A well-built replica of the old Peacemaker that fires cheap ammo is hard to beat. The Uberti 1873 Cattleman NM in .22 LR has a 4.75 inch barrel and a steel backstrap, so it gives you the weight and heft of the real thing for pennies a round.

Uberti makes some of the best-regarded Western replicas, and the Cattleman is their take on the Colt Single Action Army. The New Model, or NM, uses a transfer-bar-style safety system in many versions, which allows loading all six chambers. Spend an afternoon at the range with it before you count on it, so you know how it handles and where it shoots.

For cowboy-action shooters the .22 LR version is a good practice tool. You run the same manual of arms for little cost, and the steel backstrap keeps the balance close to a centerfire gun. Newcomers also like it, because the recoil is almost nothing, and the 4.75 inch barrel handles nicely in a rig.

Use it for plinking, introducing a youngster to revolvers, or keeping your hand in between matches. The revolver ships to your FFL dealer, and the background check takes place when you collect it.