Main match rifle question

[Cherokee Reb]

I realize it's not terribly practical, but could an 1876 clone in , say, 40-60 or 45-75 be used as a main match rifle. Just wondering if the calibers would be considered too hot for the rifle targets.

CR

[River City John]

By-Laws do state pistol calibre rifles. At a Regional or the National you'd be restricted to side matches for that model and chambering.
At a typical local monthly match, you may get dispensation on a case by case basis from your Judge.

We did have a Pard shoot his .40-65 '76 in our local match at BRR with no damage to targets. Very satisfying clang and clouds of BP smoke.

RCJ

[Pancho Peacemaker]

I realize it's not terribly practical, but could an 1876 clone in , say, 40-60 or 45-75 be used as a main match rifle. Just wondering if the calibers would be considered too hot for the rifle targets.

CR

Cherokee Reb,

Just to add to RCJ's excellent response:  Those heavy rifle calibers put alot of wear and tear on the mild steel targets we all use as main match targets, thus leading to early target failure.  This is the reason for the restriction to pistol caliber rounds for your main match rifle.

You do see some posse's set up "Cody/Dixon" classes where a shooter can fire their big bore rifle at specially designated long distance targets in place of the the usual main match targets.

[Tascosa Joe]

We had a shooter shooting a Walker with 60 gr of BP and it made pretty big dents in the targets.  I would suppose a 45-60 with 35 gr of 2F and a round ball might work.  She might not chamber very well.

[Books OToole]

I realize it's not terribly practical, but could an 1876 clone in , say, 40-60 or 45-75 be used as a main match rifle. Just wondering if the calibers would be considered too hot for the rifle targets.

CR

All of the above answers are correct.  However, you can apply for an exemption to use your .45-60 and it will be upto the Ranger Master.  The Range Master's decision will be based on whether or not he believes that the targets at the range will be damaged or not.

Books

[Cherokee Reb]

Thanks for all the responses. Finally noticed the "pistol caliber" note on the rifles. I've given up on SASS shooting. Not really in to trick guns and pushing the bounds of what is legal for a couple thousands of a second time advantage. Besides , NCOWS dresses better and has better shoots.
Been selling off extra guns to concentrate on shooting fewer better and had a chance to get a nice 1876 . I'm a sucker for the odd gun and thought it would be a fun shooter. Heck, for laughs I shoot a converted Walker in some matches and recently picked up a Garrett Arms Gemmer-Sharps for long range shooting.
See you at the range if the floods ever subside.

CR

[pony express]

My local club has over the years replaced all of our mild steel home made targets with better grade ones, I have shot some stages with 45/70 "carbine loads"(45/55/405) with no damage. Did manage to knock one over, though,last match.

[Patrick Henry Brown]

Outside of the Pistoleer and Working Cowboy Catagories, where do the Bylaws specify "pistol-caliber"? Where is "main match rifle" clarified?