Rodeo II

[Tubac]

Gents,
Well I talked myself into a Rodeo II, 4/34 barrel in .45 with satin nickel finish.
As I'm waiting for it to show up, I'm wondering how the plating holds up.
Has anyone has any problems with the plating? It looked so purty, that
I HAD to talk myself into one. Hopefully I made a good choice.
Tubac

[Capt. John Fitzgerald]

Tubac,
I have yet to hear any complaints about the satin nickel finish.  I have 4 USFA's with the regular nickel finish and haven't had a problem with any of them.  Just remember to keep them away from Hoppe's #9, or any other ammonia based cleaners (I have been using Ballistol on all of my nickel plated guns).
I think you made a perfect choice.  I would like to get one without the fire blue screws.  I think it would made the perfect "working gun" for use in areas where the weather is sometimes less than perfect.  Here in the Northwest it rains quite a bit and many of us are in close proximity to the salt water.   Those fire blue screws look great but are just not practical on a gun that is going to be exposed to the elements.  That aside, I think the Rodeo II is one of the best buys on the market today.
CJF

[Tubac]

Thanks for the info. Are you shooting smokeless?
Tubac

[Capt. John Fitzgerald]

Tubac,
Smokeless is all I use and much of it is full load.
CJF

[Rowdy Fulcher]

Howdy
Just wondering if you could get a Rodeo II in 44wcf with a 4 3/4 barrel ? That would be a Excellent carry gun , and I 'd say it would be a real shooter .

[Blackpowder Burn]

USFA will chamber the Rodeo for any cartridge you desire.  They do charge something like $100 extra per gun for anything other than 45LC or 38 Spl.  I've been considering exactly the same thing you have.  I love the 44-40 and think a Rodeo II would be great for black powder use with the cartridge.

[Buffalo Bruce]

Tubac:

I have owned a Rodeo II w/ 4 3/4" barrel for a year and a half. Hated the brown plastic grips. Sent the grip frame and trigger guard to Bar S Grips and had Tru-Ivory grips made - beautiful. Love the gun and have shot about seven matches with it. I shoot only black powder or substitutes so my clean up involves water. Have heard not to use hoppes

Buffalo

[Seth Shaw]

I have a matching pair of Rodeo II pistols from Long Hunter and they are without a doubt the best equipment investment I have ever made for shooting CAS matches. I shoot smokeless hand loads exclusively in them and they clean up in soap and water with no problems. I use M-Pro 7 and Otis cleaners for the barrels and cylinders and the nickel finish is a beautiful as the day I bought them.

Unlike many others I don't have an aversion to the brown plastic "Burlwood" grips they come standard with (in fact the stock grips on my Rodeo II's are the best factory grips I've had on any single action pistol I have owned). Despite that, I do plan to add some Tru-Ivory grips to my pistols as well because frankly, nothing looks finer than a nickel plated pistol wearing Ivory stocks.

[Mad Monte McCrae]

I also have the Long Hunter Rodeo II.  I love them.  I have been cleaning mine with RemOil no problems at all.  I am thinking about switching to Ballistol.  I would like to get a set of Checkered Buffalo Horn grips for mine.