My new woods walking gun

[rjohns94]

My views on these things seem to flounder from one thing to another. Over the years I have gone from .44 mag to .22 to .357 and to .45 colt. I have considered semis in .45acp, 10 mm, .22. I have gone from snub nose to 7 1/2 inch and all in between. I have carried those that burn black powder and white. Some would say I'm indecisive. I would say I am very particular. So when I went from .429 caliber to .357, I had the right reasons. When I then went to the .45 Colt , i had the right reasons. And I think, I have made the switch now for some great reasons. The Colt SAA has been doing the job for 13 decades. the calibers have been varied but seems to stand out as special - the .44 special. So when I had the opportunity to get a second .44 special made by colt, in my favorite barrel length of 5.5 inches, and it was a 2nd generation instead of 3rd gen, made near my birthdate, well, I just couldn't resist. Its a 1959 version and in one of my favorite all time calibers, .44 special. here it is, in all its glory:

[TedH]

Very nice Mike!

[Longfin]

The just feel and point so well. Nice revolver in a grand caliber.

[kimwcook]

Very nice, Mike. You should get along with that one just fine.

[mod71alaska]

Beautiful Colt, Mike!!!

[rangerider7]

Niiiice!

[foxtrapper]

Very nice Mike When you find a match to that Colt, let me know if you want to rid yourself of that nasty FA97 of yours

[rjohns94]

Skeeter wrote this on the .44 special in 1966:

http://www.darkcanyon.net/The_44Special ... raisal.htm

[bsaride]

She's a beaut!!!

[Old Savage]

Great find!!! My favorite caliber.

[C. Cash]

Looks great Mike! A classic pistol in a classic caliber.

[pwl44m]

That article by Skeeter made Me appreciate My Colt 44sp a little more. My goodness Guns were expensive then, 200 bucks for a custom Colt with $20 Ivory Grips and tuned to boot.
There is a thread with the question that asked who wants to go back to when They were 20. I do if I can take a little money with Me. lol

[cshold]

Very nice score Mike

[Ysabel Kid]

Stunning! Simply stunning!!!

Congrats Mike!!!

[dr walker]

Wow!! Very nice looking revolver.

[2ndovc]

Sweet!!
That's gonna be fun.

jb

[Nath]

Ohh what a sweety

Nice find Mike

Nath.

[RIHMFIRE]

very cool look'n shooter...enjoy it!

[Blaine]

You get the bestest toys....

[SJPrice]

Great looking Colt. Congratulations!

This would be a great thread to hijack with the 44 special vs 45 colt argument, or maybe the 5.5 inch vs 4 1/4 inch vs 7 inch barrel/balance discussion.....

[Blaine]

Great looking Colt. Congratulations!

This would be a great thread to hijack with the 44 special vs 45 colt argument, or maybe the 5.5 inch vs 4 1/4 inch vs 7 inch barrel/balance discussion.....

Nope..... .44mag is best. 44 Special ++P performance (240s--1100fps) @ low pressure. 4 5/8" is best.

[rjohns94]

Well, I think we have done the 44 mag vs 45 colt thing here before. It was what convinced me the 45 colt, if handloaded, could out perform the .44 mag in a firearm that could take it. Bigger is always better I think! Size matters. However, I was thinking I need a woods walking gun that might have to take on grizz or other such thing that just doesn't happen here in south central penns woods. I have on hand Buffalo Bore heavy 44 special loads and they will take on anything here I might see and a few things bigger should I venture a bit further afield. All in all, I like Ruger, but I like Colt better. Freedom Arms in .45 colt in a short barrel may just be perfect, but it still does not feel like a Colt and unless your real careful, you have to carry it as a 4 shooter instead of 5 in the colt. Bottom line, I am happy with this latest choice. I like the 5.5 inch barrel as it points really naturally for me. You guys hash it out. This should be fun.

[Booger Bill]

There are a lot of good choices. A handloader can soup up the .44 special or .45 colt to be good enough for most anything in the lower 48. In a colt saa you shouldnt soup up a 45 colt as much as you could in a ruger. You can soup up a .44 special in the colt pretty good. In a N frame smith in .45 colt I would hold it down some compared to the ruger. The clyinder walls are thinner in the colt sa and N frames in .45 colt.
What I like about the .44 specials over the .44 mags is they are lighter and handier to pack with the one exception being a s&w mountain gun.
I have both s&ws and colt sa`s in both .44 special and .45 colt. I also have a s&w 29-2 in 5". Colt cant seem to get the clyinder dimensions quite right in the .45 colt. Unbeliveable!
My favorites are a 4 3/4" colt saa and a s&w 24-3 4", both in .44 special. The 6 guns pictured are all .44 specials.

[pwl44m]

7 1/2 " Hands Down. It's a Personal niche, I have 2 Colt Trooper Mk 3, 1 in 22 lr and 1 in 357 both with 8 inch barrels and a S&W 29 with 11 5/8 inch barrel and My Colt SAA 44 sp 7 1/2 inch barrel.
My Brother on the other hand says He wouldn't have anything longer than 5 inch. U will get both sides of the fence. It can't be proven that one is any better than the other. If U like it , then it is better. That's My take and 7 1/2 cents.

[rjohns94]

Booger Bill

Nice set of .44s

I only have three.

The new to me Colt saa in 5 1/2 inch version
An N-Frame Smith, unfired in 3 1/2 version
and a k frame smith night guard. this one is my ccw currently when i'm not carrying my PM9. with its night sights, its also the handgun for in home, combined with the Benneli super 90 with extended mag.

[gak]

Very nice Mike! And, among an already uncommon 2nd Gen caliber, also an uncommon length. Most I've run across are 7.5". I was very fortunate in acquiring an also very rare non-cataloged (still) "4th" gen (late 3rd) ca. 2008, 5.5" in a "discreet" (non-convertible) .44 Special. It had been custom ordered by a shop and not picked up. Lucky me--and at no premium cost! Like you, Mike, my favorite caliber in my favorite gun in my favorite length. This one's a gem that I've said many times I feel is the best quality I've seen from Colt at least since the 2nd gen. So, technically I'm all set--no complaints. However, I'm still envious as I like a gun with some history and patina, like any 2nd Gen, even if still in excellent condition or like-new for its era! Congrats again and enjoy!

[Sixgun]

The 5 and 1/2" SA Colt is the best balanced gun I have ever played with. The 44 Spl. is the most versatile of all cartrdiges, including the 44 mag which in my opinion is just too heavy of a gun.

So...........nice combo there Mike

[Blaine]

The 5 and 1/2" SA Colt is the best balanced gun I have ever played with. The 44 Spl. is the most versatile of all cartrdiges, including the 44 mag which in my opinion is just too heavy of a gun.

So...........nice combo there Mike

Ya know....I load my mags to a +P Special level, and wondered why I carrited a 52oz SBH, or 629.....I just have too much mag stuff around to switch right now....