GETTING STARTED IN COWBOY SHOOTING... written by Tuolumne Lawman - 1/1/2001
DO IT ON A SHOESTRING: PART ONE

GETTING STARTED IN COWBOY SHOOTING...

DO IT ON A SHOESTRING: PART ONE

By "Tuolumne Lawman" SASS # 6127

This article was first published in the June '96 issue of the Cowboy Chronicle,
the publication of the Single Action Shooting Society.

Cowboy Action Shooting, as epitomized by SASS, offers a unique opportunity for the shooter and western history buff. One of the best features (besides the "Spirit of the Game") is that it doesn't have to be expensive to be enjoyed and participated in! In this series of articles, we'll talk about how to get started on a "shoestring."

Once upon a time in the west, there was a real life Deputy Sheriff who enjoyed all of the shooting sports, especially action shooting. However, when he finally went to a sanctioned IPSC match in the valley, he was disheartened to see that if you didn't have a $5,000 "racegun" in 9x21, you didn't have a chance in hell! This experience left me looking for something different.

Several years ago, I went to a festival in our county, in the heart of California's Gold Country, at Columbia. A local Western re-enactment troupe put on a slightly embellished version of the "Gunfight at the OK Corral". They were dressed in historically correct clothing, with the appropriate period guns. The black powder smoke was like perfume!. A little later, I was going back through some past issues of Guns and Ammo, when I came across an article about "End of Trail", Cowboy action Shooting, and SASS. "My gosh," I thought,"this is the best of both worlds. Historical Re-enactment combined with action shooting! This is to good to be true." I was hooked. But having three kids in college on a public servant's salary was going to make it tough to get started, or so I thought.

As it is hard to shoot in an action match without guns, lets cover that in our first article. I am not going to cover the Modern Class. Most folks know there is a plentitude of inexpensive Rugers and Marlins in .357, 44, and other calibers. I'm going to talk about the Traditional class, which is where my interests lay, and seems to be the fastest growing category of shooters.

SHOTGUNS:
The first gun I picked up was a Rossi coach gun with side hammers. I was at a local gunshop talking to the owner, a friend of mine. Another customer overheard me asking Bud about a 12 GA. for cowboy action shooting. He told me that he had a Rossi Coach Gun with side hammers that he wanted to sell. Being an inveterate horse trader, I embarked on a negotiation and finally got the gun for about $200 worth of goods (including some 30-06 ammo he wanted). Even though this was a good deal, there are bunches of cheap used doubles by Rossi, Baikal, Savage, Western Field, etc. that can be had for this price range, especially if you go to the gun show to shop. Even the new Rossi and IGA coach guns go for around three hundred and some change. While most of these are hammerless, they still work for SASS. Over a dozen manufacturers made hammerless shotguns by the 1870s.

PISTOLS:
The pistols are the easiest to get. Thanks to our friends in Italy, there is a plentitude of pre-1900 "hawg legs" to choose from. Most are imported by Company's like EMF, Cimmaron Arms, Navy Arms, and American Arms. A basic Peacemaker clone can be had for a little over $300 new, in a variety of barrel lengths, and usually in 45 Colt. As the historical correctness and finish work increases, so does the price. Most however, don't go over the $400 to $475 range. These guns can be had in 45 Colt, 44 WCF (44-40), 38 WCF (38-40), 44 spcl., and a few other calibers. Over all, the fit and finish on these guns is excellent.

Let's not forget the excellent home grown Ruger Vaqueros. They are basically a Ruger Blackhawk with fixed sights, a color case hardened frame. They come with the standard 4 3/4, 5 1/2, and 7 1/2 inch barrels. It is offered in the best calibers for the cowboy shooting 45 Colt and 44-40. The dimensions of the Vaquero are about 5% larger than the original Peacemaker, but anyone but an avid western purist could tell the difference. They can also be had in a satin stainless, that should be popular with the black powder folks. Though they are not yet as common as the Italian guns, they are gaining in popularity. Once again, they live up to Ruger's long standing commitment to quality and value. at the last gun show I went to, they were selling in the $350 to $400 price range.

The other current home grown entrant is, of course, the gun that started it all, the original Colt Single Action Revolver. Colt has geared up production in response to the growth of single action shooting. They now offer it in a variety of finishes and barrel lengths. In addition to the 45 Colt chambering, they have revived the 44-40 and 38-40 offerings. Unfortunately for most of us, however, the least expensive of these hovers in the $1,000 price range. Though I am sure that the real Colt is worth every penny, most of us (myself included) just simply can't afford to spend that much on a gun. It really doesn't qualify for the "getting started on a shoestring" category, but everyone always wants to know about "real Colts" when I talk about these guns.

I won't get into the original pre-1900 guns, as that is a topic in itself. Most of these, unless you get one that was kept under grandpa Ben's mattress or in aunt Bertha's sewing box, are also too expensive to qualify for the "shoestring" category.

I started with an Uberti 1875 Remington copy in 45 Colt that I got from EMF that was well under $400. I traded it off for a Ruger Vaquero (blued with a 4 3/4 in. barrel) in 44-40 when I couldn't locate a rifle in 45 Colt. Much later I picked up a Cimmaron Arm's New Thunderer 3 1/2 in. blued in 44-40 as a second gun. I just replaced the Ruger with a Navy Arms Schofield in 44-40, but that's another story.

RIFLES:
For the main matches, you need a lever action rifle in a pistol caliber. I believe, just as many of the old time cowboys did, that it is simpler to have your pistol and rifle be in the same caliber. Even though Winchester, Uberti, and Rossi are currently producing some guns in 45 Colt, they are almost impossible to find. That's why I went to 44-40. From a purely historical standpoint, there were no production guns in the later half of the 1800s in a 45 Colt chambering.

Probably the best buy in this category is the Rossi clone of the Winchester 92. It can be had in 44-40 or 45 Colt. It is generally available, and the best part is the price. I picked a new one up in 44-40 at a gun show. The dealer had it marked $275, but it was a bad show and I got it for $250! Though that's another example of careful shopping, they can usually be had for around $300. The 45 Colt version of the Rossi is a little harder to find.

Winchester is and has made its venerable model 94 Trapper in 45 Colt, as well as the 44 magnum that is popular in the Modern Class. It also has been hard to find, and is not as traditional as the Rossi, as it has angle eject and a safety. Its price is usually in the $400 range.

As with the handguns, our friends in Italy are one of the major producers of old west replica lever actions. They make Henry's, Winchester 66s and Winchester 73s. They are offered in a variety of calibers (mostly 44-40 and some 45 Colt), barrel lengths and finishes. They are, however not the inexpensive alternative that the Italian handguns are. Their price generally hovers between $750 to $900, thus disqualifying them from the "shoestring" category also.

I was at a recent gun show, and was surprised that there were a lot of original 1873 Winchesters in 44-40 and 38-40 that were in good condition and shootable (preferably with black powder, depending on actual age). The surprise was that these were in the $600 to $750 price range, cheaper than the replicas! This is still a little high for the "shoestring" category, though.

SIDE MATCH GUNS:
There are frequently side matches such as "Pocket Pistol" and "Long Range Rifle" at the cowboy matches. Pocket pistols must be of a pre 1890 design, .32 caliber or better. This is easy, as there is no shortage of the old vintage Iver Johnson, Hopkins and Allen, and Harrington and Richardson .32 and .38 S
W top break revolvers. They typically run in the $50 to $100 price range, and use current 32 and 38 S
W ammunition. The long range rifle must be a traditional caliber like 45-70 or 38-55. These rifles are generally neither cheap or plentiful. The one notable exception, however, is the New England Firearms "Handi-Rifle" in 45-70. It breaks open like a single shot shotgun, but is in 45-70 with fixed sights. It retails for about the $225 price range, and SASS has recently OKed its use in these matches.

--o--

Even though they add to the fun, you don't have to have an original Winchester 97 pump 12 Ga., or an original .44 Henry rifle, or even an original martial marked Colt 7 1/2" smoke wagon, with a Merlwin and Hubert Pocket Army as a second gun, to have a great time at a match. To me, half of the fun is the buying, selling, horse trading, shopping, and research that goes into the sport, and the creating and outfitting your own character. What other shooting sport gives you the potential for so much enjoyment when you are not actually at the range shooting?
My very patient and understanding wife has a saying, "The difference between men and boys is the price of their toys." With careful shopping, you can get started with a rifle, pistol, and shotgun for $750 to $800 or less for all three. Just take your time, shop wisely, and don't try to do it all at once. Most important, have fun doing it! I'll see you in my next article where I talk about clothes and leather.