Abe E.S. Corpus SASS #87667

Lots of good info already but I'd recommend not buying anything else. Reach out to the match director of your local club and let them know you are interested. Some clubs have clinics or practice days to orient new shooters. If not, I'd recommend attending a match or two to observe and ask questions. If you decide this is the game for you, come with whatever gear you already have (remember, no buying yet). Bring a few boxes of lead bullet ammo and a box or two of 12 gauge birdshot shells. I had observed part of a match and decided I wanted to join in. The match director said "don't buy anything" so I showed up for my first match with ammo. No coboy guns, no leather, no cowboy clothes. The "don't buy anything" advice saved me money. I thought I knew which rifle to buy but I tried that brand of rifle at the match and didn't like it. I was able to make an informed choice because I was able to try several different rifles, revolvers and shotguns at my first match. Just about every knew shooter assumes that they need to buy revolvers and a rifle in .45 Colt. Some of those folks end up selling and buying .38s down the road because the ammo is cheaper (and we shoot a lot of ammo) and the .38s are easier to shoot fast. If you end up choosing the .45, great, but again make that choice as an informed choice. Oh, and welcome aboard!

Praying for healing and comfort. Palewolf has done so much for the people who enjoy this game.

I agree with Boggus. Get as much protection as you can.

Don't forget that our youngest shooters in the Buckaroo category can shoot .22 caliber. So let's think this through. We create a category that lets adult shooters use .22 caliber, so they go out and buy two rimfire revolvers and a .22 lever action rifle. Later on when they feel comfortable moving up, they buy another pair of centerfire revolvers and another rifle? A .32 or .38 revolver with light loads has little more recoil than a .22 and they can be fitted with lighter springs so they are easier to cock. A .22 round needs a hard slap for reliable ignition which means a harder cocking effort. I am all for local clubs doing whatever they want to do for their shooters but I don't see any benefit to the creation of an official rimfire category beyond Buckaroo.

If you are not already loading your own ammo make room in that budget for a reloading press. You might not save much money loading .223 and 9mm for Three Gun but you will with cowboy ammo.