"Cowboy" guns - caliber questions and make/model choices

TheOldSarge said:
The .44-40 is not a straight walled case, so you will need to lube the case for re-sizing. A straight walled case can use a carbide re-sizing die, which means you won't have to lube them. Plus .44-40 ammo costs just as much as, or more than, .45 Colt. .38 cal. would be your best choice, for availability of components, and costs.
Click to expand...

I have never lubed a single 44-40 case while re-sizing.

I do lose a few cases if I try to go to fast by crashing that thin case mouth into the sizing die. Then I miss reloading special. 44-40 took some getting used to, but I'd rather use the original center fire cartridge.
 
I use a pair of Blackhawks in .357mag and a Rossi 1892 in the same. I shoot 38 spl. in all 3, saves on reloading cost and time.
I did the action smoothing job on the Rossi and I beat a lot of guys with far more expensive guns, so if you're willing to do some work you don't need to break the bank.
For shotgun I use an Iver Johnson 'Hercules Grade' that's been cut down and re-beaded at some point. I find a lot of the newer double barrels get really hot after a few rounds, whereas the old thick steel IJ stays nice and cool, so no hand burning.
 
HOWDY. all good ideas ,so here is mine. Stay away from 44/40 unless its for black powder. 45 colt is fun but too slow to win, and cost of lost brass hurts and 45 colt can be tougher to get. If you are older go to adjustable sights for age based catergories and old eyes, but at such short range aiming is not too precise.
SO as always go to 38/357 revolver and winchester 73 are most popular. Marlin will work 1894 C carbines with a little spring work, 800 plus is the going rate, with the cowboy LTD going above 1000.
Long range H and R break open is cheapest. Need different rear sight to be legal. I like the Pedersoile rolling block in 38/55 but 45/70 is common for hairy men. Had a Browning BPCR high wall with the veriner sights a perfect shooting tool but a waste of a great rifle at less than 200 yards. It turns into a MOST hits wins and ties broken by TIME long distance shoot at a lot of side matchs.
 
elKrusto said:
I have the exact same set-up as you, and also need the costume and holsters, where are you gonna get them?
Click to expand...

Leather; http://www.gandjleather.com/page9.html I have bought 2 rigs from George I also have seen 4 more rigs and all are ecxellent plus he's great guy to deal with. He has had back surgery and is working at a slower pace.
http://www.workingcowboyleather.com/index.html This guy is in Ontario, I haven't used him but his stuff looks good.
http://www.larocheleathers.com/ Joe Laroche has an ecxellent reputation and is also in Canada.
My recomendation is don't scrimp on leather a good rig will last you a lifetime and will work well.

As for Clothes you'll need to get those from the USA; Here are a couple places where the prices are reasonable and they ship to Canada
http://www.westernemporium.com/
http://www.wwmerc.com/

Have fun with it.

Frenchy
 
freddyfour said:
I can't comment on the Marlins either but I can on the Rossi and Uberti. The fit and finish on the Rossi's are not fantastic but the function great and are a blast to shoot. The M92 action for me is just about as good as it gets. The Uberti's are gorgious rifles and in my opinion worth the money for the extra refinements they offer over the Rossi if you like you guns pretty.

Caliber, I would go with the 45 colt or the 44-40. Just because it feels more true to the original cowboys.
Click to expand...

X2 - 357 Mag and 44 Mag seem about as cowboy as 38 Super, but ultimately it's the regs that determine it.
 
Here is my setup. I went to Tundra Leather in Hamilton and ordered a holster rig, unfortunately they are about 3 months behind in production.

P1010305_zps9cb4a5f5.jpg
[/URL][/IMG]
 
I don't shoot cowboy action so know nothing about that ( although I do have a Ruger New Vaquero, and a Marlin 1984 :).

I do shoot a lot of single shots and if cleaning is your concern, then I'd recommend a Sharps. It's an easy job to clean the bore from the breech end on either one. But, it's quite a bit easier to remove the breech block on a Sharps than on a highwall.

The Sharps will require no tools to remove the breech block, whereas a highwall ( except the modern Japanese built Winchesters and Brownings ), will require a screwdriver to take it apart, and a punch to help align things to get it all back together. Not tricky once you've done it once or twice, but fiddly. That's for the originals, American, or Italian reproductions.

Few folks are brave enough to remove the breach block on a Japanese built 1885 :), those are an entirely different thing. Some gunsmiths don't even want to touch them, although they can be exceptionally accurate.

I love both the highwalls and the Sharps rifles though. If you go with an Italian repro, I'd suggest sticking with a Pedersoli for a Sharps. They are usually pretty easy to find used in excellent condition too.

Chris.
 
Marstar just imported a bunch of Winchester 1897, 12ga pump shotgun clones made by Jianshe PRC. I wonder how they would work out for CAS?

Looks like they are a new import so they might be worth having a look at. Any comments about the 97 pump in general for CAS?

I will probably go for the IGA Coachgun SxS but will consider one of these.
 
If the stage you are shooting has more than 4 shotgun targets generally the M97 is faster, if the stage has 4 or less targets most people shoot the SxS more efficiently. Three times in the last few years I have shot stages where the first shotgun target hit launches a pop can, during those stages I use my wifes SxS. The whole key is to practice.
 
It takes more practice and work on the gun but a SxS can actually do well against the 97. A couple of years back I was running a side match for Speed Shotgun. It was a 8 shell course and I made it a point to mark P or S by the shooter's name. At the end of the day there were two SxS's in the upper 10 and it was one of those which won the event.

So it CAN be done.
 
BCRider said:
It takes more practice and work on the gun but a SxS can actually do well against the 97. A couple of years back I was running a side match for Speed Shotgun. It was a 8 shell course and I made it a point to mark P or S by the shooter's name. At the end of the day there were two SxS's in the upper 10 and it was one of those which won the event.

So it CAN be done.
Click to expand...

And I would bet it to be Too Dusty that done that. Absolute master of his double
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom