Posted: 9/25/2009 11:12:04 AM EDT
|
I've narrowed it down to a Cimarron or an Uberti... it just depends on my money situation when I actually buy. I know Cimarrons are Ubertis but with Cimarron I can get the Turnbull CCH (plus the Cimarron MSRP is slightly less than Uberti... go figure).
My question is, should I go with .357 Magnum or .45 LC? The gun will pretty much just be a range toy and .45LC isn't the easiest thing to find right now (at least in my neck of the woods). But the.45LC is more of a historic round, correct? I've thought about .22lr since it's a fun gun, but I want something at least semi-historically accurate. I already have a SAA copy in .357 (old, cheap Herbert Schmidt 121) so the desire for variety says go with the .45LC, but since I already have a .357 it would be easier just to keep up with one ammo box rather than two. What says the hive? |
|
For a range toy, I'd rather have the flexibility of the 38 special / 357. I would also look at the offerings from US Firearms, too. They make a very nice revolver.
US Firearms Site |
|
Go with the .357 and load some .38 spl cartridges with blackpower, will duplicate the ballistics of a .38 Long Colt, which IS an authentic Old West cartridge.
See my avatar - a Uberti Model P in .357 mag, shooting .38 spl BP loads. 18 grains of 2F crunched under a 158 gr RNFP bullet. |
|
if you want to keep with the 38/357, then go with it.
fyi, some of the older Colts were converted to 22. there are the brand/mfg you have looked at, but there is also the Rugers. imo, rugers are fine guns for the $$. If you dont like the loading/unloading feature, then youre stuck with the other brands and or the originals. Even USFA makes some really nice guns too. Beretta makes some SAAs, but not sure if you look at them yet. Even Taurus has some SAAs and the ones i handled were real nice in fit/finish. |
|
Quoted:
[snip] Beretta makes some SAAs, but not sure if you look at them yet. Even Taurus has some SAAs and the ones i handled were real nice in fit/finish. I believe Beretta Stampedes are just rebranded Ubertis, kind of like Cimarrons (though Cimarrons have some customization state side). And knowing how Taurus likes to share things with Beretta (don't get me wrong I have a Beretta 92FS and love it) what ever SAA they have (don't see any on the web site) is likely an Uberti. I would love a USFA SAA. But with the kind of finish I'm looking for its out of my range (about twice my range actually). I've looked at Rugers and while I might be able to compromise with the price for Made in America, they don't offer CCH. And if they did you're looking at an increase in price anyways. Then we're in the same boat as USFA. I'm not really planning on getting into the sporting side of SA shooting, just a range gun. That's a big part of me deciding on .357. I'm slightly inclined to just stick with my grandad's old Herbert Schmidt 121, but it's old, heavy, and cheaply made. I want something better for long term without having to take a loan out. So I've pretty well settled on Cimarron as a happy medium. I've always read good things about them and hopefully I'll be able to snag one with a decent CCH finish. Just have to wait on a 4.75", .357 magnum to come available. I've had my eye on the Hand of God (3:10 to Yuma) grips on their web site... wonder when those will be available. What's the difference in modern .38 spc and the .38LC? |
|
The .38 spl case is just a tad longer than the .38 Long Colt. The Long Colt bullet was generally a 150 grain, while the Spl was (and is) normally 158 grains. While the bullets used for both are the same diameter, .357-.358, the Long Colt bullets were heeled, or had a hollow base designed to expand to engage the bore rifling. The bore on the .38 Colts was basically the same as the 1851 Navy .36 caliber percussion pistols, many later converted to the .38 Colt self-contained cartridge, and having a slightly larger bore, needed the expanding base bullet, similar to how the Minie ball in the rifles worked.
|
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
[snip] Beretta makes some SAAs, but not sure if you look at them yet. Even Taurus has some SAAs and the ones i handled were real nice in fit/finish. I believe Beretta Stampedes are just rebranded Ubertis, kind of like Cimarrons (though Cimarrons have some customization state side). And knowing how Taurus likes to share things with Beretta (don't get me wrong I have a Beretta 92FS and love it) what ever SAA they have (don't see any on the web site) is likely an Uberti. I would love a USFA SAA. But with the kind of finish I'm looking for its out of my range (about twice my range actually). I've looked at Rugers and while I might be able to compromise with the price for Made in America, they don't offer CCH. And if they did you're looking at an increase in price anyways. Then we're in the same boat as USFA. I'm not really planning on getting into the sporting side of SA shooting, just a range gun. That's a big part of me deciding on .357. I'm slightly inclined to just stick with my grandad's old Herbert Schmidt 121, but it's old, heavy, and cheaply made. I want something better for long term without having to take a loan out. So I've pretty well settled on Cimarron as a happy medium. I've always read good things about them and hopefully I'll be able to snag one with a decent CCH finish. Just have to wait on a 4.75", .357 magnum to come available. I've had my eye on the Hand of God (3:10 to Yuma) grips on their web site... wonder when those will be available. What's the difference in modern .38 spc and the .38LC? im not sure if you are aware, but the B/CC finish will fade over time. Ruger did offer their version of the B/CC, but it was a faux type call "case coloring". to me it was a light version of the CC, but ive seen some CC that is just about the same. also, if you ever see any older Colts with the CC that has faded, you will see it. |
|
Quoted:
I believe Beretta Stampedes are just rebranded Ubertis, kind of like Cimarrons (though Cimarrons have some customization state side). Beretta owns Uberti. Uberti makes the Stampede for Beretta, but they are very different from a proper SAA. The damn things have a frame mounted firing pin. 
|
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
I believe Beretta Stampedes are just rebranded Ubertis, kind of like Cimarrons (though Cimarrons have some customization state side). Beretta owns Uberti. Uberti makes the Stampede for Beretta, but they are very different from a proper SAA. The damn things have a frame mounted firing pin.
They're also affordable. 
ETA: Also, correct me if I'm wrong but Ubertis do not have a transfer bar (thus a hammer mounted pin) which is more historically accurate, no? The Rugers have transfer bars so you can load all six cylinders (as does my grandad's old HS121). |
|
Quoted:
[snip] im not sure if you are aware, but the B/CC finish will fade over time. Ruger did offer their version of the B/CC, but it was a faux type call "case coloring". to me it was a light version of the CC, but ive seen some CC that is just about the same. also, if you ever see any older Colts with the CC that has faded, you will see it. So what you're saying is it's not really worth it to go with the +$250 bone case? Or for that matter I would probably be just as well off with a matte black finish? For now I like the look of CCH, whether it's mostly gray or has some nice coloring, so I'm probably going to get it regardless. Besides, Cimarron's other finishes (Charcoal blue and "original") cost extra. My understanding is the charcoal blue wears down to look like the "original" finish. I used to want the original finish, I just decided I liked CCH better. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
[snip] im not sure if you are aware, but the B/CC finish will fade over time. Ruger did offer their version of the B/CC, but it was a faux type call "case coloring". to me it was a light version of the CC, but ive seen some CC that is just about the same. also, if you ever see any older Colts with the CC that has faded, you will see it. So what you're saying is it's not really worth it to go with the +$250 bone case? Or for that matter I would probably be just as well off with a matte black finish? For now I like the look of CCH, whether it's mostly gray or has some nice coloring, so I'm probably going to get it regardless. Besides, Cimarron's other finishes (Charcoal blue and "original") cost extra. My understanding is the charcoal blue wears down to look like the "original" finish. I used to want the original finish, I just decided I liked CCH better. just wanted you to know so later on, you wont say "i didnt know that" after the fact and you can make an informed decision on your purchase. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
I get ya. Like I said, I like the way it looks and I expect it to fade with wear so I'll deal with it. wear doent have anything to do with it. it just fades. This takes decades to do ––- might be a problem for your children or grandchildren when you pass it down, but it wont be a problem for you. I did think the Vaquero was available in a case colored finish though for a while, but i just checked their website, new ones are all blue (or stainless) |
|
It is a choice you have to make between what is practical for you and what you really want. I think you need to buy two hand guns. One in 357 mag double action and one SA 45 Colt from whatever company you decide on. A Colt SAA style revolver is good in whatever caliber you decide on but once you shoot one in 45 Colt you will be hooked. Consider loading your own ammo. It is easy and fun to do.
Tom |