There are those who believe that anyone who gets involved in a gunfight armed only with a single-action revolver is not only hopelessly outgunned but practically unarmed. The strongest printable reply available to me in response to such thinking is “Balderdash!” At the end of the 19th century the U.S. Army returned to the single-action .45 Colt because the double-action .38 Special revolvers then in service failed to stop enemy combatants before they inflicted serious harm on our troops. Granted, that change in armament was motivated by the desire for the .45 Colt’s stopping power rather than a preference for single-action revolvers, and true, the enemy soldiers possessed large knives rather than superior firepower. The point is, the older, slower revolvers delivered the goods and did, in fact, stop adversaries.
 Many a bad guy was put away for good with the Colt Model 1873 Single Action Army. Uberti’s replica of the Peacemaker in .357 Magnum is a modern rendition with classic lines still thoroughly capable of making men equal.  With the right holster, single-action revolvers having short barrels can be easily concealed. Ted Blocker Holsters offers a crossdraw rig that holds a single action high on the belt where it can be covered by a jacket or vest, but remain easily accessible. |
I’m not arguing that single-action revolvers match all of the gunfighting advantages of double-action revolvers or semi-automatic pistols. Both of these newer-style handguns have an edge regarding rate of fire and speed of reloading. But if you’re using a single action and you can place your first shot in the torso of your assailant, you have mitigated, if not totally negated, his firepower and loading speed advantages.
Years ago, Thell Reed and other single-action shooters showed their preferred hardware was not inherently slower than newer handguns in delivering the first shot coming from leather. They acknowledged, however, that follow-up shots were slower, but that admission assumed the adversary had not been hit by the first shot. Without belaboring the generalities and getting into a round-the-woodstove debate, let’s look at some representative single actions available today that can be used effectively for self-defense.
Granddaddy of ’Em All
While there are a variety of single-action revolvers on the market today, none are as well known as the classic 1873 Colt Single Action Army. My gun safe does not house a genuine Colt single action, but I do have some of the modern replicas. The first gun is a blued Uberti with a 4 3 ⁄4-inch barrel and chambered in .357 Magnum. Except for the caliber and use of modern metallurgy, the Uberti is a pretty faithful recreation of the 19th-century revolver in terms of function and configuration. It has the same minimal fixed sights, a pivoting loading gate, an ejection rod that deals with only one case at a time and a hammer that must be cocked for each shot. I deliberately chose the .357 Magnum chambering so a discussion of the gun’s suitability for self-defense won’t get sidetracked in an argument regarding the caliber’s power. In modern studies of handgun stopping capabilities, a properly loaded .357 Magnum takes a backseat to none in terms of gunfights that have been terminated with one shot.
A big plus for single actions is they maintain the marvelous natural pointing characteristics of the original Colt, regardless of caliber or barrel length. When merged with the human hand, the single-action revolver points where the eyes look. In dim light, or any situation where the shooter has trouble seeing the vestigial sights, there is still a good possibility of hitting a man-sized target at reasonably close ranges. This is not true of many double-action revolvers and semi-automatic pistols, particularly when fired with one hand.
I will admit, I may not be totally objective on this point since I grew up in a less politically correct time and environment where kids regularly “shot” things with cap pistols shaped much like single-action revolvers. Long before I was old enough to use a real handgun without adult supervision, I was blindingly fast and incredibly deadly, or at least reasonably competent, with cap pistols. It’s possible that the natural pointing characteristics of a single action have more to do with years of familiarization during my misspent youth. But even when grasped with two hands—a shooting style I did not develop during my formative years—the classic single action seems to seek out targets without conscious effort or direction on my part.
Tactical Reloads
One drawback to the original single-action configuration is it should only be loaded with five rounds so the gun may be carried with an empty chamber under the hammer. I don’t think this is such a big deal considering that even today a large number of folks carry small-frame, five-shot, double-action revolvers for self-defense. These may be faster to reload than the old cowboy-style handguns, but the initial five-round capacity is the same for both guns, and statistics show that most self-defense situations involving gunfire are settled without a reload.
Admittedly, the small double action can shuck and reload five rounds more quickly than a single action, but perhaps that’s not really a good thing. If only five rounds are immediately available in your gun, slowing down your rate of fire and using your head instead of suppressive fire to solve your problem is probably the right approach. I’ve heard one nationally known instructor call it “thinking tactically,” an excellent idea in any high-threat situation.
Modern Single Actions
Ruger’s New Vaquero offers a couple of distinct improvements over the original Colt configuration. While maintaining the look and feel of the Old West, the New Vaquero offers larger, more rugged, fixed sights with improved visibility and a true six-shot capacity. Purists may rant and rave about suggesting any single action be carried with a round under the hammer, but the Ruger transfer-bar system eliminates the safety issue associated with such a carry mode. The New Vaquero’s hammer cannot reach the frame-mounted firing pin unless the transfer bar is moved upward between the hammer and firing pin. This only can occur when the trigger is pulled all the way back. With the trigger in its normal position, the hammer rests against the frame of the gun, so even if something strikes the hammer—like a rebounding tree branch or the ground in the event of a dropped gun—the revolver cannot fire. Granted, carrying a single action with six rounds may require some relearning on your part, but it does provide you with an additional round to defend yourself. I won’t bore you by pointing out the advantages of going from five to six rounds and gaining a 20-percent increase in firepower. The question is whether that one additional round is worth the caustic criticism and possible hate mail you might receive from some of your friends in the single-action community.
The short-barreled, stainless steel New Vaquero I tried was chambered in .45 Colt, a caliber that has been the standard of excellence in evaluating handgun cartridge stopping power for more than 125 years. This caliber has never depended on velocity or bullet expansion; it simply makes big holes in any threat. Because it performs at low velocity, there is no serious recoil or truly nasty blast pressures to disturb and disorient the shooter. If you have ever fired a high-performance handgun cartridge in an enclosed area without ear protection, you know that such an event can cause short-term paralysis. If it has that effect on the threat, it’s a good thing. If it has that effect on you, it could be fatal. I found the New Vaquero with its bigger sights and low-velocity ammo easier to use and more fun in practice sessions.
Compared to the old-style, larger Vaquero, the new model offers two distinct advantages. First, the smaller grip frame is a better fit in my hand, something that might not hold true for those with larger paws. Second, the lower, sweeping hammer on the New Vaquero is much easier to reach than the higher hammer on the old Vaquero, particularly when shooting one-handed. For defensive purposes, I didn’t give much thought to the New Vaquero’s reverse indexing that allows proper alignment of the cylinder with the ejection rod, although this is a factor that makes for much easier reloading than with post-’73 Ruger single actions. But if you haven’t resolved the threat scenario in the first six rounds, you’re probably in the kind of trouble that won’t be solved by shaving a few seconds off your reloading time.
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Big Boomers
Many shooters, including me, own single-action handguns of a more modern design. I have some large-caliber, extremely powerful hunting handguns that are equipped with either adjustable sights or scopes. While I wouldn’t recommend a scope-sighted handgun as your first choice for self-defense, certainly a big-bore hunting handgun with adjustable sights will work fine. The sights will be easier to see than the fixed blades and notches on traditional single actions, and easier to see than even the wider sights on the New Vaquero. Adjustable sights also let you dial-in the gun for your favorite defense load, and while precision accuracy isn’t always required at gun-fighting ranges, there’s the possibility you might have to hit a head-size target at 25 yards.
The noise and recoil of these hand-guns increase dramatically when using the heaviest hunting loads, but there are other choices. Reduced loads are available from ammo manufacturers, or they can be handloaded to more civilized power levels that are still more than adequate for self-defense. For example, Cor-Bon and Buffalo Bore offer loads for the .475- and .50-caliber handguns that fire bullets weighing almost 400 grains at velocities around 1,000 feet per second. While such loads are much more powerful than factory .45 Colt ammo, for any reasonably serious handgun hunter, they are easily controlled loads with which the shooter has probably had considerable practice. And if a .45-caliber bullet is a noticeable improvement over a .38 caliber, consider the enhanced penetration and stopping potential of a .50-caliber slug.
Some single-action revolvers can be ordered with extra cylinders that use more sedate ammo. Several manufacturers catering to the cowboy market offer replicas with additional cylinders, and companies catering to handgun hunters, like Freedom Arms, will fit its .454 Casull wheelguns with a .45 ACP cylinder. Whether these big bores were acquired for hunting or plinking, their owners have probably become more proficient with them than many buyers who select a handgun specifically for self-defense. They purchase their handguns for recreational use and then devote range time to perfecting their skills on a recurring basis. Cowboy shooters in particular, even if they are more into the social rather than shooting aspect of their hobby, still shoot matches, and practicing to hit targets is the basis of becoming a proficient shooter. This is not always the case with defense-minded handgun buyers. While they may select a more appropriate handgun, actual use is limited to pocket carry and nightstand duty.
Other Designs
Two other kinds of single-action revolvers deserve mention despite the fact that they are rarely thought of for self-defense or, at best, quickly dismissed. Unique among the handguns of the Old West are the Schofield and the Smith & Wesson Russian. Although their hammers must be manually cocked to fire each round, both of these single actions are unloaded more like modern double-action revolvers. Releasing a latch at the rear of the topstrap allows the revolver barrel to be pushed downward, exposing the breech face of the cylinder. As the barrel starts to move, the extractor begins to simultaneously eject all six empty cartridges, allowing fresh rounds to be inserted directly into the exposed chambers without rotating the cylinder to align each chamber with a loading gate as you must do on the Colt replicas.
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Ammunition originally used in these single actions was .45 Schofield and .44 Russian, so the large bullet diameters negate the need for high-velocity ammo. While these two revolvers are noticeably faster to reload than the Colt or its replicas, their ergonomics can make them slower to use. Their grip shapes and short hammers make it very cumbersome to operate these handguns with one hand, plus the trigger-guard spur on the .44 Russian is a serious distraction. In a prolonged gunfight involving more than six rounds, their enhanced speed in reloading becomes an advantage, but without investing substantial range time in these guns, I would choose one of the more conventional single actions with a loading gate.
Cap n’ Ball
Finally, I must mention the Ruger Old Army blackpowder revolver. And before you snicker, consider the vast number of Americans in the Civil War and later in the Wild West who fell in a cloud of noxious smoke generated by one of the blackpowder revolvers available in the 19th century.
Having spent some time shooting and hunting with Ruger’s thoroughly modern Old Army and knowing that it can be loaded to .41 Magnum levels of performance, I have to rate this handgun as quite suitable for self- defense. Yes, it’s slower to reload than any other candidate, but it can safely hold six powerful loads and be stored ready to go with percussion caps on all nipples. Like the other single actions mentioned, it’s a cock-and-fire handgun for six relatively quick rounds, followed by some serious escape maneuvers if your threat is still standing. But if you can hit your target or targets, the Old Army will solve your problem. And other than professional shooters, who practices more diligently than blackpowder buffs?
I haven’t spent any time discussing barrel length other than mentioning the Uberti .357 Magnum and Ruger New Vaquero .45 Colt feature short, 4 3 ⁄4-inch barrels. Single actions typically come with barrels ranging from 4 3 ⁄4 to 7 1 ⁄2 inches, although there are shorter and longer barrels available. If you’re going to carry a single action for self-defense, shorter barrels are much more comfortable, particularly if you’re carrying concealed. Any velocity loss due to the reduced barrel length is immaterial; you’ll get all the power you need from a 4 3 ⁄4-inch tube. If the gun is for home-defense and will be stored in a drawer rather than carried on your person, barrel length is less of a consideration. However, you might be operating in the relatively close quarters of a house, and I think you’ll find shorter barrels easier to keep away from a grasping assailant.
As always, the same rules apply to self-defense with single actions as to any other style of firearm. Get some training, spend as much range time as possible reviewing what you learned, and practice safety at all times. If you decide you’d rather utilize a semi- automatic, by all means do so, but don’t get cocky or stupid if you encounter some dude who looks like Wild Bill Hickock brandishing a handgun that bears a remarkable resemblance to a Colt 1851 Navy. Odds are he’s not packing that particular sidearm because the Code of the West dictates he give you a sporting chance, but rather because he’s probably pretty good with it.
Single-Action Action |
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My first handgun was a single action—a Colt New Frontier .22 LR/.22 WMR convertible—and it has traveled countless miles with me on backpacking, hunting and fishing trips. Not all self-defense scenarios are gritty shoot-’em-outs. That little Colt has decided several questions of territorial passage between rattlesnakes and me. Now I am not one of those who shoots every snake that crosses my path, but I don’t care to share camp with them on an intimate basis either.
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