Photos & Story
by R.K. Campbell
Contributing Editor

My working handguns are all-around shooters. Most are well suited for personal defense, small game, and general recreational shooting. A number are usable in taking medium game at moderate ranges. The all-around handgun is far more pleasing and capable than a pistol of less capability.

I own a target-sighted .32 that is pleasant to fire, and a number of .22-caliber rimfire pistols that give real economy, good practice, and hours of recreation. But the packing gun is an all-arounder. One of the best all-around handguns is the Colt Single Action Army (SAA). The capability of the Colt SAA is well documented. The handgun was the universal gunfighter's pistol, being carried by men on both sides of the law, and by the US Army.

The SAA, in .45 Colt and possibly .44-40, has taken every type of animal in North America and probably quite a few elsewhere. While its military use does not equal that of the .45 Auto, the SAA was hurriedly called back into action in the Philippines due to the abysmal service of the .38 Colt revolver.

The pistol saw wide use in the Indian Wars and the Mexican revolution. The troubles in Mexico kept the SAA alive 20 years past its prime, but it continued to be a popular pistol with lawmen and high echelon military men alike. Generals Patton and Wainwright carried the SAA well into World War II.

Defense Against Attack
Originally the pistol was designed to offer defense against bandit and Indian attack and to allow the cowboy to take down an angry steer at close range if need be. The crippling of an Indian war pony at long range was another mission. Quite simply, no other cartridge of the day offered the authority of the .45 Colt and no other pistol would serve as well as the Single Action Army.

The SAA has taken game as late as last month, and I strongly suspect still rides with quite a few of us on a daily basis as a defensive firearm. While I do not recommend the SAA in the anti personnel role, I feel quite confident with the pistol. I don't base my opinion on a lot of what ifs. I base my opinion on reality. The SAA will handle most of what comes up with far more authority than any 9mm or .40-caliber pistol of any type.

The problem in owning an SAA is the price. Colt has lowered the price of the SAA but it still hovers at around $1,300, no small amount of change for the working man. Among the best alternatives is a noteworthy product manufactured in Colt's old home in Hartford.

When Colt moved to a new plant, United States Fire Arms (USFA) moved into the historical Onion dome and commenced manufacture of several variations of the SAA. Some imported parts were originally used but today all components are made and fitted in Hartford.

The Rodeo
When it comes to replica SAA revolvers you get just what you pay for, and some are very good. The Rodeo is among the best values in this field. The Rodeo is USFA in all specifications except finish. The Rodeo is offered in a blue-black satin finish instead of the rich lustrous blue and case-hardened finish of the other USFA pistols. This allows the Rodeo to be sold at around $595, about $300 less than the full house gun.

When first looking the Rodeo over, I had a sense of a purposeful, working sixgun. It reminded me of the black tactical 1911 .45 autos so popular now, and indeed the gun shares a similar duty. Here is a working handgun to take to Cowboy shooting matches, or if you desire, a good gun to ride the trail with.

There are few handguns that offer more power in such a compact, packable package than the SAA. They handle well, carry light and offer considerable power when deployed.

The fit and finish of the Rodeo deserves but one description-flawless. If you are expecting a cut finish and polish, you will be pleasantly surprised. The finish is very good, just not as beautiful as in the case of the full-price guns.

The grip-to-frame fitting is excellent and the hard rubber grips are married to the frame perfectly. The hammer is case-hardened and gives a nice contrast to the blued parts of the Rodeo. When the gun is cocked slowly, we find bolt timing is good, with the gun locking up tight with a minimum of play.

Four-Click Action
The loading gate is very solid in operation, locking when closed with a definite snap. The trigger was a little heavy at 3 pounds, but smoothed with use. The ejector rod was fit well in critical dimensions, which means that when ejecting fired rounds, it hit them solidly dead center and rolled them out of the gun briskly.

The original SAA revolvers had a well-timed distinctive four-click action that is said to have said C-O-L-T when cocked. The USFA guns have the same action with the same distinctive Colt sound when cocked. I like this very much; it is simply a mix of history and emotional attachment that is good to find in an American-made revolver.

The roll marks of the Rodeo are clean, with an authentic look that all fans of the SAA will appreciate. My example is a 4-3/4-inch barrel variant in .45 Colt. USFA lists .38 Special and .44-40 versions and a 5-1/2-inch barrel variant, but I suspect my gun will be the most popular variant, being the gunfighter's choice. Bat Masterson himself ordered several SAA .45s with the barrel "cut even with the ejector rod" for speed of handling.

Before progressing to the firing test, I took a hard look at the ammunition bin and the .45 Colt cartridge. The .45 Colt is a misunderstood cartridge today, and with all due respect, not among the most efficient of cartridges with modern powders. The original load used 40 grains of blackpowder to produce over 900 feet-per-second (fps) in most barrel lengths.

.45 Colt Cartridge
This load was the most powerful in its day, and the 255-grain conical bullet had great effect on men, buffalo, bear, and war ponies. The original balloon head case simply was open in the base while modern cases are solid brass around the firing pin pocket. The original case could hold more powder but the modern case is more efficient with smokeless powder loads.

In other words less powder produces just as much velocity, and little of the case's capacity is used with modern smokeless powder. On the other hand blackpowder depends upon volume and we cannot match original blackpowder ballistics. A number of loads for the .45 Colt are inefficient, producing smoky loads and incomplete powder burn, which will be exhibited by smoky cartridge cases on firing.

Some experimentation is needed to achieve a good solid .45 Colt load for overall use. I have used Unique and #2400 in the past but have recently found a much better choice. Hodgdon TiteGroup gives good efficient burn with a minimum of unburned powder grains and excellent accuracy. That is all we can ask.

There are four levels of .45 Colt loads available. These are the original loads, as factory loaded with a 255-grain conical bullet by Winchester, Remington and others. These loads usually break 800-850 fps in average length barrels.

Just below this are the various Cowboy loads offered by several makers. These include the 165-grain gallery loads manufactured by Ten X and a number of .45 Colt loads using the 250-grain bullet that break perhaps 700 fps. They are easy on the gun and accurate enough for most tasks.

Elevated Loads
Then, we have the elevated handloads which duplicate the original blackpowder load in power. These should be used sparingly in most replicas, but were perfectly safe in the Rodeo. A stout charge of Unique or TiteGroup can jolt a 250- to 260-grain hard-cast flatpoint to a full 1,000 fps. This load hits harder than any small bore, including the .357 Magnum, and outclasses the .44-40 considerably at moderate ranges.

It will take deer cleanly and even boar hogs. The fourth group of .45 Colt loads are the ultra heavy loads suitable for use only in Ruger, Freedom Arms and various heavy-duty .45-caliber revolvers. They do not concern us.

I fired the Rodeo with an eclectic assortment of loads. The first was Mastercast's 225-grain Flatpoint load. From a solid benchrest at the 15-yard station, we found the Rodeo well regulated for windage, with the bullets dead center for point-of-aim, but approximately 2 inches low. That means the front sight can easily be filed to bring the gun to a zero. These loads produced the signature group of the day, boring into a solid 2 inches for five rounds.

I also fired a number of Winchester's 225-grain Silvertips. These loads just break 800 fps, a bit on the light side, but then Winchester has to be certain all ammunition is safe in any revolver, even a blackpowder model of 1873.

These bullets grouped into about 3 inches, also about 2 inches low. For the shooter who does not handload, this is a first choice for home defense. They expand well in ballistic media. They would not be suitable for taking medium game but should serve for feral dogs and the like.

My handloads used the Meister 250-grain SWC and a stiff charge of Unique in new Starline brass. Here was a load more in tune with the idea of the .45 Colt on the range. Breaking 901 fps from the Rodeo's 4-3/4-inch barrel, I was able to secure a very nice 2-1/2-inch group at a longer 25 yards. The gun will shoot! The jolt of these loads was heavy but not unpleasant thanks to the plow-handled grip frame that made the SAA famous. Recovery was good and these loads were well centered in the target, striking to point-of-aim.

I moved to my various Ten X Cowboy loads. I fired more quickly this time, drawing the gun and firing snap shots at a silhouette target. Results were good. Few guns are as fast on target for the first shot as the SAA, and this gun is pure SAA. Fans of the Ruger may find their gun is tougher, but the Blackhawk does not move nearly as quickly as the superbly balanced SAA.

The 4-3/4-inch Rodeo truly leaped from the holster and onto the target quickly. At the range, we have several dirt clods of various sizes just past the 50-yard line. With careful appraisal of the distance I was able to connect with these clods on a regular basis with the Rodeo and various 250-grain Ten X loads. Overall, a pleasant gun to fire and an accurate one.

The secret to fast shooting with the SAA is to catch the hammer just as you draw the gun and cock the hammer as the gun comes on target. When the gun recoils, the thumb catches the hammer and cocks the gun again, bringing the gun back down on target for a second shot.

Old West Holster
You can shoot quickly and with practice hit quickly. The Rodeo has what it takes in this regard. I would not change a thing on this pistol. It is faithful in design and execution to one of the greatest of American pistols, and offers excellent value for the money. It is chambered for a capable, effective and accurate cartridge. That is all we can ask.

I carried the Rodeo in a wonderfully fitted holster from Old West Reproductions. Rick Bachman is not only a master holster maker, but a top flight historian of the Old West. He crafts holsters not on the Hollywood ideal but based upon what cowboys used. My holster is what is loosely referred to as a Cheyenne-type but Bachman can give you much greater details. His catalog is well worth acquiring.

The holster even survived an upside down test, holding the pistol securely. But when the time came to draw, the draw was rapid and uncluttered. This is a fine, all-around holster for Cowboy Action or general packing.

I realize that 99% of the Rodeos sold will either be lovingly handled as collector's guns or used in Cowboy competition. That being said, my Rodeo has accompanied me on walks in the deep woods and often lays beside the bed at night. I have the utmost confidence this revolver, with the 1,000 fps handloads, will take care of any emergency that comes up. It is that good an all-around revolver.

My friend Sid Hawkins remarked that this is the first single-action revolver he has seen in many years with the front of the cylinder beveled for ease of holstering. The lockup is tight and suits his taste. Many will prefer the original lock work. The SAA types must be carried hammer down on an empty chamber. The best way to do so follows:

Load one round, skip one, load four, cock the pistol and lower the hammer on an empty chamber.

Hawkins owns a nice Colt Cowboy that features the transfer bar system. While retaining the half cock notch, the new system allows carrying the gun with six rounds loaded in perfect safety.

I was able to handle the Colt Pony briefly and while it compares favorably to even the top of the line clone guns, it is a Colt, which means something to many of us. But the pragmatist- Hawkins included-could not help but rate the USFA gun at the top of the totem in fit, finish and overall quality. The transfer bar system of the Cowboy may be a boon to the general run of gun handlers of various skills competing in Cowboy Action, but the true SAA fan will prefer the original.

Hawkins feels that the SAA is one of the smoothest, slickest carrying guns of all time. The smooth handle of his Colt .45 slips into the belt easily and is easily grasped and drawn. A double-action revolver is not as comfortable due to the frame design. Plus, the SAA is about the size and weight of a 4-inch barrel .38 Special. But it hits much harder.

Hawkins is a good example of the maxim that it is the fight in the dog not the size of the dog that matters. A combat veteran and former POW, Hawkins has a wide choice of personal defense handguns, including a custom .38 Super and several .45 autos. I give you my word, he is just as formidable with the SAA as any other handgun.

Sources
Old West Reproductions
446 Florence South Loop, Dept. GWK
Florence, MT 59833
phone/fax: 406-273-2615
on-line: www.oldwestreproductions.com

United States Fire Arms Mfg. Co.
PO Box 1901, Dept. GWK
Hartford, CT 06144
phone: 877-227-6901
on-line: www.usfirearms.com