HISTORY
Colt’s Single Action Army revolver was adopted by the U.S. Army in 1873 and became the standard for U.S. cavalry and infantry, as well as lawmen and outlaws.
Weihrauch is a leading German manufacturer known for precision engineering since 1899. Founded to make hunting rifles, shotguns, and match .22 rifles, it was severely restricted by post-World War II limitations. By 1965, the company was manufacturing revolvers again.
European American Arms of Cocoa, Florida, is the sole importer of Weihrauch firearms to the U.S., marketing the Bounty Hunter as reliable, accurate, and powerful.
MY IMPRESSIONS
Weihrauch has set its sights on copying an American classic. When I pick up the Bounty Hunter, I feel the solid heft of a ’73 Colt. Working the action, I can feel the internal lockwork click smoothly. Each cylinder aligns properly with the barrel in turn. The hammer cocks easily, and the smooth pointability of a Peacemaker is apparent. This is a good copy of the Colt.
My sample gun is in blue with smooth walnut grips, and the barrel measures 4.5 inches. This is my idea of a cowboy revolver – compact and powerful. When I pull it from its holster, it’s a heavyweight that balances on its center point. At over 2 pounds, it is no concealed-carry wonder nine. This pistol is meant to be carried outside of your pants where everyone can see it!
Red dot sight, scope, laser, and flashlight are all missing, but they are not needed. This is a point-and-shoot revolver, and it excels at that. Cocking the hammer all the way back reveals the notch rear sight that aligns with that big blade front sight. How primitive? No – how natural it is!
Features
The Bounty Hunter is equipped with a safety transfer bar system that blocks the hammer from contacting the firing mechanism when holstered. A major benefit of this system is to allow safe carry of six cartridges in the cylinder instead of five as in the original Colt. If I accidentally drop the gun, it will not discharge a round.
I feel the Bounty Hunter has an overly heavy trigger pull – its only major flaw. The Colt has one of the nicest revolver triggers ever made. I can guess that import restrictions may limit trigger pull to something heavier than a domestically manufactured gun. Possibly, Weihrauch just does not believe a light trigger is safe. Either way, the heavy trigger takes some practice to master.
This revolver comes in many variations, which I like. There are three finishes: black (as tested), shiny nickel, or color case hardened. Barrel lengths range from 4.5 to 7.5 inches, and available calibers are .22 LR, .22 WMR, .357 Mag, .44 Mag and .45 Colt. There is a Bounty Hunter made to fit everyone.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Caliber: .45 Colt (as tested)
- Overall Length: 10.25 inches (as tested)
- Height: 5.5 inches
- Width: 1.5 inches
- Barrel Length: 4.5 inches, available up to 7.5 inches
- Weight: 2 pounds, 5 ounces
- Capacity: Six rounds
- Trigger: Single action only; 8 pounds, 3 ounces
- Material: Steel
- Safety: Transfer-bar hammer block
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Sights: Rear notch and front blade
LET’S GO SHOOTING!
Southern Arizona seems appropriate for testing the Bounty Hunter. Although manufactured half a world away in Germany, it feels and looks at home here in the Area 51 shooting range. Today, I will be shooting Federal American Eagle 225-grain jacketed soft point ammo as well as my own handloads. My steel targets will show impact power, accuracy, and controllability of this revolver.
Loading is done by first cocking the hammer to half-cock and opening the loading gate to reveal an empty chamber. Load each chamber and turn the cylinder to click on to the next chamber until all six are loaded – Colt simplicity at its best. Unloading is also simple. Use the ejector rod to push out each empty from the chamber, and I am ready to reload.
The simple sights are all that is needed to hit my steel targets quickly and accurately. The Bounty Hunter has a natural-pointing feel to it that must be experienced. Using the sights more carefully, I can hit my steel flapper target and move it from side to side with ease. Each time the bullet hits steel, I can hear it and witness the power of the .45. It moves heavy steel like nothing else.
The 2-liter root beer jugs disappear in a mist of foam. I love the smell of root beer in the morning! When it takes this long to reload, aiming becomes more important. No quick magazine reloads here; it requires slow finesse and skill.
I love the .45 Colt cartridge because of its hard-hitting power and versatility in being reloaded. I cast my own bullets and powder-coat them in red to make “lipstick” cartridges. Loaded with six grains of Unique gunpowder, they have plenty of power without causing much kick. The Bounty Hunter handles them as easily as factory ammo. Using two types of ammo, fast shooting and slow, there were no malfunctions nor misfires during my test.
PROS & CONS
Pros:
- Well made, good quality
- Accurate
- Authentic
- Nice walnut grips
- Many variations available
- Transfer-bar safety allows six rounds to be loaded safely
Cons:
- Trigger is much too heavy
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Authentic sights are difficult to see
CONCLUSION
Over 100 years ago, the Peacemaker was the best powerhouse revolver to carry. Lawmen, outlaws and the U.S. Army all could not be wrong. The EAA Bounty Hunter is a good reproduction of this well-known pistol that anyone can afford.
If you are thinking of entering a cowboy action match for the first time, this could be your gun. Do you want a piece of the Old West without breaking the bank? How about a home defense gun that is well-proven to be reliable and accurate at close range? Give the Bounty Hunter a second look, and you will see it is a fun gun to shoot and own.
