Revolver pairing question

[LoveandMortality]

howdy everyone,

First time posting here. I recently purchased a Ruger new model Vaquero in 45LC with a 4-5/8 barrel. I've already puchased a set of custom grips from Austin Originals, a new Mernickle HW1 holster, belt mountain #5 base pin and a wolff reduced power spring kit (19 lb hammer/30 oz trigger). I also had a small bit of custom laser engraving done to make it one of a kind. All that aside, i realize if i were to use this new gun and rig for cowboy shooting i would need 2 revolvers. I was wondering if it would be considered a bad idea or bad etiquette or just plain dumb to have two revolvers of different barrel lengths. I was thinking the 4-5/8 on strongside and a 5.5 or 7.5 barrel crossdraw? I like the idea of having two different size revolvers in my arsenal. I don't want to become known as the Lopsided Ranger though. Thanks guys.
Long days and pleasant nights,
Don

[Shotgun Franklin]

If you don't point it out I doubt that most folks will notice. I used to know a Shooter who used one of two entirely different rifles during a match. I happened to notice but considered it no big deal.

[Stu Kettle]

Where's Dalton Masterson? Ya oughta see the interesting assortment of pistols he might pull out at any given shoot - from itty bitty short-barrelled .45s with birdhead grips to a horse pistol as long as his thigh bone.  Most of us who have witnessed it think it adds style & character, & can be downright entertainin'  

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[joec]

I'm in NCOWS now and hope to soon shoot my first event next month. I have an ASM 4.75" and a Uberti 5.5" both are in 45LC and 1873 models. I carry the 4.75 as a cross draw and the 5.5" as a strong side carry straight draw. Now NCOWS only requires a single pistol and rifle for cowboy shooting class with a shot gun added for others. I don't see a problem with it as it wasn't uncommon if someone in that time carried two pistols often different lengths. NCOWS is more historically correct than most other CAS type groups in both guns and attire.

[LoveandMortality]

Thanks for the responses. Love to see some of the mismatched iron if anyone would like to oblige.

[Major 2]

Richards & Mason in 38 Colt
Type 2 Richards in 44 Colt

[Major 2]

Remington in 45 Colt @  8 oClock paired with

 at 9 oclock a Second Gen 1860 Army with a 45 colt Conversion Cylinder...

Barrel lengths are similar but beyond that all bets or off 

[Adirondack Jack]

Thanks for the responses. Love to see some of the mismatched iron if anyone would like to oblige.

Here's what I shot last time out

a five shot .36 cap and ball and a .45 Ruger Vaquero.

[Uncle Hillbilly]

Very cool!  I had this very same question!  I don't have matching guns and was afraid of my weird combo being a problem.  I have a Pietta 1858 Remington cap n' ball at 8" and a Uberti Cattleman Hombre in 45lc at 4 3/4".  I'm saving for a rifle and shotgun and was really afraid I'd have to buy a matching wheel gun.  I don't mind the mis-match, as long as it's not a problem with everyone else.

[Short Knife Johnson]

I am wholeheartedly behind shooting mismatched guns for 2 reasons.  To me, it is much more historically correct, and it makes some folks think you are bat-crap crazy.

[Pancho Peacemaker]

1)  If you are shooting because you want to be the absolutely fastest shooter and go home with all the prize money, get two matched gun.  They will balance the same and present the same sight picture.  It will shave 10th's of seconds of your 13 second stage time. (That's not me)

2)  If you read about the real "Old West", in the cartridge era, most folks carried one handgun.  If a lawman or bandito, carried two, one was a strong side gun, the other was a short barrel "belly" gun or pocket pistol for back-up.  As Short Knife commented, you are more historically correct carrying in this manner.


Pancho "Bat-Crap Crazy" Peacemaker.


P.S.:  Last Saturday's match I was carrying a 6.5" S&W Russian on my strong side and a 2" Colt SAA Sheriff's model on a cross draw.

[cpt dan blodgett]

While not exactly your question.  For years a shot Blued and Stainless 44 Mag Vaqueros.  No one ever even commented on the miss match.  Guess the only one concerned was me, I picked up another blued, so now I match.  Am actually thinking about picking up another stainless so I can have a mismatched pair and a missmatched back up set.

[Tornado]

I shoot a mismatched pair for two reasons.
1) It's all I have
2) If I can only afford a few guns, why get two that are identical?

[litl rooster]

A pistol is just something to shoot back with why you run to your horse for your rifle.

Tornado, that's the same reasons cowboys had

[Danny Bear Claw]

My 44-40s are a 7.5 inch mated with a 3 inch.   

[Yeso Bill]

We had a shooting at a neighborhood branding back in 1886.  Jim White rode up and shot George Peacock 9 times with a Colt and a Smith.  I agree with Pancho.  Why would you carry two guns on the range unless you were fairly certain you were going to need (or use) them?  At this late date and in this area (S. of Ft. Sumner, NM), I doubt many were carrying one, although it sounds like Peacock was armed.   
    In any case, White & Peacock had been at odds for some time and Peacock put the wrong brand on what White thought was one too many calves.  He shot him off of his horse and filled him full of holes and escaped, never to be apprehended.

Those guys were just like us.  If a new model came out and they could afford it, they bought it.     

Billy

[Pancho Peacemaker]

.  Why would you carry two guns on the range unless you were fairly certain you were going to need (or use) them? 

If I'm going' somewhere where I KNOW there's gonna be a gunfight,  I'm takin' my shotgun. 

[Danny Bear Claw]

My main match pistols are a pair of 7.5 inch barreled "old type" Vaqueros, (see avatar pic  <---- over there), in stainless steel.
My back ups are an old model Vaquero Bisley with 5.5 inch barrel in blue finish mated up with a 3.75 inch Birds Head Vaquero in stainless steel finish.  Obviously not a match.  All my Vaqueros are caliber 45 Colt.
Now my 38-40s all are 5.5 inch barrels with blue/cc finish, except for my SASS Colt 38-40 which is nickled and engraved.   

[Pay Dirt Norvelle]

I started with a 1875 Remington and a 1873 Colt. I have since bought a New vaquero Bisley and shot that with the Colt this past match.  However, by next match I will have my second Ruger and then will have a matched pair, but I will keep the other two as backups.

[Karl]

I have shot several odd combinations of pistols over the years.  I already had an Old Vaquero that I am very fond of and being too cheap to buy the nickled Schofield that I would like, I found another good deal on an Old Vaquero.  After shooting C&B and cartridge conversions for so long I feel like I am cheating.     My wife hates shooting mismatched pistols and just will not mix calibres. 

 At the end of the day I really enjoy playing with the widest variety of firearm combinations.