Unusual setup for cowboy action shooting?

[cluttonfred]

While I not really in a position to do anything about it (living overseas), I have been daydreaming about getting into cowboy action shooting.

Typically for me, however, I wouldn't want to have the same guns as everybody else. No Colt Peacemaker or 1873 Winchester for me, I'd like something different but still historically appropriate and financially within reason. I am sticking to smokeless cartridge weapons for the moment.

For example, instead of a Colt Peacemaker, I am thinking of an S&W Model 3 top break revolver (say an Uberti reproduction).

Any other ideas for atypical revolvers, rifles/carbines or shotguns for CAS?

Thanks!

 

[SMLE]

One of the pre-turn of the Century Webleys might be fun, or an Adams revolver. I don't see why an 1895 Nagant revolver wouldn't be usable, except ammo availability. There were several good European revolver designs that ought to work.

 

[Rachen]

I believe you can use any longarm or sidearm that is period correct:, ie, from the middle to late 19th century.

I don't know about double action though.

In SASS, double action is out of the question. So the Adams won't be a viable choice.

 

[cane]

Depends on if you mean "CAS" to be "SASS", or "NCOWS". SASS doesn't allow any DA revolver as a main match pistol, altho the Nagant is legal i converted to SA. NCOWS on the other hand allows any period correct revolver either single or double asction. As to rifles, perhaps a copy of the Colt lightening, or a Spencer, or even an Evans. Shotguns are simpler, in SASS the only legal repeating shotguns are either origional or copies of the Winchester 1887 or 1897. Doubles without ejectors, with or without hammers are legal. Have you visited www.sassnet.com yet?

 

[Buck Nekkid]

One of the reasons most of us Cowboy Action Shooters select a Colt Peacemaker clone (or Ruger) is availability and price. A Uberti version of the S&W will set you back near $800 and you'll need a pair of them. You can get a pair of Ruger single actions for about the price of one S&W clone.

If you don't want a Winchester rifle clone or Marlin then you're going to be very challenged. Depending on what class you wish to shoot you'll be very limited if you go any other route. Classic Cowboy requires a rifle (or clone) made before 1873. "B" Western requires that your rifle be a post 1873 to 1899. The other classes aren't so specific, but remember that we shoot a lot! Old iron just was never made for the amount of ammo we run through our rifles or handguns.

I've been a SASS member for nearly 10 years. I regularly go through a couple a thousand rounds of centerfire ammo just shooting locally every year. If I were like some of my compadres that shoot every weekend and go to big shoots I'd have to at least double or triple that.

We would love for you to check us out when you get back. There are shoots in virtually every state every weekend. You can't find a better, more fun bunch of folks to spend time with!!

 

[rocinante]

I just this week finished a 6 month purchase period to arm myself for SASS. I got 2 ruger new vaqueros 357, a marlin 1894CB also in 357, and a chinese SxS which seems to be rugged and not bad for 200.

I like the mosin nagant idea but didn't know they could be converted to single action easily. classicarms.us has 32 cylinders for them too. You could get 3 including the cylinders for what I paid for one vaquero. They would stand out. Wonder how you would holster them.

If you want unique get a LeMatte reproduction. Not sure if they are black powder only or even cartridge. You need a shotgun too and the lever action 1887 12 gauge is kewl.

 

[cpirtle]

I believe you can use any longarm or sidearm that is period correct:, ie, from the middle to late 19th century.

In a slide action shotgun only the Winchester 97 or clones are allowed for SASS matches. The early Marlin's were deemed unsafe and as such are not allowed.


"Different" and "financially within reason" are going to be tough to come by when it comes to shooting CAS.


rocinante, welcome aboard. Taking the plunge for the full monty can be pretty expensive but worth every penny.

Most guys look at a $1,000+ rifle and have a hard time justifying it, mainly becuase they'll never shoot it much.

A Cowboy Shooter sees a $1,000+ rifle and can justify it because they will put thousands of rounds through it, let it sit in the rain for 7-8 hours, stage it against a rickety old fence and at the end of the day throw it in the back of their truck for the ride home.

We get our moneys worth out of our guns.

 

[notbubba]

Six gun:
How about a conversion six gun, very common for the era. People had their cap & ball converted to cartridge revolvers.

http://www.uberti.com/firearms/army_navy_conversion_and_open_top.php

Rifle:
Pump action, I don't know if they were very common, but they were around

http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?id=403&category=Rifle

Shotgun:
They had lever action shotguns.

http://www.impactguns.com/store/SS-11662.html

That would give you an unusual setup for about the same price as the usual.