Cowboy Logistics Dilemma

[twoblink]

Ok, just to get our attention back to GUNS again...

I had what I thought was my cowboy logistics down pat...

Until... I started to think (thinking is dangerous!)

So my cowboy logistics looked like this before:

Sidearm : Ruger GP100 6" 357Mag
ccw: Ruger SP101 2" 357Mag
Rifle: Timberwolf 357Mag Pump

So I was happy..

Until I thought... what if I meet Buffalos? The Rifle isn't going to cut it..

So now I'm wondering... Do I NEED a 45-70 in something like a lever action?? Ruger #1 in 45-70???

That would ruin the logistics, but hmmm... Is this something I should worry about?? (Tamara Flame suit on)

 

[BerettaNut92]

Isn't the plural for 'buffalo', 'buffalo'?

Out of curiosity, how does .30-30 do against big critters? I've never shot one myself.

 

[twoblink]

Main Entry: 1buf·fa·lo
Pronunciation: 'b&-f&-"lO
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural -lo or -loes also -los

So Webster's says my use of the word is ok..

 

[S_O_Laban]

I was unaware of the presence of Bison in Tiawan Water buffalo, maybe. Of course most cowboys didn't shoot 357's either

 

[Tamara]

Of course most cowboys didn't shoot 357's either

Nor did they do it out of stainless double-action revolvers with swing-out cylinders.

 

[twoblink]

Tamara... you are saying... go SA?

I can deal with that..

 

[Ian]

As S_O_Laban alluded to, the .357 Magnum wasn't introduced until 1935. For historical accuracy, you ought to have something like a pair of 4.75" Single Action Armies in .44-40. Or Schofields in .45 Russian. Or heck, 1860 Armies in .44, 1851 Navies in .36, Remington 1858s in .44, or Colt Dragoons in .44.

The only applicable pump rifle would be a Colt Lightning (available in most pistol calibers, pick the one you use in your revolvers). However, what I've heard is that the lever rifles are faster to shoot, because cycling the action doesn't pull the sights off-target as much as cycling a pump. In lever rifles, you've got the 1860 Henry, 1866 Yellowboy, Winchester 1873, and Winchester 1892, all available in a variety of pistol cartridges.

A good buffalo rifle would be a Trapdoor Springfield (.45-70). Or a Remington Rolling Block, an 1885 Highwall, Winchester 1895 (Teddy Roosevelt's lever rifle) or 1874 Sharps.

And don't forget about a good shotgun. Stoeger, Huglu, and Baikal make good SxS coach guns, and then there are the Winchester 1897s (and Norinco clones) and 1887s.

Logistics-wise, you'll need three calibers - one for pistols and carbine (.44-40, .45 Colt, .38-40), one for shotgun (12ga, 20ga), and one for your rifle (.45-70, .45-90, .40-65, .38-55, .405 Win)

I'm sure I skipped some usable guns, I'm by no means a cowboy weapon expert. But I do know that .357 Rugers ain't cowboy guns. FWIW, my current cowboy setup is a Stoeger 12ga coach gun and a pair of .44 caliber 1860 Army clones. I don't have a rifle or carbine yet, but I'll probably get an 1866 Yellowboy and a Browning Highwall when I have the money.

 

[bogie]

Bison, dude...

And you _need_ a Ruger Vaquero in either .45LC or .44 Magnum (you can always download it to .44 Special...).

 

[M67]

Pronunciation: 'b&-f&-"lO

After reading some recent posts, I was under the impression that certain cowboys around here would pronounce that 'buff-a-RO'

 

[labgrade]

.45 Colt

 

[twoblink]

So what are you all saying to me?

I need to go SA .45 Long Colt, and a 45-70 on my back?

What type of rifle actions are available in 45-70??

 

[triggertime]

Ruger Bisley Vaquero in .45 Colt and a Marlin Model 1895 in .45-70.

 

[labgrade]

.45 Colt handgun will kill anything on the planet.

I dunno anything available in a rifle, but I'd get one, if there is - you wanted to standardize.

 

[Oracle]

You could always get a .45LC rifle or carbine to go along with your .45LC pistol(s). I've got an EMF (Rossi) Hartford '92 on order right now in .45LC, and Marlin makes several varieties of .45LC rifles.

My cowboy logistics are being set up as follows:

Handgun: Ruger Vaquero, .45LC, 5.5 inch barrel, normal grips, stainless

CCW: Ruger Vaquero, .45LC, 3.25 inch barrel, birdshead grips, stainless

Rifle: EMF (Rossi) Hartford '92, .45LC, 24 inch barrel, 14 round tubular magazine, stainless

Shotgun: Stoeger SxS Coach gun, 12-gauge, blued

If you're interested in hot-loading the .45LC in rifles, read this article by Paco Kelly: http://www.sixgunner.com/paco/45coltrifles.htm

 

[Ian]

Rifles in .45-70 are either lever-action or single-shot.

 

[seeker_two]

I had what I thought was my cowboy logistics down pat..

Best bet is to have a rifle in a rifle caliber & your pistols in a pistol caliber. That's what most cowboys did & still do...

Rifles in .45-70 are either lever-action or single-shot.

Gibbs makes a .45-70 based on the Lee-Enfield bolt action. In addition, some very nice drillings, double rifles, and Mauser bolt-actions have been made in .45-70. And I believe at least one company did a pump-action rifle in this caliber (Remington, perhaps?), but I don't think it's still made.

Hope this helps...

 

[Ian]

Sorry, I should have been clearer. Cowboy-type .45-70s were levers or single shots.

 

[ball3006]

None of the guns you list.....

will work for cowboy action shooting. Pistols have to be single action and any rifle has to be a design built prior to 1895, I think. Same for shotguns. I dabbled in cowboy action shooting about 5 years ago and I used two Ruger Blackhawks in 357, Rossi Win 92 in 357 and an old Stevens double that I cut down and resighted. Long range is my 1884 Trapdoor. I quit because it was not fun any longer with all of the cronic complainers over misses and scoring. Too many cheaters where to win at all cost was the game. Had a 4 digit SASS number too.....chris3

 

[Andrew Wyatt]

Would a Long lee be allowed for use in the long range side matches?