Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Cowboy Action Shooting perfered caliber?

I bought 45colt Vaqueros and a model 92 rossi. They are strong enough to use for hunting and they really smack what ever you point them at.

CAS guns are pretty specialized and don't make the best hunting guns. And good hunting guns don't make the best CAS guns.

"Smacking" the steel is fun, but not the most competitive scenario in CAS. FAST is king, and unless one is into one of those classes requiring .40 cal. or greater, the .38 Spec. rules...

Also, the easiest and least expensive round to reload.

Fast to reload, fast at the range and cheap to feed...

IMHO, how can you beat that...?

DF

I look at it differently.

The 45colt is more versitile and a better choice if someone is looking to do double duty. My Vaqueros are more than accurate enough out to 40-50yds for deer, and the Rossi 92 is good to 75-80 with the full buckhorn sights. I load lighter [7grs bullseye]for CAS matches and load hotter [17grs 2400]for hunting.

Even with my guns, the biggest issue to placing well in the matches is due to misses, and time transitioning between targets and weapons. The recoil of the 45 has never been the cause of my placement in matches.

If one was pushed into one set of guns for multiple roles, then I would agree that the .45 Colt is more versatile.

One issue may be regulation of a non adjustable sight revolver. If it's set up for CAS loads, it's probably not going to be right for full powered hunting loads. I like to have a set of CAS pistols set up for a load, one that I can depend on for POI/POA compatability. And that can be done by adjusting the barrel left or right with the proper tools and filing the front sight to regulate.

DF

I agree.

I currently use 44/40s in a pair of tuned Piettas and an 1873 Uberti clone. I also have an 1866 Uberti, also in 44/40.

I used a pair of 45 Vaqueros and the 1866, but decided to shoot classic cowboy and wanted to have a set of guns that gave me no trouble at all, so I bought new stuff, all set up by a gunsmith (one of the most respected in cowboy action stuff here). One pistol worked like a charm, one had trouble with a cocking notch that was broken, the rifle needed two gunsmiths to 'unsmith' it, the shotgun needed the sears re-cut and still isn;t working properly, I just figured it had an improperly constructed hammer and the notch needs filing down, I will get to it.

44/40s are good, feed slicker than frog snot, but are a bit fiddly to load and you lose a few cases. Number one choice if you want to shoot black powder.

I've heard that some of the "big name" CAS smiths got so busy they had to bring in help. The more people in a shop like that, the more cracks for something to fall thru...

The good ones will make it right.

DF

In black powder I like .36 but my ".36" pistols take .350, .375, and .380 round ball.

In close cartridge I found that I like .45 (LC) in black powder after trying a few rounds.

My wife shoots .38 S&W and .38 Spec. I noticed that all of the other ladies were shooting .38 Spec at the last match here. I have been playing with a couple Colt Navy conversions in .38 S&W which shoot nice.

Our shotguns are 12 and 20 SxS.

One thing to consider when buying rifles is that you might want to shoot Wild Bunch some day. The rules have evidently been recently standardized and don't allow rifles of the smaller chamberings. Wild Bunch uses 1911 .45 ACP pistols so the size of a revolver does not affect Wild Bunch shooting, but the shotguns and rifles used for Cowboy Shooting can do double duty if they are the right chambering and model. I use a 12 gauge M1897 Winchester and a .45 Colt Marlin for both.

I've only recently started shooting SA handguns, after 3 decades of shooting double action. I looked at 38Spl/357 magnum, but I only have limited funds, and I wanted something a little more on the traditional side, so I opted for 45 Colt. I am not disappointed in the least. FUN, with a capital FUN! I thought about a lever gun in 45 Colt, but learned that it wasn't historical, so I stuck with a 45-70 -- cartridges from the same year.

A friend of mine shoots Cowboy Action and he has 357 revolvers and rifle. I razz him all the time about cowboys who shoot powder puff loads in 38 Spl, and pink lace bloomers.

I really like the 45 Colt.

I shot 45 Colt and 38/357 as my hands got more arthritic, but went back to the 45 with BP as they actually shoot easier for me.

Then there is the cap & ball .44's that I really love to shoot!

I have a pair of Limited Edition SS Rugers in 38-40 with .40 cal cylinders. They are full house Ron Power conversions. That process plus the cost of the guns is way over the top, probably why you don't see many set up like that. I traded for these, used, and got them right. I also have a 1910 vintage Win 92 in 38-40 that is real slick.

So, if I have a weak moment and (heaven forbid) go to the dark side, I'll use the 38-40. It's a good BP ctg, and will shoot 180 gr. bullets. If you didn't already have your .45's, the 38-40 for BP would be an option worth checking into.

Besides, 38-40 was reportedly John Waynes favorite caliber. IMHO, can't top that one.

DF

.38 Special if you want to win.

I can't believe I'm agreeing with you, Swampy. Kinda makes me nervous.

I shoot .38 Specials and I occasionally win. One could shoot BP in the .38 Spec, but I'd probably go with the 38-40's if moving to the dark side. Those are SS and they're Rugers.

Here are my Colt Gen. 3, match pistols, .38 spec., of course. Way too nice to soot up with that nasty, black stuff...

DF

Here are the Spec. Ed. 38-40's, (full sized, original Vaqueros, not New Vaqueros) tricked out to the max. by Ron Power and Co. A bit flashy, but what the heck...

DF

Em's nice hand cannons!

Nice looking revolvers. You have to love those old Vaqueros. I just today picked up another .45 Colt SS old Vaquero. It is hard to pass by one when I see it in a store. I have one in 44/40, but a pair in 38/40 is way cool.

I do have two of the New Vaqueros in .357 and am getting a M92 that has been rechambered to .357 in about 2 weeks. I may start using .357 as my go-to chambering for Cowboy shooting. It really does seem to make a difference in speed.

What are you guys giving for an old Vaquero in very good condition down south there. Up here they run pretty high.

I see them anywhere from $400 to $600+ US Dollars.

The issues involved with reloading tapered cartridges, and the sheer volume of ammo needed for CAS would lead me to avoid them.