OT:US Firearms (USFA) revolvers. Looking for owner opinions.

[andyo5]

I currently own a Uberti SAA clone and am considering buying one of the USFA models in 45 Colt. I am looking for a gun with less creep and overtravel than the Uberti.
I have heard that USFA makes some of the best SAA clones available, and am looking for some verification of these claims from owners of these guns.
What are your opinions?
Thanks.

 

[Bear Claw Chris Lappe]

Same here, USFA is on my list for next year, but they don't show up in shops around here, so I will have to order one without handling it first.

Would also like to hear from folks that have one.

 

[mhblaw]

I have several. Starting with a 32WCF/327Mag convertible, 45 Colt Single Action, two more single actions in 38WCF and 44 Special, a Rodeo II in 45 Colt, a 357 Mag Shooting Master, and a 12/22. Very well made six guns. Shoot as well as any with fixed sights and my old eyes. If one wants a finely finished/made single action, USFA is the way to go. I have one Colt 3rd generation in 44 WCF and the finish does not compare to the USFA single action.

 

[Hobie]

I have 3, good guns. The Ruger NV doesn't compare.

 

[coyote]

i've owned them all and still have rugers in my safe, but my pick is USFA.

here's my Storekeeper 45LC with 3.5"{ bbl and bisley-like hammer:

 

[Dale53]

I bought my USFA 5½" Rodeo off the trade table at my local club. It is ANIB. It is a superb revolver. However, I DO have one serious consideration. My copy has sights like the First Generation Colt (Narrow tapering front blade and a skinny "v" notch in the rear - they SUCK!).

The trigger is outstanding - I will do NOTHING to it. The barrel/cylinder gap is .002". It is timed near perfectly. While the Rodeo has a matt blued finish, it is done perfectly. There is no doubt that these are superior revolvers - particularly, if you desire a "true to Colt design".

My understanding, is that if you order new you can specify better sights (square notch rear and thicker front sight).
That is IMPORTANT to me ( I have this "fetish" where I need to hit what I am shooting at :mrgreen: ).

Dale53

 

[coyote]

.....
sights like the First Generation Colt (Narrow tapering front blade and a skinny "v" notch in the rear - they SUCK!)....

My understanding, is that if you order new you can specify better sights (square notch rear and thicker front sight)...

they offer different models, some with one type, some the other and some with the option for either.

and then there are the custom orders which may or may not be gotten in either.

just pay attention before ordering.

 

[CraigC]

USFA builds a better SAA than anybody has in a very long time. You won't find a better built sixgun this side of Freedom Arms. The exterior fit and finish rivals the hand-built Colt's of old. They are precisely built sixguns with proper dimensions. Even Colt still oversizes their chamber mouths. One thing that many don't realize is that they are as finely finished on the inside as the outside. Unlike any other brand, including Colt, they almost put themselves back together. No monkeying around with the grip frame screws to get everything lined up properly. Another important point that must be made is that for $750 you get a similarly-finished SAA that is better in every way than a Colt at $400 more. The Pre-War model is yet another step up and features a carbona blue finish that Colt (and most other makers) has not used since before WWII.

The wide notch and square front sight are a must and a HUGE improvement over blackpowder Colt sights. I wouldn't buy a USFA without them. Unfortunately many of the Italian replicas have the old pinched frame sights and they are horrendous.

That said, the new Colt SAA's of the last couple years are better than they've been in 50yrs. Most 3rd generation SAA's are overpolished on the outside and rough on the inside. Colt has made vast improvements in their SAA. They are now properly polished and overall a much better sixgun than previous incarnations. So it's not that the new Colt's are bad, USFA is just better.

 

[Eliminator]

Thanks andy05 for posting this question. I enjoy my Rugers immensely but I too have been wanting to get a fine SAA or Rodeo from USFA. My only problem is caliber choice. Tradition tells me to get it in .45 Colt but my head is telling me .44 Special since I already reload and shoot that caliber. The Rodeo's price point makes it attractive but getting it in .44 Special adds $100 to the cost. That's not far from the SAA's price. If I'm going to spring for the SAA then what's a few bucks more for .45 dies, brass, and projectiles? Such tough choices...

 

[andyo5]

Thanks andy05 for posting this question. I enjoy my Rugers immensely but I too have been wanting to get a fine SAA or Rodeo from USFA. My only problem is caliber choice. Tradition tells me to get it in .45 Colt but my head is telling me .44 Special since I already reload and shoot that caliber. The Rodeo's price point makes it attractive but getting it in .44 Special adds $100 to the cost. That's not far from the SAA's price. If I'm going to spring for the SAA then what's a few bucks more for .45 dies, brass, and projectiles? Such tough choices...

I just ordered one in 45 Colt. It will be the fifth revolver that i own in that caliber.
Today I went to a local gunshop and compared a Rodeo, SSA, Cimmaron, and a 1959 Colt. The Cimmaron has a transfer bar system. It seemed well made, but had the same level of creep as my Uberti. Both USFA guns had no creep, as was the case with the 1959 Colt SAA. All these revolvers had the same amount of overtravel as my Uberti, so this seems to be a common feature with this design.

 

[Yosemite Sam]

Saw a used USFA Rodeo in a local shop for $529 recently. It was a very nice gun, and had one of the crispest actions I've ever felt. This particular specimen was .45 Colt.

I'd love to have one of their Omni-Target models, but I'm not about to gamble that price on whether I'd like it or not...

-- Sam

 

[pulaski]

I will concur with what others have written . I have 3 USFA revolvers .
One has gone many,many miles with me and will continue to do so .
Point and shoots as good as any revolver I have .
As a side note , it's better than any colt I've shot
Steve

 

[randyinseville]

Well.... I only have one. A 44 Special Rodeo that the wife got me for Xmas a few years back. It's my understanding that they used to offer this but it's not catalogued anymore (nor was it when she bought it), but it was catalogued a while ago. I'm not sure if my gun was a old stock gun or if they did it up special or what...but I do know she called USFA in CT and spoke with Gary, one of their honcho's, and it was shipped to my FFL in Florida in time for Christmas. This was because no one around here stocks them and she was getting the run around from my regular FFL in regards to him shipping off a copy to the factory for the transfer.

Anyways, the moral of the story is this....I have never dealt (because i ended up calling USFA too with later questions) with a more polite, pleasurable and professional company ever! Their customer service was tops!! This was confirmed at the subsequent SHOT show when I handled their other products, actually got to meet Gary as well as Mr Connolley and Brian Pearce and we all had about a 30 minute B.S. session just like we were all old friends!! A1 company in my book and if I had the money I would by many many more of their guns.

Sorry, got off track there...my rodeo is top notch in fit and finish (for the lesser priced Rodeo). Trigger is perfect and accuracy is good...it shoots a tad left but is so nice I wont send it in to be timed for being 1.5" left!!! Buy one- you will not regret it, better than a Colt in EVERY respect.

 

[Sixer]

I own two. One is a Single action in .44 spec with a 5.5" bbl. Shoots great, very tight, virtually no end shake. Fit and finish is superior. My second one is a Flattop Bisley in .44 spec with a 5.5" bbl. I cant say much about that one because I sent it to Clements to make a Keith #5 for me. Can't wait to get it back.

 

[Olsherm]

I have them. Satin nickel Rodeo in 45 colt/brown checkered grips,45 in DoubleEagle,45 in Storekeeper model,38/40, 44/40. I also have Colt,Ruger, Uberti. All good guns but do not compair with the fit and finish of the USFA. I must admit I cannot shoot them much better than the others so it must be my old eyes. I shoot most everything to the left. I have tried everything to no avail.Finger pad,push on the recoils shield,pull trigger instead of jerk ect. Go to TRAILCREEK TRADE web site in St LOUIS. Where I get my USFA. Great fellow to deal with and he stocks several of them.His name is Greg Grimes. He has them in 45,44spl,38/40,44/40 several models and barrel lengths to choose from.

 

[andyo5]

I have them. Satin nickel Rodeo in 45 colt/brown checkered grips,45 in DoubleEagle,45 in Storekeeper model,38/40, 44/40. I also have Colt,Ruger, Uberti. All good guns but do not compair with the fit and finish of the USFA. I must admit I cannot shoot them much better than the others so it must be my old eyes. I shoot most everything to the left. I have tried everything to no avail.Finger pad,push on the recoils shield,pull trigger instead of jerk ect. Go to TRAILCREEK TRADE web site in St LOUIS. Where I get my USFA. Great fellow to deal with and he stocks several of them.His name is Greg Grimes. He has them in 45,44spl,38/40,44/40 several models and barrel lengths to choose from.

Olsherm, I have read that it is typical of Colt SAA guns and their clones to shoot low and left when the shooter uses a conventional sight picture.
Off sandbags, my Uberti always shoots about 1 1/2" low and 1/2" left. But when shot offhand, it seems to hit on center.

 

[andyo5]

I got my USFA single action today through Davidson's. It was delivered in 1 day to a local dealer. It seems extremely well made, and Davidson's service is tops. They now have one left in stock.

 

[Eliminator]

We need pics man!!!

 

[Ditmo]

I've got a 5 1/2" Rodeo in .45 colt. Excellent firearm. Timing is perfect. Trigger is crisp, and none of my other single actions compare. I might have to get one in .44spl just to keep the flat top company.

 

[Hondo44]

USFA builds a better SAA than anybody has in a very long time. You won't find a better built sixgun this side of Freedom Arms. The exterior fit and finish rivals the hand-built Colt's of old. They are precisely built sixguns with proper dimensions. Even Colt still oversizes their chamber mouths. One thing that many don't realize is that they are as finely finished on the inside as the outside. Unlike any other brand, including Colt, they almost put themselves back together. No monkeying around with the grip frame screws to get everything lined up properly. Another important point that must be made is that for $750 you get a similarly-finished SAA that is better in every way than a Colt at $400 more. The Pre-War model is yet another step up and features a carbona blue finish that Colt (and most other makers) has not used since before WWII.

The wide notch and square front sight are a must and a HUGE improvement over blackpowder Colt sights. I wouldn't buy a USFA without them. Unfortunately many of the Italian replicas have the old pinched frame sights and they are horrendous.

That said, the new Colt SAA's of the last couple years are better than they've been in 50yrs. Most 3rd generation SAA's are overpolished on the outside and rough on the inside. Colt has made vast improvements in their SAA. They are now properly polished and overall a much better sixgun than previous incarnations. So it's not that the new Colt's are bad, USFA is just better.

CraigC,
You have summed up the USFA and new Colt SAAs exactly as I observe them. I have three USFA SAAs; 1 44 spec, 1 44s/44-40 and a 45 Colt. Beautiful guns in appearance and function!
I own several Colts of all generations. The current 3rds that I have are the best 3rds ever made and even include a separate cylinder pin bushing like the 1st and 2nd gen guns. However, they still do not have the historical look with chamfered front cylinder edges, 1/2" radiused cyl flutes, case colored hammers or full loading gates, etc. USFA has all of these features stanrdard, although recently a case colored hammer became a $125 option but is a must have.

A USFA has one other advantage: the cylinders and frames have a barely discernable .020" larger cylinder diameter and frame window (same size as the new medium frame Ruger Flattops and N Vaq.). Obviously affording an extra measure of strength.

For an ultimate new 3rd gen Colt SAA, you can purchase USFA cylinders in the original Colt size with perfect chamber mouths and 1st gen features mentioned above and very reasonably priced. My Colts with USFA cylinders shoot like they never did before. USFA barrels have the old Colt thread of 20 TPI and fit 1st and 2nd gen Colts. I changed my 2nd gen 38 Spl Colt to a 44 spec with USFA barrel and cylinder and it shoots one hole groups at 25 yards off the bench.