Personally, I think the Ruger Vaqueros are the best Colt SAA reproductions. They are made to be extremely strong, and are great shooters. Many (possibly most) of the people who compete in Cowboy Action Shooting and SASS use Vaqueros.

IIRC, they come in 357 mag, and 45 LC. They used to come in 44 mag (old model), and 44-40 (I think it was old model too, but I'm not sure.)

You can find them for about $500-$600.

 

Personally, I think the Ruger Vaqueros are the best Colt SAA reproductions. They are made to be extremely strong, and are great shooters. Many (possibly most) of the people who compete in Cowboy Action Shooting and SASS use Vaqueros.

IIRC, they come in 357 mag, and 45 LC. They used to come in 44 mag (old model), and 44-40 (I think it was old model too, but I'm not sure.)

You can find them for about $500-$600.

Agreed, they are built like a tank.

IIRC some of the more powerful ammo actually says 'For Ruger only', that tells you something right there.

Here's mine, (old) Vaquero, .45 Colt.

 

Not too long ago I handled a pair of sequential Ruger Vaquero SASS Special edition that were just absolutely perfect, except the price. I forget what they were asking at the GS, but on the Ruger website they list for $1600 each. The triggers were like butter, the springs were perfect and the hammer is laid down for fanning or thumbing easily. Beautiful guns.

 

Agreed on the Rugers. Last year lgs had sequential match pair of 45lc price was just under $3000 irrc.

 

Agreed, they are built like a tank.

IIRC some of the more powerful ammo actually says 'For Ruger only', that tells you something right there.

Here's mine, (old) Vaquero, .45 Colt.

I don't doubt that at all. I have seen the pressure limits of the Ruger compared to other SAAs, and they are way up there.

Nice revolver. I have always loved the look of the stainless steel ones.

 

I like shooting my Ruger. It is well built and has a great feel to it. It took a couple hundred rounds and smooth out and now it is like silk. My only complaint is the stocks, I don't like the plastic/rubber, but that is an easy fix.

 

Well I won a 2nd gen colt, an modern Uberti SAA (barrel print branded Dixie as well as Uberti), and a Ruger blackhawk. The modern Uberti has a better trigger pull and smoother than the Blackhawk. The genuine Colt (Uberti made 2nd G) is best of all.

I would give an A+ letter grade to all of them. But the modern Uberti's are very good in my experience and are cheaper than Rugers (see Dixie Gun Works).

EDIT: It may be that I just got an exceptional Uberti, because Rugers probably have a better reputation I would guess, reading online.

 

I like the Ruger new vaquero. Mostly because it uses a transfer bar safety, and that means I can carry with a full cylinder. Colts, as well as similarly designed guns, can discharge if the hammer is down on a loaded cylinder if the hammer gets bumped...

And that's coming from John Taffin, btw....

 

I own 2 Vaquero and an Uberti repro. Both are fun to shoot and very accurate. New an Uberti is less expensive. In CAS I have been using the Uberti more, but only because it is the newer gun.

 

Anybody have a Ruger Vaquero Montado? Looks awesome.

 

Depends on what you want to use it for.

If you shoot cowboy, or you want authenticity, get a "new" Vaquero or a spaghetti gun.

If you want an all around good shooter, get a Ruger Blackhawk.

Strong enough for utra heavy loads, transfer bar, and excellent adjustable sights.

 

Depends on what you want to use it for.

If you shoot cowboy, or you want authenticity, get a "new" Vaquero or a spaghetti gun.

If you want an all around good shooter, get a Ruger Blackhawk.

Strong enough for utra heavy loads, transfer bar, and excellent adjustable sights.

Absolutely agreed. I have a New Model Blackhawk and it is a fine gun, one of my favorites as a matter of fact. I put the Gunfighter spring kit in it and is just perfect!

 

Uspfa saa and now 1911's

 

The best (closest to the original) is the USFA (U.S. Firearms) Many think they are better than the new Colt SAA.

Rugers are awesome single actions. Beautiful guns. They dont have the 4 clicks, when cocking the hammer. And they have the transfer bar.
It just depends on how authentic you want.

In this pic. Left and right are American Western Arms. Their out of buisness now.
Center is an Uberti with old west finish.

Here's another pic of the Uberti. It is a fine gun, and I sure enjoy shooting it. For the cost, they are great!!!

Here is a pair of USFA SAA

 

The Uberti is a little cheaper. You get what you pay for, the ruger has adjustable sights. no, you can't fan a new SA. I have a 3 bolt ruger. Fanning it usually results in a trip to the ER. not to mention I can't hit anything. the 3 bolt is very accuate. I am pretty consistent to about 40 yards. I have seen better shots shoot my gun on the rifle range. 100 yards they just smoke a 6" target. 44 mag is not for CAS anyway. I end up catching the rear sight trying to fan it.

 

Fanning it usually results in a trip to the ER.

Meaning you continue to try it???

 

Meaning you continue to try it???

I can get one or two shots off without injury. Every couple years I get cocky and try to empty the gun. I will admit this is stupid. In a SD situation one or two 44 mag rounds will put most drug crazed attackers down. Moreover, by the third shot I am likely shooting into squirrel nests. Deep down we all want to be like John Wayne, I want it more than the average bear.

 

Sadly, USFA has basically ceased production and is assembling a few standard model from parts inventory.

 

Yep, and the prices have been going up on whats out there.

 

Look at the late model Colts for yourself. I think you will be pleasantly surprised at the quality. I have two 3rd generations and they are the full equal of the 2nd generation that I bought in 1968.

 

I remember while attending the Phila NRA show, I stopped by the Colt custom shop kiosk and handled their SAA's. Not really impressed. I then stopped by Cimarron Arms, and tried theirs. I couldn't believe how much better those actions felt. If i were in the market for another SAA, no question what I'd be looking at. I now own a 1952 Hy Hunter in 357 and a 1968 BH in 41 mag, my favorite.

 

Back to the OP's question: The USFA product line is the absolute finest, bar none. If you would argue that point, you obviously have never held one let alone cocked the hammer and pulled the trigger on one.

Hey, you get what you pay for, and in the case of USFA that's precisely the deal.

 

the thing that sold me on the ruger new vaquero is the ease of getting 45acp cylinders for the 45 colt chamberings.

just got a pair of new vaquero 45Colt/45ACP 4 5/8 stainless sequential serials. you cant use the "ruger only" loadings in these guns. got em for right at 600 each way below the cass cost of 1600$

as for the 5 loaded and hammer on a empty chamber thats not actually how it was done in the old west. the correct way that the old west guys and gals who carried the original colts in the 1800's was all 6 loaded with the hammer cocked on the first click. the purpose of the first click was to allow safe carry of a fully loaded 6 round cylinder.

if colt designed it to be carried 5 and 1 empty they wouldnt have included a 6th chamber nor the first click cocked notch.

thats why there is no halfcock on the ruger vaqueros but it has a transfer bar instead.

my babies

 

A word of caution about "Ruger Only Loads".

This applies to the New Model Blackhawks and Super Blackhawks, and the original Vaqueros.

The new Flat Top Blackhawks and New Vaqueros are built on smaller frames (the original MR frames) intended for the .357 Magnum guns. They may, or may not, handle "Ruger Only Loads."

Bob Wright

 

As to Ubertis, I have three of them, all of which I am pretty impressed with. Their fit and finish may be a mite less than a Colt or USFA, but when it comes to bullets on target, they mighty well hold their own.

And this coming from a die-hard Ruger man.