Just picked mine up (standard model, plastic grips and hot tank blue/CCH finish) last week, $399.00 at Turner's in Orange, CA. Here are a few observations:
1. The pistol arrived heavily coated in light gun oil. So heavily drenched that I didn't notice two very small nicks to the left of the hammer on the rear of the frame in the CCH. No biggie, I wouldn't have sent it back anyhow... but took the edge off my joy at picking her up. :?
2. Metal fit/finish quite nice otherwise... no burrs inside or out that I've noticed. Lovely color-case-whatever-it-is finish. Much nicer than the Vaqueros I've seen. Not a slam, just an honest observation. I'm sure there are Vaqueros out there that would put my Stamede to shame. Maybe. Polishing/Bluing much nicer than I'd expect for a $400 revolver. :grin:
3. Very decent trigger pull, almost no creep and fairly light. Haven't put it on the scale yet. Has a nice, crisp feel. :grin:
4. Lockup is the tightest of ANY revolver of any kind I've owned, and I've owned Colts, Rugers, Smiths, H&Rs, Nagants, etc. This thing is almost frighteningly smooth, solid, and tight. :grin:
5. Plain and simple, the stock plastic grips (stock stocks?) SUCK. Very poor fit to frame, thin and easily distorted when screwed down tight, sharp edges, just atrocious. They scream "CHEAP!" :x
So, the trigger guard and backstrap (plus spring and screws) are en-route to Indiana for a nice, hand fit set of aged Ivory Micarta grips... then I can post a shooting report!
Here's what I would change:
1. For heaven's sake, do a better job with the factory grips, people. How expensive can it be?
2. Make it FOUR clicks when the hammer comes back. Yes, I know it's got a transfer bar. And three clicks is better than two... but there's nothing like that click-click-click-click when the hammer comes back on a single action pistol! This is all about nostalgia, after all. :wink:
And YES, I bought it as a fun shooter for mild loads suitable for the Colt SAA and clones, not a super-duper magnum powerhouse. Big fat heavy bullets make me happy at any velocity! :roll:
