OT - What to choose in a U.S.A. made SAA

[Yanqui]

I'm at a loss. I am going to purchase a couple of SAA's. The thing is I'm staying made in U.S.A. all the way. I've nothing against the foreign made SAA's. So I'm trying to decide between Ruger and U.S.F.A. I have never been a Ruger fan because of their style of SAA. The frame was always larger and never felt right. But now they have the New Vaquero and it's closer to the feel and style of the original Colt. But I like the USFA Rodeo alot more since they are. The finish is okay with me too. But I like the idea of the Ruger safety.

The SAA's are going to compliment my Winchester 94's. Of course my 94's are not convential anyway. They all sport the John Wayne lever.

How do any of you feel about either one?

[Jeff Quinn]

Both of those are good revolvers, but the Ruger is not a Single Action Army.

I like the New vaquero. Mine shoots great.

The USFA Cowboy is a Rodeo with a better finish, and is priced lower than their high end sixguns.

The Colt SAA is always a good choice, and the latest ones are as good as they ever were. You can get a new Colt for about $1200, maybe a bit less.

[Griff]

My opinion will be flavored with the fact that I do a lot of cowboy action shooting. Since their rules dictate that you can only load 5 in a six-shot revolver, the safety thing is superflurous. The action on the Ruger Vaquero or New Vaquero (Vac Lite) DOES NOT feel like a Colt. More moving parts inside. But... on the positive side, it is a well made firearm that captures the essence of a SAA.

That leaves you with the various USFA models. The Rodeo is an inexpensive, matte finished SAA. The essentials are all there, but the look is "off-putting" to my tastes. The Cowboy is the next step up and IMO worth the little extra to have a nicer finish better tuned action. The Single Action is the best of the three and with aftermarket grips one is very hard pressed to tell the difference between it and a Colt SAA from a distance. (Those markings on the barrel give it away at close range however.)

What can you say about the Colt? If you ever think about selling or the value of things you own, the Colt is the best investment of the three makers various offerings. It has historically increased in value. Even a hard used Colt will be worth more in later years than a lightly used USFA or Vaquero. My highly modified Colts are probably still worth more than I have invested in them. (By "highly modified", I mean almost all the internals have been replaced with more modern parts, and wire springs, externally they are still all factory-like in appearance.)

I'd rather save a little longer and buy the Colt than either the USFA or Ruger offerings, for my personal use. However, I'm looking at buying the wife a new pair of six-guns, and the Cowboy from USFA is high in the list. I could buy one Colt and have the 7-½" she has cut to 4-¾" to match them up. Still undecided and she's in no hurry, so the other projects I have in the works will be getting finished. Maybe a PAIR of 2nd gen Colts in .38Spl will come along and make my decision for me!

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

My perspective on the various SAA's is from a gunsmiths view. Not what they cost or how well the retain their value. Purely from the mechanical perspective.

If you want tuff out of the box, Ruger is the way to go, but I don`t consider it to be a true SAA. The ruger lock works were designed in the 1950's and it is nothing like the colt style lock. The Colt style lockworks dates to the Patterson basically unchanged since 1836.

From the CAS perspective we are racing with guns, not cars but Comparing Colts to Rugers is like comparing model T`s to 60`s muscle cars.

That said, for a true SAA, I think the USFA guns are the finest made today.

[jd45]

I own 2 USFAs & have owned a 2nd Gen Colt SAA, & I must agree with Steve.........USFAs are primo! jd45

[runfiverun]

i have a pair of rodeos and wouldnot trade them for a pair of colts
they did't have the cowboy finish when i got mine, wish they did..
with the blued finish or the case and blued. i would probably sleep with
mine.
if you want a bullet proof hunting gun get a black or sr hawk.
if you want a really good 45 colt hand gun get the usfa's......

[rangerider7]

A Colt SAA is the only true Colt SAA. The new ones since 1998 are great. Save up and get the true Colt SAA. IMHO.

[Yanqui]

I've given it alot of thought and I'm going to go with a pair of USFA Rodeo's probably with 5.5" barrels. I just wish they had one with a 7.5" barrel. My Winchester 94 Wrangler in 32 Winchester Special has the same type of finish by Robar.



Thanks for the input.