Colt and Beretta SA

[dfletcher]

I've had the Colt SAA for a while - 2nd Gen, NIB. Bought it "cash & carry" from Willey Bros in Reno. 5 1/2" bbl in 357 Magnum.

IMG_0327.jpg

Just picked up this Beretta Stampede. 4 5/8" bbl in 357 Magnum. It's a "3 click" but about as close to Colt as I've seen in the Italian clones - very well done.

IMG_1071.jpg

The difference in buying (10 day wait, return trip to pick up, DROS fee) buying two pretty much identical guns (and the Colt isn't 50 years old, it's named on the list) just struck me as interesting. In a "makes no sense at all" kind of way -

[kendog4570]

Never have handled one. How is the quality when compared to the Colt? If actually manufactured by Beretta, and not rebranded, one would think the quality is pretty good. Uberti's come close, Piettas and ASM not so much.

[dfletcher]

I don't know if it's a Uberti, removed the ejector rod housing to clean and nothing there.

At the risk of ticking off all my "if it's not a Colt" friends -

I own a 2nd gen and 3rd gen Colt, a few USFA SA types (Bisley and plain old "Artillery" version) and alot of the Uberti made, along with several Ruger FlatTops and this is easily the smoothest, best timed SA type I've handled.

The gun uses a slim bar attached to the hammer, similar to the plunger arrangement on Ruger, to actuate the cylinder bolt. But it's fixed and not spring plunger and it's fitted to the bolt. Trigger is excellent, zero end shake. Cleaning up the back of the trigger and front of the hammer where they interact, very easy.

There's not much over travel, as one finds in the Uberti "3 click" types. The trigger is much wider than the Colts, Ubertis.

Dimensions on the Stampede look very close to the Colt. Colt grips on the standard and the Bisley interchange very, very close - they's pass Ruger QC nowadays.

My only gripe is the chemical case hardening. The gun would be so much nicer with a few $$$ extra spent.

I paid all of $440.00 for the gun, must have been ignored by others. Of course CA fees and tax screwed things up by about $150.00.

FWIW, I have the Bisley and the trigger is even cleaner than on the standard.

IMG_0717.jpg
A bit unusual, I use a BK Grip adapter (K frame) and it gives me a better grip on the gun, allows thumb cocking with no change in grip.

[smle-man]

My Beretta Laramie is made by Uberti and Uberti is owned by Beretta so I'm guessing the Stampede is made by Uberti to Beretta specifications

[tmnguuyen]

I don't think you can get a new Beretta SA anymore. I like the Beretta version. For some reason Uberti, Cimarron SA just don't appeal to me even though they're probably all made buy Uberti with different markings.

[dfletcher]

^
True, no longer made. I'm not sure how Durys got this - new old stock I'd suppose.

FWIW, the mainspring on this gun is just right. Not overpowered, like my 2nd gen Colt was. But not too light as the Wolff tends to be. Wolff powered definitely ignites, but you can peel an orange in the time it takes the hammer to fall.