Pietta Prospector .44 Magnum SA revolver

[dukw]

I am planning on getting involved in Cowboy Action Shooting, and have the opportunity to purchase a Pietta Prospector in .44 Magnum (I reload .44 Special). I have read the rulebook, but still not sure if it meets the requirements for SASS competition. The adjustable rear sight lookd quite a bit different than a Colt SAA. i already have a Marlin 1894 .44 Magnum lever action rifle.

[Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971]

The Pietta Prospector looks much like a Ruger Blackhawk, a revolver legal for SASS age-based categories.  I leave it to PWB to rule on the Pietta legality.  44 Mags, 44 Specials and 44 Russians are all legal for SASS competition.  BTW, you don't have to shoot the same caliber in both your rifle and your revolvers.  You would be more competitive shooting 38 Special revolvers and save on reloading costs too.

 

Added comments:  I shoot a pair of Ruger Blackhawks with the same barrel length as the revolver pictured in PWB's post.  I had to buy a set of drop holsters for them.  Otherwise, I had to raise my hands almost to my armpits before the muzzles would clear the holsters.  There is nothing wrong with this.  Just keep it in mind when selecting holsters for these revolvers.

 

I too have a Marlin 1894 chambered in 44 mag.  It feeds both 44 Special and 44 mag rounds reliably.  However, the 44 mags feed smoother so that is what I shoot in that rifle.  Once-fired 44 mag cases are available, so I don't mind losing a few cases every match.

Edited December 9, 2025 by Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971
two added comments

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

Buy NOTHING until you have attended a few shoots 

[PaleWolf Brunelle, #2495L]

According to various on-line descriptions, it is a copy of a 1970's Ruger Super Blackhawk.

LEGAL in all categories that allow adjustable-sighted revolvers.

 

 

[Slow Poke]

What category are you planning on shooting? That would be the deciding factor i believe. Some categorys dont allow adjustable sights on pistols.

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

It'll be nice to have a full battery in the same caliber.   Will the Marlin run .44 Specials without any problems?  I know for a fact that certain Winchester 92 or copies thereof, find the shorter round to be problematic.  (Others will tell you they have no trouble, so your milage may vary.)   Anyway, if you Marlin runs Specials all right, then by all means use them.   But it is also very easy to load .44 Magnums no hotter than a Special.  Which is a good idea in our game!

If the price is right on that pistol, I would not hesitate to obtain it, but keep in mind that adjustable sights are not allowed in all categories.   You will need two pistols, and while many people like to shoot a "matched pair" that is not a requirement.   

As far as .44 Special itself goes, finding guns chambered for it can be difficult.  It's actually easier to find Magnums, but if you are patient, and keep looking, you will find revolvers in both calibers.  Rifles, well, I've seen a lot in .44 Magnum over the years, and you already have one, so that's good.   But in all the years I've been doing this, I've only ever seen 1 rifle, a 73 copy, in .44 Special.  (I shoulda bought it.)
 

For .44 Magnum revolvers, Uberti made (may still make) a slightly scaled up version of the Colt in the caliber, with either fixed or adjustable sights.  These are fairly easy to locate.  There are also some "classic" used guns in the caliber, such as the original Great Western, the Interarms Dragoon to name two.

Good luck, and above all, have fun.

[Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933]

You need two revolvers. Most people use matching revolvers.  Where would you find a second one of these?

[Creeker, SASS #43022]

45 minutes ago, Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933 said:

You need two revolvers. Most people use matching revolvers.  Where would you find a second one of these?

Davidsons, Midway, Palmetto - all have them in stock.

[Nimble Fingers SASS# 25439]

Just a suggestion from a fellow cowboy who started with ,44 mag pistol and rifle to pair with my Colt New Frontier in .44 spcl. I looked up your new pistol and swing a price of $1,100 makes me think that you should look into used Ruger Vaqueros and Blackhawks on Gunbroker for a lot less usually half. Just a suggestion. 

[Rooster Ron Wayne]

I have been shooting 44 special revolvers and rifle from day one of coming into SASS.

If you look around. 

You can find about anything you want in 44 special. 

I have rugers & Ubertis  in 44 special. 

Rossi , Winchester & Marlins in 44 magnum. 

There seems to alway be one available because my guys want to shoot the 38's do to the cost savings. 

Rooster 

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

There are a couple if used Uberties in .44 Magnum on Gunbroker for less than $500 at the moment.

[Crazy Gun Barney, SASS #2428]

You most certainly dont have to have a set of matching pistols, and you dont need sixguns and rifle to be the same caliber.  I shoot mixed guns when I feel like it.  Different calibers, different guns.  My "regular" set of sixguns are same caliber and make but different barrel lengths.

 

The main thing when using different calibers is making sure to not confuse things at the loading table.  I can say from embarassed experience that 44mag cowboy loads will fire (and hit steel) from a 45 Colt (old model ruger vaquero).  It does tend to give the brass a funny reverse neck.  But if you load 45colt into a 44mag rifle, the shells may end up in the tube mag without issue, but it is going to jam on the line when you try to chamber that first shot.   I've been known to, and I have seen others color the heads of the brass with different color Sharpie pens, just as one last quick visual check.  If you are shooting 32's and 45's, probably not have an issue.  But 44 and 45, or even 38 and 357, it is a good idea to plan how to make sure things get loaded correctly.

 

Just my 2 cents.... and since pennies are obsolete, my 2 cents probably round down to zero.

[Jackson Haller]

On 12/6/2025 at 1:28 PM, dukw said:

I am planning on getting involved in Cowboy Action Shooting, and have the opportunity to purchase a Pietta Prospector in .44 Magnum (I reload .44 Special). I have read the rulebook, but still not sure if it meets the requirements for SASS competition. The adjustable rear sight lookd quite a bit different than a Colt SAA. i already have a Marlin 1894 .44 Magnum lever action rifle.

 I looked at one in person awhile  back; interesting gun, but it did seem to have a too small grip on it.  I think Pietta used a colt navy sized grip when they should have used the larger 1860 army sized one in my opinion, especially if one ever wanted to shoot a real 44 mag out of it.

 Try one in your hand first, if possible, before purchasing it.

 If you decide to look for some Ruger Vaqueros in 44 mag, I've got two 7 1/2 inch barrel ones I've been thinking of posting for sale; keep your eye on the classifieds here!

 

Edited December 9, 2025 by Jackson Haller

[Mossy Horn Gent]

Does anyone know if it has a Ruger or 1873 type hammer spring?

[Creeker, SASS #43022]

On 12/7/2025 at 7:37 PM, Nimble Fingers SASS# 25439 said:

I looked up your new pistol and swing a price of $1,100 makes me think that you should look into used Ruger Vaqueros and Blackhawks on Gunbroker for a lot less usually half. Just a suggestion. 

They are $499 on Palmetto.

Hard to beat that for a brand new pistol.

[Nimble Fingers SASS# 25439]

Absolutely!!  Brand new pistols at $599 I’m .44 mag/spcl is hard to beet. I thought Hertage also made a big frame revolver in .44mag for around that price as well.