Traditions SAA

[nhrifle]

I have been wanting a replica SAA in 45 LC for years, and finally found one at the shop I work on Saturdays that spoke to me. It is a Traditions 1873 SAA in 45 LC, blued barrel, case hardened frame, 5.5" barrel, and one-piece walnut grips. It's a thing of beauty actually. The action is nice and smooth, it balances nicely, and just plain feels right, so I put it on layaway and should have it in about a month or so. It is made for Traditions by Pietta and I am wondering if anyone has any thoughts or personal experience with a similar pistol?

[Beagle333]

Isn't that the same one that Century Arms imports from Pietta as well?
Here's some pics of mine.

http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt214/shutupandjump/1873/Pietta002_zps13c0af7f.jpg
http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt214/shutupandjump/1873/Pietta013_zps5771db27.jpg
http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt214/shutupandjump/1873/Pietta017_zps9f4cd6f8.jpg

[nhrifle]

That looks just like the one with my name on it! Sure is pretty. So how's it shoot? Any load advice?

[Love Life]

Is that a chemical case coloring or is it case hardened?

[Beagle333]

It's a color case hardening, not the real stuff. I suppose that would make em really expensive.
It shoots good. But, true to the old SAA's, you can't load it above the 14K psi loads. I'm shooting the 45-270-SAA boolit with either 8.0 gr of Unique or 5.5gr of RedDot. I have read that best accuracy is with TiteGroup or VV-N350 but I can't find any.

[nhrifle]

In the shop we are refinishing four Winchester 1894s and converting one to a take down model for a CAS shooter. The frames and other appropriate parts are being color case hardened by a feller in Montana who uses cyanide, which is one of the original methods and produces beautiful colors. Those are costing us about $300 each. Since I am getting this for only a bit over that, I assume it is a chemical method, but after holding this one for about a half hour today I won't complain as it is gorgeous. Only part of the gun I am a little turned off by is the transfer bar fire control system since it is not traditional, but is a safety improvement over the fixed firing pin.

[Beagle333]

If you end up using the 45-270-SAA boolit, here's an article on em. Starts on page 12.
45 270 SAA Loads (www.riflemagazine.com/magazine/PDF/HL%20246partial.pdf)

[Beagle333]

Century Arms had originally promised to import them with the real firing pins, but for some reason they ended up being about 3 months late and having the transfer bar safety. It's still a really fun gun and I just love mine. I have never had one with the real firing pin anyway, so it's not a turn-off for me.

I've been shooting black powder revolvers for 28 years, but this .45 sure makes me feel like I was back "in the day." You'll like it!

[nhrifle]

I am thinking this one will see a regular diet of real black powder loads, so I guess I gotta get off my butt and make some since nobody in my area will carry it due to insurance.