The modern selections were Winchester USA’s WinClean 357 Magnum 125-grain load and the company’s 38 Special +P 125-grain choice. Though we looked at these guns first for their viability as fun guns being shot at the Big Hat Range, we also wanted to see how they’d handle contemporary rounds if pressed into other duties, such as self protection, plinking, or small-game hunting. We tested all three for function and accuracy, shooting bench groups at 10 yards using a sandbag rest and two modern loads and one cowboy-action load. The overall sizes and weights were similar, with the major difference being the 5.5-inch barrel on the Cimarron Evil Roy, compared to the 4.6-inch-long barrel on the Ruger and the Heritage Rough Rider’s 4.75-inch barrel. The Ruger had a few modern innovations under the skin, as well as modern-looking black plastic grips and stainless screws. The Heritage and the Cimarron revolvers stayed true to the look of the Colt, with case-hardened frames and wood grips. 5107, $719 the Heritage Manufacturing Big Bore Rough Rider RR357CH4, $500 and Cimarron’s Evil Roy No. Our choices were the Ruger New Vaquero NV-34 No. It was far past time to update the smaller-bore single-action revolvers suitable for CAS, so we chose two reproduction Colts and Ruger’s New Vaquero, all chambered in the most common CAS competition caliber, 357 Magnum. Way back in May 2000, we did test three “cowboy concealable” revolvers chambered for 357 Magnum, the EMF Hartford Sheriff’s Model ($365, Don’t Buy) the Cimarron New Sheriff ($469, Don’t Buy), and the Cimarron Thunderer ($489, Conditional Buy). Today, however, low-recoil loads help you go faster in SASS, and if your revolvers shoot 357 Magnums, you can buy a lever gun in the same caliber and shoot the same low-powder loads without having to worry about inserting the wrong shell. Many of these guns were interesting because they’re chambered in the more traditional 45 Long Colt, originally released in the blackpowder cartridge era of 1873-1890. More 45 Colts were tested in April 2001, with Cabela’s Millennium Revolver, $200, earning a Best Buy nod over a 1907 Colt SAA, about $1,500 and Ruger’s Bisley Vaquero, $450 (both Conditional Buys). A Colt Single Action Army, about $1,700, got a Conditional Buy recommendation for its cost and troublesome operation. In July 2003, we tested four more 45 Colt single actions, saying “Buy It” for the American Western Arms Peacekeeper, $835, and the Uberti Regulator, about $400. We said the Millennium was a Best Buy, followed by the Stampede with a Buy It recommendation, and a Conditional Buy grade for the New Vaquero, which skipped two of the cylinders. 5101, $583 Beretta’s Stampede JEA1501, $540 and a retest of Cabela’s Millennium revolver, $280, with brass frame. In March 2005, we shot three more handguns chambered in 45 LC, the Ruger New Vaquero NV-455 No. In the February 2006 issue, we called the Heritage Manufacturing Big Bore Rough Rider 45 Colt RR45B5, $379, a Best Buy when tested against a Taurus Gaucho SA45B 45 Colt, $499, which was a Don’t Buy model. But there are plenty of more recent choices in single-action revolvers, and we’ve tested quite a few. Many shooters will want to get into the game with an “original” - a real Colt, but those sixguns are very expensive and pretty scarce, and those guns are not without their own special problems. In Cowboy Action Shooting, the targets are usually not especially hard to hit, but the action is very quick, which means a smooth, slick, easy-to-handle revolver gives the shooter an edge.
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