Shooting test of the Bat Masterson E.M.F. Great Western II.
The Bat Masterson E.M.F. Great Western II, made by F.lli Pietta in Italy, is available at a reasonable price of $705 with excellent reproduction deer grips, a 3-1/2-inch barrel with a full-length extractor, a beautiful nickel finish, and the name W.B. MASTRERSON engraved on the clamps.
To put on Pietta’s new model (which is actually a customized version of their standard 3-1/2-inch model), I borrowed an exact copy of Gene Barry’s holster and belt from legendary western holster maker Jim Lockwood, who has reproduced rigs from almost every TV series and western movie over the years.
The Bat Masterson rig, as seen in the photos, is very similar to the one Gene Barry brought in the TV series. The 3-1/2-inch Pietta model fits perfectly, is easy to pull out and re-insert. The structure of GWII is excellent and comes out of the box with a factory-made action.
The average hammer draw needs only 4 pounds and 3.6 ounces, with 4 pounds and 8.5 ounces needed for the equally light (but not too light) trigger. The hammer hits the four clicks when you pull it back with your thumb exactly like a Colt Peacemaker, and the sights are as true as any other short-barreled SAA, which means the weapon fires slightly lower.
There weren’t some wind-related problems with the weapon, and once I figured out how to correct the aim, which was six inches above where I wanted the shots to come, (sort of filing the sights on the E.M.F.) the gun provided very predictable accuracy with a major five-shot group that measured from 1.75 to 2.0 inches and always with at least a couple of overlaps.
I shot for the entire test using Ten-X 165 gr. infume powder ammunition with flat point and hollow base (HBFP). These have a lower weight (made in the factory) suitable for Cowboy Action Shooting competitions.
All tests were done by shooting duel style (draw, aim, and fire one-handed) and for a model with a 3-1/2-inch barrel and rudimentary SAA sights, these were shots that 9 times out of 10 that were on the 10 or X. This is not a target weapon, but at 10 paces (between 25 and 30 feet) it does its job, just as the Colt Peacemaker did in Bat Masterson’s day.
Bat Masterson’s bowler hat courtesy of Golden Gate Western Wear; goldengatewesternwear.com.
Sources: Bat Masterson The Man and the Legend by Robert K. DeArment, 1979 University of Oklahoma Press.
Guns of the American West by Dennis Adler, 2010, Chartwell Books
Bat Masterson – The Lawman Series by R. L. Wilson, Colt’s Inc. 1967
For more information about the E.M.F. GWII line and the Bat Masterson model visit emf-company.com or call 800-430-1310.
Specifics on EMF Great Western II Bat Masterson
Caliber: Colt 45
Barrel: 3-1/2 inches
Weight: 34 ounces
Handles: Faux deer
Viewfinders: Fixed
Action: SA
Finish: Nickel
Capacity: 6
Sale price: $705
