Guns for a Modern Cowboy

[akodo]

two things about a cowboy's guns (as opposed to a gunfighter's or lawmans guns)

They were generally cheap, they were viewed as tools.

Losts of cowboys had cap and ball revolvers long after metallic cartridges were available, and they were the ones who were spending $3 to have a cap and ball converted rather than buying another brand spanking new one for $7

I'd say some sort of full power rifle, be it a 30-06, a sporterized ww2 surplus rifle, SKS or the like.

Round this out with either a .22lr handgun, like a ruger bearcat or mark22, or else an inexpensive full powered handgun. A used .357 S&W 4-6 inch barrel, an inexpensive 1911 clone, a highpower clone (FEG, etc) or even those inexpensive gunshow finds like a makarov or that egyptian hewlett(?) old beretta knockoff.

 

[mustanger98]

two things about a cowboy's guns (as opposed to a gunfighter's or lawmans guns)

They were generally cheap, they were viewed as tools.

Losts of cowboys had cap and ball revolvers long after metallic cartridges were available, and they were the ones who were spending $3 to have a cap and ball converted rather than buying another brand spanking new one for $7

This, I would say of the "old days", is because the average $30/month cowhand had to watch his budget. Of course, I'm taking a certain measure of my info from Louis L'Amour here in saying $40/month ("fightin' wages") was more likely to be able to afford a little more expensive peice. However, the professional gunfighter probably came with a higher fee than that, assuming the typical assasin for hire.

I'd say some sort of full power rifle, be it a 30-06, a sporterized ww2 surplus rifle, SKS or the like.

This stands to reason as time progressed. Elmer Keith, known as a cowpuncher and rancher, was on the Montana and Idaho National Guard rifle teams at different times and he used '03's and sporter variants during part of his career. While many real cowboys seem to have used leverguns, Mr. Keith in his one words, was no fan of the .30-30 (and presumably anything lighter). Also, from my reading "here and there", I've developed an impression that many ranch cowboys were armed by their employers and the guns remained with the employer when the cowboy moved on.

Round this out with either a .22lr handgun, like a ruger bearcat or mark22, or else an inexpensive full powered handgun. A used .357 S&W 4-6 inch barrel, an inexpensive 1911 clone, a highpower clone (FEG, etc) or even those inexpensive gunshow finds like a makarov or that egyptian hewlett(?) old beretta knockoff.

Those are all viable, IMO, for their intended uses, as part of a cowboy's equipment as picked out by the individual. That Egyptian knockoff of the Beretta was the Helwan(sp?).

 

[pluvo]

All hat and no cattle?

My father wasn't a 'working' cowboy so-to-speak. He was born & raised in Ohio, but lived all his adult life in the boondocks of Colorado & Arizona. He didn't have a farm or a ranch, didn't drive cattle or mend fences, but he did ride horses and run cookouts and such, and keep the cityfolk tourists out of trouble. He definately had that western spirit just the same.

His combo was an M1 carbine and a 7.5" Blackhawk in .30 carbine. I can't say why as it never dawned on me to ask him, but I would hazard a guess that it had something to do with the M1 carbine that served him so well in Korea.

Times changed and he sold the M1 as he didn't need it any more.

I do still have that Blackhawk and the High Standard .22 revolver he carried for snakes & such (and taught me on) as well as his 'dress' hat and a few of his knives.

The hat doesn't fit my big head, but I use one of his filet knives on a regular basis. My EDC is a Glock, but that Blackhawk is always loaded should I need it. This year I'll be teaching my daughter how to shoot with the same .22 I learned on.

I live in the city now, and a sitting at a comuter all day is a long way from riding the range, but I still carry some of that frontier spirit with me... all thanks to my father who passed that down to me and I will pass on to my daughter.

 

[U.S.SFC_RET]

A good repeatin 22lr for the varmints that make the holes in the ground. A good 30. 30 model 94 winchester for the feral dogs that tear into your cattle ought to do it.

 

[doc tc]

marlin 30-30 and a kimber .45, neither of which are high-tech. ammo everywhere ammo is.

the 30-30 is adequate for any cowboy needing to kill a cow. and the .45 is plenty sidearm for self defense.

simple enough.

doc

 

[PlayboyPenguin]

I think I would have my .45colt Ruger Birds Head Vaquero in my hip holster and my .45/70 Marlin 1895GS in my saddle holster.

 

[Revolver Justice]

For my neck of the woods in SW Virginia, I terrain in fairly wooded, so I would probably pack my Glock 17 and a couple of extra magazines along with a Winchester 94 in 30-30 or a Remington 870 riot gun in 12 gauage.

 

[gyvel]

In the days of the Old West, the guns would have been a Colt Peacemaker or maybe a S&W No.3 and a Winchester 1873 in .44-40.

Unfortunately, the reality is that most cowboys couldn't afford either one of the aforementioned Colts or Winchesters, so the likelihood is that most still carried surplus 1851 Colt Navys or 1860 Armys.

Most of the guys I see today that herd cattle usually carry either a .357 or .44 magnum of some kind, usually a Ruger because, again, they still can't afford the Colt or (in the case of the .44) the S&W.

 

[Elbert P . Suggins]

I've been on this place all my life and for carry in my situation a double action revolver in 357 and Mini 14 with 5 shot clip and no scope that fits in a saddle scabbard with a carry on 20 shot clip fits the bill very nicely for farm and ranch carry. What else would ya need except a sandwich and a pretty woman?

 

[owlhoot]

I'd still be well content with a Colt SA and Win 73, both in 44-40.

 

[DirtyHarry31]

My setup for me when I retire to New Mexico for my GMC is 357 mag, my Rossi 92 rifle, My S&W 686 4" for my side & My S&W 360 M&P for conceal/backup. The combo covers all situations up to 200 yrds, and that's enough "personal space" for me! I can carry two calibers of ammo (357/38), can get it anywhere and is a very effective round.

 

[Aaron12]

talk about bringing back the dead.....

 

[Mp7]

SKS with folding stock
and a Glock

 

[glockman19]

I would say a .357mag or .44mag combo.

Revolver:
.....Ruger
.....S&W

Rifle:
.....Marlin
.....Puma
.....Winchester

 

[Dr.Rob]

Now that I have an 1894 Marlin in 44 magnum, I kind of want one in .32-20.

You know that would be a great coyote rifle. Lots of deer killed with that old cartridge too.

 

[Iggy]

There's a S&W Mdl 19 2.5" under that vest and there is an AR-180 with a 30 round mag in the pickup.

 

[paintballdude902]

new america? ummm depends what u view as new america

for me mini-14 and a 1911

for the more tactical guys probably an ar-15 and a glock

 

[pikid89]

Well, you might be surprised to find out that the "gun to grab" for many ranchers out here is a bolt action scoped 22-250. The most likely thing to have to shoot is a coyote.

A rancher i know has that in his truck along with his 30-06

on his horse he has only a ruger single 6 in .22 mag

and IMO the old cowboy type lever actions just wouldnt cut it on open prairies(see preferred bullet above) and cow pastures
(a 30-30 or 45-70 would be useless on a 300 yard shot on a coyote)
as a tube fed magazine allows for only flat tip bullets thus affecting long range performance (excluding hornady leveRevolution bullets) and all the cowboys i know dont buy premium ammo...just good ole core lokts the deadliest mushroom in the woods

 

[mljdeckard]

Some of the cowboys I know go traditional with SA revolvers and lever guns, but I also know some who go with 1911s or Glocks, and a LOT of Mini-14s. I haven't seen some of them in a long time, I might be interested to see how they like my SKS as a horse/truck gun in comparison.

In high school you would have seen me riding a horse down main street with BDU pants, a Cure t-shirt, jungle boots with spurs, and a 1911. Yes, the tourists LOVED me.

 

[9MMare]

Are you talking about the mythical cowboys chasing down outlaws or the real cowboys shoveling crap and building fences?

You might be long gone, but if not, high five!

 

[9MMare]

Hey Iggy. Nice pic, nice pony.

My pony spent some time ranching in WY and OR and I'm hoping that he's been exposed to gun fire....will probably find out this winter!

 

[sonier]

ok modern cowboy here, in my saddle scabard i have ususally, a 22 mag stainless or 30/30 winchester, side arm is a 357 magnum colt python.

BTW glocks will get you killed out here, and so does any semiauto

 

[jordan1948]

.45-120 and Colt Peacmaker .45lc

 

[mljdeckard]

sonier-

There's a difference between "They will get you killed" and "I just don't like them".

 

[Dimis]

Modern Cowboy:
Pair of Ruger Redhawks in of course .45colt
Marlin lever rifle probably in .45-70 but the full barrel not the carbine
remington 870 pump shotgun

otherwise
kimber 1911 .45ACP
colt 6920 5.56 ar-15
mossberg 590