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Single Action Army
Model: Single Action ArmyThis Colt revolver has been known by many names. Colt Single Action Army, SAA, Colt Peacemaker, Colt .45, M1873, The Gun That Won the West. What can be agreed on is that the Single Action Army is one of the most influential revolver designs in history.
The SAA was first produced in 1873 and remained in production until 1892. The Artillery model with a 5 1/2 inch barrel remained in production until 1902. Even then, the SAA is still produced as a third-generation model. While current models are mainly bought by collectors and reenactors, the Ruger Blackhawk is a modernized version in .357 magnum, .44 magnum, and other calibers. Among the SAA variants produced by Colt, there's also the Colt Frontier Six Shooter in .44-40 Winchester, the Bisley target pistol with a removable front sight (different sights for elevation) and rear sight adjustable for windage, and the Colt Cowboy, produced from 1999 to 2003, as a cheaper variant with a transfer bar safety to make it safer to carry.
The SAA was infamous for its lack of safeties; as a single-action pistol, the handgun has to be carried with the hammer cocked back to be immediately ready to fire. However, this was unsafe as the hammer could easily be dropped due to dropping the gun or hitting the hammer and fire the weapon. Many SAA owners learned to leave the hammer resting on an empty chamber.
| Specifications: | |
| Weight: | 1.04 kg (2.29 lb) |
| Length: | 11" (279 mm - with 5½" barrel) 13" (318 mm - with 7½" barrel) |
| Barrel Length: | 5 1/2 in. (140 mm) 7 1/2 in. (191 mm) |
| Cartridge: | .45 LC .44-40 WCF .38-40 WCF .32-20 WCF .22LR .38 Special .357 magnum .44 magnum .44 Special |
| Action: | Single action |
| Muzzle Velocity: | 860ft/s (260 m/s) |
| Effective Range: | XXX yd (XXX m). |
| Feed System: | Fixed cylinder. 6 |
| Sights: | Front blade, rear sight (adjustable for windage) on Bisley model |
Where to find
The Single Action Army is mostly popular with reenactors and collectors, giving it a high price of $1600-$2800 or even higher depending on the model and age. The modern Ruger Blackhawk is much more reasonable at $500 and can actually be found in stores.
Complexity
Single-action revolvers don't get much simpler than the SAA. One advantage to the fixed cylinder design is a very strong frame, making it very sturdy against dropping and abuse.
Controls
- Loading gate: Located on the right rear of the cylinder. Opens to the right for loading.
- Hammer: Cocked back for firing. Can be put in a safety position, half-c*ck, or cocked.
- Ejector rod: Located below the barrel.
Loading
Condition One, or "Locked and Cocked." Chamber loaded, magazine full, hammer cocked and safety applied.
- Point the weapon in a safe direction. Critical step in case it accidentally discharges!
- Pull the hammer back about half an inch into half-c*ck.
- Swing the loading gate to the right, exposing the cylinder.
- Take a loaded cartridge and push it all the way into the rear of the chamber. Rotate the cylinder to expose each chamber.
- When the cylinder is fully loaded, close the loading gate.
- With your thumb firmly on the hammer, pull the trigger back just enough to free the hammer. Ease the hammer down until it clears the safety notch, then release the trigger and let the hammer drop into the safety position.
- Point the weapon in a safe direction. Critical step in case it accidentally discharges!
- Swing the loading gate to the right, exposing the cylinder.
- Take a loaded cartridge and push it all the way into the rear of the chamber. Rotate the cylinder to expose each chamber.
- When the cylinder is fully loaded, close the loading gate.
Condition Three. Chamber empty, magazine full, hammer down, safety off.
- Point the weapon in a safe direction. Critical step in case it accidentally discharges!
- Pull the hammer back about half an inch into half-c*ck.
- Swing the loading gate to the right, exposing the cylinder.
- Take a loaded cartridge and push it all the way into the rear of the chamber. Skip the next chamber, then continue to load the other 4.
- When the first loaded chamber is visible again through the loading gate, close the loading gate. There is now an empty chamber under the hammer.
Unloading
How to unload the firearm and make safe. Presented in a numbered list.
- Point the weapon in a safe direction. Critical step in case it accidentally discharges!
- Pull the hammer back about half an inch into half-c*ck.
- Swing the loading gate to the right, exposing the cylinder.
- Push the ejector rod back to push the casing/cartridge from the chamber. If there is no ejector rod, tilt the muzzle up and pull the casing/cartridge free.
- Continue to rotate the cylinder and eject the casings/cartridges until the cylinder is empty.
- With your thumb firmly on the hammer, pull the trigger back just enough to free the hammer. Ease the hammer down until it clears the safety notch, then release the trigger and let the hammer drop into the safety position.
Field Stripping
How to disassemble the firearm for cleaning. Presented in a numbered list.
- Point the weapon in a safe direction. Critical step in case it accidentally discharges!
- Unload the weapon as described above.
- Draw the hammer back into half-c*ck.
- Press the base pin retaining catch in front of the left side of the cylinder and pull the base pin forward out of the frame.
- Carefully remove the cylinder from the right side of frame.
chitoryu12 |
Latest page update: made by chitoryu12
, Mar 7 2011, 5:54 PM EST
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