Entry Level SAA

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deerslayer303

New member
What do you guys think of the entry level (read cheaper some sub 400 bucks) SAA clones? Like the EAA bounty Hunter, Traditions, Pietta, etc I'm just bouncing around looking at them. I'll pull the trigger on one sooner or later.

Also I'm gonna go with either the 45LC or 44-40. What is the advantages and disadvantages if any between the two? I'm sure ammo availability is better with the Long Colt. And can these guys shoot modern smokeless loads or are they restricted to cowboy (holy black) loads. Which the later is fine with me.
 
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Pilot

New member
I have a USFA Rodeo that used to be able to get you into an SAA for a nice entry level price. Since their demise in the SAA world, your options are either Italian like the Uberti Cattleman, or the Ruger Vaquero with the transfer bar system. I like .45 Colt a lot for these guns.
 
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Hawg

New member
A little over 400 but I would go with the Uberti Cattleman in 44-40. The Ruger New Vaquero action isn't anything like a Colt and when you look at one up close its a little off. The main advantage of the 44-40 is if later on you decide to get a rifle there's less blowback with the 44-40 which makes cleaning a lot easier with bp than with the straight walled .45 Colt. Yes they can shoot modern smokeless loads. The last time I priced them both 44-40 and .45 Colt were about a buck a round with .45 being easier to find. I have seen 44-40 in Walmart before the shortage but neither one lately. The drawback to the 44-40 is reloading for it is a little bit of a learning experience but once you get it figured out its as easy as anything else
 
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bedbugbilly

New member
I'll second Hawg's suggestion on the Cattleman. I purchased a Uberti Bisley a few months ago and while not a Cattleman, I will say that the fit, finish and accuracy of my Uberti is fantastic. I wanted the Bisley style grip frame - if I hadn't wanted that, I would have easily gone with a Cattleman.

If you are going to set a budget of $400 . . you could always save a little longer. Check out the Uberti site. Just remember that whatever the MSRP they list, that doesn't mean that is what you are going to have to pay for it. I ordered my Bisley through a LGS that I've purchased a number of handguns from. They had to check with Uberti to make sure they had one in stock - a quick phone call to confirm. I had it in two weeks. In the end, I got it for about $80 cheaper than the MSRP.

Mine is in 357 but at some point, I'd like to get either a 44/40 or a 45 Colt. I've already made up my mind that when I do, it will be a Cattleman. Good luck and hopefully you'll find something that "scratches the itch just right"! :)
 
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Hawg

New member
Taylors lists the old model at 512.00 and the new model at 509.00. I prefer the old model with the cylinder retaining screw and bullseye ejector over the spring loaded cylinder release and half moon ejector.
 
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Tidewater_Kid

New member
If you have a Brass Pro Shop near you, they have the Cattleman in .45 for less than $400 right now. It's the flat finished model, but still a Uberti Cattleman.

TK
 
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Tidewater_Kid

New member
Hawg,

You are correct, and they used to call it the Millenium and it retailed for $199. Wish I bought several back then. Point was that's it still made by Uberti.

TK
 
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Crunchy Frog

New member
The EAA Bounty Hunter would not be high on my list. It is larger than a Colt "clone" so holsters and grips will not interchange. Also little or no aftermarket support. If you plan on shooting cowboy action the EAA's cylinder design makes it difficult to verify an empty chamber under the hammer at the loading table.

The Uberti revolvers are fine but the Piettas are also very nice. The Traditions model Pietta has a transfer bar ignition (like the Ruger or the EAA) if that appeals to you. It has little or no advantage in cowboy action.
 
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Trum4n1208

New member
Crunchy Frog, you beat me to it. Those Traditions Revolvers are excellent, Pietta did a fine job with them. I had one in .357 that I had to let go of, but I'd love to get a new one in .45. You can get one with a matte finish for a bit below $400, I think.
 
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Driftwood Johnson

New member
Also I'm gonna go with either the 45LC or 44-40. What is the advantages and disadvantages if any between the two? I'm sure ammo availability is better with the Long Colt. And can these guys shoot modern smokeless loads or are they restricted to cowboy (holy black) loads. Which the later is fine with me.
Click to expand...

Howdy

Hawg pretty much covered it. Yes, factory 45 Colt ammo is more available than factory 44-40. Yes, 44-40 can be a bit 'fussy' to reload. Not difficult once you have it figured out, but I always load 44-40 slower than 45 Colt because it is easier to damage the thin necked 44-40 brass. The other thing about loading these two cartridges is carbide dies are available for 45 Colt, but because it is a tapered cartridge, carbide dies are not available for 44-40. Most who load 44-40 will lube the cases, one extra step, but nor a big deal.

All the modern reproductions are rated for SAAMI spec Maximum loads. They are not restricted to Cowboy loads.

By the way, cowboy loads are not Black Powder. They are Smokeless loads loaded to slightly lower velocity and pressure.
 
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deerslayer303

New member
Thanks for all the info guys. And thanks for pointing out the ins and outs of the EAA, I went and checked out Mikes video on the EAA, wonder why they did the LC cylinder like that. I'll scratch that one off my list. And thanks Driftwood for pointing out that cowboy loads are not BP loads. I've always thought they were. But never shot any of them so that's where my lack of knowledge on them comes from.
 
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Hawg

New member
35-37 grains of bp in either the .45 or 44-40 is nothing to sneeze at.:D Ballistically they're pretty close with the .45 running a 250 grain bullet and the 44-40 running a 200 grain bullet.
 
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BerdanSS

New member
I bought a uberti NM in .45 colt a couple years ago. I bought it on gunbroker brand new on sale for $250. I absolutely LOVE that pistol. The finish on it isn't much to look at, but it's a very high quality piece. It was POA and accurate right out of the box to boot.

If your going to reload, id go with 44-40 personally. If not I'd go with .45 colt.
 
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Driftwood Johnson

New member
35-37 grains of bp in either the .45 or 44-40 is nothing to sneeze at. Ballistically they're pretty close with the .45 running a 250 grain bullet and the 44-40 running a 200 grain bullet.
Click to expand...

Yup. Although my loads tend to run more to about 35 grains or so. It depends on the brand of powder as to exactly how much you can stuff into modern cases. It's tough to stuff 40 grains of powder into modern cases without a compression die. For simplicity's sake, I dump the exact same amount of powder into either 44-40 or 45 Colt cases. But the 45s get a 250 grain bullet and the 44s get a 200 grain bullet.
 
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Dragonflydf

New member
I have a pair of Pietta SAA, one in 38 and the other in 45 and love them, I gave them a trigger job and they are smooth and light at 3lbs. I think they were $399 each.
 
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brazosdave

New member
The wife and I each have a Uberti Cattleman Hombre in millenium (flat) finishes, chambered in .357. They are great! We usually shoot .38 spl out of em, the .357 is a lot of kick and noise, way worse than my buddies .45's. I shoot the .38's for fun, and i load .357 for carry. Works better that way. I got both of em new off Gunbroker for less than $400 apiece
 
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