Author Topic: Beretta Stampede (Read 1761 times)

44 Man · « **on:** February 09, 2004, 10:55:52 AM »

Got to handle one of these last night. I was impressed with the fit and finish. This one was a 5 1/2" .45colt with the delux blue. Mighty fine weapon, and only $500. A little non-traditional with the transfer bar and no firing pin in the hammer. But at least the transfer bar doesn't rattle like a Ruger. It had a very good trigger and I especially liked the wide, curved trigger. This gun would make a very nice woods gun. I like being able to carry 6 rounds when I choose to. I would pick one of these over an RV unless I was into heavy loads which I don't do much of anymore. A .45 colt at 900 fps will do anything I wish to do. 44 Man

ButlerFord45 · « **Reply #1 on:** February 09, 2004, 04:33:29 PM »

It is my not-so-humble opinion that the Stampede is what the Colt Cowboy should have been and for less money, and I'm not even a Beretta fan.

Chris B. · « **Reply #2 on:** February 25, 2004, 08:44:19 PM »

Ok I was sold on this gun. The dealer talked me out of the Vaquero for the 4 1/4 inch Stampede and it was the cheaper gun at $379.00 vs. $420.00 for the VQ!!! The fit and finish was better and Being an ex-machinest and working on engines I know that machined steel is always better then cast and that is what sold me on the Beretta! I hope I'm right on this though as this is my 1st revolver. Did I make the right choice? I think I did.

DzrtRat · « **Reply #3 on:** February 26, 2004, 03:30:52 AM »

Chris,

I'm sure that the gun you bought is a fine firearm.

But...

As I said in your other thread and as mentioned above, just don't shoot the heavy loads intended for Ruger revolvers. If you do, you might just learn first hand that machined steel ISN"T always stronger than cast.

~Rat

les hemby · « **Reply #4 on:** February 26, 2004, 04:51:04 AM »

buffalo bore, cor-bon and high load companys say use ruger for a reason. Rugers are stronger.

Chris B. · « **Reply #5 on:** February 26, 2004, 07:36:40 AM »

Dang! Looks like my reasoning did not help me out on this one! I like the idea of a stronger gun even if you give a little on fit and finish. I guess I could go and traide up for the Ruger. This is waht happends when you get in to a rush to buy something!

Anyone want to buy a NIB Stampede? :cry:

Chris B. · « **Reply #6 on:** February 26, 2004, 09:14:11 AM »

Oh yeah, can you explaine what makes the Ruger so strong? Thank you!

les hemby · « **Reply #7 on:** February 26, 2004, 09:19:53 AM »

The stampede will probably be fine for a long time. just dont shoot full power loads. if full power is what you want please go with ruger for factory ammo stampede would probably last a lifetime. it is all in what you want out of the gun.

Chris B. · « **Reply #8 on:** February 26, 2004, 09:44:09 AM »

Thanks Les hemby. What is a safe factory load to use in this? I bought some Wincheaster stuff with the gun but have not used it.

Beretta says they use the most durable steels on their web site. Do you know what these steels might be?

doghouse95 · « **Reply #9 on:** February 26, 2004, 09:55:41 AM »

The ammo you should NOT use in your new revolver will be marked +P, and or will state right on it that it should not be used in Colts or Colt clones.
It is intended for Rugers and contenders.
I shoot a 45 Ruger Bisley, and I do carry cor-bon ammo in it when I'm riding and packing in the mountains. I do not shoot much of this type of ammo, the the felt recoil is a lot more than normal 45 ammo, and the cor-bon is lots of $$$$$.
If you reload, you can pet together some excellent loads for that revolver that are very effective and totally safe. The reloading manuals ususally have two different sections on 45 LC.
The regular winchester, not +P, will work fine in your new toy.

Flint · « **Reply #10 on:** February 26, 2004, 10:33:32 AM »

Yes, don't let us all scare you. The loads the Beretta Stampede are safe with is the STANDARD 45 Colt load. The ammo labeled for Rugers only is similar to 44 Magnum, and not something you would ever stand and shoot all day, or even a whole box of before going home. If someone has a Ruger, and wants Magnum performance as for hunting, self punishment or bragging, they can load or buy that ammo. The reloading manuals put Ruger loads on a separate page, and clearly indicate it's for Rugers and Thompson Contenders. Don't worry about stanfdard Winchester, or any other ammo marked "Cowboy Loads" o SASS loads. Hogdon and other powder companies now list "Cowboy" loads in their manuals. The Beretta will last longer than you will. Oh, Rugers are stronger because of the grade of steel they are casting, probably similar to 4140 or 4150. The cylinder is bigger in Diameter so the wals are thicker, and the frame is bigger. The Ruger is also heavier, less balanced, and prone to more tool marks. The Beretta, like any Colt or clone is more prone to spring breakage, particularly the hand spring and bolt spring, you can get parts (Uberti) from VTIgunparts.com.

Gunruner · « **Reply #11 on:** February 26, 2004, 02:51:18 PM »

Question? Is the Beretta Stampede made in Italy? Is it made in Maryland? Is it not a Uberti? I've heard that it is being made "under license" form Uberti. Is Beretta making these guns or is Uberti just stamping all the Beretta logo on a Uberti gun? I looked at two, one blued and one nickeled. The blued one was very nice but had Beretta stamped on top of the barrel and trident molded into the plastic grips. The nickeled gun had lots of places for the nickel to chip from. The plateing was way over done, to the point that the Beretta name on top of the barrel was almost filled with plate. Just curious....................Mike

Chris B. · « **Reply #12 on:** February 26, 2004, 03:33:12 PM »

Hi Gunruner,

I understand that the Beretta is made in Italy and put together in Maryland. Beretta modernized the Uberti factory to Beretta's higher standered and are now using better steels as well. Everyone I talk in my area says this same thing and also that the quality is up now that Beretta took over.

Graybeard · « **Reply #13 on:** February 26, 2004, 05:17:15 PM »

Quote

Oh yeah, can you explaine what makes the Ruger so strong? Thank you!

1. Mass of metal. Thickness at all stress points as compared to the Colt.

2. The metal used

3. Heat treat methods

Might be more but that's the major reasons I believe.

GB

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #14 on:** February 27, 2004, 01:53:54 AM »

talked to Rob Applegate alot on this subject. I wanted a 5 shot .45 colt on a old model 3 screw .357 frame that is real close to a colt or copy. He told me that the major weekness is the frame not the cyl he said that even the stock 6 shot cyl could take alot. BUt the problem is in cartridge set back when fired. As you have no doubt noticed on a gun that has shot hot loads you will notice a imprint of the the case on the recoil sheild. The stock frames are just not heavy enough to allow heavy loads. The frame is what will fail first. After talking to him i took out an old colt copy that i had shot loose after experimenting with hot loads and did some checking and the frame was actually stretched. Lucky for me it never broke. The gun is junk and luckly it was an inexpensive gun to start with. According to Rob the bigger the case the prevelent the problem. If you go back to Elmer Keith testing the first ruger .44 mags on the small frame youll see that he had the same problem. Bottom line is that if you want something to shot at any level about factory cowboy ammo get a ruger or freedom arms. That being said just about anything can be killed with a good cast 250 grain bullet at 900fps. But if your like me and want to play get something that will take it.

Chris B. · « **Reply #15 on:** February 27, 2004, 01:55:40 PM »

So the standered .45 colt is 250 gr and moves about 900 fps? The Stampede will handle this well? Is this enough power to kill a black bear? Thanks again!

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #16 on:** March 11, 2004, 03:31:31 PM »

The berreta is intirely safe at that level and yes it would be a good black bear hunting gun at that level. John Linebaugh has killed alot of game with his 25 smith using just that level of load and if its good enough for him its good enough for me.

Chris B. · « **Reply #17 on:** March 11, 2004, 04:17:26 PM »

I'm not firmiler with the 25 Smith, is that compable to the Stampede, stronger/weaker? Thank you for the good info!

I will not be hunting for Black bear but this is probibly the most powerful hand gun I own(next would be a Sig .40) and would carry it for the purpose of killing a bear if I had to in self defence in the woods. It is nice to know this gun will do that if need be. I know a HIPO rifel is always best for that though but the Stampede is much easier to pack in the back woods. :grin: Thanks again!

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #18 on:** March 11, 2004, 11:28:30 PM »

smith is probably a little stronger then a colt the problem with them is that they will shoot out of time with heavy loads after a while. But the same can be said of the model 29s Ive killed game with the .44 and .45s at that level and with deer sized game could tell the difference between those loads and a 300 at 1200fps both gave complete penetration and quick kills. Just use a good kieth or lbt designed bullet and youll do fine.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #19 on:** March 11, 2004, 11:40:02 PM »

another route to cosider is using a slower burning powder try 15 grains of 2400 or 16.5 grains of 4227 there not as economical to use but they give better loading densities and have a slower buring curve so peak pressure happens more gradually. I use alot of 4227 as i find it meters real well in a progressive press and has given me real good accuracy. Plus when you are pushing a gun at its limit something like unique can go over pressure with as little as a half a grain. The slower burning powders have a little more leeway.