SA or DA Revolver?

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hend238

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I'm having an uncontrollable urge to purchase another handgun. I've narrowed the cartridge down to 45 colt or 357 Mag. Where I can't make a decision is whether I want a double action or single action revolver. I love the looks of the SA but like the premise behind a DA revolver. I would say nearly 100% of what I'd use this revolver for would be shooting steel at my home range. Nothing serious, just plinking and having fun while improving my skill level. I will be reloading for this as well. One day CAS could be a possibility but I can't see that happening any time soon. I welcome all and any opinions...except if you tell me to get a different cartridge or a pistol. Thanks.
 
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Although I think they are very cool, unloading spent cartridges and then reloading a SA seems very slow to me. I suspect it might get old pretty quickly for range/plinking type usage. I think I'd go with a DA .357 .....you can also shoot the cheaper.38spl. The usual suspects would be an Alfa Proj., a Rugar or a S&W depending on your budget.
 
I have both a DA 357 and SA 45 Colt and for plinking the SA is a lot more fun! Having said that if it's for work in grizzly country I'd get one of those stainless Ruger Redhawks ( DA ) in 45 Colt at Elwood Epps and learn how to reload some hotter loads.
 
It definitely won't be for work in grizzly country. Where I work these days I need protection against jaguars. I'll never see them coming at me in the dark anyway.

I am seriously considering the Blackhawk though in 45 colt. It won't be often but if I want to shoot stout loads I'd like to have a revolver that can handle it with ease. Are the Redhawks built as strongly as the Blackhawks?
 
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TrollGRG said:
Most people shoot their doubles as singles. The only difference would be in how you load and unload them.
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Then people are missing out on the joy of mastering a DA trigger. I only shoot my revolvers in DA (other than my SA Ruger). Shooting it in SA is laziness. Put in the work and learn how to smoothly draw the trigger through the DA stroke.
 
I shoot both and I have to say that shooting an SA is real enjoyable to me when I am feeling relxed and just having some fun. I prefer the DA when I want to bang them off at a little quicker pace. I have no issue with the loading time of an SA. It is the unloading that takes more time. :)
 
I've got a few of both types. I've often wondered about this so I tested myself.

Starting state for both SA and DA was 6 empty casings in the cylinders and a box with 8 dummy rounds.

I normally pick up and chamber two at a time for the DA and normally pick up two and chamber each in turn in the SA. So that's what I did for this test.

I filmed myself doing the steps and then timed myself from last trigger pull to first trigger pull. For DA it took me 10.5 seconds. For SA it took me 21.5 seconds.

In neither case did I try to do it as fast as I could. Both were done at a comfortable pace. So yes, loading an SA takes a little longer. But it's not THAT bad.
 
IMO….you really need to have both. Shooting a DA/SA in SA is not the same as shooting a SA only revolver….clear as mud?
Besides, the "clicks" of a SA is like Angels singing:redface:
 
Both types would be nice but that is just not in the cards right now. I need to make a decision on the caliber and action type. I've just about decided on SA now so need to choose 45 colt of 357 Mag. First world problems, eh?
 
There is a big difference between the .357/.38 Special round and the .45 Colt or long Colt. If you were to put a .44 Mag beside a .45 Colt it is really hard to tell the difference. You can load a .45 Colt up to a .44 Mag if you want, there is lots of room. Plus the .45 makes a much bigger hole. I have a few .357s but the .45 Colt is much better, it just is. There is lots of after market support for the .45 Colt as it is a Cowboy Action Shooting round. The .45 round is one of the first modern rounds out there and it is still going strong. This .45 Colt round uses pretty much the same lead as the .45ACP so it isn't going away soon. You can buy a Ruger Convertable that shoots the .45 Colt and the 45ACP round if you want, it is single action.
 
I am quite aware of the differences between the 357 and 45 LC. The only reason I was considering the 357 was because I already load for the 45 ACP. I wanted something different and the ability to shoot the 38 special and the 357 Mag appealed to me. The convertible option has come to mind also. 45LC/45acp and 357/9mm convertible revolvers are two that I've looked at. There are mixed reviews on how well the 9mm shoots from the 357 platform however. 3 calibers in one platform is a lot of bang for your buck though. Could be fun or just not worth the effort.
 
I have both SA and DA Revolvers.....go with with the 357 mag. in double action.......you will not be disappointed....44 mag. in DA is good as well , but ammo is expensive , and the recoil can throw your off your aim in rapid fire......
 
hend238 said:
It definitely won't be for work in grizzly country. Where I work these days I need protection against jaguars. I'll never see them coming at me in the dark anyway.

I am seriously considering the Blackhawk though in 45 colt. It won't be often but if I want to shoot stout loads I'd like to have a revolver that can handle it with ease. Are the Redhawks built as strongly as the Blackhawks?
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Not sure if they are built as strongly but I do know they can take the hottest reasonable handloads no problem. Old Ruger Bisleys (the 3 screw ones ) would be my first pick but a Bisley Blackhawk would be good too. The newer Bisley Vaqueros are a smaller frame and can't take the heavy loads. Jaguars eh? That would be difficult. Only guy I have seen or heard of hunting jaguars ( or chasing them anyways) tended to use several dogs and lost a few of them. I haven't looked into it but I have a feeling hunting jaguars may be illegal in several countries.
 
I just started shooting a blackpowder Colt navy 1851. Takes me two minutes to reload with the whole process involved (measure powder, patch, ball, press, repeat, then cap,) but there is something rather satisfying in cocking for every shot.

I'm just some fat wank, but pulling the hammer back on a Colt 1851 in .44 gives me just a glimpse into the feeling of being Angel Eyes out of The Good, Bad, and the Ugly.
 
Gunexpert007 said:
...44 mag. in DA ...rapid fire......
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I am impressed! I can't come close to anything remotely resembling "rapid fire" with a .44 mag!

Doc Rainbow said:
a Bisley Blackhawk would be good too.
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Have one of these. It is a TANKER!

762Russian said:
...gives me just a glimpse into the feeling of being Angel Eyes out of The Good, Bad, and the Ugly.
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Ya, except you are shooting the real thing...and he was likely playing with some movie prop!
 
hend238 said:
45LC/45acp and 357/9mm convertible revolvers are two that I've looked at. There are mixed reviews on how well the 9mm shoots from the 357 platform however. 3 calibers in one platform is a lot of bang for your buck though. Could be fun or just not worth the effort.
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Since you reload already (wish I did) you should go with the 45LC and customize different load for different pleasures. I also looked at the "convertibles" but the mixed reviews turned me away from them…..and go with a SA only!

My 2 SAO revolvers….44mag Ruger SBH Bisley Hunter & .44 1851 Navy Sheriff steel frame black powder
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I've read enough about accuracy issues out of the 357/9mm convertible that I'd give it a pass. You might get one that works or you might not. Obviously the potential issues are fairly small. But it's the small stuff which is so frustrating if you're working at seeing just how good you can be. If the gun "sprays" ammo over a wider group you don't know if it's you or the gun or the ammo. So it's nice to start with a gun with a known good rep for accuracy. And the .357/9mm isn't such a gun.

A 45Colt/ACP conversion would not be too bad since the bullets are the same size.

As for the ability to load special and magnums in the .357 I'd suggest that if you reload you can tailor the loads anyway and never mind the brass sizing issue. Which sort of puts you back in the .45 vs .357 quandary again since there's not going to be a big issue between the magnums and Special loadings.

In the end you won't lose either way. And nothing at all says that this has to be your LAST SA revolver.
 
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