Cimarron Model P

The Cimarron Model P is the most faithful reproduction of the Colt 1873 Single Action Army in production—built by Uberti in Italy to Cimarron’s historical specifications with forged steel components, authentic color case-hardened frame, and a hand-fitted action that matches the feel of original Colt production. Available in .357 Magnum/.38 Special, .44 Magnum/.44 Special, .44-40 Winchester, .45 Colt, and .45 ACP, with barrel lengths of 4.75”, 5.5”, and 7.5”, the Model P is the revolver of choice for serious cowboy action shooters and the most popular Cimarron model by volume.

Read our full Cimarron Model P Buying Guide ↓

Model P vs. Model P Jr.: The Caliber Split

The standard Model P covers centerfire calibers from .357 Magnum through .45 Colt. The Model P Jr. is a smaller-frame version chambered in .22 LR and .32-20 that uses a reduced-size frame proportional to those smaller cartridges rather than the full SAA frame scaled down. For buyers who want a rimfire or small-caliber SAA for practice or youth shooting, the Model P Jr. is the historically proportionate choice. For all centerfire applications, the standard Model P is the correct platform.

Choosing Your Caliber

.357 Magnum is the most practical cowboy action choice—also accepts .38 Special for economical practice, widely available, and legal in all SASS divisions. .45 Colt is the most historically authentic cartridge for SAA competition and the traditional Cimarron choice for purists. .44-40 Winchester is the cartridge that matches Cimarron’s 1873 lever-action rifles, creating an authentic period rifle-and-revolver combination used in SASS. .45 ACP with moon clips is available for buyers who prefer semi-rimmed cartridges or who want to share ammunition with a 1911. For most first-time cowboy action buyers, .357 Magnum in 4.75” is the most versatile starting configuration.

Pre-War vs. Standard vs. El Malo Configurations

The standard Model P uses period-correct fixed sights and traditional finish. The Pre-War configuration matches the specific dimensional details of Colt production from the 1896–1940 period, including the octagon-to-round barrel profile and specific frame stampings preferred by pre-war-category SASS competitors. The El Malo variant uses a matte blue finish and simplified construction for buyers who want the SAA action at a lower entry price. For competition use at SASS matches, the standard Model P or Pre-War is the appropriate choice; the El Malo for casual range use and introductory cowboy shooting.

Action Quality and Competition Tuning

The Model P’s factory action is already smoother than most competing SAA imports at similar prices. For competitive cowboy action use, many shooters have a light action job performed by a SASS-experienced gunsmith to reduce trigger pull weight and smooth the cylinder rotation. Cimarron also offers factory-tuned competition variants. The Model P’s internal geometry is compatible with standard Colt SAA aftermarket parts, giving it a wide support base for competitive tuning.

See the 1847 Walker black powder/conversion variant on the Cimarron 1847 Walker page, browse the full Cimarron lineup, or explore cowboy action shooting firearms.