Anyone Shoot Cowboy Action?

[Fish_N_Russ]

Took the wife down to see the cowboy action shoot they had this morn at the local range. It was very fun to see folks in the old time wears and many of them were sporting some very nice leather and nice guns also. Right now she only has a 30-30 lever which I dont think would work (just about everyone looked to have 38/357 pistols and lever guns), but she thought it was really cool and wants to get started in it. I would like to as well. So im wondering what kind of costs does one expect with getting started......I realize the gun prices are going to vary a lot, but with regards to clothes and holsters etc.....can u outfit yourself pretty cheap or are we talking quite a bit of change?? Thanks
Russ

[billc_sbio]

I have/used to...

I was pretty active in the Orygun Cowboys shoots out at Tri-County Gun Club, starting out in the early 1990s, until the club somewhat "imploded" due to "internal strife".

Now, most of my fellow shootin pards, shoot either at Albany or The Dalles.

We used to have some FANTASTIC shoots out at TCGC in Sherwood and for several years, hosted the "Northwest Regional" which we called "Orygun Trail's End".

I took pics of some of our activities out there using my little pocket digital. (Pretty crude and low res from back then when I only had Dial-Up and needed to upload pics at phone speeds)

At our big Regional shoots we'd have all the Top Dogs from all over the nation show up. Famous Cowboy Action personas like champions, Evil Roy, Longhunter, Holy Terror (about 15 yr.s old then), 2 Gun Dana, Dixie Bell, China Camp, Lead Dispencer, as well as our own champs, like Loden B. Kwik and Johnny Colt and a whole bunch of other "fun" folk from all over the map (I saw shooters from Hawaii, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Virginia there).

Of course all the close-by shooters from WA, CA, ID and NV were there too.

You can see some of my pics here:

(Hope the Mods don't get upset...they're NON-Commercial/my own pics links )

http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/...6398mJSduPYSSl

http://sports.webshots.com/album/43388696bmBQEB

http://sports.webshots.com/album/45471893NMgPyd

http://sports.webshots.com/album/45888602SyewAV

http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/...81879900XIeKOC

http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/...83585138FYiTCP

http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/...85900478vTsjHx

http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/...0743wyQGAvrSMp

As far as "How Expen$ive" is it?

You'll note that in the photos there are lots of "old farts" (both men & wimmin) and youngsters (who are often their grandchildren like Evil Roy and his grandaughter, Holy Terror). Somebody's PAYING for all those "guns 'n gear"

But realistically, you can get by with a Cowboy Hat, some Cowboy Boots (of whatever style you prefer), jeans and a "westerny" shirt.

Getting "into it", if you do it gradually, you can manage. I always bought lots of stuff on sale from a place in Arizona called "Wild West Merchantile". They'd often have "Bargain Basement" deals and I'd grab those up when I could.

I got "into" CAS because I already HAD a bunch of the proper "old tyme" guns that I thought I'd never get to "use".

Back when I started, it was quite a bit different than it is today. Back then most of us shot revolvers in .45 Colt or .44-40. Today many still do, but using "full power" loads that group is called "Warthogs".

Today there have emerged lots of "gamers", those intent on winning at any cost. Their gear has morphed from traditional "old west" leather into something that's close to "fast draw" in its design. Their rifles and revolvers are highly worked over ("slicked up") to be ultra fast and smooth. The exceedingly popular "Toggle Link" designs of the 1866 and 1873 Winchester replicas are often "short stroked", a modification that saves ~1" on the lever throw that adds up X 10 shots to maybe 1 sec. quicker on their stage's time.

The gamers usually shoot guns made in .38 Spl., and they're loaded with "pipsqueak" loads that have just enough energy (and NO recoil) to make the metal targets go "tink"!

Of course you don't HAVE to go this route, I didn't as I was mainly just shooting for fun.

For a choice of revolvers, most use either ecconomy Italian made clones of the Colt SAA or else Ruger Vaqueros (an iron sighted Ruger Blackhawk in "cowboy" calibers), either New Model (smaller, like a Colt) or original model which is pretty much the Blackhawk frame.

Other's use '94 Marlin rifles, and there's a whole bag of tricks in slicking them up too.

So to recap, most popular revolvers are: SAA Clones, Ruger Vaqueros (but Ruger Blackhawks are o.k. in "Modern" Category which permits adjustable sights) .357 Magnums can be used with .38 Spl. ctg.s and .44 Magnums can be used with .44 Spl or even .44 Russian or .44 Colt which are all SHORTER than .44 Mag, but FIT)

Most common rifles are: '92 Winchester (or clones), the clones being in .38/.357, .32-20, .38-40, .44-40 (original calibers), .44 Mag.

'94 Marlin either originals in the same BP calibers as the '92 Winchester above or else "modern" new-made Marlins in .38/.357, .44 Mag. or .45 Colt

And (mostly) Italian replicas of the Henry Rifle, '66 Winchester or '73 Winchester (all, in the Italian clones, using most of the SAME internal parts)

For shotguns it's pretty much either various Double Barrels, either w/hammers or hammerless (but NO Ejectors, Extractors only) OR '97 Winchester Pumps or their Chinese clones. Sometimes you'll see some '87 Winchester (John Browning designed) Lever action shotgun clones, now being made in China (but mostly they're somewhat awkward to shoot).

There are special classes, like Frontiersman (Cap 'n Ball revolvers, Lever rifle loaded with BP Cartridges, and Double Barrelled shotgun loaded with BP shells, SMOKEY!), Duelist (shooting revolver one-handed only), Double Duelist (shooting one handed, one revolver in each hand), Wild Bunch (using a 1911 or Broomhandle Mauser AND a Revolver w/Lever rifle and '97 shotgun) and some others.

At big matches (like Regionals) they'll have special "Side Matches" for Pocket Pistols, Derringer, Speed Rifle, Speed Pistol, Long Range Rifle-pistol caliber, Long Range Rifle-Rifle Caliber (this is where your .30-30 could be used) and Long Range Rifle-Single Shot (this is for Springfield Trapdoors, Sharps, Win. 1885s, Ballards, Remington Rolling Blocks etc.)

Whew! That was a mouthful (and now I've got typer's cramp)

Hope that explains it (a little)?

[Fish_N_Russ]

wow thanks for all that info, that helps a lot

[PIR8 Hook]

I will add this: My big brother JUST got started at the Albany Club. He tells me that unless you handload the ammo, one shoot will cost you about $75 depending on the caliber. The rifles must be a pistol caliber, i.e. 45 LC, .38/.357, .44 special/.44 mag.

[PaPa Jon]

Yeah what they said.
And there maybe a few around here with extra CAS stuff they would sell cheaper than buying new

[billc_sbio]

Originally Posted by PIR8 Hook

I will add this: My big brother JUST got started at the Albany Club. He tells me that unless you handload the ammo, one shoot will cost you about $75 depending on the caliber. The rifles must be a pistol caliber, i.e. 45 LC, .38/.357, .44 special/.44 mag.

You can also load in .32

The .32-20 is a traditional Revolver/Rifle cartridge made in Colt's SAA "Frontier" model as well as Winchester's 1873 Rifles/Carbines and also their 1892 models. Marlin also made their original 1894 Rifles/Carbines in the same caliber/s as they were pretty much competing against Winchester for the same market.

Ruger also makes their Single Six revolver in an iron sighted version (somewhat aimed at the CAS market) in .32 Magnum that some shooters choose to use, using either .32 Magnum Brass or .32 S&W Long brass, which is shorter and ideally suited for low power loads. These little Rugers are affectionately known as "Vaqueritos" as they mimic the larger Vaquero, Ruger's standard Cowboy Action Shooting revolver.

The trouble with shooting .32 Mag caliber is that there isn't much available in the way of rifles in this caliber. For awhile, Marlin made a run of new 1894s in .32 Magnum, BUT they load like a .22 rifle, towards the end of the Tubular Magazine which is totally useless for "reloads on the clock", something that is often required during stages of fire.

Marlin made an even smaller run of "conventional" 1894s in .32 Mag that did have the side loading gate, like all the larger calibers do. Why they didn't just stick with this design, who knows? It's what everybody wants!

IMO, IF someone made a really "good" rifle in .32 Mag (like Marlin could)there would be a much larger segment of CA Shooters who'd use that cartridge.

As far as expense of loading/shooting, .32 cal IS the cheapest. But .38 Spl is right behind it.

IF I were looking at "getting into" CAS from scratch, with NO guns yet, I'd seriously look at buying USED. There are lots of folks that "think" they want to do this. They buy all the stuff, then try it for awhile, then for whatever reason, decide to quit and sell off their equipment.

I'd seriously look at buying a used pair of USFA Rodeos (that only sell for ~$550 new) or Rodeo-II revolvers in .38 Spl. The Rodeo (I & II) are extremely WELL MADE exact replicas of the 1st Generation Colt Single Action Armys and all they lack in the fancy finish.

I'd then try to find either a used (Uberti) 1873 Winchester clone in .38/.357, either a Carbine or Short Rifle, OR a 1892 Winchester clone (mostly made by the Rossi factory in Brazil). These are all excellent shooters.

For a shotgun I'd look around for either a Winchester 1897 (gonna be used!) that's been "set up" for CAS or a Chinese made clone that's been "worked on".

If I wanted to go the Double Barrelled Shotgun route I'd look for a short barrelled replica of Colt's 1870's Double Hammer model, that's been imported by a company called "TTN".

Oh, and reloading? Yep, you'll probably want to do that. Look for a deal on used Dillon reloader/s either a 550B or a Square Deal IN the caliber you're planning to use. (Note: The Square Deals take their own special dies).

Next?

[Fish_N_Russ]

I got the reloading part down, got all the stuff for that.......I saw a cute lil stainless Puma 92 357/38 the other day for $400. But if a used marlin will work, ill start looking in the pawn shops. I had one of those before in 44mag but sold it, never thought I would use it much.

[OuterLimits]

Yep, I got the CAS bug last year. Bought the guns, clothing, leather, etc. Never really got to shoot in any matches though. Was too busy with work schedules. I will be selling all of my gear and posting on the classified board this weekend. So you might check that out later this week. Go to the Single Action Shooting Society web site for details, regulations and such. That is a great place to start. Lots of places to shoot every weekend in Oregon and Washington.

[leadeyedbugger]

Been something my wife and i have talked about multiple times.....problem is i hunt around 50 days a year and fly fishing around 100 days a year....wife barrel races basically every weekend all year......time is a definite issue.

[billc_sbio]

Originally Posted by leadeyedbugger

Been something my wife and i have talked about multiple times.....problem is i hunt around 50 days a year and fly fishing around 100 days a year....wife barrel races basically every weekend all year......time is a definite issue.

If your wife's a barrel racer, she might really get into the SASS Mounted Shooting!

It's a little different than the regular Cowboy Action Shooting, but it's all done from horseback and it somewhat of a combination of barrel racing and shooting (but with BP Blanks at close ranged balloons).

Looks like this... (click on pic to see it larger)

[billc_sbio]

I just thought I'd throw these in here to liven up your day

(for those who bother to look at a CAS thread on here)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23UhypY-pUg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsovCdna76g&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7y9vtVG4eY&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4FCVEjPLdk&feature=related