Question from a benchrest shooter

[dogill]

At a rifle match last year I traded for an Uberti Cattleman and a Rossi Puma lever action, both in 38spl/357 caliber with matching furniture.  I've really enjoyed playing with them using homegrown 38 spl wadcutters.  Do either of these models qualify as beginner arms?  As for a SxS shotgun, what would qualify as an entry level shotgun, possibly one of the affordable "Bounty Hunter Coach" guns with ears?

How many rounds do you normally expend in a typical match?  I sorta figured one needs to do his own handloading to keep cost down.  And, what might be the average match fees?

I recognize that this is one of the fastest growing gun sports and looks to be plenty fun.  And, like I mentioned, the range I compete at in south Lousiana already host such matches.  I heard there was also a big club in Natchez, MS.  I'm in a community named Dixie, just south of Hattiesburg, MS., so where might the closest club be for me to check out?


If ya'll steer me in the right direction, I just might try the Cowboy thang.  I think the kids would enjoy the faster action as our benchrest matches can be purty boring for the spectator.

Remember: Don't squat on yur spurs!

Deputy Dog
aka - Don O. Gill
Dixie, MS

PS: My ancestors was whiskey drinking, fiddle playing preachers and sod busting Irish immigrants of the potato famine era so I may not qualify.

[dogill]

A special thanks to Seth for taking a personal interest in getting me more aquainted with CAS.
I've found a club about 45 miles from me, the "Mississippi Peacemakers", located in Mendenhall, MS, They hold matches on the 3rd Sat of each month so I just missed the last one.  From the pictures posted on their website, looks like I might fit in.  They are SASS affiliated.  What are the main differences  to be aware of in CAS vs. SASS?

TIA,
Deputy Dog

[Cheyenne]

When I worked at Cimarron, I'd get a lot of calls from guys just getting started about wht guns to use...I'd always suggest the 38/357 as good combo as you can reload it cheaply, or, more importantly, if you don't reload, you can get decent reloads by the bucketfull for less than you can for 45 Colt....the general response was they wanted 45's because it was 'cowboy'.....never really understood why they'd ask for an opinion, when they already had their own, but that's a different story.

Anyhoo, the 38/357 guns you have are a very good start.  At some point, you'll need to pick up a second revolver, and were it me, I'd try to match it as closely as you can to your current one. makes transition form one gun to the next easier.  When I started, I got a good deal on a pair of 45's....only thing was, one had a 7 1/2" barrel, and the other was 4 3/4".  Both good guns, but the transition between the extreme lengths was enough to really throw me off. They handled completely different....finally wound up rebarreling the short one to match to long tube, and things got much better, as I no longer had to think about which way this gun handled /shot, just yank and shoot.....allowed me to concintrate on hitting them targets that sem to come to life at the buzzer.....well, maybe not hit them all, but sure worried them a bunch.

Shotguns are a different matter. Choose what suits you best.....best advice is to go to some matches, as there'll always be pards ready to loan you their gun....this way you can try different ones and they do handle different. I prefer hammer guns myself, but I'm nostalgic in this regard....if I want to go fast, I'll pull ut the '97. Generally, I'm happy just being half-fast.

Your off to a good start on a battery, stay with them and try some others at the shoots, then you can make an educated decision on what to get next.

[Marauder]

Yup, the pistol and rifle you mention are great to start with and maybe stay with.  Any SXS that doesn't automatically throw the shells out will work.  The Bounty Hunters are very nice and lost of us use them.

As you noted, cowboy shooting, whether you call is Cowboy Action Shooting or SASS is great fun with a little more action that bench rest. 

Wonder over to a few websites for some good info:

http://www.marauder13.homestead.com/links1.html

http://www.curtrich.com/gettingstarted.html

For Single Action Shooting Society clubs in your area take a look here:

http://www.sassnet.com/AClubs-Main-001A.php