Cowboy Action Rifle - NEWBIE ????

[jAK-47]

I want to get into SASS events so I thought I'd start out buying an appropriate rifle. It would be nice to have one that can be used for more than one purpose like small game and plinking - or even self defense.

My "research" so far says that a Marlin 1894 is a good choice because it is reasonably priced and feeds pistol ammo reliably. I like the option of 38 Special/.357 too; my preference in the handguns is .357 so this rifle would be nice. Who is EMF? Prices are good but I wonder about quality, etc.

If you want to recommend a revolver and even a shotgun for SASS please chime in. I know squat about Cowboy Action shotguns and not much more about the revolvers. Someone said Uberti makes a decent, reasonably priced revolver. The Ruger Vaquero looks kinda cool too. Just to confuse me further, Beretta has the Stampede now!

Here's a pic of the Marlin Model 1894 Lever Action Carbine, 357 Magnum/38 Special with 18 1/2" round barrel, blue steel, checkered walnut stock and forend, new in box. $375. Waddya think?

Thanks,
jAK-47

 

[Baba Louie]

If you've got the cash on hand, snag it up quick. A fine poodleshooter.
EMF produces quality Italian made reproductions at about a third to half the price of American made SAA clones or Colt originals. Ruger Vaq's are stout, kinda chunky in a Ruger-esque way and will cost ya about what a good spaghetti shooter will, but they feel... large and slower in hand if you have grown up feeling 1873's in your mitt.
But since this is the rifle forum, we'll stick to long guns w/ rifled barrels.
I like .45 Colt myself and have a Win 94 Trapper. My Pa's a .38/.357 kinda shooter and he went with a Rossi 92 clone in that caliber.
Not a thing wrong with a Marlin. Buy it, shoot it. Love it.

 

[Brian Williams]

Fisrt off great gun I have one and it is a hoot to shoot. Light lead loads are like a water hose and heavy ones will take most medium games in the states.

Before I suggest any guns for CAS I would suggest that you go to the SASS site and decide which class you want to be in, it will color the type of guns you might want to get.

 

[Jim Watson]

Marlin 94 is a fine rifle for the job.
Be sure that 18" will hold ten rounds in the tube.

Look at USFA Rodeo for a sixshooter. It is a dull finish version of what is probably the closest copy of a Colt. You will need a pair unless you are going to shoot someplace that offers the Working Cowboy division, which is not real common.
The Eyetalian copies are a bit variable in quality but there are a lot of them being shot with and without tuneups. I've got a Cimarron Model P to go with my third gen Colt.
Rugers are hell for stout but are 15% larger than Colts and clones, which makes them too big for my hands and Duelist shooting style. But there are a LOT of them out there and mighty few complaints.

I guess the best buy in a shotgun is the Stoeger-IGA Coach Gun. A hammerless double made in Brazil. They can be smoothed up to run real well. I have heard that the Russian Baikal can be, too, but I haven't seen one that did not take two men and a big boy to break open. There are a number of Norincos, too, especially their unlicensed copy of the Winchester '97 pumpgun, but I am not going to recommend a weapon made by the People's Republican Army of Communist China.

Hammer doubles from various sources are way cool (I don't think they said that on the frontier.) but are slower to shoot; you are giving up a good deal of score for style.

You will see some original and period guns, too; but that is probably not the way to get started. I shoot a 3rd gen. Colt, a Cimarron set up as much like it as possible, a Winchester 92 rifle made 1911, and a Verney-Carron (French!) scattergun from about 1920.

Read a few dozen (hundred?) posts on the SASS Wire and you will begin to get a handle on what is being shot.
http://www.sassnet.com/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi

 

[dev_null]

I use the same rifle, only in .45Colt to match my sixguns. I have two Ruger Vaqueros, both in stainless with Wolff springs; one is a birdshead I use for crossdraw. I also have two Uberti '58 Remington replicas with Taylor's/R&D conversion cylinders; they cost me half what the Rugers did and are more accurate. I bought a Stoeger Silverado SxS in 12-ga and put a lace-on butt pad on it. Some leather, some clothes and a hat, and a pair of mocassins (my character is a half-breed scout), and there ya go!

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[jAK-47]

Great Info Guys! Thanks. I have more homework cut out for me. I'll be sure to check out the capacity of the 18" barrel; stopping to reload will make my times even worse (it that's possible).

I'm thinking of dressing up really goofy (to go with my persona). Maybe my alias will be "Jack Lantern" as in "not too bright". Man, this is fun already -did I mention fun?

I have surfed the SASS site off and on for years but it's only recently that the local clubs have become active so... We have a guy up here who makes the ammo/accessory cart you use to haul your stuff around during the meet and he makes the cart look like an EXACT replica of an old stagecoach - I forget the scale but it's last on my "buy" list.

I figure around $2,000 ought to get me started if I buy everything I want One bite at a time...

Thanks,
Jack MeOff (formerly jAK-47)

 

[Tom C.]

The Marlin in .357 will be fine, but will need to be loaded with .38 Special to get 10 into the mag. 10 is standard for most SASS stages.

For revolvers, I recommend consideration of Rugers. I use the SS NMBH in .357. I prefer good adjustable sights. I shoot in the Modern class. If you want to shoot Traditional or Dualist, consider the Vaquero. It is fixed sights along the lines of the 1873 Colt.

For a shotgun, I use the Baikal. I like mine more than the Stoeger, but pick what you prefer.

You will also need a gun belt and 2 holsters, as well as a shotgun shell holder. I like a separate belt for shotgun shells.

Good luck and have fun.

 

[jAK-47]

Tom C.,

Thanks for the tip on 38 Special 10 round capacity - it's what I'd prefer anyway - cheaper and even LESS recoil. The Rugers are at the top of my list so...

What is more "popular" - Traditional or Modern? I want to make sure I get the right gear and if there are a lot more scenarios for one class or the other it would affect my decision. Since I'm starting from scratch, I might as well do it right.

For the type of shooting one does in these events, I don't think it would make a big difference TO ME concerning fixed or adjustable sights so...

This SASS stuff will get me into reloading, which I should have started anyway! I've never tied my own flies but I really like the idea of rollin' my own ammo. And, as soon as I get all the basics I can then start on the side-match stuff like derringers!

Thanks,
Boston Jack

 

[iamkris]

Here's my set up

2 Ruger Vaqueros (45 Colt)
Rossi 92 (45 Colt)
1897 Winchester (12 ga)
The Sharps is for side matches

I've had great luck with my Rossi but the majority of CAS shooters I know use a Marlin. They are sweet rifles. You can't go wrong with your caliber choice, either.

 

[dev_null]

In addition to the SASS Wire, there's a lot of good folks HERE as well. Just be aware some of them are rather disgruntled with the SASS administration and tend to vent from time to time. Good people nonetheless (and they may have some good points to make as well, but I try to stay clear of group politics).

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[Jim Watson]

Traditional is much more popular than Modern.
There have been discussions of folding Modern into Traditional because there are so few adjustable sight revolvers being used these days and the scores aren't much different anyhow.

 

[Detritus]

traditional or Modern??

Be a man SHOOT DUELIST!!!