Beretta Stampede, or USFA Rodeo for cowboy shooting?

[leverfan]

I'm just interested in folks' picks, and why they picked them.  Thanks.

[Big Hext Finnigan]

Howdy,

I voted other.. but my second vote would be a Colt.  
The Stampede hasn't built a great reputation for out of the box performance and parts are said to be difficult to find.  For about the same money, you can find plenty of good clones, which is my other choice.  I have too many guns to have $1000 tied up in each one. (or rather I'm too poor to have that much $$ tied up in my guns ).

If I were looking at a USFA, which are great guns, I'd go ahead and buy a Colt, cause the price has come down on them and a Colt is always a Colt.

Adios,

[m-g Willy]

Have Colts( 3rd gen.) and clones (Uberti HARTFORD MODEL) The Uberti came from the factory with what you can only get on the Colt from the Colt Custom Shop.( Old model Black powder frame,bullseye ejector,beveled cylinder, and sights like 1st. gen.Colt,one piece wood grips. Plus ! The fit and timeing on the Uberti is better!!! After years of shooting full power 45Colt loads the Uberti is still tight, and not even a ring around cylinder from the bolt dragging.(All my Colts have the cylinder ring :roll:) And you get all this in the Uberti for about 1/3 the price of the Colt.---BUT!!--- like Hex stated, A Colt is a COLT! everything else is a clone. Take a look at the Uberti before buying and see which you think is the best fit and finish gun.--Willy

[44 Man]

I have an EMF Hartford 5 1/2" that I dearly love.  The action is slick and the timing is perfect.  It shoots better than any Ruger I have ever owned in .45colt!  I have owned a Colt with a very slick action also.  But I sold that and bought a dillon and another clone.  I also have an AWA Peacekeeper that I like very well.  HOWEVER, I will own a US Firearms gun sometime in the future.  That's on my 'someday' list.  I have a chance to buy a Stampede this week and if I do after inspecting it, I'll try to get a report back on it's performance as soon as I wring it out a little.  44 Man

[Big John Wyatt]

I voted other. I have 2 Cimmarons that I use as main match guns. I like them.Beretta's have earned their bad reputation, and are going to have to work hard to change that(and I think they will).
USFA's, darn good guns, but if clones is what I was considering on buying, I think they are way to far up the chain. "For A Few Dollars More" you can buy real Ponies.

[leverfan]

Thanks for the answers, folks, but I have some more questions.  When folks say that the USFA Rodeo, msrp $550, is too close to the Colt price, are you suggesting I look into the Colt Cowboy, msrp $670?  Or are we talking about the high-end offerings from USFA and Colt, the $1,200+ revolvers?  I specified the Rodeo, because it costs the same, or even less, than the Stampede, depending on options.  Based on what I'd heard about the Rodeo, I had the impression that it was a lot of gun for the money, since it's priced to compete with the revolvers from Cimarron, EMF, etc.  

I was also wondering if any of the Beretta Stampede problems were showing up in other replica revolvers, since it seems like almost all the clones (except for the Rodeo) use parts made in Beretta's Uberti factory.  What quality control problems have been showing up?  

Up until now, my single action experience has been mostly limited to Blackhawks, so I'd like to learn as much as I can before chucking my money into someone else's wallet.  Thanks again.

[Big Hext Finnigan]

Howdy,

The Rodeo is a great gun for the money.  I doubt that you can find one on the street for under $600/new as USFA has raised their prices.  That's at least $200 more than a Cimarron.  Now it's just my opinion, but I think the parkerized finish looks awful on a SAA.  Great on a 1911 or an 1100, but  not on a SAA.. I've seen them antiqued and they look fine that way.  Colts are under $1000 at dealer, so the deals are there for a new gun.  In general, the street prices I can get, easily, are
Cimarron - $350
Rodeo - $600
Colt - $1100

I guess for me, the step up to a Rodeo isn't worth it.  If I'm going to go more, I'd rather go all the way up.  Oh, and the Colt Cowboy has been discontinued for some time.

It appears that the Stampede and the Uberti lines are made on different machining tools, because the parts for the two guns don't interchange, which seems nuts to me, but is apparently the case..

Buy what fits your hand, you'll change your mind over and over again.  :wink:
Adios,

[Big Hext Finnigan]

Howdy again,

I re-read my post and I forgot to mention that I use Uberti guns and I shoot a fair bit.  I've not had any mechanical issues and have done nothing but a bit of stoning and spring shaping.  I just don't see the need to pay extra for a Rodeo.  Just my opinion.

Adios,

[Big John Wyatt]

I understand the Stampede was having problems with timing and springs. Not out of the box , but the problems could show in as little as 300 rounds. Maybe just bugs being worked out of a new gun.

As I said before I have 2 Cimmaron Model P's that I shoot real regular that have been very reliable with a little honing that I done myself. You can almost buy 2 for 1 vs. the Stampede or Rodeo.

Your poll was Stampede, Rodeo, Colt or other. It feels like you may be looking at the Stampede or Rodeo. Perfectly alright. If these 2 guns are your choices then I would take the Rodeo. Of the 2 , the Rodeo is better by far..

[leverfan]

BJW-

You're right, I was really leaning towards the Rodeo.  Not for the looks, but for its reputed quality and shootability out-of-the-box, at a decent price.  That finish is ugly on a single action, no doubt about it.  

I've got folks on another site telling me to forget all of them, and just get a Vaquero.  My experience with Ruger single-actions has led me to believe that they are very rugged, reliable, but often need a fair amount of work to do their best with cast bullets.  I'd rather be shooting, as opposed to widening chamber mouths, lapping bores, or chasing the receiver threads to remove a tight spot when the barrel is screwed back in.

Based on what I'm learning here, I'm going to be taking a longer look at the products of Italy's gun valley.  High quality at a low price is always good, in my book.

Thanks again to everyone that's chiming in on this thread.  There aren't a whole lot of sources for information about all those "other" guns, and you folks sure are helping me.

[T.J. McSuds]

I have owned a USFA and have a couple of Uberties now but my favorite is a EMF Great Western II. Best out of box gun I have owned for less than $1000. The GWII will be my choice for my next revolver.

[Chinxy]

Hi Leverfan,
I have just started in CAS 3 months back.  And I have not had any problems with it as I've heard that others have had.  (Knock on wood).  I looked at different guns and held them.  I found that the Beretta Stampede fit well so for the price I went with the Stampede.  I have to say - I LOVE THIS SA.  I have learned to shoot very well with it and finally can take it apart, clean it, and get it back together easily now (it took awhile to figure out how to get the pin back through the cylinder, pain at first).  Last weekend I went to the local gun show and held the ruger and others.  To tell the truth, I just didn't like the feel.  Tuesday I was in 3 stages and missed three times (one in each stage).  In the stages, you had to shoot with 2 pistols and I only have the one.  So another member lent me his ruger.  It just didn't feel the same and I was just not as good as I am with mine.  Go figure!  I think it's because the grip is a little bigger.
So I have to vote with the Stampede and I am going to buy another one next year when I can smuss it over with the wifey so I don't get in trouble again like when I bought the Winchester Replica Puma 92.  yep, dog house now.  

Happy Aurora Trails!
Chinxy!

[leverfan]

I ended up buying the EMF Dakotas (made by Uberti) that GB had for sale.  The first loads my wife and I put through them are going to be 255 grain RNFP with a slightly hollow base on top of about 35-37 grains of pyrodex.  There's no black handy in my powder box right now, or I'd use that.  These guns are mostly for the wife, so if she likes the original style loads, that's what she'll shoot in matches.  Thanks for all the advice and tips that you folks have given me on this thread.