What revolvers, rifle and shotgun do you use in matches?

[Mako]

We all know that we are shooters of the Holy Black (or some artificial analog thereof...) But what are your normal Match guns?  First of all list them, or your primaries and then look at the additional questions.

• Do you have different choices for different matches? 
• Do you have wet weather guns?  Especially those who shoot loose powder pistolas. 
• Do you shoot the same calibers all of the time, or switch them up for grins or just to not get stale?   
• If you had your choice, within reason, and money wasn't an issue what would you shoot?  I don't mean wishing for original 19th century versions of everything... 
• If you shoot a substitute powder is it because of availability, local laws or you just like the way it works and eliminate the "hassle" of BP? 
• Do you ever shoot smokless at some matches? And if you do:
  
  
  
  • It's because I am having trouble getting powder, caps, (fill in the item)
  • I just want the change up
  • I'm lazy...
• Add anything else you would like to contribute. 

I ask because I have "known" some of you for 17 years (longer for others) and I still don't know what we all shoot.  Even moss backs like Coffinmaker(onewurd) surprise me because they shoot brass shotgun shells yet they shoot APP or 777.  No judgement, just curious. I have resorted to substitutes when I had to fly or was in a location where I couldn't get BP.  I don't judge when someone has gone to the trouble of not shooting smokiless powder.

~Mako

[Griff]

We all know that we are shooters of the Holy Black (or some artificial analog thereof...) But what are your normal Match guns?  First of all list them, (Meaningless trivia) or your primaries and then look at the additional questions.

• Do you have different choices for different matches? 

NO, choices are based on what category

• Do you have wet weather guns?  Especially those who shoot loose powder pistolas. 

They're all ALL weather guns, stee; doesn't get diluted when wet, wood should be protected

• Do you shoot the same calibers all of the time, or switch them up for grins or just to not get stale?   

Again, category & my inventory, (pre-oating accident) dictate

• If you had your choice, within reason, and money wasn't an issue what would you shoot?  I don't mean wishing for original 19th century versions of everything... 

Hmmm... what I have?

• If you shoot a substitute powder is it because of availability, local laws or you just like the way it works and eliminate the "hassle" of BP? 

What hassle?

• Do you ever shoot smokless at some matches? And if you do:
  
  
  
  • It's because I am having trouble getting powder, caps, (fill in the item)
  (Yes)
  
  • I just want the change up
  • I'm lazy...
• Add anything else you would like to contribute. 

Because I CAN!  Or I won't have time to clean properly
[/list]

I ask because I have "known" some of you for 17 years (longer for others) and I still don't know what we all shoot.  Even moss backs like Coffinmaker(onewurd) surprise me because they shoot brass shotgun shells yet they shoot APP or 777.  No judgement, just curious. I have resorted to substitutes when I had to fly or was in a location where I couldn't get BP.  I don't judge when someone has gone to the trouble of not shooting smokiless powder.

~Mako

BTW, Coffinmaker is a relative "newbie!   

[Mako]

Griff,
Your answers are inane. 

It's not "trivia"..  Do you shoot Rugers, Colts, USFAs, Ubertis, whatever?  What caliber?  I am assuming you shoot a Uberti made '73 in 44 WCF.  You've made no reference to what scattergun you shoot.

And, since you don't have wet weather guns I can pretty much guess that you don't shoot loose powder percussion revolvers.  Capped and holstered they are fine, before the loading table where they are capped I have tried plastic bag covers with mixed results.  The real problem is loading powder under an umbrella or poncho and keeping the cones dry.  A lot of clubs won't allow you to retreat to a truck or even a covered pavilion that is not actually on the range line.  I don't blame them, it is a range officer's nightmare to have people handling firearms off of the line and behind everyone.

If you don't want to tell us that is fine, you don't have to participate.  But, we have no idea what your categories and inventory is.  I don't think the gun snatchers are worried about your cowboy guns to the point they will hunt us down for our 19th century "assault weapons". 

Mako

[hellgate]

My answers in [brackets}
Do you have different choices for different matches? [I shoot my Uberti Millenium 1863 NMAs for "serious" matches and 10+ other pistols for the monthlies. I also shoot less than perfect home cast bullets at the monthlies]

Do you have wet weather guns? [yes. A pair of suppository shooters (pistols that load from the rear) called Uberti Hombres in .357 cal and a stainless Rossi '92]  Especially those who shoot loose powder pistolas. [I almost always shoot Frontiersman but have stooped to shooting suppositories due to the dearth of caps]

Do you shoot the same calibers all of the time, or switch them up for grins or just to not get stale? [ I shoot mostly 44s in the C&Bs but occasionally switch it up and shoot 36s]

If you had your choice, within reason, and money wasn't an issue what would you shoot?  I don't mean wishing for original 19th century versions of everything... [Maybe stainless 4 or 6 inch Uberti Remington NMAs and a Henry rifle]

If you shoot a substitute powder is it because of availability, local laws or you just like the way it works and eliminate the "hassle" of BP? [ I will shoot anything that smokes in the shotgun: BP, Pyrodex, APP, Black MZ, 777, etc. In the C&Bs only 3F BP. In the rifle (357mag) I have settled on 3f 777 after trying everything from Black Canyon (you old timers might remember that one as well as...), Black Mag3, Clear Shot, Clean Shot, APP, BLack MZ, Pyrodex, & BP. I would likely be shooting just BP in the Rossis if the Snakebite bullet would have fed reliably in my rifles. All of the subs shot more accurately with little fouling using the Lyman RNFB 158gr bullet which feeds very well. I cast, size and lube all my cartridge bullets with 50/50 deer tallow and beeswax.]
Do you ever shoot smokless at some matches? [NEVER!]

[Griff]

Mako, no, the question is inane.  I don't make it habit of listing my guns on a public forum.   Who cares what others shoot?    It's often a matter of what a person can afford, likes, has available to them or appeals to their sense of history, or any number of subjective reasons.  As a matter of fact, I do shoot percussion pistols, 36 caliber ones to be not quite specific.  Been shooting one of them since before there was a Frontiersman category in SASS, back when all we used was a single pistol..., well, before there was a Frontier Cartridge category, in fact.  So I've shot in the rain with percussion pistols many, many times.  I shoot a 45 Colt rifle, which specific one is a matter of whim on any given day... I shoot a side-by-side shotgun, 12 gauge, and again, which specific model is often a mystery, even to me, (although my current choices are down by one, it being in the shop for repairs), so it's either a hammerless with 20" or 26" bbls, or maybe the 26" or 28" hammered. 

[Coffinmaker]

WHAT ??

"Relative Newcomer??"  Newcomer??  Well, ok, I've only been play the game since 1990 or there about.  But the answer will take a couple of minutes -
1.) Sure.  Most of the time I'm showing a pair of .44 Navy Pattern SNUBBIE Pietta Cap Guns.  Sometimes I switch off ('cause I be lazy) to a Pair of 1860 Pietta conversions in .45, wid short barrels.  I switch to Suppositories for "Lazy" days.

2.) Nope.  Don't have "Wet Weather" guns.  I don't shoot in the rain any more.  Being wet is not in my lexicon of FUN.  I go home.

3.) I do switch up to .36/38 just for grins and giggles.

4.) No desire for any guns other than what I already have.  I switch between different 1860 Henry rifles.  They are ALL .45s but are of different barrel length.

5.) I don't consider shooting Black Powder (Black Powder is NOT Holy) to be a hassle. I just prefer APP.  Either Black or APP are actually easier to clean than that heathen, fad, smokeless stuff.

6.) Nope.  I don't shoot smokeless anymore.  I consider smokeless to be rather boring.  Black and APP are FUN.  Much more fun to shoot at targets you can't actually "see."

7.) My Shotguns are ALL Hammer Doubles.  Hammer guns are just much more "CowBoy" than internal hammer guns.  And more of a challenge.  I also shoot my shotguns with All Brass hulls.  Again, much funner than plastic.  I also anneal ALL of my .45 rifle rounds.  My .45s shoot as clean as any "dash" caliber and are easier to reload.  My 16 inch barrel Henry Trapper requires Cowboy 45 Special cases to load 10 and is a real hoot.  I also have an 18 1/2 inch Carbine and a 19 inch carbine, all of which are custom built.  Henry's are capitol FUN you betcha.

I also shoot Gunfighter.  My Cap Guns have to be every bit, if not more reliable than Suppository Shooters.  ALL my Cap Guns are dead reliable. 

[Abilene]

Dang, Mako, are you trying to give me writer's (typer's) cramp?

I used to shoot mostly BP.  The last few years I shoot more smokeless than BP.  I shoot a lot of different guns.  I like the variety.  I'm prepping a post now on "braces" of pistols, and I have nine pairs that I shoot, at least occasionally.  About 3 or 4 more if I mix and match the pistols.  Basically, I have my smokeless main match '51 conversions with 4 3/4" barrels, though I do occasionally shoot BP in them.  All the other braces get BP only, or a mixture.  1st, 2nd, 3rd gen Colts in 32-20, 44-40, 44 Spcl, and 45 Colt.  Those get shot occasionally in monthly matches. Also assorted Cimarron Model P's, one Thunderer, and a couple of Type II's.  At the annual matches I only shoot BP, and that is in my engraved 5.5" '51 conversions.

No specific wet weather guns, but then they are all cartridge. I prefer not to shoot in the rain at all, and I have skipped some monthlies when the radar didn't look too good.  Just this past weekend, I shot both Saturday and Sunday (Texican Rangers shoot both days), and I went Sunday because the radar looked good, but that is because mist doesn't show up on radar!  We were misted on until the last stage.  My main concern was my guncart which uses a vintage piece of luggage, a "train case" that I didn't want to get wet (I ruined one of those that warped in a downpour once and it took some convincing for my mom to let me have another one from her collection).  Captain Baylor was there with his cap guns (ROA's), and he had them pushed into ziplock baggies, then into his holsters, until time to shoot.  He told me about some guy once at Winter Range (where it was "traditional" for at least one day to get a gully washer) who went into a porta-potty after each stage to recharge his cap guns.

Calibers are more .38's than anything now, partially because now that I have a 550 set up for .38 I can crank them out, but I also shoot 32-20, 44-40, 44 Spcl, 44 Russian, 45 Schofield, 45 Colt which I load on my Turret that is usually 90 miles away for the last few years.  Whatever guns I decide to shoot for any particular match, well whatever caliber that is.  I don't just say I want to shoot a particular caliber this week, I say I want to shoot certain guns.

I've pretty much got my dream guns.  I do have a bucket-list thing that I plan to do shortly.  My Thunderer is a 3.5" and I got it with a one-piece pearlite grip.  The only other Thunderer I've ever seen with that grip is one of Mike Harvey's show guns, the "Pimp's Dream" as he named it, which is a nickled engraved Thunderer that was the first one Uberti made.  His is .45 and mine is 44 Spcl with an extra 44-40 cylinder.  I want to make mine to be a "Tribute" to that first Thunderer.  I've showed the Pimp's Dream gun to master engraver Terry Theis, and he is familiar with that engraving style (it is somewhat different than the norm) and he says he could do it up good for me, even fancier than Mike's.  Then I think Mike would go for getting the two guns together to do an article on them.

I started using APP (Shooter's World Multi-Black, actually) in my .32 and .38 rifles just this past year, due primarily to the ease (use coated bullets) and minimal buildup in the bore so easy cleaning.  Laziness, basically.  BP only in pistols and shotguns, when I'm shooting smokey stuff.  I would miss the flame, the boomier boom, and the smell if I used a sub in everything.  I will use the coarsest grain (currently 1Fg) for the shotgun for more flame.  I have noticed that the majority of the CAS BP category shooters these days are using APP in everything.  A lot of them have never used real BP at all.  Kind of sad, really.  As I've always said, Subs are fun, BP is funner.  I guess I need to update that to: Smokeless is fun.  BP Subs are funner.  BP is funner still...but smokeless is still fun. 

As for shooting more smokeless that BP, I guess laziness is a big reason.  I've never had a shortage of BP and no cap guns so no cap shortage for me.  Cleaning them is easy but messy and takes time, and I shoot every week.  Now that my mom has passed, I'm even busier than I used to be dealing with estate stuff and moving, but once I get permanently moved into this house, I do intend to shoot BP more at monthlies like I used to.

As for long guns, 5 '73's in 4 calibers (32-20, .357, 44-40, 45 Colt) and a '66 in 44 Spcl, plus an original '92 carbine in 32wcf.  Used to shoot lots of BP in the 44 Spcl but that rifle has some issues so don't shoot it much now and just smokeless.  I do not shoot BP at all in the 45 Colt '73, it is just too messy and no need at all, since I have others to shoot.  One of the .357 '73's does most of the BP now with .38's, but I would like to make the 32-20 (Uberti) my main BP match gun.  I have been fighting extraction issues with it for years now.  The fact that I don't want to ship it off and will only deal with a gunsmith that I can hand it to, has not helped any.  I'm hoping to hand it off to Lefty Wheeler at the state match in two weeks.

Shotguns, I have two TTNs, but just use them occasionally at monthlies - I use a Baikal hammerless for BP at annuals because it is faster (duh).  I cock the TTN hammers one at a time while reloading, and it would have been okay years ago but most folks are cocking faster than that now. I've been shooting '97's lately with smokeless because I found out I love to slam-fire, but just last weekend a friend was shooting BP in his '97 and it's giving me the itch to give that a try as well.

[Griff]

WHAT ??

"Relative Newcomer??"  Newcomer??  Well, ok, I've only been play the game since 1990 or there about.

Yep... still a relative newcomer... Except for the few members of the Wild Bunch still shooting, I don't know anyone that's been at this longer than myself.  And I only started in 1985. 

[Baltimore Ed]

Don't shoot black powder but do have some black rifles...oops wrong shooting sport. When I want to win or be as competitive as possible I shoot my Marlin 1894 CL in 45colt, when I don't care i shoot any of my other cas rifles. My go to sg is my M24 Marlin pump but I like my M30 20 ga too. For WB I run a M12 riot. Being the progressive club that we are my favorite handgun setup is a Smith or Colt DA in a crossdraw with a 1911 in a flap strongside [ala Rico Fardan] but a pair of DA Smiths, Colts or Webleys work too. My default is a pair of 4.5 inch Vaqueros. Whenever I do my Tim Strawn impression I carry my nickel 1911 and a birdshead Ruger as they match my silver nose.

[Coffinmaker]

  Well OK 

I'll have to give the "nod" to Griff.  After all it be some apparent he be several days older-n-dirt.   

Although, we both have a preference for Revolvers that load from the FRONT and Brass Rifles that ALSO load from the FRONT 

[King Medallion]

2 Uberti Remington 75's, Uberti 73, all in 44-40. and a Stoeger 12 gauge SxS.

[Tascosa Joe]

These days my main match guns are a pair of Colt 38 WCF and either a Winchester or Cimarron '73 in 38 WCF and a LC Smith hammer gun.  Sometimes I substitute .45 Colt pistols.  I have several pairs. 

Some times I shoot a pair of Uberti Colt Conversions and a Uberti 66 in 45 Colt, same shotgun.

Like Coffin, I don't shoot in the rain, snow or if the wind is blowing more than 30mph.  Rain is not common here on the south end of the Texas Panhandle but the damn wind is.

[Professor Marvel]

Ah my good netizens....

Many lustrum ago I used to have dedicated firelocks for specific games.

My CVA "plains hawken" kit rifle in .58 was my "goto" for any paper puching or woods walk events. The thing was lighter than
A "real" hawken or the real close copies, and it was insanely accurate.

I had several different 1911 gvt models set up for different purposes, from my "slivercup" parts gun with the heavy bowmar rib, match bushing & barrel, heavily tuned match trigger assembly and softball springset to my heavily sprung slef built "officers model" frame with steel commander slide set up for .451 detonics magnums.

Thank goodness I didnt have time or money to get roped into cartridge benchrest rifles !

Nowadays, (except for training/drills) I only shoot CAS -ish games . If I can find them.
I am getting ready to throw Together a Mobile Cowboy Shoot On a trailer so my buddy and I
can run out to the legal shooting open space 27 minutes away
And play by ourselfs....

Soooooo for cowboy games
No gun choices for different matches. It all depends on the mood of the day.
I can choose from   C&B 1851's , 1860's , 1858's in various barrel lengths, for "outdoors"
And have added 1860 & 1858 conversions. 
I recently said "the hell with frugality!" And got one each 1873 model p's in 3.5, 4.75, 5.5 , and 12 inch barrel lengths

Wet Weather? What is that? Do you know where you are ? The High Plains Desert!

Except for one (or is it three?) 1851's  (oh and two 1847 dragoons and some 1849's )
Everything is .45 ( well, .44 c&b )

and money wasn't an issue what would you shoot?
Oh my thats easy, I would start the "Professor Marvel Memorial Museum of 19th century
Herbal, patent, and Native Remedies, Snake Oil, Medical Accutrements, devices, fortune telling,
And firearms" . As a trust. Then collect two each of each replica since (and including) the Colt Patterson,
Up until ( and including) the 1873 winchester. After that, not so interested.

Then I would begin rotating them, so no one firelock would feel neglected.


If you shoot a substitute powder is it because of availability, local laws or you just like the way it works and eliminate the "hassle" of BP?

Subs as reqd due to availabilty for revovlers, since i reserve real black for flint and cap rifles. And revovlers
Are much easier to clean perchlorates out of.

I do shoot smokless due to
powder, caps, lack of availability, and I just want the change up, and i AM lazy.

I may need to find reneactment crap to play in, since cowboy shooting here has gone to pot, and
The only club left wants to start at dawn then run off before noon. Not much point to even dressing up
As far as I am concerned.

Yhs
And as opinionated as ever
Prof grumblebunny

[Professor Marvel]

Ohoops

Rifle.
I have only one for CAS, an 1866 yellowboy in .45 colt
Shotgun
I have a hammerless something or other,
A hammered stevens side-by and
An antique hammered belgian vintage double
All in 12 ga.
The hammered percussion 12 ga sxs doesn't count since it is another project in waiting
And nobody will let me use my grampa's perfectly safe marlin premium 1898 12 ga pump

Yhs
Prof marvel

[Coffinmaker]

My Good Perfesser 

I would be some remiss were I knot to enquire - You have measured the chambers in the Hammered Stevens and the Antique Belgian Hammered Double??  I would be inclined to suspect both have Two and a Half inch chambers which do not necessarily act harmoniously with more common Two and Three Quarter ammunition.  In which case I would suspect also you are shootin Two and a Half Inch Roll Crimp fodder??  I hope 

[Professor Marvel]

My Good Perfesser 

I would be some remiss were I knot to enquire - You have measured the chambers in the Hammered Stevens and the Antique Belgian Hammered Double??  I would be inclined to suspect both have Two and a Half inch chambers which do not necessarily act harmoniously with more common Two and Three Quarter ammunition.  In which case I would suspect also you are shootin Two and a Half Inch Roll Crimp fodder??  I hope 

My Dear Coffin

You are correct, sir. Short chambers, so I bought and cut paper shells and use a roll crimp! Plus rather light loads
Of bp pressure type crap.
Or baking soda. Oh wait thats for shells to hand to other folks. Lol. It a joke dammit,.

Grumpy week.
Dont m8nd me

Prof  whatever

[DeaconKC]

Well, I'm shooting Gunfighter this year, so it has changed up a bit.
When shooting smokeless, my gear is in 45 Colt,
an Uberti 1873 20" Octagon barrel
a CZ Hammer Double Coach Gun
and either a pair of Schofield or my RM Conversions
As I try out BP, I will be going to .38 Special as follows
A Rossi R92 20" barrel
a Stoeger 12 Gauge
and a pair of RM Conversions or anEl Malo and a Ruger Vaquero.

[Coffinmaker]

Oooooooh 

An El Malo!!  Very cool.  I have a pair of El Malo II w/3.5 inch octagon barrels with other changes.

Rugers SUCK (personal opine 'cause I don't like 'em)

GUNFIGHTERS ROCK!!!!

[DeaconKC]

I may be changing plans and going with .45 Colt for the BP. Just added a Uberti 1866 in ,45 Colt today, so...
I might go with a .45Colt set up instead of the .38s through the Rossi. Which do you think will work better with APP, the 1866 or the 1873?

[Abilene]

...Which do you think will work better with APP, the 1866 or the 1873?

There should be zero difference.

My main BP match battery will hopefully be changing soon.  My 32-20 '73 which has had extraction issues has been in the safe for the last 7 years, but I finally got back to it again and did some investigating - turns out the "long" Cowboy and Indian short stroke links which I had hoped years ago would fix the excess headspace that caused the extraction problems, were not "long" after all, but the same length as the stock links.  After talking to Jim Bowie at C&I a few times and sending them back to him, I just got the proper replacements yesterday.  I put them in the rifle and loaded ten dummies and jacked them through it as fast as I could.  Did that 5 times.  Yippee!  Before, the first or second round would fail to extract and jam it every time.  So now my BP main match arsenal will be the engraved '51 conversions in .38 and this 20" deluxe '73 with 3rd gen short stroke in 32wcf for the rifle, along with the Baikal.  I look forward to much less cleaning after the match with the rifle!