Cow boy action shooing gun

[Ir0nSpIkE]

Hi All

Now I'd rather shoot IPSC and did a few years ago, but there's not even a club match within a 100km of me. But there is an active 3-gun cow boy action group in town, so if u can beat'em join'em. So I'm looking for more info on hardware. What characteristics should I look for in selecting guns.

Since I'm a pistol shooter I thought I'd start with a hand gun (or two). Currently the New Model Blackhawk Convertible in 357 Mag/9mm is the top of my wish list. Mostly because shooting 38 special out of a 357 mag. seems poplular right now with the local cowboy action types and also since I already re-load 9mm practice would be easy and cheap. But are there problems with modern sights and cowboy holsters?

Is there anything about some guns that make them just better the rest or not a good idea for action shooting?

Thanks in advance for your good idea.

 

[BCRider]

I just shot my first CAS club event today out at the Mission R&G club. Although I have not shot a modern style tactcal 3 gun match I'd still say it has much of the same to offer.

For the range involved in CAS events you really don't need the fancy rear sight. The top groove in the frame style guns are easily good enough. But if you want to use the pistols for other stuff it may well be worth getting the adjustable sights for this reason. Actually the fixed sights can be VERY good if they come nicely aimed. They just are not adjustable for various loadings so you need to figure out which part is most important for you.

I just got a Rossi Puma .357 lever rifle and it's shooting well once I twisted the rear sight back to straight and level. Great gun with a really BAD rear sight. I'll be replacing it pronto. You can spend more but for how well this rifle performs it's a real bargain. Sadly they seem to be pretty rare in Canada. Or perhaps they are just a victim of their own popularity.

For my shotgun I went with a SxS Baikal cheap bird shottie and bobbed the barrels to 22 inches to make it more of a coach gun. Although I lost the end chokes it still shoots not bad target load groups compared to the "fill your mouth with water and then have someone punch your cheeks" pattern for the same rounds from my 870 Police version with the 18.5 inch barrel. So I'd say find a cheap but still tight in the pivot SxS in 12ga and bob that puppy! ! ! ! The pump style with the external hammer (a must for CAS) are far more rare to find and cost far more as well when you do find them.

The Mission club also has a Speed Steel target shoot. It's simple to run and set up and you get to shoot a LOT. It's great fun to do and promotes using a wide variety of handgun calibers as well as even the lower powered rifles that won't punch holes in the steel plate targets.

Often there are no events of this sort because no one is willing to do the work to run them. What about finding out more about something simple to run like the Speed Steel and offer to run it on your club's range?

 

[Cariboo Lefty]

I have been shooting CAS for a while so I can give you some tips.
Handguns, you need 2, I think that they should be Rugers of any model. If you shoot 2 handed and #### with the off hand you will soon wear out or break a Colt or Colt clone.(happened to me)We shoot too many rounds and they were not designed to be used as hard as we work them.
For rifles the top guys here and in the States use Uberti 73s, they need extensive work and modification out of the box, however once tuned they feed and cycle the smoothest and fastest. A decent alternative is a Marlin, they can be slicked up by anyone who is at all mechanical and once you find the proper cartridge length they feed very well. Puma 92s are a decent design but they are not nearly as popular.
For shotgun, a Stoger or any decent double, with extractors only, that opens and closes easily will work. I prefer the 97 pump, you can still get some decent originals for under $400.00, and they have less of a fumble factor, although they are more prone to mechanical problems.
I think you are on the rite track with the 38sp. Cheap to shoot and components or loaded ammo are available anywhere. The adjustable sight are not a problem, however they are not legal in some CAS categories.
For leather, Walter Ostin is a world class holster maker and he lives on the Island.
Check out the SASS website for more info.
Hope this helps.