Posted: 12/8/2014 2:08:45 PM EDT
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Im just venturing into the world of shooting sports and i love the history and the looks of the Cowboy style shooting. I was wondering if someone(or everyone) would be able to do a write up on the common pistols around. Ive seen a few brands but dont really know what is all out there. So far i know of: Ruger Uberti Freedom Arms I would prefer to keep a purchase of mine american made, but i dont like ruger as a company. any help would be great! Thanks! |
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I have a lot more respect for Ruger since Bill died.... They are actually making firearms that people want now with better quality (ARs, 1911s...etc) and they have factory Hicaps for the general public now.
And Ruger's 6 shooters are top notch that will take heavy modern loads too. Not sure about the Ubertis and other modern replicas... |
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Do a web search on Cowboy Action Shooting and the Single Action Shooting Society... there is a ton of info that answer any questions.
Even if you don't want to shoot in those kinds of matches, there is a wealth of information about single action revolvers. The Rugers are top quality and fairly priced. If you want a traditional cowboy gun... the New Vaquero is true to form, with modern safety features and can be loaded with six rounds. |
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Quoted:
I have a lot more respect for Ruger since Bill died.... They are actually making firearms that people want now with better quality (ARs, 1911s...etc) and they have factory Hicaps for the general public now. And Ruger's 6 shooters are top notch that will take heavy modern loads too. Not sure about the Ubertis and other modern replicas… The modern replicas should not be used with Tier 3 "Ruger only" loads. The same goes for Ruger's "New Vaquero" as it is built on a medium frame, not the Blackhawk frame, like the original Vaquero. In fact, with the Single Action Army clones, I'd avoid the Tier 2 "+P" loads and stay within SAAMI spec. For cowboy action shooting it's a moot issue anyway as they use a power factor system with a very low floor of 60, and the minimum velocity is 400 fps. The maximum velocities are also limited at 1000 fps for pistols and 1400 fps for rifles (other than long range rifles). Power factors are calculated by multiplying the bullet weight in grains times the velocity and then the resulting number is divided by 1000. For example: a 100 gr .32-20 bullet traveling at 600 fps has a power factor of 60: (100x600)/1000=60.00 a 77 gr .32 -20 bullet traveling at 800 fps has a power factor of 61.6 (77x800)/1000=61.60 a 200 gr .44 or .45 bullet traveling at 400 fps has a power factor of 80 (200x400)/1000=80.00 Obviously the low floor gives a decided advantage to the .32 caliber pistols (which is the minimum) in terms of low recoil and faster follow up. The .38's can be loaded down to that level so they don't give up anything. The .44s and .45s get screwed, unless you use some very light bullets and load them way down. And it basically means that unnaturally light loads are the order of the day, so hot loads are not an issue with a CAS/SASS revolver. ---- In terms of a pistol for a new SASS shooter, the "New Vaquero" is probably the best choice as they are ready to run out of the box, and most shooters won't see a need to have them tuned by a good Ruger Smith until they are in the upper levels of competition. The only mod that you might want early one is perhaps to open up the rear sight notch a bit to accommodate the wide front blade Ruger uses. A New Vaquero in .357, shooting lightly loaded .38 specials is a good way to avoid recoil. As you can see with the power factor formula combined with the 400 fps minimum velocity, 80 is as low as you can go with a 44 or 45, without dipping under 200 grains with the bullet. I used to shoot 155 gr .45 ACP bullets in plate shoots, and theoretically, 400 fps would get you down to 62. However, I've never tried to make a load that light in a .45 ACP, let alone tired to make it work in a .45 Colt. Depending on the categories you want to shoot in, the Blackhawk is now also an option. SASS finally got smart in 2014 and is allowing Blackhawks (adjustable sight main match revolvers) in the age related categories, so that opens the sport up to a lot of shooters who already have them, and they tend to be cheaper on the used market. Uberti also makes very sound pistols. Cimmarron pistols are made by Uberti as are the Taylor and company pistols. Cimmarron specs one of them with an action job as well as wide front and rear sights - the "evil roy" model. Taylor and company has a similar smoke wagon model and both make a good choice for a pistol as well. Uberti also has clones of the first and second generation colts as well and they are very good copies if you prefer original looking/feeling equipment. I'd recommend you stay with Ruger or Uberti. |
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Quoted:
Im just venturing into the world of shooting sports and i love the history and the looks of the Cowboy style shooting. I was wondering if someone(or everyone) would be able to do a write up on the common pistols around. Ive seen a few brands but dont really know what is all out there. So far i know of: Ruger Uberti Freedom Arms I would prefer to keep a purchase of mine american made, but i dont like ruger as a company. any help would be great! Thanks! First off, good for you wanting to buy American! As far as "cowboy" style guns go there are very good, good and "ok". The Freedom Arms guns you referenced are made in America but are also very pricey as they are considered by most people as the best made single actions in the world. Colt still offers their classic SAA "Single Action Army" and they are still extremely nice guns. They aren't as expensive as the Freedom Arms guns but they are usually about twice what a similar Ruger would cost. Ruger single actions are by far the most popular guns used by cowboy action shooters and for good reason, they are significantly stronger than the Colt and share the same high quality while being half the cost. Ruger also offers many different models in the various barrel lengths while Colt offers the one model with three different barrel lengths. I got interested in cowboy action style guns a few years ago and my requirements were similar to yours. I wanted good quality and I wanted to buy American. There are some good Italian replicas (and some not so good) available that would work just fine for most people but I didn't see the point in buying an Italian replica of an American gun when the best guns are still made in America. The Ruger's have become favorites for several reasons, I'll list those I can think of right now. Ruger has the best customer service in the business so if you do have a problem with your gun, they are going to make it right. Ruger offers an incredible number of different models in addition to the several dealers that often offer special limited edition "dealer exclusives". Ruger's quality is at the top of the market. Ruger offers single actions in the size of the classic Colt but also larger, stronger models and even smaller models so there is so much variety you are almost guaranteed to find something that you love. All of Ruger's single actions have built in safeties that allow you to carry a full cylinder safely instead of most others without safeties where you have to carry them with one empty under the hammer to avoid accidental discharge. Ruger's Vaquero, which are their mid size frame and closest to the classic Colt and the model used most often by competition cowboy action shooters, are considerably stronger than every other brand. After all my research, I chose a Ruger New Vaquero Bisley .45 Colt 5.5" stainless and after my first trip to the range I was hooked. My sister and I actually bought matching Rugers that day and both fell in love with shooting them the first day. I never thought it would be so much fun. Just the historical aspect of shooting a gun like that made it so much more interesting than shooting one of my semi-autos. It's a whole new sensation and a whole new kind of fun and all new challenges. I would highly recommend going to Ruger's website and looking at their "single action" section. You won't find a better gun for the money, you won't find a stronger gun, you won't find better customer service and you'll have the biggest selection available with the advantage of buying and owning real American "six guns". I will warn you it's addictive...my sister and I bought matching Ruger Bisley Vaqueros a few years ago and now we own another four Ruger single actions between us. The only real American made "cowboy action" guns are Freedom Arms, Colt and Ruger. There's another company that claims they are "100% American made" but they aren't even close, they get most of their parts from the Italian replica companies and then assemble the guns in the US which is a far cry from "100% American made". Uberti is a good quality Italian replica company but I don't do Italian replicas so I can't say anything about those. |
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I have a Colt Signature Series 1847 Walker Colt. Like all the signature series cap and ball revolvers it was made from Uberti parts that were imported into the US, then assembled by Iver Johnson (owned by Colt at the time). As such, they qualified as "made in the USA" and avoided the need for import marks, foreign proof marks, etc.
Now…to be fair the quality, fit and finish on the Signature Series is superb, better than the average "Uberti" at the time. |
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Quoted: First off, good for you wanting to buy American! As far as "cowboy" style guns go there are very good, good and "ok". The Freedom Arms guns you referenced are made in America but are also very pricey as they are considered by most people as the best made single actions in the world. Colt still offers their classic SAA "Single Action Army" and they are still extremely nice guns. They aren't as expensive as the Freedom Arms guns but they are usually about twice what a similar Ruger would cost. Ruger single actions are by far the most popular guns used by cowboy action shooters and for good reason, they are significantly stronger than the Colt and share the same high quality while being half the cost. Ruger also offers many different models in the various barrel lengths while Colt offers the one model with three different barrel lengths. I got interested in cowboy action style guns a few years ago and my requirements were similar to yours. I wanted good quality and I wanted to buy American. There are some good Italian replicas (and some not so good) available that would work just fine for most people but I didn't see the point in buying an Italian replica of an American gun when the best guns are still made in America. The Ruger's have become favorites for several reasons, I'll list those I can think of right now. Ruger has the best customer service in the business so if you do have a problem with your gun, they are going to make it right. Ruger offers an incredible number of different models in addition to the several dealers that often offer special limited edition "dealer exclusives". Ruger's quality is at the top of the market. Ruger offers single actions in the size of the classic Colt but also larger, stronger models and even smaller models so there is so much variety you are almost guaranteed to find something that you love. All of Ruger's single actions have built in safeties that allow you to carry a full cylinder safely instead of most others without safeties where you have to carry them with one empty under the hammer to avoid accidental discharge. Ruger's Vaquero, which are their mid size frame and closest to the classic Colt and the model used most often by competition cowboy action shooters, are considerably stronger than every other brand. After all my research, I chose a Ruger New Vaquero Bisley .45 Colt 5.5" stainless and after my first trip to the range I was hooked. My sister and I actually bought matching Rugers that day and both fell in love with shooting them the first day. I never thought it would be so much fun. Just the historical aspect of shooting a gun like that made it so much more interesting than shooting one of my semi-autos. It's a whole new sensation and a whole new kind of fun and all new challenges. I would highly recommend going to Ruger's website and looking at their "single action" section. You won't find a better gun for the money, you won't find a stronger gun, you won't find better customer service and you'll have the biggest selection available with the advantage of buying and owning real American "six guns". I will warn you it's addictive...my sister and I bought matching Ruger Bisley Vaqueros a few years ago and now we own another four Ruger single actions between us. The only real American made "cowboy action" guns are Freedom Arms, Colt and Ruger. There's another company that claims they are "100% American made" but they aren't even close, they get most of their parts from the Italian replica companies and then assemble the guns in the US which is a far cry from "100% American made". Uberti is a good quality Italian replica company but I don't do Italian replicas so I can't say anything about those. Quoted: Quoted: Im just venturing into the world of shooting sports and i love the history and the looks of the Cowboy style shooting. I was wondering if someone(or everyone) would be able to do a write up on the common pistols around. Ive seen a few brands but dont really know what is all out there. So far i know of: Ruger Uberti Freedom Arms I would prefer to keep a purchase of mine american made, but i dont like ruger as a company. any help would be great! Thanks! First off, good for you wanting to buy American! As far as "cowboy" style guns go there are very good, good and "ok". The Freedom Arms guns you referenced are made in America but are also very pricey as they are considered by most people as the best made single actions in the world. Colt still offers their classic SAA "Single Action Army" and they are still extremely nice guns. They aren't as expensive as the Freedom Arms guns but they are usually about twice what a similar Ruger would cost. Ruger single actions are by far the most popular guns used by cowboy action shooters and for good reason, they are significantly stronger than the Colt and share the same high quality while being half the cost. Ruger also offers many different models in the various barrel lengths while Colt offers the one model with three different barrel lengths. I got interested in cowboy action style guns a few years ago and my requirements were similar to yours. I wanted good quality and I wanted to buy American. There are some good Italian replicas (and some not so good) available that would work just fine for most people but I didn't see the point in buying an Italian replica of an American gun when the best guns are still made in America. The Ruger's have become favorites for several reasons, I'll list those I can think of right now. Ruger has the best customer service in the business so if you do have a problem with your gun, they are going to make it right. Ruger offers an incredible number of different models in addition to the several dealers that often offer special limited edition "dealer exclusives". Ruger's quality is at the top of the market. Ruger offers single actions in the size of the classic Colt but also larger, stronger models and even smaller models so there is so much variety you are almost guaranteed to find something that you love. All of Ruger's single actions have built in safeties that allow you to carry a full cylinder safely instead of most others without safeties where you have to carry them with one empty under the hammer to avoid accidental discharge. Ruger's Vaquero, which are their mid size frame and closest to the classic Colt and the model used most often by competition cowboy action shooters, are considerably stronger than every other brand. After all my research, I chose a Ruger New Vaquero Bisley .45 Colt 5.5" stainless and after my first trip to the range I was hooked. My sister and I actually bought matching Rugers that day and both fell in love with shooting them the first day. I never thought it would be so much fun. Just the historical aspect of shooting a gun like that made it so much more interesting than shooting one of my semi-autos. It's a whole new sensation and a whole new kind of fun and all new challenges. I would highly recommend going to Ruger's website and looking at their "single action" section. You won't find a better gun for the money, you won't find a stronger gun, you won't find better customer service and you'll have the biggest selection available with the advantage of buying and owning real American "six guns". I will warn you it's addictive...my sister and I bought matching Ruger Bisley Vaqueros a few years ago and now we own another four Ruger single actions between us. The only real American made "cowboy action" guns are Freedom Arms, Colt and Ruger. There's another company that claims they are "100% American made" but they aren't even close, they get most of their parts from the Italian replica companies and then assemble the guns in the US which is a far cry from "100% American made". Uberti is a good quality Italian replica company but I don't do Italian replicas so I can't say anything about those. thats really exactly what i was looking for. thanks for the very complete write up! i do know that freedom's are incredibly expensive compared to most guns, but i was curious. I have been looking at rugers more and they really look like what ill be getting. I really like the .357 5.5'' blued for me, but thats just my look. i really hope to meet some great people were i am at and not get a fudded up in southern illinois
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