The Newest SA Cowboy Gun: Taurus Gaucho in .45 Colt
by R.K. Campbell
Contributing Editor
Sometimes I take a ribbing at the range on my choice of handguns. I test fire and evaluate quite a few that are not my cup of tea, but which I must fairly consider. I make no apology for my single-action revolvers. The only handgun I enjoy more is the 1911 semi-automatic handgun. I hope that gives you some idea of the regard in which I hold these old plow-handled revolvers!

The clean, pleasing lines of the Single Action Army (SAA) and its historical significance are motivation enough to own several examples. The sport of Cowboy Action shooting has created a market for modern, quality single-action revolvers. Just the same I sometimes wonder how big that market really is. I respect the sport and admit it is probably more fun than any of the various shooting sports I am involved in.

But as a 1911 man, I admit I enjoy owning and shooting an IPSC pistol more than I enjoy shooting IPSC, and fire my handguns for recreation perhaps 100 times for each journey into competition. By the same token, I estimate there are 10 or more single-action revolvers sold to an interested buyer for each one that goes into Cowboy Action shooting. The market is solid and always has been. We simply have not always enjoyed revolvers that were both affordable and well-made of good material.

Sense of History
As a writer I have to be cognizant of such things. As a shooter I need only know what I like, and I like single-action revolvers. The sense of history is there, but the single-action remains a practical revolver for field chores. The revolver tells you it is not cocked at a glance, and no amount of pressure on the trigger will fire the piece when the hammer is down.

At 38 ounces, the SAA in .45 Colt with 4∫-inch barrel is lighter than a Government Model .45 Automatic or most 4-inch barrelled .357 Magnum revolvers. The grip fits most hands well and the trigger action is often very neat and crisp. While the SAA is no longer a first line defensive handgun, a light powerful revolver that points like the finger of God cannot be discounted.

Several makers heretofore known for quality double-action revolvers and semi-automatic pistols have brought forth single-action revolvers. The latest is Taurus. The appearance of the revolver alone should generate interest. The Beretta Stampede, with characteristic Beretta finish and the Beretta grip logo, certainly seemed odd at first. Likewise was Smith & Wesson’s entry into the 1911 field, the SW 1911. Now, Taurus has a cowboy gun. It is all quite fun, making handgunning more interesting.

The Gaucho
The Gaucho has the advantage of coming under the watch of Bob Morrison, once president of Colt Firearms. Taurus is a bigger player in today’s market and Morrison is dedicated to producing quality handguns. The Gaucho (Spanish for Cowboy) is a faithful rendition of the single-action army type. The lines are pleasing and the blue black and case-hardened finish absolutely wonderful.

This is a great looking revolver. I suspect quite a few will be purchased as a thing with a merit quite beyond the practical and never fired at all. I was able to obtain a test example in what will probably be the most popular model, a 4∫-inch version in .45 Colt caliber. I could not find a flaw in the blue black finish nor in the case hardening. Gold and copper hues in the case hardening are quite attractive.

The action is of the traditional type. The hammer must be on half cock for the cylinder to turn. I was particularly impressed with the precision of the locking bolt and bolt and cylinder lock up. The bolt continues to lock up precisely in the cylinder cut. There is not a trace of drag. Pilgrim, that is a sign of first class fitting. In this age of CNC manufacture, we can only guess how much hand fitting goes into quality handguns, but there is some. The Gaucho shows care in manufacture.

Safer Piece
The Gaucho offers safety in loading a full six rounds. The action is a hybrid, offering the half-cock notch of the original Colt but the transfer bar safety of the Ruger. I am in favor of this for several reasons. While the revolver appears traditional in every way, it is a safer piece than the original SAA.

When men and women carried firearms as a matter of course every day, they were familiar with the need to carry the revolver hammer down on an empty cylinder. Today, there are many more types of handguns, even diverse revolver types. There are more recreational and occasional shooters. There is nothing wrong with that, it is a great thing. But a safer system is beneficial to all. Taurus retains the handling of the original revolver while making the piece safe to carry with six rounds. I see no conceivable grounds for criticism.

As many of you know, single-action revolvers abrogate much of their advantage in handling if the trigger compression is long, creepy, or rough. The Gaucho features a neat, very slick 2-1/2 pound compression. I measured this several times on my RCBS recording gauge. The trigger is not only nice and smooth, but very consistent. I like this trigger very much. You can detect just a bit of release as the sear drops and the hammer falls. Hammer travel is rather quick for this type. Overall, trigger compression left nothing to be desired.

Cylinder Throats
Long experience with the single-action revolver led me to explore the cylinder throats. These throats are a source of deplorable accuracy in many original revolvers. The Gaucho measures .4525 in my example and also in a new stainless example I found for sale in a local shop.

The barrel throats and cylinder gap—my Gaucho exhibits a .005-inch gap—were once generous because blackpowder produces fouling much more quickly, and in a thicker portion, than modern powder. A few shots would stiffen rotation and eventually the piece would become difficult to turn at all. The .45 Colt was originally issued with a soft copper case filled with blackpowder. The case expanded and fitted the cylinder tightly, giving good results.

Modern smokeless loads, using a small amount of powder in a cavernous case, often show blow-buy and incomplete ignition. As a result, bullets are seated deeply in the case to attempt to limit powder area and much experimentation with powder has been conducted. Within the limitations of the cartridge, the Gaucho performed well. Mechanically, the Gaucho should be a shooter.

Next, I examined the sights. I was pleasantly surprised. There are real sights up there rather than the tiny trough once common to such revolvers. My preliminary work with the revolver showed promise.

Loads
I had on hand several boxes of Hornady’s cowboy load and also loaded several combinations using the Hornady bullet over Trail Boss powder. Trail Boss is especially formulated to give a bulky powder that fills as much capacity as possible in the older calibers. Not a blackpowder, this is a true smokeless powder with excellent properties. I enjoyed excellent results.

The loads were all put up in Starline Brass. Some .45 Colt brass is notoriously thin at the lip and it is difficult to get a good dig into some types of lead bullets. Starline solved that problem. Primer holes are consistent and the brass is suited for heavy loads in those revolvers suited for such loads. Starline brass should last for many loadings with the sedate loads I use in most of my .45 Colt revolvers.

I used the RCBS cowboy dies in this operation. RCBS produces these dies with a blued body and brass locking rings, keeping in line with the cowboy theme of these dies. These are very nice dies that work as well as any other RCBS die set, but with an extra added degree of pride.

I have also used a new player in the .45 Colt line, MagTech. Long known for economy loads in the popular calibers, MagTech offers a respectable .45 Colt loading. I was impressed by the hard cast bullet used in this load. It is of dark lead, a sign of hardness, and a fingernail test confirmed the bullet is unlikely to lead the bore. Loaded to a sensible 800 feet-per-second (fps), this loading proved accurate and reliable in ignition.

The Results
The Gaucho was well-regulated, with 250-grain bullets striking about 1˚ inches high at 15 yards. The revolver was pleasant to fire. My range buddy, a slightly built young girl of perhaps 110 pounds, enjoyed the Gaucho very much. It was difficult to work up much enthusiasm in setting down at the benchrest. Reaction targets and paper depictions of bad guys were simply too much fun! However, I did perform the obligatory bench rest with good results.

The cowboy loads averaged 2˚-inch groups for five shots at 25 yards, excellent by any standard. A full power .45 Colt load I use sparingly involves the Dry Creek Bullet Works 250-grain semi-wadcutter over a stiff charge of Universal powder. This load breaks 950 fps from the Gaucho’s 4∫-inch barrel. This is an estimable load, well-suited to back up when hunting large game or taking thin-skinned game at moderate range. This load landed five bullets into just under 2 inches; as good as it gets for this type of revolver.

The only factory load that equaled this standard is in fact a custom load from Mastercast bullet, using a 225-grain hard cast bullet. As I mentioned, the single-action revolver can serve in good hands for personal defense and the .45 Colt round certainly hits harder than any small bore. Cor-Bon offers an excellent defense load, jolting a 200-grain jacketed hollowpoint to well over 1,000 fps. Accuracy was excellent and recoil manageable.

Carry Holster
Overall, I found the loadings available offer good versatility, ranging from 165-grain lead bullets for practice to heavy jacketed bullets for game. The majority of loadings used in this revolver will be cast bullet loads at moderate velocity. While the revolver is controllable, some shooters will experience the problem of the little finger falling off the grip, a common problem for those with large hands when using the original SAA-type revolver. Just the same, the revolver was controllable and comfortable for fire and use.

Carrying the revolver is no problem. I have on hand the Duke from Frontier Gunleather, a faithful rendition of the original John Bianchi holster crafted for John Wayne decades ago. This is a well-made holster, offering both security and draw speed. While perfectly suited to cowboy action, we need something to place the revolver in and this is a good home for the Gaucho.

The single-action revolver just looks right in this holster. However, there are other designs available, including a special concealment holster that gives those favoring the single-action revolver for personal defense an option. CABO Leather (Carry A Big One) offers a well-designed concealment holster that goes a long way toward helping comfortably conceal a large frame revolver.

Overall the Gaucho is a winner. Here is a quality revolver that is well-made of good material, and available at a fraction of the price of an original Colt. That is good news for all of us.
Load Results
General accuracy, 5-shot groups fired at 25 yards. Handloads, all put up in Starline brass with RCBS dies and Winchester primers.
Results with Dry Creek Bullet Works 250-grain SWC
Universal Powder, 1,010 fps 2.0 inches
Titegroup, 780 fps 3.0 inches
Hornady 250-grain Cowboy Bullet
Universal Powder, 890 fps 3.25 inches
Trail Boss Powder, 770 fps 2.8 inches
Factory Loads
Mastercast 225-grain FP 2.0 inches
Winchester Cowboy load 2.25 inches
Winchester Silvertip 3.2 inches
MagTech Cowboy load 2.9 inches
Hornady Cowboy load 2.8 inches
Cor-Bon JHP 2.4 inches
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