[Howdy! Introduction and Question]

On 2/23/2024 at 6:58 PM, Donovan Shoost said:

With that, I have a couple questions. The easier and dumber one is probably whether the Coach Gun (and for that matter, the other firearms) I picked up will be allowed for this game. I thought I read somewhere that it was kosher, but wanted to double check in case it is a no-go.

Yes,  those three are very kosher.  but, be advised that for the really competitive shooter, they will all be better with a little work.  The rifle will be smoother with a little tuning and judicious smoothing of the operating bits... Lighter springs will also be a big help.  The pistols can potentially be improved with a look at timing and also lighter springs.  The shotgun will shuck empties much better with the chambers polished and the extractors smoothed.  Some folks really like the chamber mouths & extractors cut to ease insertion of loaded shells, but... taken to an extreme that can prematurely Lockup problems.  

 

On 2/23/2024 at 6:58 PM, Donovan Shoost said:

The second is about getting into CAS this season. As I understand it, I have two SASS clubs nearby (Thurmont and Damascus, I think?) that do at least monthly events, and I was hoping to learn more about what to expect locally. Is this forum a good way to make some connections to folks in those clubs and prepare in advance, or is it easier to reach out to the clubs directly through more traditional channels?

This forum can be very helpful, but... not every member hangs out here.  Whenever I get the chance to visit a club, I make contact thru email or phone to the party list as the club contact on this site.  that way I can confirm time & place where their shoots are being held.  

 

Randy Saint Eagle has it a little wrong, for cowboy action is only the 2nd most fun you can have with clothes on...  The first would be mounted shooting!  That is, if you're a horseperson, or wish to become one!

[How often do you anneal your BP brass?]

10 hours ago, Orient Express said:

Is that overkill?

IMO, yes.

10 hours ago, Orient Express said:

Is that even necessary?

 

Again, IMO, no.

10 hours ago, Orient Express said:

How often do you anneal your straight-wall brass?

I've shot 45 Colt in a '73 rifle since 1987 and until recently, never annealed any of it.   I still haven't shot that ammo yet... so can't tell you if it makes a difference.

 

I've sanded down each side of the carriers in each of my toggle-link rifles (2-1873s & 1 Henry) to provide a fair amount of clearance in the mortise and have shot several multi-day matches without bothering to clean between days... (up to 3-day match).  

 

[Other than .45LC]

3 hours ago, Painted Mohawk SASS 77785 said:

Howdy...I have a Uberti [  also stamped Beretta ] Renegade .45LC...love this rifle

Did they make other Calibers..I'm thinking yes for .38, wondering about 44-40 ?

 Cheers 'Mohawk

From blue Book of Gun Values:

BERETTA 1873 RENEGADE SHORT RIFLE Description

.357 Mag. or .45 LC cal., patterned after the Winchester Model 1873 rifle, case colored frame, 20 in. octagon barrel, 10 shot full mag., uncheckered straight grip walnut stock and forearm. Mfg. 2008-2011.

[Marlin 1888 Reproduction?]

3 minutes ago, H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 said:

Yep, makes sense.     I'll freely admit to not knowing the ins and outs of the category

Me too, still wish I could wear moccasins with my buckskins!   Guess I was just thinking there was an 1890 cutoff... 

[Chiappa vs Rossi]

My truck gun is a Winchester 94 Trapper in .30-30... more range, greater power, and still able to hold on the 16" gongs @ 300yards...  Ok, so it only holds six... if'n I need more... I shoulda went with Capt Burt's plan.

 

And exactly what's wrong with a pretty "truck gun"?

[Marlin 1888 Reproduction?]

It'd be an interesting added rifle for the Classic crowd!  (If 38WCF OR 44WCF).

[Question for Frontier Cartridge shooters]

On 2/12/2024 at 11:08 PM, DeaconKC said:

Okay, mulling over trying out FC and if I do, I guess I would use the Magtech brass shotgun shells for the shotgun part. How do these hold up with black powder subs? How does APP work for these?

Part 2, would there be an advantage to using nickel cases with APP?

APP will work in brass shotshells.  I loaded my first ones with Goex... but didn't get enough compression and they sorta went "poof" instead of "pow".  I can't think of an advantage to using nickel cases, except for identification.  I keep my ammo in GI cans and simply put a label on the can to identify what's inside.  

[Memorial Service for Midway]

1 hour ago, Mogollon Munk,SASS#303 said:

Damn! Midway was a great cowboy. I will miss him. FIre a shell for me Ethan! 

+1!

[1860 Army second generation (Black box) model Hammer cam]

I bought a couple of Colt SAA cams from Peacemaker Specialties & had Boomstick Arms install one of my Colt 2nd Gen 1851s.

[Newest Member of our Posse]

Congratulations!

[1847 Walker]

Keep your off hand away from the cylinder face or anywhere forward.

[Rossi Ejector Issue]

55 minutes ago, Bisley Joe said:

 

I would say it's the ejector then, #55. This is the part I notice stays up with a chambered round.

I won't know for sure until I get that DVD and look into this.

I thought of sending the rifle back, but don;t want to do that and wait a ridiculous time for it.

 

This is inexcusable for an issue that seems to be very common and that Rossi could easily remedy.

If this is not easily fixed with the DVD and becomes a bigger issue, I will never buy anything Rossi/Taurus again. I have three friends wanting to get this rifle and I told them to hold off until I see what happens. So if this isn't fixed easily, I'll tell them to just go elsewhere for a rifle. I'd rather pay more for a Marlin or a Henry, or a Uberti/Cimarron and have a working rifle than pay less and deal with this ridiculous issue.

 

From what I have read, it is hopefully easily remedied and the rifle easy to slick up. I truly hope this is the case.

Again, #55 is the extractor.  Nomenclature is important, it forms the basis understanding the "what" is under discussion.  I wouldn't give up on all Rossi's just yet, they have been a well-known "project rifle" from the mid 1980's when I bought my first one, as I was warned ahead of time.  Luckily, mine was only rough.  It doesn't matter what you buy, some examples are going to have been built on a Friday or a Monday...  I've seen folks try using a brand-new Marlin and face similar issues... and the dreaded Marlin-jam is not uncommon.  Stick around and you'll soon read of someone complaining about their new Uberti.  (Cimarron, Taylor's & others are only importers).  And while I detest Henry's, they, at least, seem to do a better job than most at quality control... but there's still an odd one that'll slip thru.  And, even when well-fitted, are not quite the equal of a good Marlin or actual Winchester.  

 

Another thing you can do to test the extractor is the feed a round thru the top, but instead of just pushing it into the chamber, actually attempt to hook the rim onto the claw of the extractor, then push it down to retract the ejector and feed it into the chamber.  1st, if the ejector doesn't hook the rim, don't push it into the chamber, you've just proved the extractor hook will need to be filed to fit the rim.  

 

Lastly, once you get the rifle operational, and if you follow the tuning tips in Steve's DVD, you're going to love the smooth light action.  

[Case Trimming Question(s)]

Measure your new, unfired pistol brass, trim those that need it & you'll more'n likely never need to trim again.  Although I load them up in the trimmer, very seldom do they actually need a trim.  The only cases (new) I don't bother with are the C45S... since they're going into a 45 Colt chamber, no length worries... and what I've found over the 1K or so cases I've used is that they're fairly consistent from Starline.   

[1st attempt at wet tumbling]

16 hours ago, Texas Jack Black said:

 Is wet tumbling anything like Jell-O wrestling ? I think I could do that even with my bad back.

No... you can do wet tumbling solo!  Definitely less fun than co-ed Jell-O wrestling, 

[Club IRS status]

Hoss, it's been some 30 years since I dealt with our club's management, but... I seem to recall that we filed under 501(c)7, Sporting/Recreational clubs.  I believe that we still had to file with the State of Texas as a non-profit corporation, and only had to update that one an as-needed basis for notifications of change of officers & Bylaws... but, as I said, it's been 30 years.  Memory fades...  please don't shoot me if I got this wrong.  For some reason, I seem to recall that it also aided in getting our insurance thru the NRA.  Which at the time was certainly the best rates we could find.  The only complexity there was that a certain percentage of your membership had to be NRA members.  

[shot timers for practice]

I bought a pair of Competition Electronics Pro-Timer IIIs to put on the first cowboy shoots in North Texas back in 1990.  Still works... now if only I had the ambition to practice!   Plus, I need to fix one of 'em!   My son has the PACT Club Timer III... if only he'd practice!    Neither are a inexpensive investment, but... except for the broken wire in one of mine, they seemingly last a long time!

[Rossi Ejector Issue]

 

22 hours ago, Bisley Joe said:

I tried a Starline Brass 45 Colt case in the rifle. Same thing: ejector stayed up when over the "loaded" chamber". Didn;t get a chance to measure because I got home late and can;t remember where the caliper is right now, but I think its safe to say that its the extractor that needs a little filing.

Once the DVD gets here, I will work on it.

It could also be the extractor slot in the breech.  It might not be cut deep enough to allow the extractor claw to fall forward of the rim.  With a case fully inserted in the chamber you should be able to see the front edge of the rim in the slot:

 

As you can see the entire extractor relief forward of the rim with the cartridge fully chambered is quite visible.

 

[Rossi Ejector Issue]

1 hour ago, Bisley Joe said:

I tried a Starline Brass 45 Colt case in the rifle. Same thing: ejector stayed up when over the "loaded" chamber". Didn;t get a chance to measure because I got home late and can;t remember where the caliper is right now, but I think its safe to say that its the "extractor" that needs a little filing.

Once the DVD gets here, I will work on it.

The ejector is the part at the bottom front of the bolt with the two little "tails" at the bottom.   #59 in this schematic,  #55 is the extractor (small box in the upper left).  Although this schematic is of the Winchester, the Rossi is close in nearly all details.

[Old School Copiers]

9 minutes ago, Buckshot Sheridan said:

Pretty sure that is referred to as showing your age when that’s your point of reference. 

But, since you know to what I refer, the same inference can be made, no?

[Old School Copiers]

Wouldn't "old school" be a bunch of guys sitting around with ink, pens and paper?  

[Starline Cowboy 45 Special]

45 Colt sizer, and a 45ACP Roll Crimp seater/crimp die on my 550C.

[Recovering components from defective rounds]

I'd see if a local pard already had a collet puller and would be willing to lend it.  If not, I'd consider buying one.  I've pulled down around 500 .30-06 rounds (milsurp) that was from WWII and suffered from improper storage.  Divided among the 3 of us that purchased the 3 GI cans of ammo from a garage sale, it wasn't too onerous... but we neither reused the bullets nor the powder, I used my kinetic puller.  Since then, I've pulled around 50 max... But, it was far quicker to use a collet puller.  Wished I had the collet puller for the 500!

 

I've never had a primer go off depriming using either a universal decapping die or regular decap/sizing die.

[WTC]

On 2/7/2024 at 6:30 PM, Matthew Duncan said:

State match.  Stage instructions, “Shooter starts with both hands on hat.”

 

The Shooter (me) takes off his hat and holds his hat with both hands on his chest.  TO gives him (me) a stern look.  BEEP!  Shooter (still me) places his hat back on his head before proceeding to shoot the stage.

I wouldn't have given you the "beep"... TO shouldn't start a shooter in a faulted position.  

 

But, should the starting line read:  "Ma'am, if you just..." then the position should be:  "Hat in hands." 

[shot shell cost]

1 hour ago, Snakebite said:

When I am ask by new shooters if it is worth it to load your own shotshells. I assume that the person has nothing other than his empty hulls. Everything else must be purchased. I tell them that once they are set up with a loader, powder, primers and shot, and are ready to start loading, it will cost them about HALF of what a new box would cost them.  Whether it is worth it to them or not , I don't know. Do you think that my Ball park cost are correct?

 

 

Snakebite

You forgot wads... and that estimate is pretty close to my experience, unless you get them on sale, (especially for LNLR Winchesters with their rebate).  If ever given again...

[1st attempt at wet tumbling]

25 minutes ago, Texas Jack Black said:

 I tried the garage drying but the  Boss came home and put her car in the garage and flattened the brass but they were dry.

Kinda rude to laugh at your misfortune... but, I could relate!  My wife's greatest complaint was the lack of a garage, due to my tools and projects!  It'd probably be okay if I could keep it to one project at a time!  She'd have really hated it now... tough to even walk thru!