1873 colt sa in .38?

D

Davie Sprocket

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Me and my dad were watching Rio Bravo yesterday and we were talking the idea around about getting a colt 1873 sa in .38. Can be from any of the makers as it would be a just for fun to shoot gun. Most we found were in .357mag or 44-40 or 45 long colt. Only reason for using .38 is that its easier to find and cheaper then the others. I have read some about the ruger black hawks in .357 having a cylinder for .38. Any info will be greatly appriciated? Thanks.

Dave
 
evidently the Pietta stuff is quite good. i don't shoot anything that's SAA type, so i don't know personally how good the Pietta is.
 
the 38 special is about 1/8th inch shorter than 357 magnum, otherwise they're dimensonally the same- however, you need to be respectful of the load limitations - the 38 special operates at 18k cup( 18000 copper units of pressure) and the plus p version at 22,400- the 357 magnum is around 46,000 for some hot loads- over DOUBLE what the special operates at-there is no spare cylinder for the ruger as it's not needed- the manufacturer simply chambers for the longer round and the shorter one drops right in- if you DID see one for the ruger, it was a CONVERTIBLE, which will take 38 special, 357 magnum, and 9mm
 
Yup. The only reason .357 Magnum was made longer was to prevent it from being loaded into firearms that could not handle the pressures.
 
pietta makes a 38 special version of the old colt navy that looks nice but the open top design terrifies the heck out of me- it MAY be perfectly safe, but i don't think i'd even go ot plus p
 
Single Action Army in .357 Mag.....

There were some 1st generation Colt SAA's made in .38 Special. They are quite scarce relatively and accordingly valuable.

As stated, any SAA chambered for .357 Mag can also shoot .38 Special. In fact it is quite common to give these wheelguns a steady diet of the lighter loads and reserved the full house .357 Mag loads for special occasions... ;) :D

Here's a pic of my factory 2nd gen Colt SAA in .357 Mag...... pictured with a custom made Walter Austin left hand "John Wayne" rig:

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BTW, I am a huge "Rio Bravo" fan, too..... :cool:

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NAA
 
Well you started by talking about a Colt's .38 and don't know how it got to Pietta so quickly but anyone that buys a Colt SAA wouldn't worry about the cost of ammo.
 
Nice holster. Now if I could get one for a righty. As a kid Rio Bravo was one of the first movies that I watched with my dad on some saturday, since then when its on I have to watch it. Seen it a bunch of times and it never gets old to me. I've been all over the net today looking at the uberti, chaparrals, peitta's, colts and several others. Marstar has the peitta model instock and I will have a good look at them. I was looking at the chaparral winchesters as well in 357mag with the 38 block.

Dave
 
The Ruger Vaqueros are a good choice if you don't mind the departure from the Colt SAA design. They are more robust than Colts and copies thereof.

If you want a Colt clone, the Beretta Stampedes I've seen are quite nice. They are made by Uberti.
 
Nice holsters Cagunman. What did you find was the best part of the ruger's? Ruger does have a good name.

tjhaile mentions a departure from the colt saa design how so?
 
After looking at more of the ruger and uberti six guns on the net the more I am leaning towards one of them. Now I just need to find a dealer near by to have a look or three at one of them.
 
Davie Sprocket said:
Nice holsters Cagunman. What did you find was the best part of the ruger's? Ruger does have a good name.

tjhaile mentions a departure from the colt saa design how so?
Click to expand...

The new Model Vaqueros have a lighter mainspring so a very smooth cocking out of the box I believe its at 17lbs. The guns are very nice I actually like the free spinning pawl. Vaqueros maybe not be the most accurate copies of 1873 colts but they are the most popular SA revolvers with the Cowboy Action Shooting crowd.
 
Greenhorse six said:
Ruger and Beretta use a Transfer bar safety instead of a hammer mounted fireing pin for one, you can carry it with all 6 chambers loaded safely,unlike the real colt or close clones which you'd leave one empty.
Click to expand...

With the vaquero you will not hear 4 clicks when you pull the hammer back like the colt/uberti/pietta versions have. To load the Vaquero you simply open the loading gate and this releases the cylinder. On the original designs you have to pull the hammer back till you hear the first click, this releases the cylinder and then you can load.

Love my Vaqueros to work with, if you want an authentic type of sound and loading only to plink with then consider a clone.

Either way you will have to try them out for yourself to see what you like.

You can buy a retro hammer for the vaquero so you can hear 4 clicks when you pull the hammer back but they are expensive.

If you want adjustable sights and the 4 clicks then find an old model black hawk made before 1973. I love the old models and I am constantly adding to the heard when ever I find them.
 
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