"Altering" a shotgun for Cowboy Action.

Brickie

Brickie

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I have a line on a Fox B side by side with 28" barrels for CAS. I have not been to any Cowboy events yet (just got 2 1860 cap and ball pistols) and was wondering if 28" is a bit too long for these events. Can I saw it off to 20"? Is that legal? How will not having chokes affect this kind of shooting.
Thanks
 
28" is not too long mine is like that and I have never had an issues or slow downs ... Only Chop if you need too. I am glad I have the extra length when we do Cowboy Clays :)
 
99% of the shotguns used in cowboy are lobbed off to some extent. If the targets (knockdowns) are set correctly, a lack of choke makes no difference at the ranges we shoot.

One caveat to this is if there is a "flying bird" or a "pop-up" incorporated into a stage, having a choked barrel can help.
 
Cutting a double is really a job for a smithy who knows how. Double barrels may or may not be actually joined over the whole length. A Fox B side by side with 28" barrels sold in November of 2013 for $400 USD on one of the U.S. auction sites. So you won't lose any money, but don't even think hacksaw.
 
Having shot Cowboy Action for over 16 years and using multiple length barrel shotguns, I can honestly say have it cut to 18 1/2" if this is the gun you plan to use regularly. Keep in mind you will have absolutely NO choke so knock down targets past 20 meters will be a challenge. I used to use a 30" Winchester M97 until I spent a horrible time one match trying to get around multiple props that were put in the way. The barrel hit everything. I had my barrel cut to 18 1/2" (legal to take to the US for matches) then had it fitted with screw in chokes. Some non SASS affiliated clubs put their targets a little far so I just screw in the full choke to my barrel and I'm good to go.

Keep in mind, very few shooters these days use cap & ball revolvers, if during a match you have to "load on the clock" you are at a decided disadvantage! SASS affiliated club matches are one thing, but some non affiliated clubs have really wild ideas at times!
 
Brickie said:
I have a line on a Fox B side by side with 28" barrels for CAS. I have not been to any Cowboy events yet (just got 2 1860 cap and ball pistols) and was wondering if 28" is a bit too long for these events. Can I saw it off to 20"? Is that legal? How will not having chokes affect this kind of shooting.
Thanks
Click to expand...

If you are going to purchase a shotgun for CAS why not buy a Stoeger coach gun to begin with? Comes with 20" barrels -- all ready to go. Or a Norinco Win97 clone. Again 20" barrels out of the box.

Much simpler than messing around cutting down a SxS.


John
 
Howdy; Check the category you wish to compete in. With cap and ball black powder if you will be shooting black powder in the shotgun you may find a longer barrel better may be 24 inch. Go to a few match's and see what is happening, talk up the locals.
 
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