I carry a single action army (uberti cattleman in 45 colt) as my daily carry (sometimes I'll carry a 1911 every blue moon). I mostly open carry and find that it has less sharp edges that poke me when I do decide to conceal it compared to automatics. I think for the average person, a revolver will be more than enough and that we obsess over round count more than necessary. You also forgot to mention that single actions are extremely reliable. There was a clerk that had a single action for defense and his trigger broke during a self defense shooting. He just thumbed the hammer back, saving his life.
Good stuff, I have 3 pietta single actions in 45 colt that I swap between, that I carry on the regular, depending what I'm doing. I've never felt under gunned with it, normally carry 255 grain hard cast ammo. If I'm out doin work on the property, out in the woods or have to go to town, it's my preferred, it's bad medicine for most 4 legged and 2 legged critters.
Hello .I've read many opinions pro and con .regarding s/a. ..nothing is more presumptuous than one discrediting another's choice..I for one am 73 years old. Grew up with colts. Rugers .have owned gun shop.hunting guide and competitor..some of us are very very proficient.with ALL ARMS..I PRESENTLY WORK PART TIME IN PAWM/ GUN SHOP..MY CHOICE. OLD RUGER VAQUERO .45 AND SP101.. YOU WOULD BE SURPRISED HOW MANY CUSTOMERS COMMENT. LOOK AT THAT OLD MAN!! I DONT THINK ANYONE SHOULD TEST HIM THATS HALF THE BATTLE. .DETERRANT..SO LETS ALLOW WHO EVER TO CARRY WHATEVER
I've been open carrying a Colt .45 with the 4.75-inch barell for years. Fits my hand perfectly. Great point to shoot gun. Low maintenance, reliable, and only one shot will take down most of any opponent. I've watched individuals at the firing range speed shooting their semi automatic weapons. Lots of dollars hitting the ground.
I am a ranch manager and open carry.revolvers are visible to potential trespassers.When I go into town my concealed I'd a semi auto with backup 8 round magazine.
Yeah my father was given orders to RVN in '65 and of course he could not draw a sidearm from the armory as he was medical personnel which cannot be armed due to the Geneva convention(i know). So he went to the PX and purchased a Ruger Blackhawk which he henceforth carried around in a medical bag 😁
My everyday carry is a Ruger New Model Vaquero chambered for the 357 Magnum but will occasionally carry my old Vaquero chambered for the 44 magnum round. For anyone that’s worried about reload time I used that same 44 to qualify for my CCW permit and unlike the gentleman in my class shooting a Glock I didn’t have a single jam.
I carry daily a Single action revolver. Shepard. My 8" barrel pietta 1860 Army with a Kirst konversion kit. I have both open and CCW holsters for it. I have other handguns but I choose to carry this one.
According to the FBI, the average gunfight takes about 2.6 seconds and about 2.6 rounds. A SA revolver holds plenty of ammo and is the gun to easiestly get off a fast, accurate first round. My guns of choice are a S&W 642 .38 for concealed and a Glock M24 .40S&W with a 16rnd mag in place and two 22 rounder reload mags for open carry.
"The Rule of Three" is easy enough to remember: 3 yards, 3 rounds, 3 seconds. If s gunfight goes outside of those, it's already an unusual circumstance. More capacity is good, but even better than capacity is friends, and if you're in a gunfight that breaks the Ro3, it probably means you didn't bring enough with you.
Ruger SAA’s are the best option, in my opinion, if you’re going to carry one. They have the Transfer Bar Safety which allows you to carry a full 6 rounds in the cylinder.
The classic wheel guns of the west just can’t be beat. Round count is kind of meaningless if that makes you overconfident and start winging shots out carelessly because you know you have lots of rounds. It’s much harder to quickly and casually fire shots from a revolver when you know you only have 5... and that’s the best thing about them imho.
I live in Texas and sometimes carry my .357 mag. Ruger Vaquero! Nothing wrong with carrying a single action revolver. By the way nice looking revolvers you have there!
Since I have a progressive terminal illness, I just carry whatever I want. One advantage of a death sentence is freedom to live without worrying about losing a gunfight. I carry the single action because I like it better than my Glock. I’m very fast with it. One time someone was trying to break into my property. I surprised them with a flashlight in one hand and a cocked single action in the other. I told him to leave while I let him. He took off without asking what gun it was. And if he’d gotten curious and stuck around I’m sure he wouldn’t have been able to tell the difference.
Prayers for you my friend. I’ve been battling stage 4 cancer since Oct 2022. Finished my 34th round of chemo last week. Blessing is I’m still here and actually back to work but it’s not the same. I did it to keep the awesome insurance my company has that I’ve been with the last 12 yrs. My disease has kinda stopped growing but it’s still there. 25 yrs of LE, I cut my teeth on revolvers as that was the issued firearm of the time (SW mod 65s and 66s). I earned the high shooter award in my academy with a mod 65 and served me well until I latched on to a SW 25-5 in 45 Long Colt. I loved that gun. It gave birth to me loving mostly anything that began with a 4 in the caliber. I have a single action Cimarron in 357 that I would feel just as comfortable with carrying for defense purposes because my motto has always been shot placement, not spray and pray. That motto has served me well over the years, as had many officers I worked with. Auto or revolver, single or dbl action, your objective is to hit the target (paper or meat) and stop the threat. Unless it was something like the famous Miami Dade shootout, or the LAPD one back in the day, most officers knew and planned where that lead slug was going to go before pulling the trigger. Again I pray for your health and Gods miraculous healing if it be his will. These diseases are unrelenting but we will face them with strength and endurance until the end. 💪🙏✝️
I think the first rule in gun fighting is dont get into one ... lol. Yes, I love to carry a single action as much as possible. Blackhawk flattop 44 spl. 4.75" w/ hardcast Keith.
I have a GP100 that I use like a single action. I picked it because it's mass makes .357 controllable for me. I have been shooting for a while now and find I vastly prefer single actions. Whatever I choose for carry will be a Ruger revolver because I like the safety the transfer bar provides.
Okay ... I think you've explained that about as good as I've ever heard it. I commonly carry a 3.5 inch Ruger Vaquero Birdshead chambered in .45 ACP for my EDC. I use cheap 1911 mags as speedloaders (old SASS competitor showed me that trick, works great, cuts reload time down by over half what it would normally take and carrying additional ammunition an absolute breeze). Love the thing, reliable, accurate, etc, etc. Is it my Zombie Apocalypse or venturing into hostile gang territory choice? Assuredly not. I own Glocks and Sigs that would be my choice for such an event. But, where I live and my daily habits and places I commonly go ... my Ruger Single Action is a very viable option. Requires a bit different type of and a little more training that a more modern firearm would require, but that's the beauty of it. Just like shooting with iron sites as compared to using a scope or Red Dot ... it's an old art form that's worth the time and effort. And pardon me .... but the single actions are just so much more darn sexy looking. ;)
Someone asked me about what gun I'd carry, i said single action revolver. They asked how do you conceal carry a revolver and i responded with "Who said anything about concealed? "
I carry a uberti 1860 army Stub nose with a gated 44-40 conversion cylinder, I carry in the belt on the hip. You can't see it print. Thats for around the house, when I go in to the city I carry my FN FNX.45 15 shot .45 automatic. I don't believe you have to calculate a "fire fight" situation in a self defense on the street incidence where you have to defend yourself from an assailant, single action is fine. Remember, I have over 54 years of self defence training with the empty hand and weapons of the martial arts to the .45 auto and beyond, I have surveyed every major city in the US coast to coast border to border, I have walked the streets of these cities day and night, no matter the demographic of the neighborhoods. I have been accosted, but never mugged, I have carried all kinds of defensive weapons, I've had concealed carry since 1972 but in all the incidents I have encountered I have not had to pull my gun a dozen times or so and I only had to shoot once(not counting when I was a body guard). Carry what you like, but carry on the body with max access to your gun, in the pocket is ok around the house or at work but not for the street. You don't have to "quick draw" but you do have to be observant and able to read your situation and be prepared, if you think you might need your gun you had best have it in your hand before the encounter begins, you don't show your gun until its discharge if necessary. I carry a money clip with less that $20 in it. I've tossed it to an assailant and told them that what I got, if they press the matter I give them hell. If a knife comes out I just beat them severely, heck, I even stuck 3 assailants in the butt with their own knife. Up until I retired I carried a matte nickel Colt series 70 and an ithica model 37 rapid fire pump 12 gauge with a 20" barrel and standard stock. Now I carry a FN FNX .45 15 round .45 acp, 2 spare mags and a Remington V3 TAC 13(look it up, you'll like it) 12 gauge auto pistol when I go to the "jungle", yes, I do wear non elastic suspenders to hold up the .45, mags and my fixed blade hnife(case 3316-5). A very important skill to develop is "predator recognition".
I have always trained with a single action revolver. Ever since I turned 21, I carried, trained with, and shot a 3rd gen SAA in .45 Colt. When I moved back to Maine, I had to give the colt back to its owner. So I bought an Uberti El Patron in .45 Colt. It was almost the exact same as the 3rd gen colt in feeling and handling. I have about 6 years of collective training with these and almost 3000 rounds through the two guns. I am quicker, more accurate and slightly faster on follow up shots than some of my friends using semi auto pistols (though admittedly not by much. Maybe 0.06 seconds faster.) Long story short: I can carry my uberti with pride and confidence better than I can any of my semi autos.
Thanks for watching and commenting. I'm glad you like the Uberti so much. I have a 2nd gen Colt but never seem to get it out of the safe. I think if I had an Uberti I'd actually carry it.
@@FlyingKSports My Uberti is definitely a source of pride for me. It may not be as impressive as an actual Colt SAA, and may not have the iconic 4 stage hammer. But it is a lot safer with it's free floating firing pin, and it is quite accurate. Plus, whenever I wear it out, I get asked about it a lot. Mostly just complimenting it. So it's a plus for style points
I have carried a 4 5/8" Blackhawk 45LC for years. It fits my hand. Been shooting SA wheel guns for 50+ years. Their operation is second nature to me. I have used Ruger Blackhawks for Long range Sillhouettes, Bullseye competition, and CAS. Own a few DA Smiths, Colts and Rugers. 99% of the time, I manually cock the hammer and shoot SA. The Smiths and older Colt DA revolvers are easily modified to shoot SA only. I am the fastest of the fast, and I NEVER miss my intended target. Basic rule of revolver shooting.......If you have time to come to eye level and use the sights, you have more than enough time to thumb cock the hammer.
Good points, thank you for your thoughts. Elmer Keith is The Man! btw, I stumbled upon one of your YT 'Shorts', and now I know about the 1903 Springfield "Not a Safety!" feature. And your channel name is reminds me of the USAF recreational facility "Flying K" near Marble Falls, TX from the 1970s (it's been gone awhile) Great times there as a kid. So, subscribed.
Thanks for stopping by. I stole the Flying K from Gene Autry. He used the Flying A. I read most of Elmer Keith’s books when I was younger. He’s probably my biggest influence in shooting and reloading.
I carry a Single Action revolver everyday in a good Cowboy quick draw holster on my belt . I open carry mine in the same position as this Man does . Mine is a Colt Single Action Army 45 . My Wife carries a Double Actual snubnose 357 magnum in a nice holster with a hammer thong that I added as a safety measure in case the holster strap is not in place no one that doesn’t know about the hammer thong can just pull her gun out.
Aside from cost the best of both worlds might be a Schofield. Can even use N frame speed loaders. Would love to have you go into more detail on tour technique for topping up a Colt pattern revolver.
@@FlyingKSports Perhaps. Looking at Taylors specs the 3.5 inch barrel version is only 8oz heavier than their 3.5 inch SAA. I certainly would enjoy giving it a try. 😇
I use a Springfield xdm Elite. 15 rounds is great, except that I’m not carrying it cocked. So now I need 2 hands to be ready to fire. I can’t imagine carrying a round in the chamber, but worry that most self defense situations could require one handed deployment. Single action with six rounds may be the way to go.
I have a .357 Magnum Uberti with a Bird’s Head grip and a 3 1/2” barrel. It conceals quite nicely, and it’s my go to carry gun. It has a retractable firing pin and can safely be carried with 6 rounds. The vast majority of defensive handgun uses are ones where simply displaying the gun scares off the attacker. In cases where the gun is actually fired, well over 90% end with 2-3 shots being fired, and in cases where more rounds are fired, the shooter is mag-dumping out of fear and doesn’t need that many shots. People love to prepare for a “worst case scenario” of getting jumped by half a dozen highly trained ninjas who would rather die than run away while trying to mug someone for $20, and the odds of that scenario happening are about the same as getting struck by lightning with a winning powerball ticket in your hand. And if you do find yourself facing multiple determined attackers, you’re probably going to wind up dead no matter how many rounds you have on you. I say all that to say that six rounds is all you need in a self defense weapon. Reloading under stress basically never happens in civilian self defense shootings. And slow reload times are basically the only “disadvantage” a single action revolver has over a DA with a swing out cylinder, or a semiautomatic with a magazine capacity designed for going off to war. The three most common calibers for single actions are .357 mag, .44 mag, and .45 Colt, all of which are excellent choices for self defense (though I’d probably download the.44 mag to .44 special unless I was in bear country.). And a proficient, practiced shooter can get off six aimed shots very quickly. Just watch CZcams videos of cowboy action shooters to see what I’m talking about. Finally, single actions are more reliable than semiautos. I took the shooting test for my CHL with a single action revolver. There were probably like 20 people in the class, and there were only like 3 or 4 of us to make it all the way through without the gun jamming at least once. I’ll take a gun that will go bang six times in a row over a gun with 2-3 times the capacity that is more likely to jam. A six shot revolver is all you actually need for self defense. The need for high capacity 9mm handguns was driven by police and military situations, where you go looking for trouble and deliberately insert yourself into as much of it as you can find. Trouble the police encounter, and trouble regular joes not looking for trouble encounter are two different situations. While I guess there’s nothing wrong with carrying a pistol with 15-20 rounds, it’s strictly a psychological benefit, not a necessity. There’s simply no good reason why a six round single action revolver would be insufficient as a self defense gun. It’s a better choice than smaller semiautomatics like a .25 ACP or .32 ACP with higher capacity.
Being a handloader if you need magnum power the best less than a rifle is a revolver. Single action can encourage you to look for cover, a better solution than blasting your way like depicted in movies.
SAA, one with the trigger block/transfer bar so you can carry 6, is an excellent carry. 45 long colt. Hitting power, not too much over penetration. Self defense situation, you want to be accurate and make'em count. If u just start slinging lead every where, you may accidentally hit a mom out with her kids. I'd rather be shot myself, than that ever happening. Better to take measure, and having a round that only takes one to stop a man, is better in my opinion. And if its a gang? Well, you are probably screwed, even if u have 15+. However, one guy sees his friend take a 45lc to the head, he's probably out of there. So, what do I carry? Nothing, I am a Texan exiled to live in SoCal 😎. But if I could? Glock 17🙄. Because I have extensive training and experience with them👍👌. But on special days, SAA. And a small Glock in the sock.
I like the SA revolver as much as anyone, but I wouldn't carry one as a self-defense gun, it makes no sense to carry a SA, I live on a farm so I would have no problem carrying a SA here, but I would not do it in other places.
I carry my ruger bisley super Blackhawk .44 mag. 5.5 inch barrel. I make my own holsters from kydex. Sight picture is perfect and i just find i am crazy accurate with it. Use what you're good with should be the bottom line. You made every point that could've possibly been made as to why carrying a single action is not a bad idea.
@@FlyingKSports I came into a little bit of money so as of lately I'm acquiring more rugers. The entire redhawk lineup and gp100 or security six series are fantastic. But there's just something unique about a good Blackhawk. I have severe nerve damage from my time in the Marines and a revolver is the most comfortable for me to use. My dad had a Blackhawk in nearly every caliber and barrel length. I guess I'm trying to catch up to my old man.
I want a blackhawk convertible. I have a sass pro 1873. I open carry it in bear country. I have did some single action shooting and have the trophies to prove it.
My blackhawk is my mountain gun. My edc is 45 acp. 357 in my opinion is just too hot for personal protection in an environment where there are innocent bystanders.
@@FlyingKSports absolutely right. A black bear or cougar yes. Iraqi war vet told me he carries a 22 loaded with cci stingers. I think that wouldn't be a bad choice especially for the ladies. What do you think?
@@Dont.Tread.On.Me1974 Funny you say that! Just this last week two different people I know have switched to .22s for their carry guns. One guy told me he chose the .22 because that’s what mafia hit men use.
I carry my Uberti Wyatt Earp buntline every day inside my overalls. I think SAA revolvers were the original intent of overalls. Personally I have never given a thought to zombies but I am sure lots of guys justify dumb gun purchases to their wives with zombie stories
@@FlyingKSports so you are limited to when and where you can carry it. In many states the firearm has to be concealed. And the hotter months a coat is impractical.
yeah lets not get crazy here... it's a handgun. It fires six shots of most likely great ammo for what you need and it is super reliable. I grew up on revolvers and yes... I realize that 6 shots might not be enough for those common home invasions where 20 or so armed veterans will storm in from every door and window in the house. I will take my chances. I own a lot of handguns and I shoot them all pretty competently after half a century of burning countless kegs of powder and tons of lead. sooo... it is not that I don't have options.My 1873 Colt clone is 4 3/4" barrel with my 44 spl load of a 250 grain cast and coated slug at around 800 fps. Pretty much a 45 Colt power level. it is my nightstand gun. my thinking is that when a bad thing happens it will be really really dark and even if it were not i would not have the time or alertness to find and line up sights but.. it will be dark. So... a mispent youth and on into middle age.... zillions of rounds... hip shooting at 15' say or less is pretty easy. I like to shoot full sodas. Sodas fear me. point shooting at longer ranges and sights for anything smaller than say a five gallon bucket. But the key to point shooting is ... well... pointing. and that your finger and the barrel of the gun are pointing at the same things The old Colts and clones just do that as a matter of course.... a lot of guns will not. Seen a guy who wit lots and lots of practice could do it fairly well with a glock but then... after that he couldn't hit anything with any other handgun except maybe a Luger... point shooting is maybe also eye level but no time to line everything up. For me that means just putting the front sight where it would be nice if the bullet went there and pulling the trigger. Handguns are difficult to master for most. I teach new people pretty often. I like to set out some sodas 10-15' out for em and other than safety stuff... I just tell em to line up the front sight... We can work out the rest later but... shooting is not fun if you don't hit anything. When they see a few of those sodas explode? LOL... You never seen such big grins. Lots of fun for me too... sometimes I don't even get to shoot much that day.
I’m thinking about buying that new Ruger super Wrangler since it seems to be the best option in that price range. I have a Walther ppks in 22, a M&p shield plus in 9, and a 12 guage semi automatic shotgun right now but I don’t want to leave any of those loaded all the time and wear the spring’s out. I figure the super wrangler is cheap, I can leave it loaded with 22 mag, it’s safer to leave loaded than most of my others, and I want something that I’ll be able to shoot affordably since I’ve never shot a single action. I think, in combination with my others, It’ll accomplish what I need it to. It may also be worth mentioning that I have some range training with a former MARSOC raider, so my shot placement is pretty good. What do you think? Is it worth it?
Couple of things: 1. You can keep the Wrangler loaded at all times with no worries about wearing any spring out. 2. Ruger makes a nice little single action revolver, I really like them. 3. You can leave your M&P Shield and your 12ga. auto loaded at all times too. Springs do not wear out from being compressed, They wear out from being worked. Magazine left loaded for years can function just fine.
I love my Ruger Wrangler. Without a doubt my favorite gun to shoot. I find it much more natural to aim than a semi auto handgun. I can consistently hit cans at 25 yards - and I'm not that practiced. I can barely hit cans at 15 yards with my 9mm. Just my experience.
Cowboys didn’t use quick draw holsters either. When you’re riding horses and moving around in the real world, you can’t be losing your gun. One thing, not all single actions can carry a full six. People need to know that. If you’ve got an old type action, with the firing pin on the hammer, you can only carry 5, and let the hammer lie on an empty cylinder.
You're talking about carrying a single action like if your desperate you can. I have a black hawk .357 and carry it everyday. I love it and wouldn't change it.
@FlyingKSports not in my eyes, I'm not trading for a gun to powerful to handle, I'm not trading for anything to small like a nine. And I'd you need more than six you shouldn't have a gun.
I carry a single action army (uberti cattleman in 45 colt) as my daily carry (sometimes I'll carry a 1911 every blue moon). I mostly open carry and find that it has less sharp edges that poke me when I do decide to conceal it compared to automatics. I think for the average person, a revolver will be more than enough and that we obsess over round count more than necessary. You also forgot to mention that single actions are extremely reliable. There was a clerk that had a single action for defense and his trigger broke during a self defense shooting. He just thumbed the hammer back, saving his life.
I carry a single action revolver more than any other type of handgun. I've always felt that was plenty for the life I live.
I carry an Uberti Cattleman, too. 4.75" with 250 gr 45 colt rounds. It's plenty.
Good stuff, I have 3 pietta single actions in 45 colt that I swap between, that I carry on the regular, depending what I'm doing. I've never felt under gunned with it, normally carry 255 grain hard cast ammo. If I'm out doin work on the property, out in the woods or have to go to town, it's my preferred, it's bad medicine for most 4 legged and 2 legged critters.
@@linguisticman i carry a 357mag cattleman
Hello .I've read many opinions pro and con .regarding s/a. ..nothing is more presumptuous than one discrediting another's choice..I for one am 73 years old. Grew up with colts. Rugers .have owned gun shop.hunting guide and competitor..some of us are very very proficient.with ALL ARMS..I PRESENTLY WORK PART TIME IN PAWM/ GUN SHOP..MY CHOICE. OLD RUGER VAQUERO .45 AND SP101.. YOU WOULD BE SURPRISED HOW MANY CUSTOMERS COMMENT. LOOK AT THAT OLD MAN!! I DONT THINK ANYONE SHOULD TEST HIM
THATS HALF THE BATTLE. .DETERRANT..SO LETS ALLOW WHO EVER TO CARRY WHATEVER
I've been open carrying a Colt .45 with the 4.75-inch barell for years. Fits my hand perfectly. Great point to shoot gun. Low maintenance, reliable, and only one shot will take down most of any opponent.
I've watched individuals at the firing range speed shooting their semi automatic weapons. Lots of dollars hitting the ground.
I am a ranch manager and open carry.revolvers are visible to potential trespassers.When I go into town my concealed I'd a semi auto with backup 8 round magazine.
I like your style.
Yeah my father was given orders to RVN in '65 and of course he could not draw a sidearm from the armory as he was medical personnel which cannot be armed due to the Geneva convention(i know). So he went to the PX and purchased a Ruger Blackhawk which he henceforth carried around in a medical bag 😁
He was probably never in need of any thing more. Armed with a single action is still armed.
I have a new model Blackhawk in 45 colt/ 45 acp. Love it
That’s a great gun! Love the versatility of that combination.
My everyday carry is a Ruger New Model Vaquero chambered for the 357 Magnum but will occasionally carry my old Vaquero chambered for the 44 magnum round. For anyone that’s worried about reload time I used that same 44 to qualify for my CCW permit and unlike the gentleman in my class shooting a Glock I didn’t have a single jam.
When it comes to reload time, after six shots of .44 you’ll have all the time in the world to reload.
I carry daily a Single action revolver. Shepard. My 8" barrel pietta 1860 Army with a Kirst konversion kit. I have both open and CCW holsters for it. I have other handguns but I choose to carry this one.
Nothing wrong with that!
Thanks buddy, I thought I was the only one with a single action CCW
You are not alone!
According to the FBI, the average gunfight takes about 2.6 seconds and about 2.6 rounds. A SA revolver holds plenty of ammo and is the gun to easiestly get off a fast, accurate first round. My guns of choice are a S&W 642 .38 for concealed and a Glock M24 .40S&W with a 16rnd mag in place and two 22 rounder reload mags for open carry.
"The Rule of Three" is easy enough to remember: 3 yards, 3 rounds, 3 seconds. If s gunfight goes outside of those, it's already an unusual circumstance.
More capacity is good, but even better than capacity is friends, and if you're in a gunfight that breaks the Ro3, it probably means you didn't bring enough with you.
You're carrying 58 rounds with your CCW?
@@koDaffi No, 60rnds open carry. CCW is 5rnds in the snub and a speed strip with 8rnds.
Ruger SAA’s are the best option, in my opinion, if you’re going to carry one. They have the Transfer Bar Safety which allows you to carry a full 6 rounds in the cylinder.
Love the Blackhawk!
Absolutely, carry my Vaquero .357 occasionally
I bought a Black hawk 357 last week. I like a single action Pistol.
It's a great revolver. You're going to love it.
The classic wheel guns of the west just can’t be beat. Round count is kind of meaningless if that makes you overconfident and start winging shots out carelessly because you know you have lots of rounds. It’s much harder to quickly and casually fire shots from a revolver when you know you only have 5... and that’s the best thing about them imho.
Ive never felt under gunner when carrying a revolver. Six big rounds can get a lot done.
That is a great point.
I live in Texas and sometimes carry my .357 mag. Ruger Vaquero! Nothing wrong with carrying a single action revolver. By the way nice looking revolvers you have there!
Thanks. I have yet to feel out gunned when carrying a single action revolver.
Since I have a progressive terminal illness, I just carry whatever I want. One advantage of a death sentence is freedom to live without worrying about losing a gunfight. I carry the single action because I like it better than my Glock. I’m very fast with it. One time someone was trying to break into my property. I surprised them with a flashlight in one hand and a cocked single action in the other. I told him to leave while I let him. He took off without asking what gun it was. And if he’d gotten curious and stuck around I’m sure he wouldn’t have been able to tell the difference.
Sorry to hear about the illness. Go ahead carry the single action. If six big rounds can’t stop it, it’s probably a dragon!
Prayers for you my friend. I’ve been battling stage 4 cancer since Oct 2022. Finished my 34th round of chemo last week. Blessing is I’m still here and actually back to work but it’s not the same. I did it to keep the awesome insurance my company has that I’ve been with the last 12 yrs. My disease has kinda stopped growing but it’s still there. 25 yrs of LE, I cut my teeth on revolvers as that was the issued firearm of the time (SW mod 65s and 66s). I earned the high shooter award in my academy with a mod 65 and served me well until I latched on to a SW 25-5 in 45 Long Colt. I loved that gun. It gave birth to me loving mostly anything that began with a 4 in the caliber. I have a single action Cimarron in 357 that I would feel just as comfortable with carrying for defense purposes because my motto has always been shot placement, not spray and pray. That motto has served me well over the years, as had many officers I worked with. Auto or revolver, single or dbl action, your objective is to hit the target (paper or meat) and stop the threat. Unless it was something like the famous Miami Dade shootout, or the LAPD one back in the day, most officers knew and planned where that lead slug was going to go before pulling the trigger. Again I pray for your health and Gods miraculous healing if it be his will. These diseases are unrelenting but we will face them with strength and endurance until the end. 💪🙏✝️
@@OklaBoondocks God bless you, brother.
@@OklaBoondocks God bless. Courage and faith will get you to the finish line. When the body fails, spirit prevails.
I think the first rule in gun fighting is dont get into one ... lol. Yes, I love to carry a single action as much as possible. Blackhawk flattop 44 spl. 4.75" w/ hardcast Keith.
I love the .44 Special! Along with the flattop Blackhawk!
Good Vid. I carry a Ruger Black Hawk in 45Colt. I can't find a concealed holster for it so I wear a long vest.
I use the Bianchi Lawman. It’s rides pretty high, but not really concealable. Ok in the enter.
Mernickle is what I use. Works great!
Love an old 44 special, hard hitting ball.
I’d love to open carry but it’s not practical where I live. But I do strong side my S&W 66-2 snub OWB daily, it conceals very nicely
That my favorite SA revolver ! 357 & 44 sp
Agree 100% - greetings from South Africa
Thank you. Greetings right back at you!
I have a GP100 that I use like a single action. I picked it because it's mass makes .357 controllable for me. I have been shooting for a while now and find I vastly prefer single actions. Whatever I choose for carry will be a Ruger revolver because I like the safety the transfer bar provides.
I agree with you there. I carry a Ruger revolver more than any other handgun.
Okay ... I think you've explained that about as good as I've ever heard it. I commonly carry a 3.5 inch Ruger Vaquero Birdshead chambered in .45 ACP for my EDC. I use cheap 1911 mags as speedloaders (old SASS competitor showed me that trick, works great, cuts reload time down by over half what it would normally take and carrying additional ammunition an absolute breeze). Love the thing, reliable, accurate, etc, etc. Is it my Zombie Apocalypse or venturing into hostile gang territory choice? Assuredly not.
I own Glocks and Sigs that would be my choice for such an event. But, where I live and my daily habits and places I commonly go ... my Ruger Single Action is a very viable option. Requires a bit different type of and a little more training that a more modern firearm would require, but that's the beauty of it. Just like shooting with iron sites as compared to using a scope or Red Dot ... it's an old art form that's worth the time and effort. And pardon me .... but the single actions are just so much more darn sexy looking. ;)
Thanks for watching. I’ve heard about guys using 1911 mags to load their 45 acp single actions. I’ve never tried it. Glad it works so well.
I carry the same gun in .45 Colt but I put a bisley hammer on it, in a pancake holster.
Someone asked me about what gun I'd carry, i said single action revolver. They asked how do you conceal carry a revolver and i responded with "Who said anything about concealed? "
I like your style.
I carry a uberti 1860 army Stub nose with a gated 44-40 conversion cylinder, I carry in the belt on the hip. You can't see it print. Thats for around the house, when I go in to the city I carry my FN FNX.45 15 shot .45 automatic. I don't believe you have to calculate a "fire fight" situation in a self defense on the street incidence where you have to defend yourself from an assailant, single action is fine. Remember, I have over 54 years of self defence training with the empty hand and weapons of the martial arts to the .45 auto and beyond, I have surveyed every major city in the US coast to coast border to border, I have walked the streets of these cities day and night, no matter the demographic of the neighborhoods. I have been accosted, but never mugged, I have carried all kinds of defensive weapons, I've had concealed carry since 1972 but in all the incidents I have encountered I have not had to pull my gun a dozen times or so and I only had to shoot once(not counting when I was a body guard). Carry what you like, but carry on the body with max access to your gun, in the pocket is ok around the house or at work but not for the street. You don't have to "quick draw" but you do have to be observant and able to read your situation and be prepared, if you think you might need your gun you had best have it in your hand before the encounter begins, you don't show your gun until its discharge if necessary. I carry a money clip with less that $20 in it. I've tossed it to an assailant and told them that what I got, if they press the matter I give them hell. If a knife comes out I just beat them severely, heck, I even stuck 3 assailants in the butt with their own knife. Up until I retired I carried a matte nickel Colt series 70 and an ithica model 37 rapid fire pump 12 gauge with a 20" barrel and standard stock. Now I carry a FN FNX .45 15 round .45 acp, 2 spare mags and a Remington V3 TAC 13(look it up, you'll like it) 12 gauge auto pistol when I go to the "jungle", yes, I do wear non elastic suspenders to hold up the .45, mags and my fixed blade hnife(case 3316-5).
A very important skill to develop is "predator recognition".
Thanks for commenting. It’s great to hear from guys with actual ‘field’ experience.
I have always trained with a single action revolver. Ever since I turned 21, I carried, trained with, and shot a 3rd gen SAA in .45 Colt.
When I moved back to Maine, I had to give the colt back to its owner. So I bought an Uberti El Patron in .45 Colt. It was almost the exact same as the 3rd gen colt in feeling and handling.
I have about 6 years of collective training with these and almost 3000 rounds through the two guns. I am quicker, more accurate and slightly faster on follow up shots than some of my friends using semi auto pistols (though admittedly not by much. Maybe 0.06 seconds faster.)
Long story short: I can carry my uberti with pride and confidence better than I can any of my semi autos.
Thanks for watching and commenting. I'm glad you like the Uberti so much. I have a 2nd gen Colt but never seem to get it out of the safe. I think if I had an Uberti I'd actually carry it.
@@FlyingKSports My Uberti is definitely a source of pride for me. It may not be as impressive as an actual Colt SAA, and may not have the iconic 4 stage hammer. But it is a lot safer with it's free floating firing pin, and it is quite accurate.
Plus, whenever I wear it out, I get asked about it a lot. Mostly just complimenting it. So it's a plus for style points
@@williamthehuntsman my son has an Uberti. Maybe it’s time I get one too.
I have carried a 4 5/8" Blackhawk 45LC for years. It fits my hand. Been shooting SA wheel guns for 50+ years. Their operation is second nature to me. I have used Ruger Blackhawks for Long range Sillhouettes, Bullseye competition, and CAS. Own a few DA Smiths, Colts and Rugers. 99% of the time, I manually cock the hammer and shoot SA. The Smiths and older Colt DA revolvers are easily modified to shoot SA only. I am the fastest of the fast, and I NEVER miss my intended target.
Basic rule of revolver shooting.......If you have time to come to eye level and use the sights, you have more than enough time to thumb cock the hammer.
Good points, thank you for your thoughts. Elmer Keith is The Man!
btw, I stumbled upon one of your YT 'Shorts', and now I know about the 1903 Springfield "Not a Safety!" feature. And your channel name is reminds me of the USAF recreational facility "Flying K" near Marble Falls, TX from the 1970s (it's been gone awhile)
Great times there as a kid. So, subscribed.
Thanks for stopping by. I stole the Flying K from Gene Autry. He used the Flying A.
I read most of Elmer Keith’s books when I was younger. He’s probably my biggest influence in shooting and reloading.
I carry a Single Action revolver everyday in a good Cowboy quick draw holster on my belt . I open carry mine in the same position as this Man does . Mine is a Colt Single Action Army 45 . My Wife carries a Double Actual snubnose 357 magnum in a nice holster with a hammer thong that I added as a safety measure in case the holster strap is not in place no one that doesn’t know about the hammer thong can just pull her gun out.
Sounds like a really nice set up.
Aside from cost the best of both worlds might be a Schofield. Can even use N frame speed loaders.
Would love to have you go into more detail on tour technique for topping up a Colt pattern revolver.
The Schofield is so big and heavy, I'm not sure I'd want to pack it around for very long.
@@FlyingKSports Perhaps. Looking at Taylors specs the 3.5 inch barrel version is only 8oz heavier than their 3.5 inch SAA. I certainly would enjoy giving it a try. 😇
Really good video, my friend!
Thank you very much
I use a Springfield xdm Elite. 15 rounds is great, except that I’m not carrying it cocked. So now I need 2 hands to be ready to fire. I can’t imagine carrying a round in the chamber, but worry that most self defense situations could require one handed deployment. Single action with six rounds may be the way to go.
The answer to the why is cool factor alone.
Old School Cool.
That is genuinely a factor, lol. I’m thinking about getting an old single-action as my open carry BUG due in large part to how cool they are.
@@Sanguivore Go with a big bore revolver and don't look back
I have a .357 Magnum Uberti with a Bird’s Head grip and a 3 1/2” barrel. It conceals quite nicely, and it’s my go to carry gun. It has a retractable firing pin and can safely be carried with 6 rounds. The vast majority of defensive handgun uses are ones where simply displaying the gun scares off the attacker. In cases where the gun is actually fired, well over 90% end with 2-3 shots being fired, and in cases where more rounds are fired, the shooter is mag-dumping out of fear and doesn’t need that many shots. People love to prepare for a “worst case scenario” of getting jumped by half a dozen highly trained ninjas who would rather die than run away while trying to mug someone for $20, and the odds of that scenario happening are about the same as getting struck by lightning with a winning powerball ticket in your hand. And if you do find yourself facing multiple determined attackers, you’re probably going to wind up dead no matter how many rounds you have on you.
I say all that to say that six rounds is all you need in a self defense weapon. Reloading under stress basically never happens in civilian self defense shootings. And slow reload times are basically the only “disadvantage” a single action revolver has over a DA with a swing out cylinder, or a semiautomatic with a magazine capacity designed for going off to war.
The three most common calibers for single actions are .357 mag, .44 mag, and .45 Colt, all of which are excellent choices for self defense (though I’d probably download the.44 mag to .44 special unless I was in bear country.). And a proficient, practiced shooter can get off six aimed shots very quickly. Just watch CZcams videos of cowboy action shooters to see what I’m talking about. Finally, single actions are more reliable than semiautos. I took the shooting test for my CHL with a single action revolver. There were probably like 20 people in the class, and there were only like 3 or 4 of us to make it all the way through without the gun jamming at least once. I’ll take a gun that will go bang six times in a row over a gun with 2-3 times the capacity that is more likely to jam.
A six shot revolver is all you actually need for self defense. The need for high capacity 9mm handguns was driven by police and military situations, where you go looking for trouble and deliberately insert yourself into as much of it as you can find. Trouble the police encounter, and trouble regular joes not looking for trouble encounter are two different situations.
While I guess there’s nothing wrong with carrying a pistol with 15-20 rounds, it’s strictly a psychological benefit, not a necessity. There’s simply no good reason why a six round single action revolver would be insufficient as a self defense gun. It’s a better choice than smaller semiautomatics like a .25 ACP or .32 ACP with higher capacity.
Agreed!
Being a handloader if you need magnum power the best less than a rifle is a revolver. Single action can encourage you to look for cover, a better solution than blasting your way like depicted in movies.
The single action forces you to pick your target. No way you can spray and pray.
My favorite carry is Ruger vaquero in 45 colt!
DA has very stiff triggers sometimes, causing the shooter to easily twitch while squeezing the trigger and miss the target
Some people have a hard time shooting double action. Strong hands and wrists help.
SAA, one with the trigger block/transfer bar so you can carry 6, is an excellent carry. 45 long colt. Hitting power, not too much over penetration. Self defense situation, you want to be accurate and make'em count. If u just start slinging lead every where, you may accidentally hit a mom out with her kids. I'd rather be shot myself, than that ever happening.
Better to take measure, and having a round that only takes one to stop a man, is better in my opinion. And if its a gang? Well, you are probably screwed, even if u have 15+. However, one guy sees his friend take a 45lc to the head, he's probably out of there.
So, what do I carry? Nothing, I am a Texan exiled to live in SoCal 😎. But if I could? Glock 17🙄. Because I have extensive training and experience with them👍👌. But on special days, SAA. And a small Glock in the sock.
Living in SoCal, a revolver might soon be your only choice.
or a sling sot. @@FlyingKSports
I like the SA revolver as much as anyone, but I wouldn't carry one as a self-defense gun, it makes no sense to carry a SA, I live on a farm so I would have no problem carrying a SA here, but I would not do it in other places.
Some people like the big powerful rounds you can fire from a single action over the the higher number of rounds you can fire from an automatic.
I carry my ruger bisley super Blackhawk .44 mag. 5.5 inch barrel. I make my own holsters from kydex. Sight picture is perfect and i just find i am crazy accurate with it. Use what you're good with should be the bottom line.
You made every point that could've possibly been made as to why carrying a single action is not a bad idea.
I had a 51/2” Super Blackhawk in .44 magnum. Sold it. Now I wish I had it.
@@FlyingKSports I came into a little bit of money so as of lately I'm acquiring more rugers. The entire redhawk lineup and gp100 or security six series are fantastic.
But there's just something unique about a good Blackhawk. I have severe nerve damage from my time in the Marines and a revolver is the most comfortable for me to use.
My dad had a Blackhawk in nearly every caliber and barrel length. I guess I'm trying to catch up to my old man.
@@russellskalla6658 I go back and forth with the Blackhawk and Bisley grip as to which one I prefer. I like them both.
Revolvers force you to slow down and take your shots because you only have 5 or 6. Good practice for anybody really.
Actually aiming sounds like a good practice.
I love John
Love you too, man!
Nicely done sir, thank you. My only disagreement: The first rule of a gunfight is don't get hit.
By the way, there is a reason I own six SAR. I sometimes carry a Schofield in a crossdraw. Your discussion makes logical sense.
Also, have smarty pants people tell me that a 9mm is better than a 45 Colt.
First rule of any fight is to not get hit. From punches to ICBMs.
@@LUVDOGS1954 Thank you very much
@@LUVDOGS1954 9mm may be high in numbers, but low on the power scale.
I like single actions because they're rough, raw and rugged out in the mountains... 🤔
When glock makes a 45 colt model... I shot an axis doe with a cowboy load and it jellied both lungs, never seen that with any other round
If you want a big heavy hunting round, then you are looking at revolvers.
@@FlyingKSportswe have exotics running free around here so we get 40 yard shots pretty regular so 45 colt is plenty
@@gumecindogarcia1070 sounds like my kind of hunting.
i carry a single action uberti
Seems like a fine choice to me.
Just another thought. If you are carrying a backup you probably don't need to worry about reload speed.
It’s faster to draw your backup than it is to reload your primary.
I want a blackhawk convertible. I have a sass pro 1873. I open carry it in bear country. I have did some single action shooting and have the trophies to prove it.
I think the Ruger Blackhawk convertible in 45 Colt and 45acp would be a great woods/hunting gun.
My blackhawk is my mountain gun.
My edc is 45 acp. 357 in my opinion is just too hot for personal protection in an environment where there are innocent bystanders.
Most people don’t need the penetration of the .357 magnum.
@@FlyingKSports absolutely right. A black bear or cougar yes.
Iraqi war vet told me he carries a 22 loaded with cci stingers.
I think that wouldn't be a bad choice especially for the ladies.
What do you think?
@@Dont.Tread.On.Me1974 Funny you say that! Just this last week two different people I know have switched to .22s for their carry guns. One guy told me he chose the .22 because that’s what mafia hit men use.
@@FlyingKSports how ironic. Must be something to it
I carry my Uberti Wyatt Earp buntline every day inside my overalls. I think SAA revolvers were the original intent of overalls. Personally I have never given a thought to zombies but I am sure lots of guys justify dumb gun purchases to their wives with zombie stories
A Buntline! How are you able to walk without a limp?
@@FlyingKSports try it and see, if your over 5-5
Why not a sheriff's model Colt clone in .357 mag or .44 special?
I like the Ruger because of the transfer bar safety and I can load all 6 chambers. Colts and clones are 5 shot affairs.
So how do you conceal it? That’s a very bulky setup with that holster.
With a full size revolver like that you just open carry or cover with a coat.
@@FlyingKSports so you are limited to when and where you can carry it. In many states the firearm has to be concealed. And the hotter months a coat is impractical.
@@americanpatriot477 you're absolutely right. When I carry, its open carry.
yeah lets not get crazy here... it's a handgun. It fires six shots of most likely great ammo for what you need and it is super reliable. I grew up on revolvers and yes... I realize that 6 shots might not be enough for those common home invasions where 20 or so armed veterans will storm in from every door and window in the house. I will take my chances. I own a lot of handguns and I shoot them all pretty competently after half a century of burning countless kegs of powder and tons of lead. sooo... it is not that I don't have options.My 1873 Colt clone is 4 3/4" barrel with my 44 spl load of a 250 grain cast and coated slug at around 800 fps. Pretty much a 45 Colt power level. it is my nightstand gun. my thinking is that when a bad thing happens it will be really really dark and even if it were not i would not have the time or alertness to find and line up sights but.. it will be dark. So... a mispent youth and on into middle age.... zillions of rounds... hip shooting at 15' say or less is pretty easy. I like to shoot full sodas. Sodas fear me. point shooting at longer ranges and sights for anything smaller than say a five gallon bucket. But the key to point shooting is ... well... pointing. and that your finger and the barrel of the gun are pointing at the same things The old Colts and clones just do that as a matter of course.... a lot of guns will not. Seen a guy who wit lots and lots of practice could do it fairly well with a glock but then... after that he couldn't hit anything with any other handgun except maybe a Luger... point shooting is maybe also eye level but no time to line everything up. For me that means just putting the front sight where it would be nice if the bullet went there and pulling the trigger. Handguns are difficult to master for most. I teach new people pretty often. I like to set out some sodas 10-15' out for em and other than safety stuff... I just tell em to line up the front sight... We can work out the rest later but... shooting is not fun if you don't hit anything. When they see a few of those sodas explode? LOL... You never seen such big grins. Lots of fun for me too... sometimes I don't even get to shoot much that day.
I’m thinking about buying that new Ruger super Wrangler since it seems to be the best option in that price range. I have a Walther ppks in 22, a M&p shield plus in 9, and a 12 guage semi automatic shotgun right now but I don’t want to leave any of those loaded all the time and wear the spring’s out. I figure the super wrangler is cheap, I can leave it loaded with 22 mag, it’s safer to leave loaded than most of my others, and I want something that I’ll be able to shoot affordably since I’ve never shot a single action. I think, in combination with my others, It’ll accomplish what I need it to. It may also be worth mentioning that I have some range training with a former MARSOC raider, so my shot placement is pretty good. What do you think? Is it worth it?
Couple of things:
1. You can keep the Wrangler loaded at all times with no worries about wearing any spring out.
2. Ruger makes a nice little single action revolver, I really like them.
3. You can leave your M&P Shield and your 12ga. auto loaded at all times too. Springs do not wear out from being compressed, They wear out from being worked. Magazine left loaded for years can function just fine.
I love my Ruger Wrangler. Without a doubt my favorite gun to shoot. I find it much more natural to aim than a semi auto handgun. I can consistently hit cans at 25 yards - and I'm not that practiced. I can barely hit cans at 15 yards with my 9mm. Just my experience.
@@nathanielotto258 if I’m really concerned about accuracy, I’ll shoot my Ruger Blackhawk. It’s accurate enough to hunt with.
Cowboys didn’t use quick draw holsters either. When you’re riding horses and moving around in the real world, you can’t be losing your gun.
One thing, not all single actions can carry a full six. People need to know that. If you’ve got an old type action, with the firing pin on the hammer, you can only carry 5, and let the hammer lie on an empty cylinder.
That's great advice. Thanks.
Rick Grimes did very well against hordes of zombies with only a revolver. Not everyone is efficient with firearms .
Rick Grimes had a Colt Python! That’s still my dream gun!
@@FlyingKSports I have had mine for many years. Never needed anything else but collect others anyway.
@@spiritualawakenings6251 once I get a Python I’ll still want others too. It never ends.
Its pronounced, Bee- on - Key
Just like it sounds.
Ur RELOAD Time Will Be
VERY SLOW & Ur CAP
Will Be VERY LOW...
Slow to load. Limited capacity. However, big bore power and devastation.
Dumb.
Way better than no gun at all.
You're talking about carrying a single action like if your desperate you can. I have a black hawk .357 and carry it everyday. I love it and wouldn't change it.
It’s certainly better than not carrying, but there are better options.
@FlyingKSports not in my eyes, I'm not trading for a gun to powerful to handle, I'm not trading for anything to small like a nine. And I'd you need more than six you shouldn't have a gun.
@@ThadBrown-sc8nk fair enough!