Why did you choose to shoot a big caliber?

[Big John Denny]

The 45 Colt was the original caliber of the 1873 Colt. I've always shot 45 Colt in my single actions, that's all I buy for me. I have nine or ten of them now, I forget. I also use an 1866 in 45 Colt. Besides that, its real easy to load, doesn't need to be lubed, etc, and will knock down anything with the right load. The only concession I've made for SASS matches is to download my shells a bit so I wont scare my fellow posse members.

[tarheel mac]

When I was a kid, all the westerns on TV had cowboys using .45s...I guess it was tradition for me.  I never really considered anything else..although I think the .44-40 would be a good choice too...

[gryffon2004]

Just the looks on peoples faces when you wheel a cannon into battery   I got to shoot a coworkers 454 Taurus the other day.  Theyre right, the bigger the boom the bigger the smile.

[Forty Rod]

...

[Throckmorton]

Since we only get a few minutes' shooting time per match,might as well make the most of it!!

[Jose Grande]

Because Colt 45 was all I ever heard of on the old westerns on TV. It is the cowboy caliber,as well as being an original chambering for the Colt SAA. #2 reason...I'm a Warthog.#3 reason...They don't make a Colt 55 or Colt 65 or a Colt......well,you get the idea.

[Sweetwater Jack]

My first rifle was a Winchester '92 in .38-40, handed down to me from my dad and grand-dad. (Colorado was home)  ALL my main match rifles and pistols are now in either .38-40 or .44-40.  To me, the .38spl just isn't COWBOY.

[El Paso Pete]

I shoot a .45 cause I think they're more fun to shoot and I just can't get the  picture in my mind of the Duke usin a .38 or a .32.   

[SFT]

Nostalgic, for the .45, as well as dual purpose, for both my .44 and .45 leverguns.  While the .44 special or magnum isn't period correct, the .44 caliber is, plus both offer a bit more than a .38 caliber long gun when it comes to hunting, and I love to see the look on my friends faces when I bag a deer or hog with my "cowboy" rifle.

[Phantom Falcon]

I like the noise and the recoil. The 45s and the 44-40s are the cowboy guns as I knew them. Never knew what a 38-40 was til I started shooting CAS, but I like it also. Shoot all 3 of these in smokiless and holy black. Nice roars, nice recoils, nice smoke.

Have nothing agin those that shoot smaller calibers but noone has ever had to ask if I shot.

[Badlands Walker]

Well, I really didn't choose it... I just figured .45 cailber was the only real thing to shoot!

[Griff]

My 1st sixgun was a Ruger Blackhawk in .357RemMag.  Notice I didn't say .38; then I bought a Colt SAA in .45 Colt.  I figured if Patton could wear a 1911 and a SAA, both in a .45, so could I .  Traded the Ruger for a .30-30 when it was returned by the ever-efficient police of Alhambra, CA after being stole and used as a prop by a knife weilding robber and have never looked back.
And don't think I'm opinionated; be it known hereafter that I AM OPINIONATED.

[Grapeshot]

I shoot nothing below .429. (.44).  Yeah it might be cheaper, but My Persona is US Army on the Frontier and the issue firearm was a .45 caliber handgun until the 1890's when the government adopted the .38 Long Colt.

I've been Shooting .45 Colt since 1973.  I just don't want to change.  I've so many .45 Bullet Molds I could go into business selling them.  I could go on but the thing is the .45 and the .44 work for me, and I'll stick with them until I can't shoot anymore.

[LazyK Pejay]

It is a persona thing. Also, ever since I watched Hopalong Cassady, The Range Rider, The Cisco Kid, and the Duke. I wanted a Colt 45. I settled for an Uberti Cattleman 4.3/4 45 cal.

LazyK Pejay