Rifle Caliber Question

[Niederlander]

I didn't want to hijack the .30-30 thread, but I'm curious.  Why aren't rifle calibers allowed as a main match gun?  Our local CAS club has always allowed them as long as you're shooting lead bullets and 1500 fps or lower.  I'm not an NCOWS member, and I have no problem with the rule.  Just curious as to the why of it.

[ira scott]

Hey Ned, I don't know what the reasoning was, but "pistol caliber rifle" is written in the NCOWS Talley Book. Our club, The Blue River Regulators, has a FPS rule for rifle calibers. Offhand I don't recall if it 1,200 or 1,400 FPS. Quickfire in the past, downloaded his .45-60 1876 as a main match rifle, quite impressive fire and smoke. At our Ruckus, which is not an NCOWS National, or Regional event, we had a "Bushwacker" class. This was a suggestion of Walking Eagle, who was playing with a round ball .45-70 load. That load basically takes a .45-70 load down to a heavy .45 Colt level. Troy proved the load to be accurate and effective during the match.

That being said, I don't believe there would be much interest in rewriting the original rule. Len Ables is an original, still active member of NCOWS. He would be a person to ask about the original intent of the rule, I will hopefully see him at the Convention in Davenport.

B.N. Scotty

[Tascosa Joe]

I am not the expert, but I believe when NCOWS first started it copied the SASS firearms rules.  Which at that time state pistol caliber rifle for the main match guns.  I also believe it had a lot to do with the possibility of target damage.

[Snake Oil]

Interesting question... I really had not really considered the "pistol" aspect, I am guessing at our local matches the Indian Fighter category which is a 45-70 and pistols, is just a local category... I can't seem to make the 2 day events (still a working stiff) so I don't get too deep into the allowed categories, because I just do local match competitions... the smoke is fun!!

[Tascosa Joe]

Your Indian fighter class is local.  It is the same as Blue River's Bushwhacker class. The rifle cartridge is loaded down to about .45 Colt specs.

[Niederlander]

I guess we've never had any problems with rifle caliber rifles.  Of course, most of them, especially if loaded with Trail Boss or black powder, will be below the velocity limits.  It's pretty easy to keep .30 WCF, .30 Army, and .45-70 under those limits.

[Books OToole]

In the words of the late great Griz Brannon: "at the KVC we test out targets with hot 45-70 loads. If they break, they were defective."


  Books