Evening, Ladies and Gents ~

[Plano Bill]

Seeking a bit of advice.

Have been a collector/shooter of vintage military bolt-action battle rifles for some time, and have just stumbled across the sport of CAS  - really didn't know there was such a thing.  Then I found Cas City and commenced to read - boy, you got everything here: history, matches, period dress, and real nice hardware.

I'll be visiting such organized shoots as I can find for a lookaround, but thought I'd ask a couple questions about pistols meantime.

I see that a lot of shooters are using .38s, presumably for the milder recoil and increased speed.  I already know that there's gonna be some kind of S&W M1875 pattern break-top in my future (in .45LC), but I really like the looks and feel of the little birdshead Ruger .32 H&R mags.  I find very little reference to their use in CAS - is .32 too puny for effective competition?  If I understand correctly, various .32 chamberings were in wide use in Victorian times - one of the just two hand guns I own is an M1895 Nagant revolver - just wondering why .32 doesn't seem to get much play nowdays.

Thanks in advance to all for advice and comments,

W.T.

[Blondetta]

There are lots of folks who shoot the .32's.  You'll hear the word "gamer", when it comes to the loads and the folks who shoot them.  It's PC not to call folks gamers. I'm sure, you'll get alot of reply's.  I happen to be a Warthog and prefer shooting .45lc heavy smokie loads.  There are alot of different opinions on the .32's.  It just depends what you like.
(see I didn't say anything bad) 

[Plano Bill]

Thank you, Ma'am.

Uh, oh - PC issues.

Guess somebody's gonna have to explain the terms "warthog" and "gamer" to me.  I'm thinkin' that there's gonna be a perceived "sissy" factor with .32s, but since my other interests include rimfire, I don't pay sneers any mind.

I'm only average-sized but not specially recoil-sensitive - I shoot the 8x56r in a cavalry carbine and accept the walnut hickeys, headaches, and shoulder lookin like the face of Choo-Choo Rodriguez after a bad loss that are part of it.  Beside the S&W#3 semi-clone I want, I'm in the market for a shorty OM Ruger Vaq in 44, but after reading through all the posts back-to-front on this forum, wondered why I didn't see much about the 32.

I was really wondering how much they're used in match shooting, if at all, and why not.  I find the little Rugers a real joy to handle and point - lke you said, I just like 'em...if someone would give me the low-down by PM (so as not to step on any toes, I'd appreciate it.

[Arcey]

'Gamers'.  Some use the term in a derogatory manner, referring to those who work hard to finish as best they can within the rules structure.  Personally, I have no problems with that.

'Warthog'.  Someone who likes noise and recoil.  Throwing heavy, forty caliber plus bullets downrange.  I have no problems with that either.

Basic definitions.

For my purposes, a firearm's job in CAS is to throw a hunk of lead at a target and make it go 'ding' when it hits.  My loads could be thought to be 'gamer' loads by some.  They're 38/357.  They make me happy.  Nothing else matters.

Last Saturday, I believe three shooters were using thirty twos.  One on my posse was using them in rifle and pistols.  Not sure about the other two but I'm thinking they were just pistol.  Having shot with them before I believe their attitude towards 'gamer' or 'sissy' remarks are the same as mine.

Perhaps one reason you see so few of the thirty twos are that folks have so many more options in firearms and ammo with the 38/357 and greater.  Like you, I find the small Rugers a hoot to handle.  I shot one last Wednesday in a plinking session with a couple pards.  I'd use them at a shoot if I wanted but I'm not going to go thru the time and expense of switching.

Bottom line, if it's legal and you like it – shoot it.  If you have questions you'd rather not publish feel free to PM me.  I'll do my best to help.

Blondee, darlin', I thought your reply was simply marvelous.

[Plano Bill]

Thank you, Sir; appreciate the insights.

Believe there's a show up in Winchester this coming weekend, so a pair of little 32s and a Beretta Laramie it will be.

36!  Now that's an interesting thought - hadn't considered C&B atall; do folks shoot conicals outta them or just round ball? 

Shoot, that's just gonna give rise to more questions: open top?  strapped like the Rem?  Which clones are good?  etc etc etc...

[Arcey]

Folks, 'specially new shooters, I fouled up referrin' to my stuff as thirty sixes.  My slang.  They're 357 Magnums.  The original post has been edited.

The answer to W.T.'s questions, yes.  People do shoot thirty six caliber cap & ball revolvers, open top and full frame versions.  With both round ball and conical bullets.

Sorry for any confusion.......

[Cyrille]

Thank you, Ma'am.

  Beside the S&W#3 semi-clone I want, I'm in the market for a shorty OM Ruger Vaq in 44,

Git to that show in Winchester! At my last visit to a gun show I found a revover that I had been searching for, for more than a year!

[Plano Bill]

Git to that show in Winchester! At my last visit to a gun show I found a revover that I had been searching for, for more than a year!

Truck's already gassed up - I'll be there, ok; my ship didn't come in, exactly; more like a boogie board - but after reading all the BOSS posts re: S&W breaktop pattern models, dunno about the Beretta Laramie - would like to handle a Uberti...& 'course there's the matter of those .32s, and that .44, and now I just finished reading up on the open-tops, home conversions, the RMs, and the plain ol' C&B 36s & 44s (in Cimmaron's Original Finish!) with Slim Jim holsters!...been haunting the Cimmaron, Uberti,  Texas Jack sites...online & feverish half the night with three screens open...Why ain't there no stocking dealers around here!...whadabout a nice pair of scuffed cavalry boots?...gotta get an army peaked campaign hat and crush it shapeless (reg'lar & authentic cowboy hats tend to make me look like Frontier Divinity Student)...who's got ivory grips?  Man, Cimmaron Lightnings with the fleur-de-lis birdsheads!...WHOA!  Hold on, there!  Get ahold of yourself, or this place is gonna be death on the wallet...!

W.T.

[Cyrille]

Why ain't there no stocking dealers around here[/i]!

W.T.

I asked the same question of GOEX! They produce their BP here in Louisiana yet they have no distributer in LA. go figure?

[Plano Bill]

I asked the same question of GOEX! They produce their BP here in Louisiana yet they have no distributer in LA. go figure?

In my case, it's just as well - I've already mentally spent about 5 grand on hardware after reading CAS City posts for less than two weeks...

W.T.

[Ozark Tracker]

In my case, it's just as well - I've already mentally spent about 5 grand on hardware after reading CAS City posts for less than two weeks...

W.T.

but ain't it fun 

[Cyrille]

Shore is! But it leaves me feelin kinda drained but only figureatively

[Plano Bill]

Shore is! But it leaves me feelin kinda drained but only figureatively

Well, show today left me drained, uh, financially -

These used OM Vaquero shorties are in 45lc and are consecutively numbered.  The actions have been slicked; lightly used, they look nearly new in person:



The story on this 38spl Navy conversion is a good one, and I'm famous for buying the story rather than the gun.  Reportedly a Navy Arms/Uberti "proof-of-concept" piece, it has no Italian proof marks (just 'Navy Arms' in a tiny, tiny font on the bottom of the barrel, and '.38 special' on the side) that I can find.  Even I can tell that the action and pull have been slicked & it locks-up very tight.   Anybody out there able to offer any add'l info on "prototype" NAs? (if there is such a thing).  It also looks better in person; I'm gonna have to take some actual photos and not just lay pistols down on the scanner bed...:



Love 'em, but gotta work tomorrow & won't be able to shoot 'em until Monday night...