Single action revolvers. Your advice?

themarauder

themarauder

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
41   0   0
Location
Just north of Toronto, thankfully.
Oh wise and all knowing CGN magic ball! I come seeking enlightenment!

So I've been thinking I needs to get me a single action revolver of some sort,
for no real reason than to own one. (Might as well put that part of the PAL safety course to some use!)

Problem is this: I know very little about revolvers and specifically I know squat about single actions. I'm a semi sort of fellow. What advice would my fellow CGNers offer a single action greenhorn such as myself?
 
Unless you're really stuck on Colt clones(no transfer bar), go Ruger Vaquero for CAS, or Blackhawk if you don't mind the extra weight but with adj. sights. These US made guns are built like tanks.
 
Single action 1873 Colt clones load and unload one cartridge or casing at a time. If this does not bother you in your quest for rapidly sending bullets downrange then there can be much happiness found within the Zen like pace that such a firearm will instill in the student... :D

If you want to play with wildly different loadings then something like the Ruger Blackhawk with the adjustable sights is by far the ONLY way to go. You'll come to value the quickly adjustable sight to work with different loads of ammo if you want to experiment wildly.

But if you're content to pick a loading and stick with it then the fixed sights options such as the Ruger Vaquero or any of the Italian original clones are entirely satisfactory.

For my own cowboy action SAA guns I tripped over what I considered a really good price for a Pietta Colt clone here on the EE. I was so happy with the quality both externally and internally that I ordered a second gun from Marstar to make a cartridge pair for my club's CAS monthly events. The second gun did not dissapoint me in any manner. Both the external and internal finishing is superbly done. And I like the fact that they didn't try to stamp the entire safety manual onto the side of the barrel like Ruger has done hte last few years.

If you read up on these cowboy guns much credo is put into the Colt'ish 4 clicks from hammer down to lockup prior to shooting. The Ruger options do not have this. They are superb guns but they are far from authentic to the original Colt pattern.

So if you want a slice of history with ice cream on the side then go with Pietta or Uberti. If you want a perfectly excellent firearm with many of today's features then choose Ruger's Vaquero or Blackhawk. And for playing with lots of different ammo loads then the Blackhawk, with it's variable rear sight, would be the way to go.
 
And to add to BCRiders comments there are two models of the Ruger Blackhawk/Superblackhawk. They are know as the old model and the new model.

The old model has the same function as the original colts, you must set the hammer to 1/2 #### and then the cylinder is released. Load one, skip one cylinder and then load 4 more and rest the hammer on an empty cylinder just as a colt or one of it's clones. Three benefits to the old models are you have adjustable sights, 10x better innards (springs and parts) have yet to break a part on my OM's, and extreme strength. Made up to 1973.

New Models have a transfer bar and to load one you simply open the loading gate and the cylinder is released. You can safely load all 6 cylinders but if you use it for competition then you still have to adhere to the load one and skip one rule.

The Vaquero is a Blackhawk with non-adjustable sights. There are two models to the Vaquero. The old Vaquero (of just Vaquero) is the same size frame as the blackhawk and the New Vaquero is a slightly smaller frame (same as a colt clone) with a few mods inside.

This is just the cliff notes and there are a lot of variations to the Blackhawk/Super Blackhawk/Vaquero line over the years, different frames sights etc.

My favorite of all my single actions is my Old Model Super Blackhawk that has a 4 5/8" barrel and a XR3-RED frame (not the galactically stupid Dragoon knuckle busting frame). With this revolver I can have my cake and eat it too, lol.
 
themarauder said:
So I've been thinking I needs to get me a single action revolver of some sort, for no real reason than to own one.

What advice would my fellow CGNers offer a single action greenhorn such as myself?
Click to expand...
If you can, pick them up and see what fits your hands. You'll be surprised at just how 'different' they can feel.
 
Why not get a double action revolver? They are much better and easier to reload, since the cylinder swings out. Unless you really like the cowboy gun look. Ruger or SW all the way.
 
My favorite of all my single actions is my Old Model Super Blackhawk that has a 4 5/8" barrel and a XR3-RED frame (not the galactically stupid Dragoon knuckle busting frame). With this revolver I can have my cake and eat it too said:
It is the square trigger frame he is referring to.
It was not stupid in its day.
They shot one handed back then. The off hand gets the hit.
Varies from person to person.
I owned one in 44 mag. It was fine with light to warm loads.
Never tried hot loads with it.
The the square trigger style started back when men needed to shoot from a horse.
I am not a history expert, just read this once:cool:
Ever see a good WW 2 movie where they shot the 1911 2 handed? Nope.
Click to expand...
 
I have two single action revolvers. I bought a 6.5 inch barreled Ruger Blackhawk years ago as a mate to my Marlin 1894c in 357 magnum. To do Cowboy Action Shooting you need two revolvers so I bought a used 7.5 inch barreled Virginian Dragoon in .357. I love shooting both, and use .38 special for economy. The longer barrels give me good sighting for long shots.
 
If you read up on these cowboy guns much credo is put into the Colt'ish 4 clicks from hammer down to lockup prior to shooting. The Ruger options do not have this. They are superb guns but they are far from authentic to the original Colt pattern. [I said:
The 3 screw ruger blackhawk model was stopped in 1973.
They have the 4 clicks from hammer down to lockup prior to shooting.
I own 2 of them.;)

If you are a SA fan you should spend some time with one.

Not expensive, look here...[/I]
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=161742620
Click to expand...
 
As someone who has always desired a SA, found and bought a used almost-mint Ruger NMBH Stainless 357 mag, shot it then sold it for what it cost...I would say buy anything you want.

But buy "used" so you can recoup your cost if ever you wanna sell soon after. I enjoyed shooting it but really liked shooting my GP100 or Security Six or L-frames much more.

If I bought a new one, would've cost me 672 bucks out the door. The used piece was $418 total and I sold it on the EE for 450 shipped, a fair and reasonable price. Broke even..well I made 42 cents.

So if you decide you wanna keep the SA after all, you are way ahead.
 
Try a Black Powder Cap & Ball. They are inexpesive from the get go, cheap to shoot and surprisingly accurate. Something every pistolero must experience at least once.
 
gnmontey said:
Try a Black Powder Cap & Ball. They are inexpesive from the get go, cheap to shoot and surprisingly accurate. Something every pistolero must experience at least once.
Click to expand...

and damned near impossible to find a range that'll let you use black powder- plus you should use soft lead , and that means raw lead and a furnace- unless you use a bore that happens to mike out the same as a popular revolver round , like the old army- which is a 451, although a 457 is recommended-
 
t-star said:
and damned near impossible to find a range that'll let you use black powder
Click to expand...

???? You talking indoor? The three I belong to are all outdoor and BP is not an issue. I can believe finding an indoor for BP would be an issue.
 
Good info Ruger22. I'm still learning about a lot of this stuff.

My outdoor club allows black powder but if it's busy it would be worth asking the fellow at the most downwind point to swap places so the "fog of war" doesn't roll down past all the other shooters.... :D

I'm using C&B in some of my cowboy shooting. But it's a whole other level of involvement and may not be for everyone. I'm really enjoying them though and want to get a couple of other significant models to go with my Remington and 1851 clones.
 
Get a Ruger.....:)
Picture427.jpg
 
Another option is Heritage Manufacturing. We're the only importer currently bringing them to Canada. We have a large number of the 22 roughriders on the way and we will also have some in 45 LC. Exact price and eta hasn't been determined yet but the 45 will be $600-700 new.

RR45N5_lg.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom