Beretta Laramie

[Texas Lawdog]

ST George, I am in the process of aquiring a Beretta Laramie. Does this entitle me to a full membership in BOSS?  I am an associate member at this time.

[Bangor Dan]

Can't imagine why you wouldn't qualify! 

I've shot my 5" .45 Colt Laramie and my 7" Schofield (both Uberti's), and I've found that my average sized hand puts my thumb on the hammer of the Laramie just about llike I'm holding a Single Action Army. I also find that I have to reach a bit more to thumb the hammer on my Schofield. Even so, both have hammers that are far easier to reach than my Uberti Russian. I still like 'em all!

Bangor Dan

[St. George]

So adjusted.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Jrw8214]

Has the supply of Laramies in .45 Colt dried up? Im trying to save up for one but i cant find any with the 6 1/2" barrel in .45 Colt except for one on Gunsamerica. I see plenty of them in .38 Special, but i want mine in .45.

[Texas Lawdog]

I bought my Laramie from CDNN Sports in Abilene, Texas.  They only had nickel plated 38s left, they were closing them out.

[Trailrider]

I bought my Laramie from CDNN Sports in Abilene, Texas.  They only had nickel plated 38s left, they were closing them out.

You could have it bored out to take .44 Specials (aka .44 Long Russian), or even .44-40.  Either would make it more authentic anyway. (S&W originally made about 2500??? in .44-40 and the rest in .44 Russian.  The .44-40 guns had the cylinders stretched to take the longer cartridge.)

[St. George]

It can be done, but that'd be a lot of money to put into an Italian clone.

Better to keep an eye on Gun Broker or Gunsamerica.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Galloway]

I read they made few in 45sw, 38spl and 44rimfire in addition to the calibers mentioned. This was in a very old guns and ammo issue so it could be wrong.

[Pancho Peacemaker]

ST George, I am in the process of aquiring a Beretta Laramie. Does this entitle me to a full membership in BOSS?  I am an associate member at this time.

TLD,

If you got that Laramie, you should come shoot with us at the Saturday NCOWS match in Greenville.

[kcub]

Is this gun discontinued?  I see nothing on Beretta's website?

Also, is this CASS/NCOWS kosher with its adjustable sights?

[Pancho Peacemaker]

Is this gun discontinued?  I see nothing on Beretta's website?

Also, is this CASS/NCOWS kosher with its adjustable sights?

It is sadley discontinued. It was available in 2007 & 2008.  It was priced very high ($1200 was MSRP.)  I think if it was priced more conservatively, the model would've survived.

I say sadly as it was/is a very nice revolver.  It is a very accurate reproduction of the S&W No. 3 New Model, including the drift adjustable sights (some of the New Models had these sights pre-1900).  Finish is beautiful.  It is both NCOWS & SASS legal.  I have two and they are my favorite cowboy guns.

[kcub]

http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,23177.10.html

per this thread it appears it is not legal for some categories, but this is dated

I have a chance to get a couple of consecutive # .38s cheap ($595) from CDNN (wish they were .45s)

They do have one nickel .45 5" left ($695).

I'm thinking these might be good buys someday when they are long gone. 
Of course, this is just the kind of crazy talk that keeps my wallet skinny.

[Pancho Peacemaker]

http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,23177.10.html

per this thread it appears it is not legal for some categories, but this is dated

I have a chance to get a couple of consecutive # .38s cheap ($595) from CDNN (wish they were .45s)

They do have one nickel .45 5" left ($695).

I'm thinking these might be good buys someday when they are long gone. 
Of course, this is just the kind of crazy talk that keeps my wallet skinny.

The Laramie has always been NCOWS legal because it is an authentic reproduction.

SASS has altered their categories and rules in the past few years.  The Laramie USED to be restricted to "Modern" category, but that class was dropped and now it is legal in most of the age-based categories.  Forgive me for ignorance, but I haven't done a great job of keeping up with all the dynamics of SASS's ever changing category structure.  Needless to say, if you buy a Laramie, you will find a shooting category that is legal in SASS.

Those CDNN prices are retail.  Contact an FFL who is a dealer, and the price is even better than that.  To a Google for 3B Shooting Supply.  Ask for Bryan Buck, tell him Pancho sent you.  Bryan gets the dealer prices from CDNN.   Bryan outfits load of cowboy shooters around the DFW area and always has the best prices.

[Texas Lawdog]

At the time I bought mine from CDNN, they only had a couple of 38s left. I would have rather had a 45, but none were available as the time, so I have a nickel plated 38.

[Irish Dave]

I have a pair as well. A 6.5" nickel and a 5" blue, both in .45.
Hafta say, I like mine very much also. Nothing has the balance and feel of the New Model No. 3 Smith as far as I'm concerned.

Probably gonna give 'em a rest this season, though, and shoot my New Model Russian in .44 Ruskie this year.

I like breaktops.....

[kcub]

I have a pair as well. A 6.5" nickel and a 5" blue, both in .45.
Hafta say, I like mine very much also. Nothing has the balance and feel of the New Model No. 3 Smith as far as I'm concerned.

Probably gonna give 'em a rest this season, though, and shoot my New Model Russian in .44 Ruskie this year.

I like breaktops.....

I shot my Navy Arms .44 Russian Saturday and was surprised how little the recoil was.  About like .38spl.

How does that 5" .45 Colt recoil? 
About like a Colt 4.75"? 
or less?

these topbreaks seem maybe heavier than Colts

[St. George]

They're not heavier, per-se - they balance differently, and what's noticed is the difference in ergonomics.

The .44's and .45's have a fine balance - the .38's are heavier, overall - and to me, they feel 'dead' in my hand.

A .45 Colt's recoil in a Colt Single Action Army 'will' feel differently in a Schofield or Russian, because of how each fits the individual hand.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[kcub]

By the way, my Navy Arms .44 Яussian came with an extra spurless trigger guard for those desiring a .44 very similar to the Laramie/S&W No. 3.

[Irish Dave]

kcub:

1) I think the "felt" recoil is less with the Laramie.

2) I agree with St. George 100 percent. Both on the "balance" issue and the difference in perceived recoil. I think the difference in balance and grip shape makes considerable difference in felt recoil.

3) Interesting about the extra triggerguard. They weren't doing that when I got mine, but I ended up doing pretty much the same thing. I ordered an extra spurred triggerguard from VTI. When it arrived, I compared them both. The best case-colored one got put away. The other one, I cut off myself (very much like many of the old-timers did) and filed/polished it smooth. My personal opinion (unsubstantiated) is that the ol' boys probably removed them not so much to emulate the New Model No. 3, but rather because they are a PITA when drawing and sometimes even in holstering -- the spur frequently being in the way.

[kcub]

Well I compared what I have in terms of weight/balance and my 5" Uberti nickel & pearl Schofield .38 is noticeably way more front heavy than my Colt .357 4.75".

Based on my experiences with Colts I made the mistake of not getting the 5" Schofield in .45.

If anyone wants to take advantage of my mistake I might part with it to get something else.  Only 25 rounds through it.