Uberti vs. Beretta Quality

[Virginia Gentleman]

Is a standard Uberti more rough or less finished than a Beretta as I have noticed quite a difference in price between the two these days eventhought they come out of the same factory.

[Big John Denny]

Well VG let me stick my foot in the door. They are all made in the same factory by Uberti. I have seen both and haven't noticed a great deal of difference in exterior quality. Don't know about the insides though. Beretta may have their own quality control checks, but I'm not sure about that either. They do put their name on the gun and their symbol on the grips and they seem to cost more then the standard Uberti models.

I guess the best thing to do is examine them both in person and decide for yourself. As far as I can recall Uberti makes most the SAA clones we see on the market today that come from Italy. I do know there is a better selection of Uberti models than Beretta's.

[Galloway]

Aroung here the Uberti's go for 399$ and the Stampedes go for 420$. I think maybe you pay more for the transfer bar. I think the finish is much nicer on the Stampede and for some strange reason the clicks sound better. But you loose the nice wood stocks and both sets of my Stampede grips have cracked.

[Virginia Gentleman]

Doesn't the transfer bar in the Beretta make it like a Ruger Vaquero as far as authenticity is concerned?  Does it put it in the modern class for CAS?

[Arcey]

No.  The rules define what's Modern if you're talking SASS.  It's in the handbook.

Each of my Ubertis have stock grips.  None have cracked.  They came well finished from the factory.

Sitting on the loading table beside an equally abused revolver from anywhere, they look as good.

All shot twenty to thirty rounds as they came out of the box.  After that the mainsprings were replaced with Wolff mains or mains I weakened myself.  Anything other than springs that break is replaced with parts from Cimmaron.

My older Ubertis, one goes back to the 70s, weren't well done.  Didn't think I'd ever get the oldest one straight.  The recently built clones haven't been a problem.   The newest 7 1/2" I bought, I think, in '01.  Two shoots a month on average.  It busted a bolt spring this past June.  That was the spring that came in it.  The 3 1/2" is a couple years old, shot regularily and hasn't busted anything yet.  The others aren't shot enough to make a fair judgement.

It's a matter of personal choice, and not OT but I grew up with K and N frame Smiths.  The firing pin is supposed to be on the hammer........

[Virginia Gentleman]

Thanks for the clarification on the transfer bar.  I agree the firing pin should be on the hammer and a SAA should be like a SAA with no safety other than 5 beans in the wheel on an empty chamber.   I personally only have Cimarrons made by Uberti and the fit and finish are exceptional, even compared to the much vaunted Colt.  From what I have seen and read, the newer Ubertis are good, except the hammer safety takes away from the authenticity.  The Cimarron does not have the hammer safety and that is one reason why I will buy them over the Uberti USA guns.  As far as durabiltiy, I have heard the Colt can break down just as easily, yet it is never held to the same standard as the imports or US FA when it comes to repairs. 

[Arcey]

Just so everyone understands my perspective, and, no, I'm not being a smart ass.

I'm a shooter.  I'm not a collector, admirer or investor in, or of, any pistol.  Anything 'authentic' is what I may shoot in the matches.  To me they are hobby equipment, tools.  I'm able to keep mine runnin' with most any flat spring clones with little effort.  The less they cost, the more I can have.  I have a bunch.

My first objective in this game is being around my friends and trying to have as much fun as possible.  All the while, I'm trying to add to their fun.

Second.  I love to shoot.  Black Powder makes it all the better.  Revolvers have always been my favorites.  I'd shoot four a stage if I could get away with it.

Third, a distant third, is where I finish.  Looking over the record this season past, that wasn't half bad.  I'm happy.

The quality question, from my perspective, is answered as best I can by offering how my Ubertis have served me over the past few years under the conditions described.  When someone uses Berettas to that extent, we can compare the two.

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[SFT]

My nod goes to Uberti; experience with both would have my money going to them from now on.

[Virginia Gentleman]

A couple of thoughts, first, if they are both made by Uberti, why is one so much more expensive?  I have seen a 25-30% difference in price for the Beretta name.    From a dollar perpective, the Uberti or Cimarron seems like a better deal and no transfer bar.  Second, why is Beretta competing against itself?

[gryffon2004]

round here the stampedes are going for about $600.  Big difference than the uberti.

[Arcey]

A body can get a nice Cimarron thru Marshal Halloway for a bunch less than six.  No doubt they're nice revolvers.

As I described myself, I really don't follow all of the buy-outs and such.  I just want serviceable arms.

Much like a new truck, I'm happy with what I have and I'm not in the market.  Besides that, I can't replace it. They didn't make many of them and the new model similar to it isn't to my liking.  Too freakin' big.

Know what I read here and what I hear at the shoots but not much more.  I'm wonderin' how much longer we'll be able to buy a plain ole 'Cattleman'.  So, I'm looking at another 7 1/2" in .357 Magnum.  Ain't decided yet.  If I get it, that'll make four in that barrel length and that should do me.  I'm real funny about where I will and won't shoot one of them.  It belongs to a pard who passed a couple years ago.  I only shoot it where he shot or on special occasions.

No way I can answer why one cost more than the other.  This one is that one with a trigger job, or, with this you get a different name rolled on it is about all I can figure.  If one comes all slicked up and it's what one would pay for a trigger job on a Cattleman plus the cost of the gun, what's the difference?

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[Virginia Gentleman]

round here the stampedes are going for about $600.  Big difference than the uberti.

A Cimarron Model P in .45 Colt with a spare .45 ACP cylinder only cost me $450.00 out the door.  I figure I got a good deal and I am thinking about a Turnbull US Finish Model P with a 5 1/2" barrel, same caliber with the spare cylinder for $630.00.

[Ottawa Creek Bill]

Speaking as someone that sold Berettas and Benellis (Beretta owns Benelli) working for one of th largest chain sporting retailers in the country for five years in the late 1990's, You are payiong the extra money for the brand name and marketing cost. Their products are no better or worse then any others, and like has been said before, the uberti is the better buy and if it don't have a firing pin in the hammer, I don't want it..........

Bill

[LazyK Pejay]

Hey all,

When I bought my Uberti Cattleman (5.5" color case hardned) from Gander Mountain for $459.00. I traded a Colt Police 38 .cal Special and paid $127.00 difference. I looked at the Stampede and had them on the counter side by side (the stampede was 7.5"). In quality as to externals they both looked about the same. The action felt a bit different on the Stampede; perhaps the transfer bar? Anyhow, I felt good about the UBerti and bought it.

I took my Cattleman to my friends ranch during the holidays and fired 30 rounds at 10 yds, and 25 yds. The pistol for me was dead on at 10 yds. It was center right to left and close to center vertical. At 25 yds, I was low right for a few rounds, but in the black (6" target). I began to adjust by aiming a bit high and left and started getting a good center grouping. I am sure it is me as I have never fired a SAA before and have to get used to the weight, etc. Also while the action seemed smooth, I fell the trigger is a bit heavy. I will fire more before adjusting the sight if at all.

Who would ya'll recommend as to gunsmithing on a SAA, that will not require a loan (If I put a bunch into the Cattleman I could have purchased a USAA . Thx.

LazyK Pejay

[Arcey]

Don't be lazy, Pejay.

Order up a spring kit.  Change 'em out yourself and see what ya have then.  All ya need is a screw driver.

Ain't no better time to learn than now.  Any number of us can walk ya thru it.  Be happy to.

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[LazyK Pejay]

Arcey,

Thx sir, I will try it and I will check with you. Have a great day.

LazyK Pejay

[LazyK Pejay]

Arcey,

Is this the kit I need (Wolff)?

COLT Single Action Army Revolver
EMF Hartford Series Revolvers
Uberti Regulator Series Revolvers
Many Other Clones

Please Note:   Springs below are specifically for Colt, EMF and Uberti single action revolvers.  Springs will also fit most other clones although some fitting may be required.

REVOLVER SHOOTERS PAKS
Paks include a Wolff reduced power mainspring, a reduced power sear/bolt spring (traditional flat-type or wire-type), extra power base pin spiring and stainless steel hand ejector spring.  Kit offers great improvement in the trigger and maintains reliability.

LazyK Pejay

[Arcey]

Yep, that's it.  Now for my 'lazy' admission.  I usually just change the main and keep the rest for repair......

I have one in pieces right now.  Should go back together next week.  If I remember I'll take a few pix of the mainspring installation.  Really ain't much to it.

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[LazyK Pejay]

Arcey,

One more question. I am putting hard rubber grips on my Cattleman. I took out the two backstrap screws on top and the one on the bottom, but the grips will not come off the backstrap> Thx.

LazyK Pejay

[Arcey]

If the backstrap is all the way off, turn it horizontal.  Kindah hook the metal ends with your fore fingers and put your thumbs on the grip and push with the thumbs.  There's a little 'give' in the backstrap.  The grip should pop out.  Be careful with the sharp edges.....