Buckaroo graduating to Junior Shooter (Gun suggestions)

[Dacotua]

My son is currently 13. On his birthday he'll graduate to the Junior class.  Currently he shoots a Henry 22 Lever, (2) Ruger Wranglers and a Stoeger 410 Coach.

 

I'm leaning toward some Pietta 1873's (38/357)'s for the Pistols and I'm looking at the New Ruger/Marlin 1894 (38/357) for the rifle. (Our family hunts, so I thought if I got him a Marlin 1894 in 357, it could do double duty. During deer season I could put a scope on top of it, and have him use full house 357's in it for deer or hogs), during CAS time, he could use my downloaded 38's. (As far as shotguns go, I already have a CZ Hammer Coach (I use most of the time), IAC 1897 Shotgun (I may start using more often), Cimarron 1887 Shotgun, and a Stoeger 12ga Coach (Wife uses). Kid has eyes on my 1897 pump, so no cost.

 

I'm looking for a "Cheaper" Option if there is one out there. I've been looking at Buds Gun shop and some other online dealers. *I* totally understand once my son gets "girl crazy" aka girlfriend, he'll probably want to stop CAS and or hunting. So I'd prefer not to buy a pair of Ruger Vaqueros and another Cimarron 1873 Rifle just to have them collect dust in the safe. (I already own (4x Ruger Vaqueros, 2 in 45, 2 in 357), x2 Cimarron 1873 rifles (1x 45, 1x 357) -- Wife and I play the game so they are spoken for).

 

Just looking at suggestions.

 

I've already got a reloading setup for (Dillon XL650 and Mec 600jr [in 12, 20 and 410]. So caliber is not a big deal to me so long as the dies are available. (I already have dies for 45 Colt, 38/357, and 45ACP (wild bunch). So staying with those would be more advantageous to me.)

[Sedalia Dave]

Look a a set of Uberti P jrs in 38 special.  About 3/4 the size of a SSA. May fit his hands better than a full size SAA.

[Sedalia Dave]

Sent you a PM.

 

I have a rifle for sale that would work nicely for him. 

[Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971]

Marlins can be fussy about the length cartridge they feed well.  You downloaded 38s may not perform well in his Marlin.  However, by adjusting the O.A.L. and selecting a bullet profile the Marlin likes it will do well.  You may have to remove a carbon and lead ring when switching over to 357s for hunting season.  The SliXrings Scraper is a tool designed for this task.

 

I shoot Marlins with black powder.  One thing I like about them is they will extract split cases that would jam a '73.  Twice last year at major matches my Marlins extracted split cases. 

[Dacotua]

37 minutes ago, Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971 said:

Marlins can be fussy about the length cartridge they feed well.  You downloaded 38s may not perform well in his Marlin.  However, by adjusting the O.A.L. and selecting a bullet profile the Marlin likes it will do well.  You may have to remove a carbon and lead ring when switching over to 357s for hunting season.  The SliXrings Scraper is a tool designed for this task.

 

I shoot Marlins with black powder.  One thing I like about them is they will extract split cases that would jam a '73.  Twice last year at major matches my Marlins extracted split cases. 

 

I already have a cutter that removes the ring after firing 38 specials. I"m not opposed to loading his cartridges in a 357 mag case if the Marlin is touchy about 38 special lengths.

[Too Tall Bob]

How about this thought?  If he is ALREADY shooting, have him try several pistol options and find the type he is comfortable with.  38/357 is a good idea for ammo.   I am sure you have friends with Uberti, Pietta and Ruger hand guns they would let him try.  
JMHO -

TTB

[Anvil Al #59168]

Cool Hand Carter is shooting some .357 Pietta's.

He is welcome to try them next time you all come out. 

Just holler at me so I make sure and have them with us. 

 

For his rifle he is getting along pretty good with the Marlin Carbine.

 

Shotgun is a Baikal with the stock cut to fit him.

 

He is welcome to try any or all of them to see if he likes them before you drop any cash.  

[Griff]

My son started shooting CAS in 1988 when he was on the cusp of his 10th birthday at monthly matches.  He started out shooting his Mom's pistol, rifle & a Stoeger Uplander in 12 ga with 26" barrels to help with recoil, and the stock cut to fit.  I loaded his shells a little lighter than mine, (very close to LNLR Winchesters now).  Both rifle & pistol used 158 grain bullets.  His Mom's rifle was a Rossi mdl 65 in .38/.457 loaded with .38Spls.  In 1989 I got him is own Rossi, and slicked it up like his Mom's.  The Rossi is a little less AOL sensitive than the Marlin as it has a positive cartridge stop, easing the lifter detent & ball lessens the propensity for it to throw cartridges too high (stovepiping), and shimming the right cartridge guide to help control carrier jump;;  also aided by the heavier bullet.  Marauder's Tuning Tips has articles with instruction for both makes of rifles.  He won Jr. at his first EOT in 1990, finishing 2nd in 1991 to a 16 year old.  By that time he was also running the timer at a couple local monthlies.  He also won Jr. at the National Shootout in Raton 4 years running using that combination of firearms.  (1991-1994).

c:  1992/3, yea, he mighta been a little big for his age.

 

The first time he beat me in a match was a proud day.  As I'm sure other Dad's can attest!

[Dacotua]

53 minutes ago, Anvil Al #59168 said:

Cool Hand Carter is shooting some .357 Pietta's.

He is welcome to try them next time you all come out. 

Just holler at me so I make sure and have them with us. 

 

For his rifle he is getting along pretty good with the Marlin Carbine.

 

Shotgun is a Baikal with the stock cut to fit him.

 

He is welcome to try any or all of them to see if he likes them before you drop any cash.  

 

I've got a lot of guns he could use.  I just wanted to see if there were any options I didn't think of.  But I could hit you up.

 

I won't go to Ten Horns this June match (I've got something going on). Probably going to Cleburne this upcoming weekend.

[I. M. Crossdraw, SASS# 8321]

For now why not let him use the firearms you now have available and see if he will stick to the game.  Once he goes "girl crazy" and you see that his interest in CAS diminishes, then money well saved for other circumstances.  Don't ask me how I know. 

[Dacotua]

14 minutes ago, I. M. Crossdraw, SASS# 8321 said:

For now why not let him use the firearms you now have available and see if he will stick to the game.  Once he goes "girl crazy" and you see that his interest in CAS diminishes, then money well saved for other circumstances.  Don't ask me how I know. 

 

Oh, trust me I know. Just look at the cowboy action matches, you will not see many people under 18yo playing the game. I see buckaroo's as their parents bring the kids along to compete, but when it comes to the Junior's, they are rare.

 

I just remember when I was his age. When I started chasing girls, all the hobbies I had prior just didn't seem as interesting anymore.

 

The handguns are the ones I've been looking at alternatives. Even the PIetta's these days are becoming expensive. I can swallow the cost of the Marlin 1894 rifle as it can do "double duty" (Cowboy action shooting / Hunting (Its drilled for scope mount). If he quits CAS / Hunting, at least I can use it as a spare hunting rifle or bring it on my own to CAS (remove the scope).  Currently I have (x4) single action army's, however like I said, if my wife goes, all 4x guns are spoken for.

 

 

[I. M. Crossdraw, SASS# 8321]

There's are some used pistols out there that maybe in your price range.  I like the "double duty" idea of the Marlin as an excuse to purchase another rifle, as long as the wife don't object to it.  Good luck on your endeavors.

[Captain Bill Burt]

I've purchased a cowboy gun here or there that I later decided wasn't for me, or wasn't appropriate for one of my kids, but I've never lost money on a resale.  I think if you shopped around and purchased Rugers you could almost certainly recoup your cost if your son lost interest and you decided to sell them. 

[Idaho Gunslinger]

44 minutes ago, Dacotua said:

 

Oh, trust me I know. Just look at the cowboy action matches, you will not see many people under 18yo playing the game. I see buckaroo's as their parents bring the kids along to compete, but when it comes to the Junior's, they are rare.

 

I just remember when I was his age. When I started chasing girls, all the hobbies I had prior just didn't seem as interesting anymore.

 

The handguns are the ones I've been looking at alternatives. Even the PIetta's these days are becoming expensive. I can swallow the cost of the Marlin 1894 rifle as it can do "double duty" (Cowboy action shooting / Hunting (Its drilled for scope mount). If he quits CAS / Hunting, at least I can use it as a spare hunting rifle or bring it on my own to CAS (remove the scope).  Currently I have (x4) single action army's, however like I said, if my wife goes, all 4x guns are spoken for.

 

 

I guess I don't get why you can't share guns. My wife and I share handguns and long guns. 

 

Yul Lose said the Chicken George Family has 3 shooters per gun. I imagine it would be more if it wasn't for their youngest using 22's. 

[Sedalia Dave]

47 minutes ago, Idaho Gunslinger said:

I guess I don't get why you can't share guns. My wife and I share handguns and long guns. 

 

Yul Lose said the Chicken George Family has 3 shooters per gun. I imagine it would be more if it wasn't for their youngest using 22's. 

 

Sharing handguns is not too hard.  Sharing long guns is problematic when the LOP required is radically different.

Shotgun recoil can be brutal when the LOP is too long for the shooter.

[Captain Bill Burt]

18 minutes ago, Sedalia Dave said:

 

Sharing handguns is not too hard.  Sharing long guns is problematic when the LOP required is radically different.

Shotgun recoil can be brutal when the LOP is too long for the shooter.

Definitely!  The Iron Cowboy and I have identical rifles and very similar shotguns so we could share those if needed.  Our pistols are pretty different, he has a New Model Vaqueros with Montado hammers and much heavier mainsprings while I have Single Sixes with traditional hammers and very light mainsprings.  I would not want to have to shoot his pistols and he doesn't like mine because he outruns the hammer fall (starts to cock the hammer again before it's finished striking). 

 

Sharyn, Lethal Liz and Kid Flash have virtually identical rifles, with the same LOP, so if needed they could swap out, but their shotgun LOPs differ.  Kid Flash is moving up to New Model Vaqueros while Shootin Sharyn has Single Sixes.  Lethal Liz hasn't shown a strong enough interest in CAS to justify buying her a dedicated set of pistols though we've had a set of birds head Single Sixes on loan for her (we're returning those soon).

 

Long story short, yes we could and did share until I was able to purchase the additional guns we needed, but since we have different needs I wanted different guns.

 

Sharing the rifle or pistols can be challenging at the loading table as well.  When you have four shooters sharing two sets of guns, or as we did for a while, or five shooters sharing two sets of guns proper spacing at the table is crucial and if it's a medium to smaller posse sharing can slow everyone down. 

[MizPete]

I'm not really qualified to address this issue, but we started taking Grandson #2 with us to shoots when he was around 7.  If he wasn't a problem to anybody, picked brass and set shotgun targets, his reward was to get to shoot granddad's Colt .45s after the match.

 

I've posted this before, but it makes me happy every time I think of it.  Grandson #1 inherited the Rugers .45 Peter started CAS with.  When #2 was ready to start shooting, Peter bought him Colt .22s.  The subsequent conversation I overheard:  well, I shoot .45s.  Yeah, but mine are Colts.

[Idaho Gunslinger]

53 minutes ago, Sedalia Dave said:

 

Sharing handguns is not too hard.  Sharing long guns is problematic when the LOP required is radically different.

Shotgun recoil can be brutal when the LOP is too long for the shooter.

I get that but kids adapt well. Unless he's good enough to be Top 10 at EoT or something I'd bet the slightly wrong length of pull won't be too much of a bother. 

[Dacotua]

15 minutes ago, Idaho Gunslinger said:

I get that but kids adapt well. Unless he's good enough to be Top 10 at EoT or something I'd bet the slightly wrong length of pull won't be too much of a bother. 

 

Also I load 7/8oz, low recoil 12ga shells, they just don't have the recoil to make him flinch. He can fire a .308 bolt gun with a adult stock without any issues. But thats for another discussion, I was just looking for suggestions to lower cost options, if any, for some handguns or perhaps a rifle.

 

I've looked at some Pietta 1873 SAA that are around $450ish (x2)

I've looked at Marlin 1894 in 38/357 around $1100ish

I've even looked at a Rossi 92 in 38/357 but the reviews I've seen on some of them are iffy. Plus I have yet to see anyone use one in any match I've attended. (I just keep thinking, theres got to be a reason why)

 

[Captain Bill Burt]

9 minutes ago, Dacotua said:

 

Also I load 7/8oz, low recoil 12ga shells, they just don't have the recoil to make him flinch. He can fire a .308 bolt gun with a adult stock without any issues. But thats for another discussion, I was just looking for suggestions to lower cost options, if any, for some handguns or perhaps a rifle.

 

I've looked at some Pietta 1873 SAA that are around $450ish (x2)

I've looked at Marlin 1894 in 38/357 around $1100ish

I've even looked at a Rossi 92 in 38/357 but the reviews I've seen on some of them are iffy. Plus I have yet to see anyone use one in any match I've attended. (I just keep thinking, theres got to be a reason why)

 

I've seen nice Uberti 1873 clones and I've seen some pretty slick Marlins.  Stoegers and Baikals are serviceable SASS shotguns.

 

I would not buy a Rossi, though I'm sure someone will chip in with a comment about how they can be made to run fine.  You're correct, there's a reason you rarely see them.

 

You can turn on notifications here on the SASS Wire Classifieds and you'll get an email every time someone posts something for sale.

[Chicken George*]

All my kids would rather shoot the nicest guns possible even if they aren't the ideal lop and have to share. I'd rather share my guns than haul around and take care of more gear at matches. My kids don't want to push extra gun carts around. So we leave the not as nice guns home. 

 

If you are looking for cheaper alternatives for him because you aren't sure he's going to stay committed and options that will benefit you when he quits, you are planning for failure. I look at it as an investment both in the guns and your son. I would recommend doing like Bill Burt said and find a used deal on what's popular. They are popular for a reason. There are always deals. I helped someone buy a nice, used '73 at the last EOT swap meet for under $1000. It was short stroked and slicked up. They can shoot that hard and enjoy it for years and at any point, they could sell it and get all of their money back or maybe more. You buy a cheaper gun new and it will not hold its value as well and your boy will not enjoy shooting it as much and possibly create a handicap for him. 

[Jackrabbit Joe #414]

Well, I gotta add that the Uberti Stallions are also another one to consider in .38 special.

[Nimble Fingers SASS# 25439]

On 5/19/2024 at 6:19 PM, Dacotua said:

My son is currently 13. On his birthday he'll graduate to the Junior class.  Currently he shoots a Henry 22 Lever, (2) Ruger Wranglers and a Stoeger 410 Coach.

 

I'm leaning toward some Pietta 1873's (38/357)'s for the Pistols and I'm looking at the New Ruger/Marlin 1894 (38/357) for the rifle. (Our family hunts, so I thought if I got him a Marlin 1894 in 357, it could do double duty. During deer season I could put a scope on top of it, and have him use full house 357's in it for deer or hogs), during CAS time, he could use my downloaded 38's. (As far as shotguns go, I already have a CZ Hammer Coach (I use most of the time), IAC 1897 Shotgun (I may start using more often), Cimarron 1887 Shotgun, and a Stoeger 12ga Coach (Wife uses). Kid has eyes on my 1897 pump, so no cost.

 

I'm looking for a "Cheaper" Option if there is one out there. I've been looking at Buds Gun shop and some other online dealers. *I* totally understand once my son gets "girl crazy" aka girlfriend, he'll probably want to stop CAS and or hunting. So I'd prefer not to buy a pair of Ruger Vaqueros and another Cimarron 1873 Rifle just to have them collect dust in the safe. (I already own (4x Ruger Vaqueros, 2 in 45, 2 in 357), x2 Cimarron 1873 rifles (1x 45, 1x 357) -- Wife and I play the game so they are spoken for).

 

Just looking at suggestions.

 

I've already got a reloading setup for (Dillon XL650 and Mec 600jr [in 12, 20 and 410]. So caliber is not a big deal to me so long as the dies are available. (I already have dies for 45 Colt, 38/357, and 45ACP (wild bunch). So staying with those would be more advantageous to me.)

My son was shooting a pair of colt Nebraska Commemorative.22s, a Winchester 9422 and a single shot shotgun and someone in my club let him shoot his .357 OMV. After that we were both shooting .44 spcl, him using my OMV .44mag and a Winchester 92. He was ten. 
let your son use your Rugers in .357 and when he tires of the sport you get them back.