I’ve always wanted a Single Action Army revolver in .45 Long Colt, but I’d lose my appetite whenever I looked at the prices of SAA clones online. Now, thanks to Taurus’ new Deputy line of very budget-friendly SAA revolvers, I might just get that itch scratched at last.
I’ve spent several months and 360 rounds of .45 LC testing an affordable Deputy sporting a 4.75-inch barrel. Here’s how it went.
Quick Summary: Taurus’ Deputy is a value win for those looking to add a Single Action Army revolver to their collection at a fraction of the cost. It’s reliable, balanced, and the transfer-bar safety even makes it carriable.
Table of Contents
First Impressions
Features
Specifications
Reliability & Accuracy
Pros & Cons
Final Thoughts
First Impressions
This was one of the few guns I was truly excited to grab from my local FFL when it arrived. Despite all the semi-auto pistols and tactical rifles I get to test every year, I’ve always had my eye on a classic Single Action Army. The platform is outdated, but it’s also classy and fun.
Alas, the cost for most full-power SAAs has remained well out of my budget.
I’ve had to satisfy my cravings for cowboy-style, single-action shooting with rimfire options like the extra-budget Rough Rider revolvers in .22 LR from Heritage, itself a subsidiary of Taurus. Yet, plinking calibers don’t quite capture the cool factor and fun that come with a “big iron” Single Action Army in .45 Long Colt.
When I took this Deputy out of the box, I was pleasantly surprised by the well-balanced weight and overall looks. The grips are checkered polymer and easy to replace, but the rest of the gun has a nice, deep satin black finish. The hammer and trigger felt crisp, and the cylinder had a rock-solid lockup.
Sure, I would prefer some of the gorgeous color-case-hardened affairs from the likes of Colt, but not at more than six times the cost. I wanted a gun I could shoot without worry and happily share with others at the range. At a glance, this seemed like it might be exactly that.
Features
Taurus is one of the kings of affordable firearms, but don’t let the company’s low-cost guns fool you. We’ve toured one of Taurus’ new factories in Southwest Georgia, and they have made some big moves to provide quality guns at budget-friendly prices.
The Deputy is a single-action-only clone of the classic Single Action Army with a medium-sized frame and a four-click hammer. That four-click hammer is a nice touch that mirrors the original, but Taurus didn’t make the Deputy as a pure clone. It upgraded it for modern safety considerations.
Perhaps the most significant change from the original SAA is the addition of a transfer-bar safety, which moves a metal arm up when the trigger is pulled. This places the bar in just the right spot to transfer the hammer’s energy to the firing pin. The hammer simply can’t reach the firing pin without it.
Normally, Single Action Army revolvers have no such safety, and the hammer can strike the firing pin to discharge a round without a trigger pull. That is why it was common to carry these six-shot revolvers with one empty chamber under the hammer.
Taurus solved this issue with the transfer bar, making it safe to carry the Deputy with all six chambers loaded.
I opted for a model sporting a 4.75-inch barrel, though we’ve recently had the 5.5-inch version out on the range for testing, too. I’m partial to the shorty. I also picked a model chambered for .45 Long Colt (or just .45 Colt), since it’s a classic caliber that matches the gun’s history.
Those looking to pair the Deputy with a preferred .357 Mag hunting rifle will be happy to know Taurus makes a version for that chambering as well.
Loading is done through the loading gate on the right side. There’s a spring-loaded plunger under the barrel for manually ejecting spent shells. The process is slick and enjoyable, but it is not fast.
The plowshare grips are polymer. The checking is nice and positive in my hand, but the polymer grips are my biggest complaint overall. They just lack that… class. You can replace these with Cocobolo wood or any number of options as desired. Several grip makers offer aftermarket options for the Deputy.
The finish is deep satin black, and it is shiny enough to check your teeth. It survived my testing without any notable wear.
Specifications
Here’s a quick breakdown of the basic specs for the Taurus Deputy with a 4.75-inch barrel.
Weight: 2.27 pounds
Frame Size: Medium
Length: 10.25 inches
Barrel Length: 4.75 inches
Sight Radius: 5.62 inches
Height: 5.11 inches
Width (Cylinder): 1.65 inches
Caliber: .45 Long Colt/.45 Colt (also available in .357 Mag)
Capacity: 6 rounds
Safety: Transfer bar
Grooves: 6
Twist Rate: 1:16.5 RH
Finish: Polished, satin black
Frame Material: Steel
Cylinder Material: Alloy steel
Barrel Material: Alloy steel
Trigger Pull: 5.29 pounds
Reliability & Accuracy
I can’t say that I shot this gun remarkably well right out of the gate. Single-action-only revolvers take some practice. There’s almost more of a feeling to shooting it well than a sense of aiming.
The plowshare grip shape locks the gun into your hand while still allowing it to rock back with the recoil. It’s also well designed for quickly shifting the gun in your hand when cocking the hammer for your next shot.
Even in .45 Long Colt, the recoil on this Deputy is quite controllable. In fact, I’d call it enjoyable. There is something about ripping off shots of .45 Long Colt with an Old West shooter like this. The recoil is part of the joy.
As for accuracy, the sights are basic, but the gun can handle itself at moderate ranges even in my relatively inexperienced hands.
Here’s what I got at 7 yards with my first shots after picking up the gun.
After some practice, here’s what I got for my slow and rapid-fire shooting at the same distance.
Reliability proved to be 100 percent solid for my 360 rounds of various types of ammo. The gun remains nice and tight.
There is something very relaxing about loading and unloading an SAA revolver on the range. Most of my range trips feel pressed for time, and I tend to plow through several semi-auto guns with preloaded magazines just to get my work done.
The single-action Deputy really slowed me down, and it made my range trips all the more enjoyable for it.
Pros & Cons
Here’s my short list of the pros and cons for the 4.75-inch Taurus Deputy:
Pros:
- Very reliable
- Great looks and feel for the money
- Well-made
- Accurate, if you do your part
- Four-click hammer
- Transfer-bar safety makes it safe to carry
- Can safely carry six (instead of five) rounds
- Classic, historic design
- Loads of fun on the range
- Affordably priced
Cons:
- SAA revolvers take practice
- Very simple iron sights
- Polymer grips, which are replaceable
Final Thoughts
It’s hard to grow up in America without letting the lore of the Old West and cowboys color your childhood on some level. This Deputy has me feeling a bit nostalgic. If only the younger version of me could have had some time with this revolver.
At a price that is below even other budget makers of Single Action Army revolvers, the Taurus Deputy offers quality, reliability, accuracy, and good looks. The addition of a transfer-bar safety makes this a tool you could carry into the hunting fields for self-defense as well.
All in all, the Deputy is a value win that will scratch the cowboy itch for budget-minded buyers.
