38spl vs 45LC

[Bugscuffle]

I could be wrong, but i believe the "GREAT WILD BILL" used .36's, as personal side arms,,,,,i bet the 38's would be fine.

I have read that his preference in firearms was a pair of Navy model Colts held in a brightly colored sash that some say was bright red. The 1851 Navy percussion shot a  .36 caliber (.375" - .380" lead ball. If the Navies that Wild Bill carried were Richards-Masons conversions they would have been .38 rimfire or .38 Short Colt or .38 Long Colt ( after. Which of these I don't have any documentation on, but according to the time line, any of the three are possibilities. The .38 rimfire were woefully underpowered and I have never seen a conversion done for this cartridge, but it is possible, The .38 long colt is a little more stout, but it sufferes from accuracy problems because the bullet does not completely fill the bore. The .38 Short Colt has the right sized bullet (.375") but again it is a bit underpowered about the same as the .38 S&W. Which did he use? I don't know. What do you think. Did he sacrifice power for accuracy?






    hootnix.

[Cliff Fendley]

If you eat steak, enjoy good beer, quote the "Duke", and like to view a playboy bunny once in a while, .45 is your caliber.


If you eat Tofu burgers, sip wine coolers, skip alot, and dance with your hands above your head,  .38 is what you need.

HE HE 

[Cliff Fendley]

If you want to really have fun go with 44 or 45 with just as much black powder as you can stuff in them. 

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

If you eat steak, enjoy good beer, quote the "Duke", and like to view a playboy bunny once in a while, .45 is your caliber.


If you eat Tofu burgers, sip wine coolers, skip alot, and dance with your hands above your head,  .38 is what you need.

                       

[Dynamite Bill]

WHAT CLIFF FENDLEY SAID!!!!!!!

[Virginia Gentleman]

Most competitors, not myself, want to download .45 Colt to gallery squib levels to compete using fast burining smokeless powder with lighter bullets....this to me is not really shooting .45 Colt and maybe not even .455 Webley.  If the lighter loads are desired for better time in competition, I think it is easier and safer to go with 38 Special that is mild in its normal loadings.

[Abominable Bill]

I shoot .45 because it is more authentic to me. Growing up with the old westerns I never heard anyone say they were strapping on their Colt 38's 
I was tempted to go the path of 44-40; but found that 45 was easier for me to reload
I suppose if I were to start CAS shooting all over again, I would go with .38/.357s
I shoot a reduced load; but it's not because I'm trying to be a gamer.
I use APP which loads by volume, adding grits to my load helps to make it more affordable.

[Virginia Gentleman]

If one is a gamer who wants to win, the 38 Special seems ideal, lower cost per round and has a reputation for accuracy.

[Michael Bear]

I'm not in competition, but do like to shoot and I chose custom Pietta .357/.38 for economical factor. I do plan getting a .45LC for fun factor, but that's going to be a real Colt. I've been shooting guns for past 8 years or so, and looking at the cost of ammo (I don't reload) I'd rather spend my money on a better rig, more ammo, bowie or any Old West accessorie. I shoot about 100-200 rounds per month or less wih the single actions, so really no comparison to CASS members, so good luck with whatever you decide.
Bear

[Six Gun Saint]

It's actually funny-I had intended on going with .357/.38s, not because of a desire for speed or what have you, but the economics, coupled with my rather unfortunate disability, they're more comfortable to shoot.

HOWEVER, when time came to buy, they didn't have exactly what I wanted in the .357s (I would have had to drive to two stores, and would STILL have ended up with brass backstraps), but they DID have the .45s in a MATCHED SET (serial numbers and all)...

So I shoot .45.

PLUS, it is a more authentic round, even if it DOES cost an arm and a leg to shoot.  Besides, growing up, Ranger Reed was my HERO.

[Shotgun Franklin]

I think .38 is an idea round for Ladies and small children. I've never experienced the shame of being called a 'gamer'.

[Six Gun Saint]

I think .38 is an idea round for Ladies and small children. I've never experienced the shame of being called a 'gamer'.

OI!  I take offence at that!  I've one of pretty much every type of gaming system sitting on my-OOOOOOOOOOH, you're talking about...  OK.  Nevermind!

Aye, the snap of a .45 LC wouldn't do my wife any good.  Oh, she'd handle it quite well-make no mistake, and she'd hit what she's aiming at, by thunder-but her PREFERRED round is a .32 ACP.

As to small children-my nephew is pushing 10-I'd much prefer to see him stick with .22 LR 'til he's a bit older.

Still, them what use .38s, as I said-it'd be more ideal for me because I've a very bad shoulder injury, what's left my arm a bit...  Well, sensitive to recoil.  Whereas I'd LIKE to win it, that ain't what I'm there for-course, I'm still shooting .45 LC...  But that's not the point-point is, not every guy who shoots .38s are these "Gamers" as you say.

[harleydavis]

Much discussion of authenticity here, and the .45 Colt seems to be considered the "most authentic". That premise depends on what time frame your persona is living in as well as the class you are shooting. Indeed, I use my .45's for my smokeless shooting to fine effect. However, if I am shooting Black Powder (mostly NCOWS shooter) which requires pre-1873 weapons, the .45 Colt does not work. So, in my 1851 RM conversion, I use .38 Special (not authentic but close) and an Open Top in .44 Russian. I think it comes down to what you really want, not what someone is shooting. A .38 Special with 158gr lead over a 22gr FFFg is not neccessarily a "wimp" load by the way. If you want to use your .38 Spec case, pick up a couple of the conversions available and have at it.

[harleydavis]

There are a few myths here (the quote did not copy for some reason) that should be clarified in terms of Wild Bill's weapons and method of carry. First up, the use of the red sash is very overstated. There is only one photo and one written reference to his wearing a sash, it was evidently a CivWar NCO Sash. I have tried to wear my pistols tucked into a sash and the loading lever latch will catch on the sash when pulling the pistols. I doubt Bill would have used this method of carry with such a possible problem. I tried using holsters underneath but that didnt work either. But he may have had adapted a techinque to eliminate this problem that I cannot figure out and I cant ask Bill!!

According to White Eye Anderson, Wild Bill did have a pair of conversions when he was in Deadwood that he was practicing with but there is no evidence of caliber, nor that he ever carried them in public. I suspect he was uncomfortable with the handling and possibly, the power of the caliber he was using. In potential combat situations (which Deadwood was in July/Aug 1876), I believe he would have reverted to his trusty '51 Navy revolvers. By the by, his scabbards where made in such a manner that the area around the cylinders had room enough for the cylinders to rotate. He would sit, leaned up against a wall, arms crossed,  hat pulled low with the illusion of resting, keeping an eye on the situation, revolvers cocked in his hands. In today's modern safety oriented world, the thought of cocked pistols in hand like this is unheard of. Gotta remember how comfortable and well practiced Wild Bill was with his revolvers.

[Six Gun Saint]

There are a few myths here (the quote did not copy for some reason) that should be clarified in terms of Wild Bill's weapons and method of carry. First up, the use of the red sash is very overstated. There is only one photo and one written reference to his wearing a sash, it was evidently a CivWar NCO Sash. I have tried to wear my pistols tucked into a sash and the loading lever latch will catch on the sash when pulling the pistols. I doubt Bill would have used this method of carry with such a possible problem. I tried using holsters underneath but that didnt work either. But he may have had adapted a techinque to eliminate this problem that I cannot figure out and I cant ask Bill!!

According to White Eye Anderson, Wild Bill did have a pair of conversions when he was in Deadwood that he was practicing with but there is no evidence of caliber, nor that he ever carried them in public. I suspect he was uncomfortable with the handling and possibly, the power of the caliber he was using. In potential combat situations (which Deadwood was in July/Aug 1876), I believe he would have reverted to his trusty '51 Navy revolvers. By the by, his scabbards where made in such a manner that the area around the cylinders had room enough for the cylinders to rotate. He would sit, leaned up against a wall, arms crossed,  hat pulled low with the illusion of resting, keeping an eye on the situation, revolvers cocked in his hands. In today's modern safety oriented world, the thought of cocked pistols in hand like this is unheard of. Gotta remember how comfortable and well practiced Wild Bill was with his revolvers.

I did not know that about him.  Course, to be honest, I don't know much more'n what legends are around him.  Need to learn more-one of my favorite western figures, he is.

That is very interesting about the way the holsters were made...  Makes me want to test it with my rig, although I doubt it'll work.

Actually, I'm going to toddle off and try that right now (while not as practiced as Wild Bill, I'm fairly well comfortable around firearms, and my revolvers are no exception-'specially with the hand loads-it's like they were made for me).  No, I won't be using actual bullets-that's what Snap Caps are for!

[Capt Clancey Mitarwan]

If you want to really have fun go with 44 or 45 with just as much black powder as you can stuff in them. 

This.

[Mean Bob Mean]

Shoot what you damned well want and hang anyone's opinion if it gets in the way of having fun. 

I started from scratch and went with .44s because they were cool.  Had I located a pair of .38 OTs I likely would have started with them because those are also cool. 

I just picked up my first .38 and I love it.  I may end up with a .38 setup to alternately shoot those. 

And then I need a .45 setup to alternate even more . . . .

[Curley Cole]

I shoot both 38 and 45, I even have a loading strip that is 45 on one side and 38 on the other side. I shoot equally with either and enjoy them

shoot what ya wanr

curley

[Jefro]

I shoot both 38 and 45, I even have a loading strip that is 45 on one side and 38 on the other side. I shoot equally with either and enjoy them

shoot what ya wanr

curley

Yep, it don't matter what you shoot as long as you play by the rules and you are the one having fun. And Gamer ain't a dirty word....all the so called Gamers I know are highly skilled shooters that put in countless hours of practice, they are the first ones there to set up and take down steel, they run the timers, they always go out of there way to help the new shooters.......all the Gamers I know I call friends. And (not that it matters) they do not shoot poof-tink loads.....that's usually wannabees (not that it matters). Most top shooters will tell you there is a point of diminshed returns when trying go too low, stay in the mid range for best results.
   I shoot nothing but real BP....38s and 7/8oz shotshells for most local matches, saves me lead and powder. My fun, my way. For the big matches I shoot 44/40 and 1 1/8oz. Want to be more historically accurate??? Ride a horse for three days to get to the next match Good Luck
  This is a fantasy game/sport.....have fun with your fantasy and don't worry about anyone else. As Judge Roy Bean said;
"Everybody seems to think we're a period shoot, but we're not. We're a fantasy cowboy acting shoot." - Judge Roy Bean

Jefro Relax-Enjoy

[Mean Bob Mean]

And Gamer ain't a dirty word....all the so called Gamers I know are highly skilled shooters that put in countless hours of practice, they are the first ones there to set up and take down steel, they run the timers, they always go out of there way to help the new shooters.......all the Gamers I know I call friends.

This is wisdom brothers and sisters.  It's just fun so drop the labels and have fun, I load mine with all I can pack in because that is what I like.  Other guys are playing for speed against themselves and others--that is what they like--and they are a fantastic group of people to hang with and shoot with.  I wouldn't trade either group.