1/2" cut to 4-3/4").

Frankly, I don't see how you could be disatisfied. If you like single action revolvers, the Colt IS the Cadillac. All others are just copies, (even the Ruger), he sez while ducking back into his hole!

jdad · Post by **jdad** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 7:25 am

Mine likes a slower load, 3.9gr of HP-38 under a 115 gr Laser Cast, for 25yd accuracy. My POI is a 6 o'clock hold. I found the load it likes rather than messing with the sights. Pure joy to shoot.

CraigC · Post by **CraigC** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 8:58 am

There's nothing in the world quite like the Single Action Army. Unfortunately, for most of the third generation, quality has been on the downward slope compared to previous offerings. Many guns are way overpolished and fit and finish is not what it used to be. Almost all will need a tuneup to survive the long haul. New Colts hold their value but only if you don't shoot them. For some reason, there is still a collector market for these new guns. If what you want is a shooter, USFA is the only way to go. Quality is far superior in every regard. The guns are built with precision, proper tolerances and are extremely well fit and fitted. They are also offered in the more traditional carbona blue, not to be confused with the "charcoal blue" of some of the replicas. Case colors are far more vivid as well. Caliber selection and options are also much more broad. They are simply better guns than Colt ever was and most won't need an action job as the inside is finished as well as the outside.

One of the best bargains in a new SAA is the Cowboy Classic from Doug Turnbull. He gets USFA guns in the white and finishes them in his shop.

http://www.turnbullrestoration.com

rangerider7 · Post by **rangerider7** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 9:26 am

I have a few Colt SAAs. I love them. I also have some Ubertis. I bought a Cimarron "aged" Uberti 7 1/2 357 from Burnt Mill Smithing http://www.burnt-mill.com/sale1.htm and it is the smoothest SAA I have shot. I just ordered another in 45 colt with a 5 1/2 inch barrel. He sends them off to a gunsmith that retired from Doug Turnbull's shop and performs 21 different things to make it look and feel like an 1977 Colt SAA. The cost on this new/old one is around 675.00. You might like to try one out.

Pete44ru · Post by **Pete44ru** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 9:49 am

[I carried them home in a case sliped under the seat of the airplane. Those were the days!!! ]

Yes, they certainly were ! In the early 60's, coming back from a TDY jaunt to the Azores, a few of my intrepid fellow airmen brought back a then-new Honda 50 inside the cargo deck fuel tank of a C-130. They had to take it apart, of course, to get it through the access hatch - but since the tank had fuel put in it later, it wasn't looked at by Customs.

Mike D. · Post by **Mike D.** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 10:00 am

I have never owned a new Colt SA, but I do have a few 1st Generations. They are handling and shooting works of gunmaking art.

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 10:17 am

I have to say, that "MSRP" is just like on autos, your negotiating skills will determine the price you pay. I bought my last NIB Colt SAA for $650. It was a 1979 production, and this was in 1994. The last quoted price I had for a NEW 2nd gen was $1200, with a recent production 3rd gen under $1000. Shoulda bought them last year when I had the dinero, but ain't hindsight grand?

If you're a SASS member, you always have this very collectible and personalized option available to you: SASS Colt Single Action. (I'm not allowed to buy mine until I have the money to buy 3 pairs, to include my wife and son).

And, I have to say the new ones a pard received just before last month's match were as fine an example as anything from any gunmaker today and way better than most.

Gun Smith · Post by **Gun Smith** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 10:24 am

"Click - Click - CLACK - Click".

kimwcook · Post by **kimwcook** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 11:53 am

And they sure are pretty.

[img][img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v606/ ... uns011.jpg[/img][/img][/url]

cshold · Post by **cshold** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 1:41 pm

Pete44ru wrote:[I carried them home in a case sliped under the seat of the airplane. Those were the days!!! ]

Yes, they certainly were ! In the early 60's, coming back from a TDY jaunt to the Azores, a few of my intrepid fellow airmen brought back a then-new Honda 50 inside the cargo deck fuel tank of a C-130. They had to take it apart, of course, to get it through the access hatch - but since the tank had fuel put in it later, it wasn't looked at by Customs.

Lajes Field, Azores, Portugal
Hummmmm, kinda remember that little rock in the middle of the Atlantic.
Did a 15 mo. short tour there.

Mike D. · Post by **Mike D.** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 3:16 pm

Not pretty, but SO reliable.

cshold · Post by **cshold** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 3:48 pm

Great picture, sure am lustin after that sweet lookin Bisley

jd45 · Post by **jd45** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 7:47 pm

Griff, in that pic of the 28-year old Colt SAA, I noticed that , while I'd guess it to be a 2nd Gen, the hammer doesn't look like it. I hated the factory hammer on my 2nd Gen, & replaced it with a Pre-War. The section I'm referring to is that which contacts the cylinder frame at the rear of the topstrap. It's shaped differently than the factory 2nd Gen hammer at that point. Is that also what you did when you had the gun rebuilt? just curious, jd45

Paul LC · Post by **Paul LC** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 8:27 pm

Thanks guys for the input. First I'll have to save up a little more of the discretionary cash, then I'll see what happens when I get a chance to get finger prints all over a few. Collector's has quite a few, IIRC. Calliber choice is easy, .45 Colt of course. The hard part will be to decide between 4-3/4" and 5-1/2".

Paul LC · Post by **Paul LC** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 8:59 pm

Went and had a look at Collector's website and found this right off the bat;http://www.collectorsfirearms.com/admin ... temID=8447 The only problem that I can see is that they want $300 MORE than MSRP!

When I am actually ready to deal, I'll go see what the heck is going on over there, or try Carter's.