What is the allure of SA revolvers?

N

Ninjato

New member
Being new to revolvers lately, I have acquired a good selection of revo's from S&W19, 686, 66, Ruger GP100 and Redhawk, Colt Python.....All are great DA/SA revo's.

I see a huge interest in SA revolvers still and wonder what the allure is. Is it history? DOes it make you feel like an old west cowboy when you shoot it? Are SA revo's more accurate? tighter? better trigger?

Last question is why are single action design, the handle/grip of the gun is placed awkwardly low compared to more modern revolvers.

Thanks for your time.
 
The grips of a single action in the vein of the SAA is just right. Nothing feels like it in the hand. The only reason the grip is "higher" on a DA revolver is to gain leverage to pull the DA stroke.

I am seriously considering a .357 Cimmarron Thunderer as a carry/ truck gun. I find the single action is juat as versatile as any, and exudes coolness.
 
In my own case it comes from too much TV in the afternoon! I grew up with Gene, Roy, Hoppy and Lash. I still remember them "throwing" bullets from horseback at the bad guys. I also lived near three western theme parks as a kid. I enjoyed John Wayne movies with my dad. The first two purchases I made were a single action Army and a 1911. The grip is designed to roll back under recoil and you thumb cock the revolver when you shift back to align the front sight on your target. It was ergonomic before the word was known. I have enjoyed many years of target shooting, woods carry, hunting and for a too brief time, mine was a duty weapon. I had mine wrapped up in a well-oiled sock for years. Cowboy action shooting came along. I enjoy that look I get from people as I dress the part. Two single actions on your hips still gets a reaction. I especially like it when a kid says, "cool!". The allure? I think it is similar to seeing G.I. Joe dolls in a store. I hope that in the future people will still be collecting and shooting single actions. It is nostalgia, americana, part of our nations growth, history and a symbol of freedom as strong as the flag.
 
I see a huge interest in SA revolvers still and wonder what the allure is.
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Ever shot one? I have a .45 Blackhawk that will put a grin from ear to ear on your face. I equate them to 1911's. Everybody should have at least one.

I use mine for pistol hunting, and for backup when I go rifle hunting. I also like to reload and shoot "cannon" rounds at long distance targets.

There is also the history, like a 1911. I can picture in my minds eye, John Wayne cocking his SAA as he draws it from the holster. I have practiced this a lot with the gun unloaded, and it isn't easy. He must have practiced that for a long time before the shooting of the movies he did it in.
 
I dont know if I can really pin down why I like the SA trigger so much. I guess I just see revolvers as being classier to begin with, and the SAs as being even more refined. They dont look or act like your regular J-frames or other modern revos. I love my 686 as much as a guy could ever love a gun. After all, it was the first pistol I bought. I only ever really shoot it as a SA though. The DA isnt bad, but the SA is wonderful. I've shot plenty DA/SA autos, and I still prefer it all SA. You cant beat consistancy. And the pull is so short and crisp. Then after I tell myself no more goofy calibers, I go and play with this old Blackhawk in 41 mag. After I touched that worked in trigger, I knew I had made a mistake touching it....it went home with me that day. ;)

Anymore, all the pistols I want a either revolvers with SA ability or a 1911. The extra millisecond to cock back a trigger is worth it for the great feel of a SA gun. It's just the most refined a pistol can get.

Randy
 
Few guns fit my hand and point as well as a SA revolver. As Sir William said the ergonomics are great. They are fun to shoot. Used a rugged and reliable Blackhawk as my truck gun for a few years.
 
Can I assume that you also don't shoot a SA revo w/ a 2 hand grip? Honestly I cannot remember ever seeing a cowboy on TV shoot his SA using 2 hands. HAHAHAHA

A 1911 .45acp is not easy to shoot one handed. Is a .45LC SA revo easier? There are some awfully big calibers out there on these SA revos.

Interestingly enough, my first gun is a Dan Wesson 1911 .45acp. I shoot that gun the best but I think it has more to do w/ the way the 1911 grips.
 
Many of the first guns I bought were single action revolvers.
I don't now, and never did have any interest in cowboy movies or cowboy shooting. But, I suppose you could say I was influenced by another entertainment medium: Gun Magazines. When I was growing up, I think I talked my parents into buying me every gun magazine I saw or found out about. Out of them all, my favorite was Shooting Times because I liked the work of Skeeter Skelton. Skeeter of course did a lot of shooting, and writing about shooting with single action revolvers. I remember to this day reading an article he wrote on the ever popular subject of what handgun would you pick if you could only have one handgun ? His choice was a Ruger Blackhawk in .357 (if I remember correctly). Needless to say, when I started working, I bought a Ruger Blackhawk in .357. It also seemed that every gun writer who ever put ink to paper had a Ruger Super Blackhawk: I considered this to be standard issue of anyone that was serious about guns and bought one soon after the .357 Blackhawk.
As the years go by, I don't shoot my single actions a whole lot anymore. In fact, I don't shoot most of my guns anymore: I shoot a few, a lot and the rest of them sit in the safe for an annual shakedown. But, I see nothing wrong with single action revolvers. It has been my experience just observing other people casually shooting handguns that very few people shoot double action revolvers double action. Single actions do feel just right in the hand, as was mentioned. They are very strong: you have the freedom to shoot any handload you happen to read about and be pretty darn confident that the gun will handle it (with Rugers that is). They are rugged and reliable.
That SBH rode many a mile on my hip when I have been out exploring the back country or hunting. I only gave it up because of it's physical size. I replaced it with a double action Model 29 3" just because it was more comfortable to carry.
 
Great triggers. Very powerful for the weight. Belief in if you can't get it done with 6, you deserve to be 6 feet under.

SHOT PLACEMENT IS EVERYTHING.

You are unlikely to vaporize a body part with a 9mm. However, a 44 magnum, or larger handgun, with the proper handloads, can approach rifle like results, with single shots.

Also, at close range, if you miss, the muzzleflash is going to blind the bad guy, either for real, or temp, and allow you to followup, not to mention the concussion may knock him down if you miss.

I wonder what being 10 feet from the muzzle of a a 45-70, or S&W 500 feels like when the powder goes off???


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Because they're not only beautiful:

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But they're accurate too:

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As far as the grip and control of recoil, just one word: Bisley baby! Well, actually two words... ;)
 
I notice that many SA's have a cylinder that does not open like modern DA revos. You have to eject shells one at a time and reload one at a time. Isn't that a little "time consuming" ? What is the reason for this? Reproduction of antiquated technology or is there a benefit to this?
 
Reproduction of antiquated technology
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Yep - pretty much.
*shrug*
Like I care anyhow. I just enjoy S/A's. Wrap your mitts around a Colt 1851 Navy sometime and you'll know real quick what perfection feels like.
 
The idea of ejecting each spent case, to me at least, is not as time consuming as some people make it out to be. Yeah, it can never be as fast as a swing out cylinder double action revolver, but what's the hurry. Not too long ago I went out plinking with .22s. A friend was along with me and he was using my guns. He was switching back and forth between my S&W Model 17 and Model 617 while I was shooting either a Ruger Single Six or a Bisley.
We were plinking. Shooting junk in the desert. We often play a little unspoken game where one of us spots a challenging thing to shoot at and take a shot. The other guy see what is being shot at and then joins in to see who can hit it first. I noticed that he was able to reload faster than I was, but not by much. A few seconds.
Plus, when you are out for an afternoon of shooting, the sky is clear, the sun is bright, you are relaxed, I ask again, what is the hurry ?
 
Class; nostalgia; I was raised by dinosaurs; it is different, especially to guys and gals in my 18-30 age bracket. A few years ago one of my uncles let a very impressionable young boy handle and shoot a genuine Colt Single Action Army in .45 Colt. His words were, "They told me not to shoot it because it will ruin its value, but I've got two others to just stare at, I wanted one to use." :) I like his thinking.

Currently I am debating whether or not I have the patience to save up for a genuine Colt and whether or not it is worth it. I WANT a nice, SAA-size .45 Colt single action with either the 4 7/8" bbl or a 5 1/2" bbl. The Ruger New Vaquero looks promising though, as do many of the clones. And NO, I DO NOT want an older Ruger Vaquero or New Model Blackhawk/Super Blackhawk. Having handled and shot an older Flattop .357 Blackhawk and the aforementioned SAA, plus a couple of Super Blackhawks, there is no comparison between the smaller-framed revolvers and Ruger's over-engineered monsters.
 
Because I have enough "practical" guns, I just wanted one. Have a SAA clone (one of these days Ill hopefully inherit my grandfathers vintage/PERFECT SAA)
 
Also, when you compare equal caliber, barrel length, etc. a SA is usually a few ounces lighter than a DA. The more simple action and lack of a crane shaves a few ounces off the total weight.
 
To those who don't, no explanation is possible.
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Why do you say that? I only recently got into shooting so my curiosity got me to ask this question so I can learn a bit more about the whole art of shooting.

It is like tasting wine. It is something that needs to be experienced not explained as in "fruity" w/ a nutty aftertaste, or "dark" w/ a light bouquet....WTF is that supposed to mean? Once one tastes the wine and appreciates it, then the description is valid. Better yet it is like riding motorcycles. I have 3 of them. Sabre1100, GS750, and VTX1800. Those who don't ride will never understand why those who do, ride.

I understand this, and it is only after owning 8 DA/SA revolvers, I was thinking maybe I was missing out on this SA revo thing so I ask to see what the allure is. At the young age of 39, it is obviously before my time. Everyone here has done a great job explaning to me. I just like to think that I do have the capacity to appreciate something I have not experienced yet.
 
For me its the KISS principal

For me it’s the kiss principal.
Keep It Simple Stupid
And there’s nothing simpler that revolvers. No multiple safeties, no magazine safety, no ambidextrous safeties, no load indicator, no grip safety.
That’s not to say I don’t have autos, I love 1911’s. But the largest part of my collection is N frame smiths.
I have owned many auto’s Berettas colts glocks sig’s walthers, and HK’s, NONE of them have ever had the trigger of a well tuned N frame in single action, NONE,
Yes it would be nice to have a hand gun with 300 rounds at your disposal, but since I don’t plan on getting into any firefights, I’m not in the military any more and to old to become a police man, 6 rounds should be enough for my use’s.
If I want to play cowboy I break out the Black powder cap and ball revolvers.
 
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