.44 special or .45 Colt for Cowboy action?

[valnar]

Some would say that I should get a .45LC SAA for my revolver if I want to shoot cowboy action, but then .45LC wasn't originally chambered for rifles anyway. So if I decided to just get .44Mag all around, would that be sufficient?

If I only wanted to shoot .44 Special as my cowboy loads, is there any problem using that slightly shorter case in a modern 1894 Marlin rifle? Or does it have to be the .44Magnum length case?

I assume that the slightly shorter case is fine for a Vaquero or equivalent, but I want to be sure.

I don't own any .45 Colt guns, and I'm trying to avoid having to get one, unless I would be looked "down" upon by CASS shooters for not being authentic.

-Robert

 

[Wakal]

Cowboy Action, SASS rules, are by their very definition unhistoric and not period correct.

Otherwise a Broomhandle would be legal, as well as a Lightning, a M&H...all "banned" under SASS rules despite being pre-1899. Since all those guns are illegal...and yet Blawkhawks and Vaqueros are legal...there isn't a lot of point to worrying about "period" unless you are bucking for best-dressed or most authentic (under the rules).

Since the loss of the minimum velocity, a lot of folks are shooting cap guns...just enough powder to get the bullet moving and mark the steel. 38 in a .357 is very popular, but there is no good reason (that I can come up with, anyway) not to run .44 Special in a .44 Mag. Seems like a pretty good idea, actually

Bottom line...buy/bring/shoot what you like and have fun. The shorter cases will work in your Marlin (they do in mine, although I run a '94 in .45 Colt for CAS because, well, I'm inordinately fond of that particular '94). I find CAS to be a very slow paced and relaxing sort of game, like golf on qualudes.




Alex
IPSC, IDPA, SASS...if there are guns involved, I'll shoot it

 

[WESHOOT2]

$ SENSE

Whatever cartridge/ammo that runs reliably and costs the least.

 

[Detritus]

when i was still doing it (life intruded and i had to sell off mny gear) i was shooting .45Colt. but the .44s are just as well suited.

there have been SOME cases of the 44spl loads not feeding properly in Marlin 1894s, but it really and truly depends on the gun, and if you DO wind up with a finicy gun (have to break the thing in first THEN see what it really does) just about any club you shoot with is going to have SOMEONE, who either IS a 'smith that knows how to fix it or knows someone who is.

go to a match, show up early, talk to the "regulars", help em set-up etc. half the time they'll sort of go "heck son you got the entry fee?... get your tail over here! give us a minute and we'll have you riggd up!!" this is great way to find out what you do and do not like, and possibly which catagory you want to shoot. or you could do like me and show up on teh wrong day, adn instead of being present for the match be there for the work day and still stay and help (they get REAL friendly when you help em build or repair teh props ).

 

[Dr.Rob]

44 special brass will cost you more than 44 magnum.

Load up your vaquero with loads LESS than 1000 fps (Ultramax cowboy loads are 240 lrnfp at 700fps) and don't worry about it.

I've been thinking of getting an 1894 Marlin for cowboy plinking too. can't imagine it's worth the trouble to find, much less load 44 special.

 

[dickwholliday]

i used to use 2 pistols for CAS and one was a 44 spec....i just took 44 mag brass and cut it off to 44 spec length since i had bunches of 44 mag cases.....and i shot 44 spec in all my guns......as far as the rifle goes--if you load the 44 Spec to the same over all length as 44 mags you should have no problem with any of the 44 rifles....it worked for me in my rossi 92 and also fit fine in my 44 pistols.....D I C K

 

[streakr]

44 mag downloads

I started CAS about 7 years ago with 44mag guns, 2 Vaqueros and a Winchester 94 plus a 97. I have added 45LC, 32-20, and 38/357 but the 44s remain my favorite. The 94 Winchester was quickly replaced by a 94 Marlin Cowboy; a much better rifle and it feeds 44 specials just fine!

I have bought both 44 special and magnum brass; the 44 mag is cheaper.

It is the reloading that makes a difference. I load the 44 mag case with 5.3 grains of Clays and 200 gn RNFP. It chronographs in the 5.5" Vaqueros about 750 fps and 1200 in the 24" Marlin. These have mild recoil and enough power to take out any knock-down targets. An added bonus is that the light Cowboy loading does not stress the cases. I have some cases that have been reloaded over 20 times.

Another advantage of using 44 magnum length cartridges is that the revolver cylinders will not be fouled. The shorter 44 specials will deposit a ring of lead in the cylinder and, if it gets bad enough, will interfere with loading of longer 44 mag length cartidges.

Ruger Vaqueros in 45LC often have small throats (.452 or less) in the cylinders and may need modification to shoot accurately.

Use the 44 mags and enjoy yourself!

 

[Hutch]

I'll chime in, since I have 44M Vaqueros and a Marlin 1894C in 44M as well. I shoot 240gr bullets out of magnum cases, since they are closer to POA for me. The 200's shot rather low, and I didn't want to lower (read: Grind down) the front sight. I think the current batch of 1894C's handle specials (either .38 or .44) just fine. The older ones tended to be a bit finicky. If the bbl is marked for SPL, then it's almost certain it'll feed 'em fine, and if not, Marlin will cure it.

The Vaqs show fine accuracy, much better than needed for our game. Many have commented that the 44M's out of the box tend to be much better shooters than the .45C's, likely due to chamber throat issues. Since I have some other .44M revos and NO .45 Colts, it was an easy decision for me as to caliber choice.

I'm thinking of going to a .38/357 carbine, just so I can reduce my ammo costs even more. If I do that, I'll prob'ly shoot Specials. While .44M cases are cheaper and more available than .44Spl, 38Spl cases are cheaper and more available than .357.

There ya go.