Sunday six gun single action question.

[lawman29]

Josh,

Colt: There is the Single Action Army or SAA for short. There are 3-4 generations depending on who you're arguing with. You will be able to find 3rd and 4th generation SAA's within your budget of $2k. Do some research on 3rd vs 4th generation so you can ask intelligent questions... I prefer the 4th generation.
They also make a New Frontier SA which has an adjustable rear sight etc.

US Firearms: Was a company that produced a clone Colt SAA that are very well made. You can find them within your budget. They are much higher quality than the Italian stuff.

Ruger: Vaquero is the "Colt SAA" model.
Blackhawk is the "New Frontier" style - adjustable rear sight... A poster previously talked about the old 3 screw (those don't have a transfer bar and are nice...).

So if you're in Texas and want to show up with a single action and not be embarrassed you can afford a 3rd or 4th generation Colt or a US Firearms SA. I offer the following caveat: how young are you and do your eyes still work??? I'm 66 I gave my kids all but one of my Colt SAA and US Firearms because I can't see the sights anymore. I do have a couple of old 3 screw Blackhawks that I have "neon" front sights on...

 

[jackson1]

Josh, You might want to consider a Colt New Frontier, 3rd or 4th generation. Adjustable sights and priced with in your range. I shoot a 3rd generation in 44 special and enjoy it a lot. Mainly shoot cast bullets with Unique. My lack of ability precludes me from accurately shooting a regular SAA. Bought it used about 15 years ago for $900 with ivory grips, so I don't believe they have inflated a large amount. It sat in a pawn shop for a few years before I relented and bought it. No regrets.

 

[jepp2]

Hard to beat an early 3 screw Ruger. This is a 41 mag.

 

[msinc]

Sounds like you need to first decide of you just want a single action six gun with an adjustable rear sight, etc. or you want to keep it as close to a Colt SSA/cowboy type as you can get.
For the cowboy type I would definitely say go with a Ruger New Vaquero. I have had them all, still have most of them, and there is no match for the New Vaquero. It is very accurate, it is very tough, it has the grip and feel of the Colt and you can get it in stainless. It also has a little cylinder indexer thing to aid in loading and unloading. It lines the chamber up with the loading gate cut out.
The Colt SSA is a very nice feeling and pointing gun, but without some smithing it lacks the toughness for really having some fun. You will not have this problem with a New Vaquero. If you are really stuck on Colt but don't want to spend the money I would look at the clones made by Uberti. Cimarron, etc. They are pretty exact copies and don't carry that ridiculous price tag.
Another old west six gun to consider is the Remington 1879/1890 models. There are copies made of those as well.
If you want to play with fast draw, which is a lot of fun, you might want to look at the holsters Bob Mernickle makes. And always use ammo loaded with wax bullets.

 

[joshb]

Thanks for all the advice, guys. I talked to a member here that has a pair of
unfired Uberti Gunfighters in 38/357. They’ve had the actions and triggers tuned. One thing I noticed when handling the Colts was the “small” grip size. I have big hands and the Gunfighter has a longer grip. I’m going to start with these, get a feel for them and watch the gun stores and shows for some deals.

 

[jonbearman]

Blackhawk or bisley by ruger. Cant be beat for the money.

 

[distinguished]

I frankly want Matt Dillon‘s old colt 45 and I don’t know that any other single action will do. jd

Dillon's "Colt" was not a Colt. I believe he used a Great Western. If you look closely there is no firing pin on the hammer since those guns used a floating firing pin. I have noticed that in a number of old post war westerns, seems real Colt single actions were hard to come by for a time after WW2.

 

[farmerjohn]

Hey Josh, you ain't that far from Fredericksburg, why don't you drive over to the Cimmiron place and look around. Bet you don't leave without something and they are nice fokes.....
John

 

[wiuprof]

My favorite is this pre-warning, convertible model Blackhawk. It is very versatile and easy to pack!

 

[Dub]

I have a pair of Vaqueros in 45 Colt that are highly slicked up and run like Colts that I am going to sell on a different site soon.

 

[joshb]

I have a pair of Vaqueros in 45 Colt that are highly slicked up and run like Colts that I am going to sell on a different site soon.

Well now you come forward! Shoot me a pm when you get ready to sell, please.

 

[USMCDOC]

My favorite is this pre-warning, convertible model Blackhawk. It is very versatile and easy to pack!View attachment 1184957

i am trying to get one just like that..

 

[skeeljc]

+1 for a Uberti. The guys that love Colts have a Colt SAA in their collection and shoot an Uberti.

 

[JSH]

I have read enough horror stories and seen first hand with the NEW Colts especially 45 I would avoid them. They are pretty, but shoot ability doubtful. I saw one a few years back, cylinder throats went from .450 to.458+, barrel had major issues as well.

Had my hands on one USFA and still kick myself for not ordering one before they closed.

 

[jds holler]

There's a lot to be said for single action revolvers -- AND lever action rifles --- AND the girls who love them. jd

 

[epc308]

This one is my first cartridge hand gun, bought from my buddy for $60 when I was sixteen years old. I've still got the walnut stocks for it, but when I grew up my hands got big and ugly and these work better.

I could eject the empties, and reload five more without looking, and lower the hammer on an empty chamber -- at the same time driving down a dirt track through the sage brush -- with a beer between my knees.
(used to be a different world we lived in and I would no longer advocate the above illegal and insane behavior)

Anyway when a friend got one of the new transfer bar safety types, I always thought they sucked, and were an abomination of a single action.

View attachment 1184825
This was a hell of a great six-shooter to grow up with, and I grew up in a place where it was always with me. It's a convertible with 22 mag cylinder, and it shoots both cartridges just great. I've shot so many varmints, and all kinds of game with it, that just thinking about it makes me feel old.

Also had a 30 carb., Blackhawk of the old style. It was a fine gun, but just not the kind of thing you could casually crack off a few with. -- unless ya wanted to go deef. jd

Way cool. A firearm with honest wear always looks the best. Driving with an open container? It was legal in Kansas till the Feds threatened to withhold hiway funds for that, and a change in minimum age from 18 to 21. Everyone I've know with a 30 carbine revolver has said it was the loudest thing they owned.

 

[Knotwild]

US Firearms: Was a company that produced a clone Colt SAA that are very well made. You can find them within your budget. They are much higher quality than the Italian stuff.

That company had a game plan (or so it seemed) that would have allowed them to make a BIG splash in the firearms world. I think they were even working on producing a Colt Woodsman. But the stuff they did produce was breath taking, at least to someone interested in single actions, Woodsmans, and even the Colt Lightening rifle. It seemed like they just got bored with it and shut the doors. I too could kick myself for not acting because I really wanted a single action with the 3" barrel and ejector rod. Plus they did some 1911's.

 

[joshb]

Hey Josh, you ain't that far from Fredericksburg, why don't you drive over to the Cimmiron place and look around. Bet you don't leave without something and they are nice fokes.....
John

Thanks for the tip! I looked them up. Not far! Could be a nice afternoon to leave the wife at home!

 

[Dusty Stevens]

After i watched hell on wheels i decided i needed a griswold. Still havent got it

 

[Willie]

I've carried this 3 screw Ruger for more years than I can count. It has taken well over a hundred rattlers and 1 gobbler @ 25 yards, head shot.

When I bought it, there was only the 22 mag cylinder. I shoot the rat shot for snakes at 4-5 feet and they do the job just fine. Not a big bore, but very handy and very accurate.