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Post by rexster on Jul 10, 2011 12:12:39 GMT -5
The way I see it, USFA scared Colt into making the great sixguns they make today. The only SA sixgun I ever sold was a truly bad 3rd-Generation Colt SAA, that I bought new. Because Colt's quality was so bad when I was buying most of my SA sixguns, I own more USFA than Colt, six versus two, and those two Colts were purchased as pre-owned firearms, from a dealer who let me carefully check functioning.
As for which I like better, well, let's just say that there is something about the name Colt, and owning something with that connection to history, but that connection is better realized by owning an older Colt. This is reflected in the prices of First and Second Generation Colts; they are more desirable. While pure collectibility drives those prices the most, the connection with history is part of it. A new Colt is no better to me than a new USFA.
Resale value is important to some folks, but not to me. I plan to own my SA sixguns until I die, and I am not worried about what prices they might fetch after I am gone.
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Post by justahunter on Jul 10, 2011 14:15:57 GMT -5
It would be nice to be able to compare the two side by side, but I don't know of anywhere in MT that keeps boths in stock in order to do that.
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Post by CraigC on Jul 10, 2011 15:42:50 GMT -5
Are you comparing a $500 Rodeo to a $1200 Colt SAA???
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Post by iceberg on Jul 10, 2011 20:10:28 GMT -5
My Longhunter tuned Rodeos have better triggers and are every bit as well made as any $1200 Colt (I paid that for the pair of Rodeos). I do love the fit & finish of my USFA Premium Grade Single Action, but the tuned Rodeos shoot better.
The last 3rd gen Colt I bought new was a Nickel 4 3/4" in .45 Long Colt. I blew the nickel of the front of the cylinder on my 1st trip to the range. I have been shooting USFA single actions ever since.
It would be nice to see a real world comparision of a newly made Colt SAA & a US Firearms Premium Grade Single Action to see if Colt can make a quality product again.
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Post by rinehart on Jul 10, 2011 20:10:34 GMT -5
are the Rodeo's customized ? I don't see any wear on both guns ,no draglines on the cylinder since both guns are used in cowboy action shootings they must have a perfect timing I am very interested in the Rodeo S.A, I am a S.A fanatic LOL...but I live in Europe and I never seen one over here
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Post by rinehart on Jul 10, 2011 20:13:00 GMT -5
My Longhunter tuned Rodeos have better triggers and are every bit as well made as any $1200 Colt (I paid that for the pair of Rodeos). I do love the fit & finish of my USFA Premium Grade Single Action, but the tuned Rodeos shoot better. The last 3rd gen Colt I bought new was a Nickel 4 3/4" in .45 Long Colt. I blew the nickel of the front of the cylinder on my 1st trip to the range. I have been shooting USFA single actions ever since. It would be nice to see a real world comparision of a newly made Colt SAA & a US Firearms Premium Grade Single Action to see if Colt can make a quality product again. ah Ok Iceberg ,it looks you already gave the answer to my question
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Post by iceberg on Jul 10, 2011 21:42:37 GMT -5
are the Rodeo's customized ? I don't see any wear on both guns ,no draglines on the cylinder since both guns are used in cowboy action shootings they must have a perfect timing I am very interested in the Rodeo S.A, I am a S.A fanatic LOL...but I live in Europe and I never seen one over here They are custom tuned by Longhunter Shooting Supply and are well timed so there are no drag lines. They both have crisp 3 lb trigger pulls and are tight, great handling revolvers. Attached is the link to Longhunter Shooting Supply: www.longhunt.com/usfa/rodeo.htm
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Post by Frank V on Jul 11, 2011 16:06:11 GMT -5
Justahunter I've handled & shot both Colts & USFAs. With the quality improvement we have seen in the new 3rd Gen. Colts & the smaller price difference we are seeing now. I'd go with a Colt. The new ones are great guns. USFA SAs are great too, but the listed price on each is now so close that I'd go with a Colt. It will increase in value way faster than a USFA & be a great packing six-gun. The history is there with a Colt too. Frank
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Post by weagle99 on Jul 11, 2011 21:18:08 GMT -5
Not to be purposefully contrary, but I have never seen a standard 3rd Gen Colt increase in value. If someone had a special example that had been engraved by Howard Dove or another Master, then yes. Standard gun, no. The Colt will hold value better than the USFA though (resale on USFA single actions seems to be pretty weak considering the high MSRP). Gunbroker is full of Colts and USFAs that are priced too high and get re-listed over and over again (some 3rd Gens have been on there for years with no takers) because people think that 'used' 3rd Gen Colts increase in value or that USFA has equal resale to Colt.
A few questions for the group: With the numerous magazines out there with experienced writers, why are these debates left up to Internet forums that are often just trading urban legends? Are gun magazines so scared of losing advertising revenue that they won't straight up compare a new Colt and USFA and declare a winner? To continue with the subject, Colt spends almost nothing on ads and USFA doesn't seem to spend much, so why not compare them? Shoot them on the same day with the same ammo at the same distances using a Random Rest. Have someone with a critical eye compare fit and finish side by side. Rank them by performance. Car magazines do this sort of thing all the time and I bet they get more money from automobile manufacturers than the gun mags do.
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Post by iceberg on Jul 11, 2011 22:42:59 GMT -5
Most of the main stream gun rags (Guns & Ammo, Handgun, Shooting Times, etc.) are just advertising medium for the large firearms and accessories mfgs. We also have to remember that expensive quality Single Action revolvers are not as popular w/ the mainstream gun culture as small carry guns and 1911s. I personally feel that American Handgunner is the only decent magazine out there that gives the small guys an even shake. They routinely run articles about Freedom Arms revolvers and have also given print to US Firearms. They recently ran an article about Turnbull Restorations that was excellent. It costs a little more, but seems to be a better magazine for the enthusiast.
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Post by justahunter on Jul 12, 2011 9:08:12 GMT -5
I asked the same question on another site. Basically I was told by a writer that they don't say bad things in print, but will give the maker a chance to fix the problem. If they don't and it goes out to the public the public will turn away after finding the gun is no good.
I think that is a terrible thing since the public will have to shell out their money to find out what the writer already knows because they don't want to lose advertisement money.
I brought up the car magazines too that don't seem to worry about that, but print there findings as is.
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Post by Boge Quinn on Jul 12, 2011 10:03:22 GMT -5
That kind of crap is precisely why Jeff started Gunblast. I've lost all respect for many writers because of the stuff I now know - conversely, my respect for guys like Taffin has multiplied the more I know of them.
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Post by justahunter on Jul 12, 2011 10:57:01 GMT -5
And Jeff's Gunblast is a site I look at on a regular basis.
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Post by weagle99 on Jul 12, 2011 12:56:03 GMT -5
That kind of crap is precisely why Jeff started Gunblast. When will Gunblast be comparing Colt to USFA and telling us which is the better gun? I am a fan of Gunblast BTW.
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Post by jamesjames on Jul 12, 2011 15:37:05 GMT -5
I'm assuming the OP wants a gun to shoot, but i don't know if he wants it for Cowboy Action Shooting, where a gun's finish can really take a beating. That's the real reason for the USFA Rodeo which has a finish that's matte charcoal gray. Not very appealing.
Up until last year, if I was only going to buy one traditional SAA, it would have been a USFA (not the Rodeo, but a a higher end Color Case-Hardened, blued version). The cost was similar to a Colt, but the fit and finish were better.
It now feels (hearsay, I'll admit, and perhaps heresy to some) that Colt quality has pulled almost even with USFA in machining tolerances and fit and finish.
If you're going to have a whole safe full of guns, you'll probably wind up with one of each. If you have to pick one, my head says USFA, while my heart says Colt.
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