357 single action ?

R

rebs

New member
Do you guys have any suggestions on a single action cowboy pistol in 357 magnum ? I am starting to look for one but don't have much knowledge about the different brands
 
Well, there's Ruger, and then there is Ruger, but there is always Ruger.
Also Uberti and Pietta which are more like a real Colt.
But if I were going to shoot a lot of full power Magnums, I would go with a Ruger.
 
Nice thing about a Ruger is you can get one with a two cylinder model............. takes 38 special/.357mag and 9mm...............lots of ammo choices there!:D
 
Companies such as Pietta and Uberti make revolvers that are very similar to the original Colt Model 1873. From what I have read, both companies have good reputations for making reliable revolvers.

Ruger models are different mechanically. They are drop safe, so you can carry them with six loaded cylinders and they won't fire if you drop them and the hammer hits the ground. They make two main versions: the Blackhawk is slightly larger than the original Colt and has adjustable sights; the Vaquero is smaller than the Blackhawk and has a "notch" rear sight.

I generally prefer the Blackhawk, but also have a replica which I also enjoy. The prices of the Rugers and replicas are similar.

Here is my Ruger Blackhawk 357 with 6.5" barrel. I got it in the past couple of months for $300 used. Blackhawks have the reputation for being extremely sturdy, so I didn't worry about buying a used one. It is very accurate and fun to shoot.

Blackhawk%20357_zpstt55vpkx.jpg
 
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I recently bought a Blackhawk with the 2 cylinders, 357 and 9mm. Really practical and fun to shoot. Another plus with the Ruger single action is it can handle any factory 357 ammo with no problem.
 
Depends on what you want to do with it.If you are going to sit on the couch and spin the cylinder while watching the western channel then get the Colt. If you are going to shoot it get the Ruger.:rolleyes:
 
But if I were going to shoot a lot of full power Magnums, I would go with a Ruger.
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A Colt or colt replica chambered for 357 Magnum is a hefty gun with plenty of metal surrounding the chambers. They can be shot with full power magnums all day long with no problems.
 
I really like the Ruger Blackhawks, especially the Flat Top models. I've owned 3 of the BH's, the last being the Anniversary Model with a Flat Top. It's a first rate revolver, accurate, pleasing to the eye, and a delight to pack on the hip.

There's weight to deal with in any BH no matter what the barrel length. But, I'd suggest that the 4-5/8" bbl'd model is the best from a using and carrying angle. I've owned the 6-1/2" in .357 and currently own a .44 and .41 Magnum that long. Both are accurate but a PITA to pack on the hip. From a using standpoint, I can barely see a difference in accuracy with the longer barrels; the ease of carrying the shorter 4-5/8" making it the clear choice for me.

Sight's are another good point. If you plan to shoot cast bullets as well as jacketed or just try different loads, the adjustable types have a clear advantage. In 50 years of owning both types, adj. and fixed, I've yet to find a fixed model that shot to the sights. Correcting that is a PITA, but can be done by a really good gunsmith.

One other point in favor of the Ruger BH, is the relative ease with which you can make really good stocks for it. With just an average ability with wood working tools, you can make up some truly beautiful grips. The ones that come on current production models, the black plastic ones I'm referring to here, are a mite too thin for my taste, especially in the .41 and .44 Magnums. They are usable in the .357, but a good pair of wood stocks will really dress your new blued steel beauty.

Here's a pic of my Flat Top Anniversary Mode in .357 with some home made grips.

HTH's Rod

 
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does anyone have first hand knowledge with the uberti cattleman ?
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Yes, I have had two of them, chambered for 45 Colt. The first one was a dog, had the worst trigger pull of any revolver I have ever owned, and the barrel was not properly screwed in so the front sight leaned slightly to one side. I eventually got rid of it.

I still have the second one, it is much better than the first one was.



cattleman02_zps83fdbdd2.jpg





When you buy an Uberti you are not buying a Colt. Nor are you paying as much money as a Colt. Most folks will tell you the fit and finish of their Ubertis is beautiful. I am a bit fussier. Yes, on the outside they are beautiful, but on the inside they are a bit rough, because Uberti runs their CNC machines at high feed rates to crank out as many parts per hour as possible. If they didn't you would have to pay more. So on the inside the parts tend to have rough surfaces and sharp edges. This means that all of them could profit from an action job to smooth out the actions somewhat.

The 'color case hardening' on the frames of Ubertis is not the true bone Case Hardening you get on a Colt, it is done with a much less labor intensive chemical process. Another factor in why Colts are more expensive.

With an Uberti you do not get a hardened steel bushing where the firing pin emerges from the frame.

firingpinholeuberti.jpg




With a Colt you do.

coltrecoilplate.jpg




Ubertis try to be as authentic to 19th Century Colts as possible. So with an Uberti you get the tiny V groove rear sight. Colts went to an easier to see square rear sight during the 2nd Generation.

2ndGenColtandUbertiCattleman_zpsbe079bb7.jpg


Ubertis have an action that works exactly like a Colt, so you must leave an empty chamber under the hammer. If you drop one on the hammer with a live round under the hammer it will most likely fire. Very bad things can happen. In order to be imported into the US, Ubertis have to have a provision to prevent that from happening. Some have a tiny hammer block built into the hammer to prevent that, others come to this country with a two position cylinder pin. In the rearward position the pin blocks the hammer so the gun cannot fire. This two position pin is bothersome, sometimes shooters forget to put it in the forward position. Many of us replace the pin with an afermarket pin, then we have to observe the empty chamber under the hammer rule.


Don't get me wrong, for the money Uberti makes a nice revolver. Just not as nice as a Colt.

And as I said earlier, chambered for 357 Mag there is plenty of steel surrounding the chambers, so you can shoot 357 Mags out of them all day long.
 
My Ruger New Vaquero started out as a 357Mag. I got to tinkering with it and it's now a 9mmPara with massively improved sights, magazine feeding (up to 14rd capacity depending on tube mag length selected) and has gas-operated shell ejection.

:)

http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2014/03/03/maurice-frankenruger-magazine-fed-revolver/

I once tried to figure out how many SASS (Single Action Shooting Society) rules this thing violates. Best I can tell is "all of 'em".
 
My choice was a Stainless Blackhawk .357/9mm convertible. The 9mm cylinder is a hoot. I don't buy fixed sight guns anymore.
 
One more vote for the Blackhawks, particularly the flattop models. They look good, they feel good, they shoot great. What more do you need?
 
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