USFA question

[Regret Chancy]

I passed a private seller who had a USFA SAA with 7 1/2 inchbarrel and bpf, all blue and with a jeweled hammer in 45 Colt. The price was right and I bought it. Is this a common model and will I have a hard time finding a matching one? I have a tendency toward a long barreled (7 1/2) in left hand crossdraw and 4 3/4 or 5 1/2 in left hand strong side. I would like to clarify that this pistol is not for sale but I would like to find one similar. Thanks for any help yall may be able to give me,
                                                                                                                                     Regret Chancy

[Blackpowder Burn]

That sounds like a model USFA made for a short time a few years ago.  It was all polished blue in your choice of barrel lengths and calibers.  The problem was , it was in a narrow price window between the matte blue rodeo and the "premium" with case hardened frame and polished blue barrel, grip frame, etc.  Folks went for either the rodeo, or ponied up a little more to get the case hardened frame.  This model was discontinued after a relatively short run.  You can presently find the Rodeo in 5-1/2 inch in all matte blue (which is a very attractive gun), but you may have a hard time finding a mate to your gun.  USFA is pretty good about custom work, so you may try contacting Gary Granger and see if they will build a matching gun to yours.

[jdpress]

You may want to consider placing a Wanted ad in the "Classifieds" section of this forum or the SASS Wire Classifieds, if you are an active SASS member.    http://sassnet.com/forums/index.php?s=15c693a87654a636d97393aaffda63b2&showforum=14


Another site that has a number of USFA owners is the Single-Actions Forum.  http://singleactions.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=classifieds

Good hunting for your USFA Cowboy Model!

JD Press

[Regret Chancy]

I appreciate the input and will see what I can do to put your advice to use. I am normally a Uberti Schofield shooter but have added some Nickel Colts as a favorite shooting alternative and havent had much experience with the USFA's. The black powder frame was what sold me on this one plus the fact that it is in really good condition. It does appear to be sort of old and worn, well the box and sleeve does and the paperwork seems yellowed with age. Thanks again, RC

[Blackpowder Burn]

Chancy,

Most folks consider the USFA's to be of much better quality than current Colt's - and they are 100% US made.  I think you'll really enjoy that revolver.  I have 4 USFA's and they are the best guns I have ever owned, especially after being slicked up with an action job.

[RRio]

I passed a private seller who had a USFA SAA with 7 1/2 inchbarrel and bpf, all blue and with a jeweled hammer in 45 Colt. The price was right and I bought it. Is this a common model and will I have a hard time finding a matching one? I have a tendency toward a long barreled (7 1/2) in left hand crossdraw and 4 3/4 or 5 1/2 in left hand strong side. I would like to clarify that this pistol is not for sale but I would like to find one similar. Thanks for any help yall may be able to give me,
                                                                                                                                     Regret Chancy

I believe Long Hunter might help you with that: http://www.longhunt.com/

Or talk to Gary at USFA.

[Regret Chancy]

I went and picked up a premium USFA with the 5 1/2 inch barrel yesterday. Came home last night and fired 5 factory 255 grain Winchester lead round nose ammo through the new USFA and the same through a new Colt SAA 1850 model P at 25 yards. The USFA shot a 5 shot group of 2 1/8 inch offhand duelist style, the Colts 5 shot group was 4 1/2 inches fired the same way. The Colt was definitly hitting 6 inches below point of aim the USFA was less than 2 inches below point of aim. I am converted and from now on i will be shooting USFA's and not buying anymore Colts.  RC

[Blackpowder Burn]

Obviously a quick learner imbued with great wisdom!

[RRio]

Obviously a quick learner imbued with great wisdom!

I doubt he'll be disppointed. 

[Regret Chancy]

Pards,
    Well I found out a little more info on the first USFA that I bought. Figured I would ask for advice from them that knows. The pistol I got is actually a U.S. Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company model circa 1995. It is a white box with a black sleeve with red print. The white box does say something about celebrating the 140th anniversary of Colts old armoury 1855-1995. A little over a week ago somebody put one up for auction on the Gunbroker site and I made the bid and won the auction. Hopefully it should get here around the middle of the week. The seller mentioned that he thought these were becoming valuable as a collectible. It doesnt have the jeweled hammer and looks like it has first generarion type Colt grips with just the Eagle. Did I get a decent piece or just another good shooter? All help appreciated,
                                                                             Regret Chancy

[Neches]

Being a USFPA made in 1995 it would be a gun made from imported Uberti parts.  So what you have is a pretty good finished Uberti.

[Doc Sunrise]

It is true that the early USPFA guns are made from parts from Uberti.  However, to say it is a pretty good finished Uberti is a sever understatement.  I have several USPFA firearms, and learned these were fitted, filed, polished, and finished to a much higher level of quality than just assembled Uberti parts.  It may not be the 100% USA made gun like the ones from today, but they are still great guns.

[Old Doc]

I passed a private seller who had a USFA SAA with 7 1/2 inchbarrel and bpf, all blue and with a jeweled hammer in 45 Colt. The price was right and I bought it. Is this a common model and will I have a hard time finding a matching one? I have a tendency toward a long barreled (7 1/2) in left hand crossdraw and 4 3/4 or 5 1/2 in left hand strong side. I would like to clarify that this pistol is not for sale but I would like to find one similar. Thanks for any help yall may be able to give me,
                                                                                                                                     Regret Chancy

When you say "matching" do you mean the same barrel length or are you saying you want an all blue in the shorter barrel length? USFA used to make the "Cowboy" model which was an all blue with white hammer gun in 4 3/4 and 5 1/2. I have one. They show up on Gunbroker from time to time. Unlikely that your gun came from USFA with a jewelled hammer, however that is a feature that Longhunter offers with their action jobs.

[Fox Creek Kid]

I went and picked up a premium USFA with the 5 1/2 inch barrel yesterday. Came home last night and fired 5 factory 255 grain Winchester lead round nose ammo through the new USFA and the same through a new Colt SAA 1850 model P at 25 yards. The USFA shot a 5 shot group of 2 1/8 inch offhand duelist style, the Colts 5 shot group was 4 1/2 inches fired the same way. The Colt was definitly hitting 6 inches below point of aim the USFA was less than 2 inches below point of aim. I am converted and from now on i will be shooting USFA's and not buying anymore Colts.   RC

No Colt SAA or USFA is regulated for any particular ammo unless you PAY them to regulate it with your SPECIFIC load. A good load is usually found by handloading. If you are depending on factory ammo it will always be a crapshoot on a fixed sight revolver.  

[Regret Chancy]

I dont neccessarily agree that firing 2 different guns ,with accuracy as the goal, has to have handloaded ammo. I used ammo from the same box one row after another. When I find a good factory load that is accurate and adequate for its intended purpose I try to buy as much of it as is practical at the time. Consistency may require getting as much of each batch number as possible. Finding point of impact compared to point of aim for shooting for precision and extreme consistency (smaller targets, longer range at normal size targets, or notching a smartmouths ears ) then you need hand reloaded ammo. Not just for your own confidence but for that one thing guaranteed consistency, at least 75% more failures to fire happen in factory ammo BUT you may have to shoot or see over 1 million shots to run into enough factory failures to make any comparison. I never heard of any travelin cowboys or westerners hauling around reloading equipment and who knows how many factory ammo shooters cant all be wrong. Can they?
                          Regret Chancy
ps No offense meant FCK

[Fox Creek Kid]

...I never heard of any travelin cowboys or westerners hauling around reloading equipment and who knows how many factory ammo shooters cant all be wrong. Can they?

They used blackpowder ammo then & not smokeless and yes, many people reloaded back then as well. Easily the majority of buffalo were shot with reloaded ammo. To be a proficient shot in today's world you'd have to be a millionaire to buy enough factory ammo to practice. Every serious shooter I know is a reloader.

[Marshal Deadwood]

Not just a cost savings, but I LIKE to reload., cast bullets, etc............Take that away, half the enjoyment leaves.

MD

[Virginia Gentleman]

Not just a cost savings, but I LIKE to reload., cast bullets, etc............Take that away, half the enjoyment leaves.

MD

I agree that is the hobby within the hobby!