Author Topic: Any USFA fans out there? (Read 4983 times)

jphendren · « **on:** March 31, 2010, 04:08:25 PM »

Hello everybody,

I am a long time SAA fan, who purchased my first Colt SAA back in 1997, which I still have and shoot. Anyways, I recently ordered a USFA Government Inspector Series with the Orville W. Ainsworth rollmarks. I normally like to purchase firearms that are made by the company that originally made them. That being said, I have always really wanted a 1st generation Cavalry Colt from the 1870's, and Colt does not offer anything like that any longer. I was at the Las Vegas antique arms show a couple of winters ago, and there was a booth there that had a few dozen USFA revolvers in it, they do indeed look like a true pre-war SAA. However not having COLT'S on the barrel was a deal breaker for me at the time. I was able to talk to the head of Colt's custom shop at that same show, and I asked him why Colt does not offer the pre-war features that USFA offers, and his reply was that Colt is selling all they can make doing it the way they are doing it, so why stop?

Well, after reading everything I could find on USFA, and looking at many pictures, I took the plunge and ordered a USFA Ainsworth on the 17th of this month. I think that it will be as close to a $25,000 antique Colt as I can get my hands on. The Ainsworth model has all of the correct inspector rollmarks, 1st style long knurl checkered hammer with the cone shaped firing pin, script barrel address with the enclosing + marks on each end, hand stamped serial numbers in the correct range as was found in 1873-4, etc.

My dealer was told it was a 90 day build, so that should put delivery on the 15th of June. The waiting is killing me.

So, if you love USFA's, tell me your story.

Jared

AtlLaw · « **Reply #1 on:** March 31, 2010, 04:29:06 PM »

With my 2 Uberti SAA's I doubt I'll ever buy another Colt clone. Hi-ebber, and day always be a hi-ebber,

if I ever did, there is no doubt in my mind it would be a USFA. And probably the same revolver you bought! Come to think on it, I sure would like a 2^d generation 4 & 3/4 inch model to go along with the 1^st Generation 7 & 1/2. $:-\$

Anyway, I've contacted then a few times by email and they have always addressed my message quickly and in detail. Matter of fact I just sent them another one today!

HammerMan/LongbowMan · « **Reply #2 on:** March 31, 2010, 05:07:51 PM »

I've got three of them

. They are a top notch company and my guns all shoot to aim and are extremely well made. Plus they have a lifetime warranty

. I don't think you can do any better, except a colt. But I wouldn't say a colt is better than usfa, but the name commands more.

USA made and quality is the greatest selling point.

HammerMan/LongbowMan · « **Reply #3 on:** March 31, 2010, 05:11:37 PM »

I'll add to that they are original style without the safety BS that some others have.

Keith L · « **Reply #4 on:** April 01, 2010, 12:02:04 AM »

Quote from: HammerMan/LongbowMan on March 31, 2010, 05:11:37 PM

I'll add to that they are original style without the safety BS that some others have.

I must have missed it. What single action pistol has a safety?

Graybeard · « **Reply #5 on:** April 01, 2010, 02:09:02 AM »

I think all or most all of the Uberti's have a safety device of sorts. The pin can be pushed back and kinda locked in place to prevent firing or was that way on those I've owned.

OLDPUPPYMAX · « **Reply #6 on:** April 01, 2010, 06:01:49 AM »

My Uberti has the firing pin safety as well. A small screw controls it. The pin is tucked back, out of the way, making it impossible to fire the pistol. Personally, I find it one heck of a lot easier to load five and put the trigger on the empty chamber.

xd45nut · « **Reply #7 on:** April 01, 2010, 06:41:34 AM »

Quote from: Keith L on April 01, 2010, 12:02:04 AM

Quote from: HammerMan/LongbowMan on March 31, 2010, 05:11:37 PM
I'll add to that they are original style without the safety BS that some others have.

I must have missed it. What single action pistol has a safety?

Cimarron's Plinkerton:
http://www.gunblast.com/Cimarron-Plinkerton.htm

Heritage Arms Rough Rider:
http://www.gunblast.com/WBell_HeritageRR.htm

Just to name Two.

jphendren · « **Reply #8 on:** April 01, 2010, 07:34:28 AM »

I've read that all single action revolver imported into the U.S. are required to have some sort of safety device, whereas Colt and USFA are not. I personally would not purchase a revolver with a safety, I personally don't see the need for one.

I don't find it inconvenient to just keep the hammer on an empty, the way it has always been done.

Jared

xd45nut · « **Reply #9 on:** April 01, 2010, 10:17:40 AM »

Quote from: jphendren on April 01, 2010, 07:34:28 AM

I've read that all single action revolver imported into the U.S. are required to have some sort of safety device, whereas Colt and USFA are not. I personally would not purchase a revolver with a safety, I personally don't see the need for one.

I don't find it inconvenient to just keep the hammer on an empty, the way it has always been done.

Jared

Heritage Rim-fire guns are 100% made in the USA and I think that Cimarron's Plinkerton is also. Ruger is for sure an American made product and they equip all of their single actions with a transfer bar safeties. The Bottom line is I think the safeties are being added to keep the manufactures from being liable for other people’s stupidity.

tomray · « **Reply #10 on:** April 04, 2010, 01:59:44 PM »

USFA?.............Yeah!........In my opinion,the best SAA available. Fit, Finish, shoot to POA, and company support are above reproach...........Better than a Colt?.........for function, accuracy and support.....YES!...unless your hung up on having your gun say "Colt"....
I own a USFA SAA 45 Colt 5 1/2" and a USFA 12/22 5 1/2"..............The best SAA guns I've shot and handled........EVER!..........Yes, Vaquaro's are nice, and strong, but they're not SAA's, and not in the same league as the USFA's

No transfer bar safety junk added to the package, no fake Color Case finish, and built like a Swiss Watch!....Destined to become an Heirloom............Expensive?.........Maybe, compared to the foriegn guns, but certainly head and shoulders above them in a one/one comparison.

What more would you want?

Tom

Frank V · « **Reply #11 on:** April 05, 2010, 09:16:25 AM »

Quote from: tomray on April 04, 2010, 01:59:44 PM

USFA?.............Yeah!........In my opinion,the best SAA available. Fit, Finish, shoot to POA, and company support are above reproach...........Better than a Colt?.........for function, accuracy and support.....YES!...unless your hung up on having your gun say "Colt"....
I own a USFA SAA 45 Colt 5 1/2" and a USFA 12/22 5 1/2"..............The best SAA guns I've shot and handled........EVER!..........Yes, Vaquaro's are nice, and strong, but they're not SAA's, and not in the same league as the USFA's

No transfer bar safety junk added to the package, no fake Color Case finish, and built like a Swiss Watch!....Destined to become an Heirloom............Expensive?.........Maybe, compared to the foriegn guns, but certainly head and shoulders above them in a one/one comparison.

What more would you want?

Tom

From what I have read & researched the only SAA says Colt on the gun, the rest are SAs. That said the USFAs I have handled are top rate guns. The fit & finish, and timeing is great. I don't own one, but the Sheriff's Special is really tempting me.
Frank

PS I am a fan.
FV

jimster · « **Reply #12 on:** April 06, 2010, 05:39:25 AM »

I purchased a USFA a few years back, and compared to all the SAA's I owned in my life (including used Colts) it is the most finely finished (inside and out) revolver I have ever owned, and I have had all my SAA's apart. Also, it will probably shoot POA with normal weight bullets, and if it doesn't they will make it so for you if you need to send it back for adjustments.

Mine also took about 3 months to build, it was worth the wait. I will never sell it no matter what, some guns are like that, and this is one of them.

HammerMan/LongbowMan · « **Reply #13 on:** April 06, 2010, 01:01:00 PM »

Quote from: Keith L on April 01, 2010, 12:02:04 AM

Quote from: HammerMan/LongbowMan on March 31, 2010, 05:11:37 PM
I'll add to that they are original style without the safety BS that some others have.

I must have missed it. What single action pistol has a safety?

If you cock a uberti very, very slowly, you will notice one extra little click just before the last click. This is some kind of safety click. I was also refuring to the transfer bars and no half-cock of the rugers. The colts and usfa's still have the original design.

oregoncoyote · « **Reply #14 on:** April 06, 2010, 02:27:26 PM »

USFA?

total pieces of junk...

want to see the one i carry everyday?

AtlLaw · « **Reply #15 on:** April 06, 2010, 02:39:00 PM »

You just had to do it didn't you OC...

oregoncoyote · « **Reply #16 on:** April 06, 2010, 03:14:24 PM »

i did it just for you AL.

how can i not show off such a beauty?

Frank V · « **Reply #17 on:** April 07, 2010, 07:49:47 AM »

You guys are killing me, I want one of the USFA Sheriff's Special really badly. Sadly gun funds are at an all time low. The USFAs I have handled are very high quality. I've never owned a USFA( when the right time arrives I will) or had one apart, but the fit & finish I've seen on them is great.
Frank

PS: Read John Taffin's, Mike Venturino', & Brian Pearce's reviews on them.
FV

Boxhead · « **Reply #18 on:** April 07, 2010, 11:23:19 AM »

Not sometimes,

oregoncoyote · « **Reply #19 on:** April 07, 2010, 11:49:16 AM »

Quote from: Frank V on April 07, 2010, 07:49:47 AM

You guys are killing me, I want one of the USFA Sheriff's Special really badly. Sadly gun funds are at an all time low. The USFAs I have handled are very high quality. I've never owned a USFA( when the right time arrives I will) or had one apart, but the fit & finish I've seen on them is great....

USFA are so good that i sold my Colt 45 SAA 4 3/4" to get the one shown.

and yes Frank, i keep posting pixs of it just to hurt you.

Frank V · « **Reply #20 on:** April 07, 2010, 01:38:49 PM »

Quote from: oregoncoyote on April 07, 2010, 11:49:16 AM

Quote from: Frank V on April 07, 2010, 07:49:47 AM
You guys are killing me, I want one of the USFA Sheriff's Special really badly. Sadly gun funds are at an all time low. The USFAs I have handled are very high quality. I've never owned a USFA( when the right time arrives I will) or had one apart, but the fit & finish I've seen on them is great....

USFA are so good that i sold my Colt 45 SAA 4 3/4" to get the one shown.

and yes Frank, i keep posting pixs of it just to hurt you.

I knew it, I knew it, it's a conspiracy!!!!!!

That is a nice six-gun, how does it shoot? Very well I'll bet. Thanks for sharing with us.
Frank

oregoncoyote · « **Reply #21 on:** April 08, 2010, 06:45:46 AM »

Quote from: Frank V on April 07, 2010, 01:38:49 PM

....That is a nice six-gun, how does it shoot? Very well I'll bet....
Frank

originally it shot 5" left at 50' but gary at USFA offered to correct that. they paid FedEx shipping both directions and returned it in under 2 weeks. and they fixed it correctly by torquing the barrel, not by "bending" the front sight.

now it shoots perfectly to point of aim and although i haven't put it on paper yet, it gives me fist-size groups at 50' on my metal swinging plates when i'm standing unsupported. thats about the best i can do when shooting quickly, so i'm thrilled, particularly given the short sight radius of the 3.5" bbl.

additionally, when i bought it from LHSS i had jim finch do his basic 7-point tuning & upgrade job on it. the action is butter smooth and makes all my other SAA seem like pigs now. i've never owned a nicer handgun in over 40 years of serious shooting.

tomray · « **Reply #22 on:** April 08, 2010, 04:07:17 PM »

when i bought it from LHSS i had jim finch do his basic 7-point tuning & upgrade job on it.

[/quote]

Who is Jim Finch, and WHAT is his 7 point tuning/ and why do you think you needed it on a USFA gun?

?

As an owner of 3 USFA Guns, I can't imagine what tuning your gun needed...

Tom

oregoncoyote · « **Reply #23 on:** April 09, 2010, 04:35:12 AM »

Quote from: tomray on April 08, 2010, 04:07:17 PM

Who is Jim Finch, and WHAT is his 7 point tuning/ and why do you think you needed it on a USFA gun??
As an owner of 3 USFA Guns, I can't imagine what tuning your gun needed...

hey tom,

jim and brad finch are the owners of Long Hunter Shooting Supply on texas.

http://www.longhunt.com/usfa/sa-revolver.htm

this page shows just one of the standard stock USFA revolvers and the 7 custom 'smithing options they offer.

LHSS is one of USFA best dealers. when you purchase any model from them they offer the option of having additional work done at the time of purchase and at a package price (extremely reasonable). and when i talked to gary granger at USFA he said the work done by LHSS doesn't effect the factory warranty at all. additionally, they are very fast, knowledgeable and friendly. 5-stars from me.

i had LHSS do 6 out of the seven (i didn't have them thin the hammer because i would have destroyed the casehardening).

1.   Rear sights widened from .108 inch to .140 inch

2.   Forcing cone cut to 11 degrees

3.   Comes with a crisp, no creep trigger pull

4.   Replace factory flat “hand” spring. The frame is drilled and a Ruger style coil spring is installed for reliability.

5.   Factory main spring is replaced with a Lee's Gunslinger flat spring for a smooth, reliable cocking motion while maintaining a quick hammer drop

6.   Factory flat “trigger/bolt” spring is replaced with a wire spring for added strength.

7.   Relieve Hammer .007" on each side to eliminate drag marks. Then the hammer is machine jeweled or plain polished per customer request.

hope that helps.

tomray · « **Reply #24 on:** April 09, 2010, 02:28:10 PM »

Quote from: oregoncoyote on April 09, 2010, 04:35:12 AM

Quote from: tomray on April 08, 2010, 04:07:17 PM
Who is Jim Finch, and WHAT is his 7 point tuning/ and why do you think you needed it on a USFA gun??
As an owner of 3 USFA Guns, I can't imagine what tuning your gun needed...

hey tom,

jim and brad finch are the owners of Long Hunter Shooting Supply on texas.

http://www.longhunt.com/usfa/sa-revolver.htm

this page shows just one of the standard stock USFA revolvers and the 7 custom 'smithing options they offer.

LHSS is one of USFA best dealers. when you purchase any model from them they offer the option of having additional work done at the time of purchase and at a package price (extremely reasonable). and when i talked to gary granger at USFA he said the work done by LHSS doesn't effect the factory warranty at all. additionally, they are very fast, knowledgeable and friendly. 5-stars from me.

i had LHSS do 6 out of the seven (i didn't have them thin the hammer because i would have destroyed the casehardening).

1.   Rear sights widened from .108 inch to .140 inch

2.   Forcing cone cut to 11 degrees

3.   Comes with a crisp, no creep trigger pull

4.   Replace factory flat “hand” spring. The frame is drilled and a Ruger style coil spring is installed for reliability.

5.   Factory main spring is replaced with a Lee's Gunslinger flat spring for a smooth, reliable cocking motion while maintaining a quick hammer drop

6.   Factory flat “trigger/bolt” spring is replaced with a wire spring for added strength.

7.   Relieve Hammer .007" on each side to eliminate drag marks. Then the hammer is machine jeweled or plain polished per customer request.

hope that helps.

Thanks , Yes that helps me understand your previous posts. I've heard of Long Hunter, and I know Gary Granger personally. Are the replaced springs apparent in a functional sense? can you you feel any difference, or is this mainly a reliability upgrade?

Thanks again for the reply

Tom

oregoncoyote · « **Reply #25 on:** April 10, 2010, 01:13:06 PM »

Quote from: tomray on April 09, 2010, 02:28:10 PM

Thanks , Yes that helps me understand your previous posts. I've heard of Long Hunter, and I know Gary Granger personally. Are the replaced springs apparent in a functional sense? can you you feel any difference, or is this mainly a reliability upgrade?

Thanks again for the reply
Tom

tom,

glad i could help.

jim says that after testing everybody's spring kit currently available on the market, he decided to use Lee's Gunsmithing parts for his SAA work.

and yes, it does make a difference: a much lighter and smoother action.

additionally for reliability i like the idea of his replacing the flat hand spring for a coil spring because those tiny delicate flat springs are known to fail all too often.

with jim's good inventory, inexpensive options, excellent service and lots of respect from guys in forums like this one, i didn't see any downside to ordering thru LSHH and that all proved correct.

Frank V · « **Reply #26 on:** April 13, 2010, 07:11:49 AM »

Oregoncoyote, I am really hearing a lot of good things about the customer service at USFA. Hope I don't have to go sell something!!!!

Frank

oregoncoyote · « **Reply #27 on:** April 13, 2010, 10:31:20 AM »

Quote from: Frank V on April 13, 2010, 07:11:49 AM

Oregoncoyote, I am really hearing a lot of good things about the customer service at USFA. Hope I don't have to go sell something!!!!
Frank

frank: just start saving your pennies.

its not as if USFA is perfect, of course no one is. its just that they seem to keep improving and are willing to support their products after the sale.

sadly, just today a buddy wrote me about his USFA SAA 45LC (with 45 ACP cylinder) that he received last week directly from the factory. here's how he described the problem with his:

"...[with 45 acp ammo] my SAA shoots way to the left, like yours did. I was hoping it would do better with .45 long loads, but I tried them today and it is worse. I tried Remington factory RNFP and Blazers... damned if the blazers don't shoot the farthest to the left of anything yet. And, they also shoot quite low. Gawd damn...."

from what i gather, USFA regulates the sights by feel/look, they don't actually test-fire each one. and so now and then we end up with some that just won't shoot to POA... but the good news is that gary and the crew are willing to make it right after the fact.

Frank V · « **Reply #28 on:** May 02, 2010, 11:25:55 AM »

Quote from: oregoncoyote on April 13, 2010, 10:31:20 AM

Quote from: Frank V on April 13, 2010, 07:11:49 AM
Oregoncoyote, I am really hearing a lot of good things about the customer service at USFA. Hope I don't have to go sell something!!!!
Frank

frank: just start saving your pennies.

its not as if USFA is perfect, of course no one is. its just that they seem to keep improving and are willing to support their products after the sale.

sadly, just today a buddy wrote me about his USFA SAA 45LC (with 45 ACP cylinder) that he received last week directly from the factory. here's how he described the problem with his:

"...[with 45 acp ammo] my SAA shoots way to the left, like yours did. I was hoping it would do better with .45 long loads, but I tried them today and it is worse. I tried Remington factory RNFP and Blazers... damned if the blazers don't shoot the farthest to the left of anything yet. And, they also shoot quite low. Gawd damn...."

from what i gather, USFA regulates the sights by feel/look, they don't actually test-fire each one. and so now and then we end up with some that just won't shoot to POA... but the good news is that gary and the crew are willing to make it right after the fact.

I am saving! It's nice to hear the factory service/support is good.
Frank

Matt in AK · « **Reply #29 on:** May 02, 2010, 12:00:09 PM »

I own an engraved SAA style with a 5" barrel in .44-40 and she's the purtiest and most accurate revolver I own. Took about six months from the time I ordered her and I had Paul Persinger slap some ivory on her before I even took her to the range the first time.