Posted: 5/31/2026 5:52:49 PM EDT
| Alright, so I feel like I need a .357 “cowboy” revolver. I know Pietta makes the Traditions lines, but what’s the skinny on the various lines of their SAA clones? |
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Originally Posted By Trumpet: That really was the question. So other than cosmetics they all have the same internals/degree of fit and finish? Same for the ones not marketed as “Pietta”? I mean the SAA is the clone is a Colt 1873 SAA so I still don't understand the confusion. They are all the same action so....What else COULD the difference be other than cosmetics? If you get into Uberti, they have a different action style than Pietta. As far as I understand Pietta is still a 4 click action. |
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Uberti usually edges out Pietta, barely, in these threads; they’re close. If you really care, get a “hand select” from one of the vendors that does so. |
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Originally Posted By KILLERB6: Uberti usually edges out Pietta, barely, in these threads; they’re close. If you really care, get a “hand select” from one of the vendors that does so. Uberti has a safety built in and it is no longer a traditional "4 click" action. If you want to be traditional you are either getting a Pietta or a used Uberti. Cimarron is the best to get IMHO. |
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I own both. My 357 mag Uberti's are all 4 click versions. I have 2 45 Colt Piettas one has a transfer bar safety (3 clicks) and 1 doesn't (4 clicks). Theoretically you can carry with all 6 chambers loaded in a 3 click transfer bar safety single action. I prefer the 4 click version and carrying 5. Best bet would be to handle them in person. |
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I enjoy the hell out of mine. It’s one of the Cabela’s Pietta clones that they were selling with a crappy finish about 10 years ago. It hits a bit high with the factory sights, but it is fun as hell to shoot. I went after it with some scotchbrite pads to make it look “better”.  The great things about these bargain basement SAA clones is you can do whatever the hell you want to, and no one complains. 
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Pietta is close to an original SAA as you can get without spending thousands. I have a Uberti that does the 4 clicks, but it has a transfer bar, so not the historical SAA action. |
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 Why Uberti Beats Pietta Every Time |
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Not what I was expecting.  My Pietta 45's.  My Uberti 357's. 
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I ordered one of the Taylors and Company SAA clones from PSA when they were blowing them out at $400. I was hoping for a Uberti but when it arrived, it was a Pietta. I dug into them online and found that Pietta is closer to the original Colt SAA than Uberti and it generally considered to be better quality these days. That didn't used to be the case but today it is. I'm very pleased with mine. It shoots low and left for me but then, I tend to shoot all handguns low and left. I'm guessing it's my trigger squeeze but I haven't been able to fix it yet. Anyway, mine is fun to shoot and it goes great with my Cimarron/Uberti 1873 rifle. I had a holster and belt made by a guy who sells on Ebay. It's a dream to shoot with .38's but .357's tend to group better and are closer to point of aim. Now I have a hankering for a .45LC version which means another 1873 rifle and a gunbelt......and reloading dies and components..... |
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I have 2 Charles Daly marked guns, made by Pietta. They look like the brass framed guns above, but with the 5.5" barrel. Nice guns, nothing fancy or refined. |
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I have two Pietta SAA clones, a Uberti SAA clone, and a Uberti 1851. One Pietta has a godawful trigger, one has an okay-ish trigger, both Ubertis have fantastic triggers. The Piettas are 4 click, the Uberti has their firing pin safety that works kind of like a transfer bar without looking like a transfer bar. It is a 3 click. If you want a Pietta, I suggest checking the trigger in person before you buy. |
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Originally Posted By KILLERB6: Uberti usually edges out Pietta, barely, in these threads; they’re close. If you really care, get a “hand select” from one of the vendors that does so. My experience is Uberti has the looks and Pietta has better internals. Both need a bit of polishing on the inside. Both are dang good for the money. |
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Originally Posted By Turbo30cal: I mean the SAA is the clone is a Colt 1873 SAA so I still don't understand the confusion. They are all the same action so....What else COULD the difference be other than cosmetics? If you get into Uberti, they have a different action style than Pietta. As far as I understand Pietta is still a 4 click action. Quality of the steel? Fit and finish? |
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Originally Posted By redleg13a: I ordered one of the Taylors and Company SAA clones from PSA when they were blowing them out at $400. I was hoping for a Uberti but when it arrived, it was a Pietta. I dug into them online and found that Pietta is closer to the original Colt SAA than Uberti and it generally considered to be better quality these days. That didn't used to be the case but today it is. I'm very pleased with mine. It shoots low and left for me but then, I tend to shoot all handguns low and left. I'm guessing it's my trigger squeeze but I haven't been able to fix it yet. Anyway, mine is fun to shoot and it goes great with my Cimarron/Uberti 1873 rifle. I had a holster and belt made by a guy who sells on Ebay. It's a dream to shoot with .38's but .357's tend to group better and are closer to point of aim. Now I have a hankering for a .45LC version which means another 1873 rifle and a gunbelt......and reloading dies and components..... I struggled with pulling shots low left for years until I really started dry firing. I found that the "penny trick" was the ticket to improve my trigger control. Balance a penny, or another coin, on the front sight, and practice aligning the sights and dry firing while keeping the penny balanced on the front sight. |
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The Pietta's are physically closest to the original Colt SA's. The Uberti's have slightly larger frames and cylinders, and in fact are physically close to the Ruger New Vaquero's. I've owned many, many Uberti's over the last 12-15 years, but only one Pietta which was, meh, at best. I own a couple of 4 3/4" Uberti Hombre's in .357 and they are shooting SOB's-    Were I you, I would watch GunBroker for used Uberti .357's. The two I own are 4-click examples and have the pivoting safety that is activated when the hammer is pulled to the second "click". You can tell them by looking at the back of the hammer-  I carry all kinds of SA revolvers a LOT loaded with 6 rounds loads, and couldn't give a shit less about transfer bars and safeties. That said, if you're prone to dropping handguns and just generally careless, you might consider the safeties. |
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Originally Posted By Turbo30cal: Uberti has a safety built in and it is no longer a traditional "4 click" action. If you want to be traditional you are either getting a Pietta or a used Uberti. Cimarron is the best to get IMHO. Originally Posted By Turbo30cal: Uberti has a safety built in and it is no longer a traditional "4 click" action. If you want to be traditional you are either getting a Pietta or a used Uberti. Cimarron is the best to get IMHO. Attached File Attached File Just picked up this 2026 Cimarron Model P Old Model. Part#MP513 45 LC 5.5 barrel The MP series is four click and built on the old style single action blackpowder frame.. |
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I might just be leaning heavily towards Pietta even more. I was looking at the "Midnight Special" in .357. I emailed them asking about the black finish. EMF didn't really have a definitive answer. This morning the president of Pietta USA emailed assuring me that it's just a very dark, blued finish. I like the fact that their top dog in the US replied. Also got some clarification fromn Cimarron as well. "Cimarron does still offer several models of the 1873 SAA that have the original Colt style 4-click hammer WITHOUT the new retractable firing pin safety system. All Pietta manufactured 1873 SAA revolvers are original (non-safety) 4-click guns. All Uberti manufactured 1873 SAA – Old Model Frame – revolvers are original (non-safety) 4-click guns. All Uberti manufactured 1873 SAA – Arizona Ranger & Arizona Ranger Big Iron – Pre-War Frame - revolvers are original (non-safety) 4-click guns. All Pietta manufactured gun’s “Model #” begins with the letters “PP” or “PPP”. All Uberti manufactured gun’s “Model #” begins with the letters “MP”, “CA” or “AR”. The bottom line is if you want a Uberti manufactured revolver built on the “Pre-War Frame” that still has the original Colt styled 4-click hammer without the new retractable firing pin safety system the Cimarron “Arizona Ranger” series of revolvers is the only option remaining" So, I'm looking at the Arizona Ranger, Midnight Special, Californian, or....a Ruger Blackhawk (lol...if it's not a SAA clone, the transfer safety doesn't bug me) |
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Originally Posted By Trumpet: I might just be leaning heavily towards Pietta even more. I was looking at the "Midnight Special" in .357. I emailed them asking about the black finish. EMF didn't really have a definitive answer. This morning the president of Pietta USA emailed assuring me that it's just a very dark, blued finish. I like the fact that their top dog in the US replied. Also got some clarification fromn Cimarron as well. "Cimarron does still offer several models of the 1873 SAA that have the original Colt style 4-click hammer WITHOUT the new retractable firing pin safety system. All Pietta manufactured 1873 SAA revolvers are original (non-safety) 4-click guns. All Uberti manufactured 1873 SAA – Old Model Frame – revolvers are original (non-safety) 4-click guns. All Uberti manufactured 1873 SAA – Arizona Ranger & Arizona Ranger Big Iron – Pre-War Frame - revolvers are original (non-safety) 4-click guns. All Pietta manufactured gun’s “Model #” begins with the letters “PP” or “PPP”. All Uberti manufactured gun’s “Model #” begins with the letters “MP”, “CA” or “AR”. The bottom line is if you want a Uberti manufactured revolver built on the “Pre-War Frame” that still has the original Colt styled 4-click hammer without the new retractable firing pin safety system the Cimarron “Arizona Ranger” series of revolvers is the only option remaining" So, I'm looking at the Arizona Ranger, Midnight Special, Californian, or....a Ruger Blackhawk (lol...if it's not a SAA clone, the transfer safety doesn't bug me) That is awesome info there from Cimarron. They should post that info on their website. |
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Originally Posted By Dangus: I prefer Pietta for cartridge and Uberti for black powder. I like my Cimarron Piettas. https://i.imgur.com/PPA46mZ.jpg That top one is beautiful |
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Originally Posted By Trumpet: I might just be leaning heavily towards Pietta even more. I was looking at the "Midnight Special" in .357. I emailed them asking about the black finish. EMF didn't really have a definitive answer. This morning the president of Pietta USA emailed assuring me that it's just a very dark, blued finish. I like the fact that their top dog in the US replied. Also got some clarification fromn Cimarron as well. "Cimarron does still offer several models of the 1873 SAA that have the original Colt style 4-click hammer WITHOUT the new retractable firing pin safety system. All Pietta manufactured 1873 SAA revolvers are original (non-safety) 4-click guns. All Uberti manufactured 1873 SAA – Old Model Frame – revolvers are original (non-safety) 4-click guns. All Uberti manufactured 1873 SAA – Arizona Ranger & Arizona Ranger Big Iron – Pre-War Frame - revolvers are original (non-safety) 4-click guns. All Pietta manufactured gun’s “Model #” begins with the letters “PP” or “PPP”. All Uberti manufactured gun’s “Model #” begins with the letters “MP”, “CA” or “AR”. The bottom line is if you want a Uberti manufactured revolver built on the “Pre-War Frame” that still has the original Colt styled 4-click hammer without the new retractable firing pin safety system the Cimarron “Arizona Ranger” series of revolvers is the only option remaining" So, I'm looking at the Arizona Ranger, Midnight Special, Californian, or....a Ruger Blackhawk (lol...if it's not a SAA clone, the transfer safety doesn't bug me) FYI, Cimarron carries the Arizona Ranger: https://www.cimarron-firearms.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=Arizona+Ranger EMF carries the Midnight Special: https://www.emf-company.com/store/pc/showsearchresults.asp?pageStyle=H&resultCnt=30&keyword=Midnight+Special And Californian: https://www.emf-company.com/store/pc/showsearchresults.asp?pageStyle=H&resultCnt=30&keyword=californian I like 5.5" barrels but have some that are 4 3/4". Really you should buy 2 SAA's. That will give you a good start on shooting Cowboy Action. Then all you need is a pistol caliber lever action and a shotgun. |
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Originally Posted By drobs: FYI, Cimarron carries the Arizona Ranger: https://www.cimarron-firearms.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=Arizona+Ranger EMF carries the Midnight Special: https://www.emf-company.com/store/pc/showsearchresults.asp?pageStyle=H&resultCnt=30&keyword=Midnight+Special And Californian: https://www.emf-company.com/store/pc/showsearchresults.asp?pageStyle=H&resultCnt=30&keyword=californian I like 5.5" barrels but have some that are 4 3/4". Really you should buy 2 SAA's. That will give you a good start on shooting Cowboy Action. Then all you need is a pistol caliber lever action and a shotgun. Yeah, I'm a little OCD when it comes to "researching" guns and shit before I buy them... I tried my hand at SASS 20+ years ago. I'm sure it varies from club to club, but it seemed a weee bit too Renn-faire-y (and not in the big-titties and turkey leg way) for me. I just wanted to shoot some cool guns, not dress-up and call people "Pard".
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Originally Posted By Trumpet: Yeah, I'm a little OCD when it comes to "researching" guns and shit before I buy them... I tried my hand at SASS 20+ years ago. I'm sure it varies from club to club, but it seemed a weee bit too Renn-faire-y (and not in the big-titties and turkey leg way) for me. I just wanted to shoot some cool guns, not dress-up and call people "Pard".I agree, it's "Renn-faire-y" with guns. I shot some back in 2019. The guy that runs the nearest match complained the whole time and ruined it for me. |
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Originally Posted By Trumpet: Yeah, keep it about the cool/historical guns...not dress-up That would be COWS, the Congress of Western Shooters. Black powder only, period correct firearms only, etc. |
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