How much ammo did the average Cowboy carry?

[Certaindeaf]

The most they carried one full box and the Revolver with five and the rifle full.
Extra ammo was a luxury most could not afford.

Unless you were Elmer Keith and your Dad gave you a one ton pig of lead.

 

[12many]

My father grew up on a ranch in Montana and knew the area well. They carried very little and had very little. Might have a few in the gun and maybe a few more in the saddle bag.

Even hunting they might only take a couple rounds. Deer and other animals were very plentiful and could be more easily approach on a horse or walking behind a horse.

 

[Certaindeaf]

I think the modern cowboy shooter carries like 12 all the way up to the stage.. I'm just guessing though.
If I was a "cowboy", I'd want like 18 at least.. perhaps months of travel. Might depend on what you call a cowboy though.. like that matters.

 

[critter]

My great grandfather was from that era, mostly after the Indian Wars. He was a smallish, wiry little guy. He was not what I consider a 'cowboy', but was a 'mule skinner' and drove 8,10 & 12 hitches of mules pulling freight wagons.

I have found no references whatsoever of him carrying either a rifle or pistol. He may very well have. There ARE, however, several stories of his 'sorting out some difficulties' using his expertise with a black snake bull whip with which he was said to be an expert. He could, supposedly, flick horse flies off the mules without touching the mules.

I DO remember him and, though small of stature, would not have wanted to tangle with him.

 

[gym]

Ok, now what about those who made their living with a gun, like sheriffs and martials. Also what did the Bad Guys carry, the Gunfighters, of the era, like Jessie James and Bat Masterson, Billy the Kid etc. I think Scofield's were big with many as well as Colts. I remember hearing Doc Holiday carried a 32 in that shoulder rig, "but who knows where I heard that". I assume they had more of a need for a better weapon and more ammo.