Video - Colt's Single Action Army Revolver

Bottom Dealin Mike · August 22, 2011, 10:27:39 PM

I'm working on a three article series called the "Guns of 1873". Each article will focus on one of the three iconic firearms released that year, the Colt SAA, the '73 Winchester and the .45-70 Trapdoor Springfield.

This video is the companion to the Colt Single Action Army Revolver article.

fourfingersofdeath · August 23, 2011, 06:29:48 PM

That is one sweet looking revolver.

I shoot a pair of Pietta clones in 44/40, I really love them and they are well tuned and shoot sweetly, but with my big hands full BP loads chop me up. Loaded warthog style, they sure get everyone's attention at the range.

Bottom Dealin Mike · August 24, 2011, 02:26:09 PM

I have a stainless Pietta .44-40...excellent gun.

I also have a blued Pietta Great Western II that started out as a .44-40, but I bought a .357 mag cylinder for it and had it bored out to .44 Spl. Now it is a .44 Spl/.44-40 convertible.

fourfingersofdeath · August 25, 2011, 03:35:23 AM

That would be a nice conversion, handy as well. I will consider that when my big stock of 44/40 brass wears out (I will most probably forget by then, lol). I like to shoot the big bores and I love the Colt platform (Can't afford a Colt yet), but with my big hands, I would probably do better with my new model Ruger Vaqueros (45s). We have a two day shoot at the end of September, a days drive to the National Championships and then its a week of shooting. After about three days my fingers and hands have little cuts and pieces out of them from the Piettas. Never noticed that with the Rugers. Just a bit roomier.

Bottom Dealin Mike · August 25, 2011, 10:31:50 AM

If you need more room for your hands you should check out Remington 1875/1890. Or the old style Ruger Vaqueros. Either design gives much more room than Colts/clones.

fourfingersofdeath · August 26, 2011, 01:59:30 AM

Thanks, I'll keep my eyes open for those, I have an old ROA (as well as a couple of newish open sighted ones) I didn't realise that there was a difference. never use the old one and the newer ones at the same time I suppose.

Bottom Dealin Mike · August 26, 2011, 05:55:21 AM

You won't get the comparison your looking for by trying your old ROA. The ROA grip frame has stayed the same throughout its run. You need to find someone with a set of five year old Vaqueros and try those. About five or so years ago Ruger bowed to customer requests and brought out the New Vaquero using the old 3-screw Ruger grip frame, which is dimensionally close to Colt's SAA grips.

Older Vaqueros have a much roomier grip that most shooters didn't like. But, if you have big hands, it might be perfect.

fourfingersofdeath · August 26, 2011, 06:28:22 AM

I will have to get all of my Rudgers oout and have a look. It is mainly the trigger guard on the clones that chop me up. I have five or six Ruger SAs, but the new model Vaqueros seem to be a bit roomier there than the clones.

I must load up a lot of warthog ammo and take them all to the range and see how they all compare.