Colt SAA

[FourTenJaeger]

Alright you wheel-gun boys, School me on the Colt SAA. I really want one but I want to know how to operate one properly first. I hear you can only load 5 rounds because if you load 6, the hammer will fall on one when you went to go full-cock it, or is this just FUD? Please inform me.

James

[trashman]

In a Colt SAA, when the hammer is down (at rest), the firing pin actually rests on the primer of the round in the chamber. So if you dropped the gun or smacked the hammer hard enough you'd set the round off.

Thus, the practice of carrying an empty chamber under the hammer.

There area number of newer Colt clones (Ruger Vaqueros, Beretta Stampedes) that have internal safeties (hammer blocks) that prevent this from happening, making them much more suitable for Cowboy Action shooting, etc.

--Neill

[FourTenJaeger]

Thanks! Do you think the quality of a Ruger Vaquero is up to a Colt SAA? I've wanted both for a long time

[Ripon83]

Vaquero is likely made as well, but there is just something special about real colts

[trashman]

Thanks! Do you think the quality of a Ruger Vaquero is up to a Colt SAA? I've wanted both for a long time

It depends on what you want to do with them.

I recently sold my Beretta Stampede because I'd like to have a Colt; but it's destined to be more of a shooter-heirloom than a range toy or something I'm going to haul out in the field.

The Ruger has a different action than the Colt, one that will stand up to plenty of shooting and handling.

The authentic Colt SAA action is a bit finicky -- it's over 100 years old, after all. Firearms design have come a long way since then.

--Neill

[FourTenJaeger]

Im just looking for a good shooter, Nothing to put 1000 rounds a month down the pipe in, though

[X-NewYawker]

Vaqueros are actually STRONGER than real Colts, with thicker cylinder walls, beefier frames (even the new ones) etc., they just aren't Colt Single Actions. The new COlts cost around 1300 bucks, New Rugers less than half that. But go to a store and heft Colt 4 3/4 and 5 1/2 inch barreled guns and then a Ruger and you'll see. The closest guns to colts that are NOT colts are made by US Patent Repeating Firearms and the Uberti made Cimarron and Pietta made EMFs are very nice guns.

Cimarrons with Doug Turnbull finishing:

[Andy Taylor]

Real Colts and clones have a different feel than the Rugers. Both are good guns, but different. The Ruger will last longer IF you do lots and lots of shooting, or shoot the really heavy loads. Some loads should not be fired at all in the Colts or clones.

That said, just last night I had the pleasure of firing a 4.75" 2nd Gen SAA in .44-40. It belongs to a friend of mine. Nothing like a real Colt.

[taloft]

I second the notion of getting a good clone. The Italians make some fine clones. My Great Western II, made by Pietta for EMF, is an excellent 1873 clone. A SASS shooter turned me on to them and I've been very happy he did.

You could pick up two clones for the cost of one Colt. Don't get me wrong, few things compare to an actual Colt SAA. The bluing patina and trigger on a 1st generation Colt is just sublime. However, that elevation in class comes with a price.

[dmacintyre]

If you want an SAA I don't think there is a substitute for a nice Colt. I had a 7.5" one in nickel and I always regret selling it.

BTW the hammer has 3 positions on a Colt : down (unsafe for reasons stated above), cocked for firing and there is also a "safe" position where the hammer sits back a fraction away from the primer. I'd still leave an empty chamber under the hammer just to be on the safe side though.