Question C&B SAA Clone

[I Ben Robbed]

Noticed one while buyin some parts at Dixie Gun Works yesterday.  A Cap & Ball 1873 SAA clone.  They had em knocked down to $250, but the one and only feedback left for it wasnt promising.  Anyone know anything about these things?  I emailed DGW but havent heard back yet.  Was thinking they'd be fun to play with if they worked ok, for the price and all. 

[Cuts Crooked]

Where are ya Paladin UK? (I'm pretty sure he can give feed back on this one, pro & con)

[44caliberkid]

They were made for the European market where a cartridge firing gun is illegal. (God bless the USA)  I had one, it worked fine as a C&B.  I thought I could put a 45 Colt cylinder and hammer in it and have a cart gun, but the C&B cylinder is longer, and the barrel would have to be set back about 1/8 an inch, then the C&B cylinder mouldn't work, so I sold it.  $250 is still too much money as you can find them for $150 to $180 pretty commonly.  I got mine when Cabelas closed them out for $165.00.  Check gunbroker.com or gunsamerica.com

[Ned Pepper GB]

I use a Uberti C&B SAA Clone as a second pistol to my ROA.

It started as a blued model but I have removed the finish and polished the whole of the gun including internal parts so it is in the white but it looks like stainless.

I can get groups of about a couple of inches at around 15 yards or so. I like it and man is that action fast.

I would prefer the cartridge version but the Ol C&B  gets the job done and looks good.

Ned

[Chance]

This pistol was made to satisfy SAA lovers here in the UK when the cartridge handguns were banned. They were also turned out by Armi San Marco. They have proved only modestly popular, possibly because of the need to remove the cylinder for reloading. Early guns also gained a bit of a reputation for wearing out the ratchets on the rear of the cylinder, resulting in fore and aft play. This has caused more than one occurance of a multiple or chain fire as the cylinder slams back against the recoil shield when fired, and caps are detonated as they hit the shield. This is more likely to happen if you are using one of the black powder substitutes rather than 'the Holy Black' itself.
I was speaking to a lady from Uberti a couple of weeks ago and questioned the "Black Powder Only" markings on the barrels of percussion revolvers. She said that they use a different steel for these pistols as against the cartridge guns. So using something like 777 may just invalidate the guarantee.

[Ned Pepper GB]

Howdy Chance

Several of the guys at our shoots use the this type of pistol. As you state,  they are a substitute for the cartridge guns we can not have.

At our shoots we have experienced only a couple of incidents over several years regarding chain fires and those were in the early days.  Most of us are old Practical Pistol Shooters so we are used to dealing with quirky (spelling!) guns.

I think the pistols themselves are OK providing ya get the reloading process correct.

Regards
Ned

[I Ben Robbed]

How does one go about reloading them?  As it is I use preloaded cylinders so I can keep up with the others loading, seems it would be rather slow to reload.  Course it would probably be more of a curiousity thing for me, rather than a main match gun.  I'd just never heard from anyone that uses one.

[Paladin UK]

Fer I ben Robbed.

The pistola comes with an optional loader... A bit of crap knocked up by `Uberti`? That costs us about $55.00!!! and bends iffn ya even look at it !!!

We, (Me Ned and others),  use the loader that DD is now marketing it is absolulty Brill!! and believe it or not, it is cheaper!! and theres NO WAY ya kin bend that bugger!!



I agree with Ned `bout the pistolas, he has a Uberti and I have an ASM and providing that load `em right they will work as good as any other muzzle stuffer!!

Paladin (What lurvs his ASM ) UK

[Chance]

Howdy Chance


At our shoots we have experienced only a couple of incidents over several years regarding chain fires and those were in the early days.  Most of us are old Practical Pistol Shooters so we are used to dealing with quirky (spelling!) guns.

I think the pistols themselves are OK providing ya get the reloading process correct.

Regards
Ned

Hi, Ned
Like I said it was the early guns that had problems.

In the early days of the BWSS it was the "old PP shooters" who had the most trouble with single actions - trying to make them perform like their 'race guns'!

If these things ring your bell that's OK. They do nothing for me as I'm a Colt fanatic they aren't historically correct

[I Ben Robbed]

Thanks for the replies.  I might pick one up as a toy to play with but I'll stick with my Remingtons for main match material.  Besides, I've got enough projects right now. 

[Smokin Gun]

Uberti 1873BP SAA is a great Rev...damn accurate do to chamber to barrel dimensions are close. The Uberti cyinder w/ the .o8o" bushing from the 1873 SAA .45 Sch. wiill fit, and you can change the firing pin to work also. All that's left is to is to drill the firing pin hole and add a small insert bushing. It's converted.
Or you can get the .45 Sch. conversion cylinder fron Midway, or R&D. The loaders I have go for $16.00 from Lee.

http://i3.tinypic.com/wgt2mg.jpg http://i3.tinypic.com/wgt251.jpg http://i3.tinypic.com/wgt306.jpg

[Chance]

Hey there, Smokin'

You Remington guys oughta be careful singing the praises of Colts!! LoL. 

How are you doin' buddy? Nice to see you back in action.

Chance  (AKA Rim)

[Smokin Gun]

LoL! Chance... ya caught me... Well when they are good they are good.  ya know? Yeah the world knows I'm a Rem man, and you might know you'd be the one to see me say that about a Colt BP. I think we first  talked about the 1873BP SAA over in the Benelli Forum. Probly over a year ago.
Remember I always said I prefer Rems to Colts,"I didn't say I didn't know how to use one." LoL! (Quigley Down Under)
Good to see you too my friend...when you headed back out West here? Remember if you're close enough you are supposed to let me know.

SG