Colt Single Action Army Clones And Replicas Vs. Originals

The Colt Single Action Army is undoubtedly the most culturally significant firearm in American history. Surprisingly, the gun was not manufactured in significant numbers. The gun was made by Colt in about half a million. This is a surprising number considering how many copies and clones have been made. Real Colts are rarely shot or considered collector’s items so it’s a good idea to compare two new guns to see how they compare to the competition and older SAAs from Colt. I have shot a lot of Single Action Army clones, and replicas. Many of the guns are excellent guns, some are great shooters, while others are just fine lying there not being fired. I’ve yet to find a single replica out there that, in terms of materials and accuracy, is the equal of a real Colt SAA.In my direct experience–thousands of rounds and ranges exceeding 200 yards–have shown me that Colt SAAs are, on average, substantially more accurate than any replica. Although my average accuracy loads for.45 Colt have varied over the years, I recently switched to Rim Rock Bullets for cast loads. These bullets are extremely accurate and I have taken a shine at the 255-grain SWC sized to.452 inches. This gives me just shy of 900 feet per second in a Colt 5.5 inch. My lifetime bench accuracy with Colts was 2.5 inches at 25 meter, replicas were 4 to 5 inches in group shooting. The Colt versus the Standard Manufacturing Single Action Revolver (top). Both are 4 3/4 inch barrels in.45 Colt. Both are 4 3/4-inch barrels in.45 Colt. The Lee Factory Crimp Die is my favorite tool for manually setting the case mouth into the crimp grooves of revolver rounds. Although some people may disagree with me, I find the Lee Factory Crimp Die to be a much more efficient way to load revolver rounds. This is a personal preference. I have seen bullets that group better than modern match pistols, but I prefer a 2.5-inch average. The 255-grain SWC is the author’s favorite bullet. Although it is not a Keith bullet, it is just as accurate and versatile for cross-country use. The SAA does not have adjustable sights. Adjusting your point-of-impact is a difficult task. A gunsmith will need to either remove metal from the sight for elevation or adjust your barrel in a vice to manually change windage. Most replicas aren’t so lucky. The Standard Manufacturing Single Action Revolver was the only one that I have seen shoot at this distance. However, it was not as precise on paper. Three replicas of the same manufacturer’s rifles have been used to shoot in three different zip codes using the same ammo. My Colts have allowed me to easily adjust loads to shoot at the point of aim. Sometimes I have to adjust speed or bullet weight, but I’ve never had a Colt fail to hit an IDPA silhouette at 300 yards. The firing pins for Colts are slightly tapered and have square faces. There will be a lot of variation in the hammers on import guns. Some have a small safety lever, while others have Ruger-style transfer bar. After spending my time reading Sixguns and Sixgun Cartridges and Loads, I thought it was normal for me to try to hit plates at long distance with a revolver. It’s the definition fun: waiting for the steel to ring after what seems like an eternity of flight time. The main culprit is sight blade height, along with variations in barrel alignment and gap. Hand-loading is essential if you want to shoot SAAs, originals and clones. It’s impossible to avoid it: you must be able to adjust your ammo and bullet diameters for an SAA. These guns are very minimalistic and have very thin chamber walls, at least in the.45 caliber. How thin is that? This may surprise you. It’s possible that the wall thickness at the bolt catch can be as low as.09 inches. The Modern Model PWhile I have a lot of experience with older Colts I wanted to ensure my assertions were accurate for today’s models. Colt collectors frown on anything beyond Gen 3 or higher, but I don’t think it is justified. Colt sent me two new SAAs, one 4 3/4 inches and the other a 5.25 inch. Both are chambered with.45 Colt. I chose not to slug them and instead used my accuracy loads that Keith suggested in his old books. Some of the advice I use to load this ammo is almost 100 years old and still works well. Sure enough, I took out the Colt SAA revolvers with my trusted handloads. They printed at 25 meters 2 inches high, and the 5.5-inch group at 2 inches. The Colts have more features than the replicas. These guns come straight from the factory with no modifications or the like. The trigger pull is very crisp but heavy. Although the trigger pull isn’t difficult, it’s quite stiffer than some of the tuned replicas. These Mernickle Hollywood rigs are the best and will allow you to practice your draw in style. This rig makes it so easy to carry two guns and ammo. I was told by an old mentor that I should have left my first Colt alone. He said that the only “tune” should be four clicks spelling C-O-L T. I don’t see any reason to modify my Colts; they’re so accurate. You have to get out there and shoot it. Colt guns, especially revolvers, have the added benefit that the little pony stamped on their side virtually guarantees that your value will not decrease. Colt guns are highly sought after by many. They are still worth a lot even after being shot. I’ve heard it said that Colts are a “chocolate on top” of their collection, and that replicas are their “shooters.” This is not true. If you don’t want to leave the safe, buy silver and gold. I would bet there have been many more Italian copies of the Colt than were originally produced. Most of these guns are also fine guns. Taylor’s & Co. makes the best Single Action Army clones. My testing and experience has shown that their guns are of high quality and that their tuning service is top-notch. Although their guns are more expensive than Colts, they still offer a great deal of value compared to Colts. In all honesty, the only thing that I dislike about Taylor’s guns is point of impact. All Taylor’s guns that I have shot shoot straight for windage. They average 3 to 4 inches at 25 m with factory loads. That is what I love. But most people shoot too low. Although you can file the sight blade, you must be certain about the load you are settling on before you make any changes. The Standard Manufacturing gun is a beautiful example of modern craftsmanship and it’s very affordable. Despite having a higher MSRP, it is not going to appreciate in price like a Colt. The silver lining is that it’s easy to order this fine piece, as they are produced regularly. Standard Manufacturing made a beautiful SAA copy, which features the best in modern materials and machining. The attention to detail and the fit of the parts impressed me greatly. It is slightly different from a Colt in a few places, especially in the firing pin and hammer geometry. Although the action isn’t advertised as “tuned,” it’s more like a custom competition action rather than a direct copy. The four clicks are there, but you have to be attentive. This is the most important thing to remember when ordering replacement parts or upgrading your gun. It can print 3-inch groups at 25 meters. It’s a well-made gun that will last a lifetime. It is, however, more expensive than a Colt MSRP for the base model. This is not a Colt Single Action Army replica in any way, other than cosmetics. It is however a modern gun in its internal design, which allows for more safety features and lower overall cost. This gun shoots high, but I don’t like it at close range. The New Vaquero is a great gun. It can shoot at 100 yards on plates and I love it. Target grids and bullseye sizes can be downloaded in MOA. This is a great option for long-range shooting. Enter your email address below.