USFA availability

[BobJ]

Hello. I usually post on cap and balls, but I am looking for a 45 LC, a dream of many years. I asked my local gun shop for a 5-1/2" USFA Rodeo, told me after a week of waiting he couldn't find one, had more dealers to check, etc., that was about three weeks ago. Is there any supply difficulties with USFA? I suspect I need to find another dealer, I would have called a customer back if I had any trouble.
 
I will go to the Uberti Cattleman if USFA no longer produces Rodeos, or if they have a monstrous backlog. I have physically handled the Cattleman, and of course my C 'n Bs are Uberti, but I understand USFA is made in America and of much higher quality. Although the Uberti finish is amazing. This is for plinking and woods carry.
 
I picked up encksgunsupply as a stocking dealer from a year-old post on this site, will forward to my dealer tomorrow.

[Ken ONeill]

Have your dealer(s) contact the factory to order direct.

[guzzijohn]

If you end up considering a Uberti look at the "El Patron". It is a Cattleman but with a factory tune and trigger job along with Wolf Springs, all from the factory. I paid $500 new for a 5.5" barrel in .45 Colt. The picture below was my first five shots right out of the box at 50'.


GuzziJohn

[BobJ]

The Patron is looking real good at this point. I gave my dealer another chance with a vendor recommended on this site. Shouldn't have, but he's a friend, but it galls me that I have to do all the calling, let me hang out to dry for three weeks, that's a crappy way to run a business.

[jimster]

If it's a USFA your dreaming about, get one, you won't be sorry.  As Ken says, have a dealer order direct, they will make you one.  That's what I did, I think I waited 4 months to have one made.  Not sure how long the wait is these days.  I've had lot's of Uberti's including the tuned up ones such as "Evil Roy" models and I can tell you nothing compares to a USFA far as Colt clones go, and if you ask me they are as good as the Colts coming out of the custom shop as far as fit finish and timing.  Far as I know USFA is still making all the models they advertise on their site.
Try more dealers, call around, check the internet...if you can't find anything already out there you can always have a dealer order one direct and wait for them to make it and ship it.  I will say it was a long 4 months to have one made, but it was worth the wait when it finally came in.   

[Frank V]

Try 1-800-296-7441  Ext 13. That's Gary Granger's extension. He's kind of the go to guy @ USFA. He helped me a lot.  USFAs are a great gun.
Good luck.
Frank

[BobJ]

Thanks! I have dumped my dealer, and will pursue my original goal with someone who wants my business. I have waited a long time, and may as well get it right. Mike Venturino had one in latest handloader mag. Definitely high quality.

[BobJ]

This weekend was a whirlwind! my new dealer called Mr. Granger, orders placed in Jan had a 12 month wait. So, slightly despondent, I ordered a Cattleman, due in February for $549.
 
I went to my brother's house, he waved a Bass Pro flier in my face, they had Patron .45 5-1/2" on sale for $429, 429, no typo, 2 hours later I was walking out of the store with my new Patron.
 
I am blown away, figuratively, the tin cans literally. Will post pics later. Tx to all for your kind help. Now I need a holster...

[guzzijohn]

You bought that at a great price! Thought I was doing good at $500. I think the El Patron may be one of the best deals out there right now. Nice looking piece to boot. Have fun with it.
GuzziJohn

 

[BobJ]

A few pics. Never posted a pic, hope this works. Mine are so bad, makes you appreciate the perfect pictures in the magazines.

[guzzijohn]

Bobj,
Have you had a chance to shoot it yet and if so what do you think?
GuzziJohn

[jimster]

Nice checkered grips, I like those. I have a buddy who has several Uberti's, he does the cowboy action things sometimes so they get a good work out.  They have not failed him, they are still nice and tight after all the shooting, and he hasn't even busted a spring yet, which I always had bad luck with.  They are easy to replace though so that never slowed me down much.  One thing about Uberti, they been making single actions for a real long time, probably made more than Colt ever did, so they have got things down pretty well. 
 
Nice pics!  Nice single action, it looks great.

[BobJ]

Shoots great, ran a box or more cowboy loads. Definitely a keeper. But I can't see the sights!! My best group was a straight line across the target!! I had two front sights and couldn't figure out which one to use!! I will read the above post on glasses veeery carefully, and head to the eye doc tomorrow. Sometimes it sucks to be old, but at least I have more toys now.

[BobJ]

Aaaagh! Used my reading glasses to see the front sight, looks like my gun shoots way left, over a foot at 50 yd, couldn't get on the 25 yd. Always crowded at the range, even when it's raining.
 
Will shoot a lot more and use other loads to confirm and establish trend. Can't tell how it shoots, didn't hit the target! Still, at this point, from reading older posts, looks like I may have to have the barrel turned to zero. Will shoot a lot more before I do anything, tho.
 
Incidentally, the chamber mouths measured .4525 with dial calipers. I think that's pretty good?

[44 Man]

If you need to turn the front sight you can usually tell it is canted just by looking at it.  If it is, you need to turn it, if it is not, check your grip.  It's easy when shooting one handed to creep around the grip causing it to shoot to the side.  If shooting two handed with your hands overlapping, it should shoot true.  Of course when you see two front sights ..... that doesn't help.  I see only one front sight, but I see three targets without my glasses!  44 Man

[BobJ]

Yeah, I need a lot more shooting. I shot an approx 5" group at 50 yd, 14" to the left, that can't be right, that would put the front sight 50 thousandths off, and it looks OK now. I will revisit this after I run a few hundred more rounds of many different loads through the gun.

[guzzijohn]

Don't know if it is technique or your particular revolver. After using four different loads in mine all are staying very well centered left to right. Have some vertical shift according to velocity and bullet weight. If you have not already, experiment with your grip. Are you hitting about the same to the left whether you are using a one hand or two hand hold, tried over a rest? At this point I would say you are grouping quite well with 5" at 50 yds. Good luck.
GuzziJohn