might buy colt SAA clone

justin22885 · August 29, 2009, 01:53:14 AM

a few months ago, i sold all my guns because i really needed the money to help a friend.. long story, anyway.. i need to get more, and i just dont have the same interests anymore... im thinking of getting a colt SAA clone.. but one with a more modern hammer bar safety... my priority of use.... recreation, hunting, personal defense... that being said, i was wondering if anyone knows what sort of hotter loads are still safe to use in an SAA?... i know the 45 colt loads pushing 44 magnum levels would utterly destroy an SAA and are intended for rugers only... so just what is the SAA capable of? (im currently looking at a 4 3/4" cimarron)

Dr. Bob · September 02, 2009, 11:21:31 PM

I have a pair of Beretta Stampedes that I am very satisfied with.

Have you considered a New Model Vaquero? About the same size and should take the hotter loads, so I'm told. Don't own a Ruger, so I am NOT an authority.

Four-Eyed Buck · September 04, 2009, 03:19:34 PM

gotta be careful on the Rugers. The Ruger New Vacquero( current model) is downsized to just about the size of the original Colt SAA. Meant for SAAMI level Colt .45 loads only. The original Vacq's are larger and can take hotter loads........Buck

justin22885 · September 05, 2009, 01:33:39 AM

if i still go with an SAA, im going with a stampede, simply because it has the look, feel, balance, and is basically a perfect SAA clone.. but with a transfer bar safety making it safe to carry and load six

but an 1858 converted to fire cartridges, and the 1875 are still in play here

Major 2 · September 05, 2009, 06:50:11 AM

If Remington's are in the running , take a good look The Uberti Forged Frame Conversion.

About the same $ as the 58 and Conversion Cyl. purchased NIB.

5 /12 & 7 1/2 Barrels are offered , I'm real fan of the Colt opentop family of guns , but my Remy's is a sweet deversion sometimes.

justin22885 · September 05, 2009, 09:20:40 PM

sometime id like to do my own 58 conversion...without using that spring loaded firing pin piece/loading gate and just make a new hammer with a firing pin... and with the ratcheting system of the 58 you could totally drop that firing pin between the rims of the cartridges... and handle bigger bullets resulting in a larger overall length... would only have to carve out the right section on the right side to make clearance for an 1875 loading gate.. take the lever off the front to give it that dirty purpose specific look, and reduce unneccesary weight

now.. on those old colts, the open top models of 1851, 1860, the walker, dragoon, etc.. theres a wedge in the front of the frame that has to be tapped out in order to remove the base pin and change a cylinder... is there any way to install the base pin spring loaded latching mechanism from a later colt SAA allowing very rapid change of cylinders?

and... since i do like remmies, ill probably get the 1875 over the SAA after a lot of thought

River City John · September 05, 2009, 09:50:13 PM

Quote from: justin22885 on September 05, 2009, 09:20:40 PM

now.. on those old colts, the open top models of 1851, 1860, the walker, dragoon, etc.. theres a wedge in the front of the frame that has to be tapped out in order to remove the base pin and change a cylinder... is there any way to install the base pin spring loaded latching mechanism from a later colt SAA allowing very rapid change of cylinders?

Justin22885, I know you've never handled any of these revolvers you talk about, so I urge you to get to a gun shop where you can familiarize yourself.

The base pin does not remove on open top cap 'n' balls/conversions like you mentioned('51,'60,'61, et al.),- the wedge holds the barrel assembly on the cylinder arbor, which itself is securely screwed(anchored) into the recoil plate. The cylinder is then free to revolve in alignment with the barrel.
The cylinder arbor on colt open tops is a tad over double the thickness as the base pin on the SA Army.

RCJ

justin22885 · September 06, 2009, 11:59:42 AM

i havent handled an 1851 or an 1860, but ive handled an 1858 and a colt SAA, the SAAs base pin (atleast the one i handled) could be removed very quickly, very easily, and from what i can tell the old black powder models had a wedge that needed to be tapped out to release the pin... as for my 1858 all i have to do is drop the arm and the base pin comes right out.. turn the revolver sideways, pull back on the hammer a bit and the cylinder falls right out

so i was just wondering if they ever changed it on the old colt models to make it quicker for changing cylinders or not?

Driftwood Johnson · September 06, 2009, 05:51:49 PM

Quoteso i was just wondering if they ever changed it on the old colt models to make it quicker for changing cylinders or not?

Howdy

No, the system on the older Colts is not the same as on the SAA. As River City John said, the cylinder on a percussion Colt does not rotate on a pin like it does in a SAA or an 1858 Remington New Model Army. On the C&B Colts, the cylinder revolvers around an arbor, which is much greater in diameter than the pin on a SAA. The arbor is securely anchored in the frame, it does not come out. The wedge in the front passes through the barrel assembly and a slot in the arbor. When you drive out the wedge, you free the barrel assembly to slide off the arbor/frame assembly from the front. Then the cylinder can be removed. But the arbor does not come out, it stays anchored in the frame.

Perhaps the exploded view on this page will help.

http://www.vtigunparts.com/store/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=15&cat=Uberti+1860+Army

The whole point of the wedge is it is a strong way to fasten the front and the rear of the revolver together. That is all that secures the frame to the barrel, the wedge through the arbor. When the solid frame SAA was introduced in 1873, the barrel was screwed into the frame, so all the cylinder pin had to do was provide a center for the cylinder to rotate around. So it did not need to be as massive as the C&B arbor. All it had to be was a 1/4" pin for the cylinder to rotate around. Such a system was simply not possible on a Colt style C&B. Your Remington on the other hand has a solid frame and the barrel is screwed into the frame, so like the SAA all the pin has to do is provide a pivot for the cylinder. It does not have to hold the gun together.

Caprock Louis · September 29, 2009, 10:55:58 AM

I know not exactly a clone however if you want a modern single action then only choice as I see is a Ruger Blackhawk in whatever caliber you wish. Can handle hot loads all safety features. I love the original colt look and have several types but for the hot ones get a Blackhawk. Have in 357 and 44 Mag. Great guns for their purpose
Caprock Louis

RRio · October 13, 2009, 01:14:07 PM

I'm gonna have to throw in my two cents for the Ruger New Vaquero. For the money, they are hard to beat. They are ready to go right out of the box.

I used to be real big on the Colts and Colt replicas like the USFA, the Ubertis, and the Piettas, but after trying a pair of RNVs at a match, I was sold on them for CAS shooting. Just like their ad says:

Rugged Reliable Ruger