Thoughts on Levering Shotguns?

[Trouble on the Rhein]

Entirely new to SASS, I see everyone running side by sides in videos, but I haven't seen any lever action shotguns, is there a reason for that? 

 

Figured I'd ask now before I buy anything, and learn that they're prone to jamming or the like. 

[Leroy Luck]

The 1887 is a popular shotgun to be used, although most folks use SxS shotguns.
 

You can YouTube several shooters using them. There’s a good review that was put out by Deuce Stevens on the new cimarron 1887 shotguns and you might check it out. 

[Dantankerous]

Plenty of folks use the '87. Nowhere near as many as the SxS but the '87 seems to be gaining popularity.

 

At the Kansas State match last month I believe there were 7 or 8 cowfolk using the '87.

 

The '87 ain't an easy gun to run smoothly but when you figger it out there ain't nothin like it.

[Tex Jones, SASS 2263]

Welcome to the game. Try before you buy-anything.  Lever action shotguns, pumps, hammered or hammerless doubles are all used in the game.  They all have their quirks and many need to be worked on to be competitive, if that's what you're looking to be.  Go to a few matches and ask around.  I'm pretty sure there will be folks who let you try out their guns.

[Blackwater 53393]

Several current and former World Champions in different categories use the lever shotgun.  Stone Creek Drifter immediately comes to mind. And you can’t forget Lassiter!!

 

Lassiter is also the “go to” guy for tuning the ‘87!!

[Idaho Gunslinger]

People are mostly using SxS because they are the most reliable. 

 

I'm seeing more fast shooters running pump action 97's lately it seems but they are getting harder to find and the running joke is there are 97 ways to break them. I was told if I'm going to run a 97 I better have a backup for when it breaks. The pump action seem to be the easiest to get proficient at for a beginner.

 

The 1887 lever action seems prone to jamming a lot. Whether it's a gun issue or a user issue I can't say for sure but whenever they show up to a match I'm at the shooters tend to struggle with them. They also need modified so you can load 2 at a time to really allow you to shoot them quickly too. I've read on here that the 1887 is probably the fastest shotgun out there when they don't jam but they also seem to take the most practice too. 

[Chickasaw Bill SASS #70001]

Me with an 87 . be a train wreck waitin' to happen 

 

  CB 

[Cheyenne Ranger, 48747L]

as mentioned above, go to some matches--if you were a mite closer we would be glad to lean gear, guns and ammo to try it, first-hand.  Plus first match is free!

 

personally, I'm using a hammered SxS cause of the style points I get (joke--these don't exist but it's as good a reason as any to shoot one)

 

 

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

OP, have you attended any shoots yet? 

Buy NOTHING, until you have, and done a hands on live fire. 

[Sedalia Dave]

I love mine.

 

 

 

I'm seeing more and more of them at big matches.

[Reverend P. Babcock Chase]

Howdy Trouble,

 

First, attend a/some match(s). Hammerless doubles and '97's are the choice for most categories. Classic Cowboy mandates Hammer Double or '87. I can not speak to the new '87's which seem to be getting pretty good reviews. I shoot a Hammer Double or an older chinese '87 for Classic Cowboy and can affirm that the hammer gun is faster for me. My '87 is fun and cool for style points but generates "train wrecks" regularly. If you are starting out and will shoot a category that allows a hammerless double or '97, I'd suggest you consider one of those.

 

Rev. Chase

[Sedalia Dave]

12 minutes ago, The Original Lumpy Gritz said:

OP, have you attended any shoots yet? 

Buy NOTHING, until you have, and done a hands on live fire. 

 

THIS ^^^^

[Abilene, SASS # 27489]

While you need the drop-two to be able to be competitive (and a lot of practice), loading one at a time can still be fun.  Here's Three Fingered Dutchman shooting his original.

 

[Trouble on the Rhein]

41 minutes ago, The Original Lumpy Gritz said:

OP, have you attended any shoots yet? 

Buy NOTHING, until you have, and done a hands on live fire. 

Attending my first match tomorrow with The Sheyenne Valley Peacekeepers, over in Enderlin, ND. It'll be interesting to see what all everyone uses for their own shooting.

[slow poke gear]

My 12 year old daughter and I run 87s. 

They are fun, but they have a VERY LARGE learning curve. Most of the time I see classic cowboy shooters using them I believe that is because for a classic there are only 2 real options 87 or a hammered double. Lassiter is the man to send it to if you get one. His 2 shot drop is second to none. My daughter and I practice alot with snap caps to get smooth with it.

[Dacotua]

I shoot Classic Cowboy now, previously I used to shoot my age class (years ago). I normally use a SXS Hammer Coach, but recently acquired a Cimarron 1887. I am debating whether or not sending the gun off for the two drop mod. I've been practicing with snap caps, I can load both shells rather quickly now. Part of me wants to do that, but you can also use the 1887 now in wild bunch, so being able to load the magazine tube completely is something I want to retain also. I'm not 100% sure if you can have your cake and eat it to. (being able to drop two and being able to load the magazine tube).

[Sedalia Dave]

10 minutes ago, Dacotua said:

I shoot Classic Cowboy now, previously I used to shoot my age class (years ago). I normally use a SXS Hammer Coach, but recently acquired a Cimarron 1887. I am debating whether or not sending the gun off for the two drop mod. I've been practicing with snap caps, I can load both shells rather quickly now. Part of me wants to do that, but you can also use the 1887 now in wild bunch, so being able to load the magazine tube completely is something I want to retain also. I'm not 100% sure if you can have your cake and eat it to. (being able to drop two and being able to load the magazine tube).

 

For all practical purposes no. Lassiter's drop 2 mod makes it almost impossible to stoke the magazine.

 

All the more reason to own 2.

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

3 hours ago, Trouble on the Rhein said:

Attending my first match tomorrow with The Sheyenne Valley Peacekeepers, over in Enderlin, ND. It'll be interesting to see what all everyone uses for their own shooting.

FWIW, I use pump, lever and SxS. 

[Trouble on the Rhein]

2 hours ago, Dacotua said:

I shoot Classic Cowboy now, previously I used to shoot my age class (years ago). I normally use a SXS Hammer Coach, but recently acquired a Cimarron 1887. I am debating whether or not sending the gun off for the two drop mod. I've been practicing with snap caps, I can load both shells rather quickly now. Part of me wants to do that, but you can also use the 1887 now in wild bunch, so being able to load the magazine tube completely is something I want to retain also. I'm not 100% sure if you can have your cake and eat it to. (being able to drop two and being able to load the magazine tube).

If the two drop mod is installed, can you not load directly into the tube? I'm not familiar with that, I saw something like that on the Stevens video one of the first replies talked about

[Dacotua]

21 minutes ago, Trouble on the Rhein said:

If the two drop mod is installed, can you not load directly into the tube? I'm not familiar with that, I saw something like that on the Stevens video one of the first replies talked about

 

I'm not 100% sure on it. I've done a lot of searching on it and it appears it does not. I'm ok with having dropping one down into the receiver and throwing one in the barrel. I can load it that way a bit quicker than I can a SXS. I really don't care what kind of time I get in a match, I do it purely these days out of fun, nothing more.  Before kids and marriage, 20 years ago I shot in my age group, I went as fast as I could. Now my son is into cowboy action shooting, I elected to shoot classic cowboy. His goal is to beat me my total time. My guess is in a year or so he'll beat me, but for now, it keeps his interest in the game. (He shoots buckaroo right now).

 

 

[slow poke gear]

1 hour ago, Trouble on the Rhein said:

If the two drop mod is installed, can you not load directly into the tube? I'm not familiar with that, I saw something like that on the Stevens video one of the first replies talked about

For the biggest part when lassiter does his 2 drop mod. You can't use the magazine tube. There are always one or two exceptions.  Mine and my daughters you can't load the tube, they are from lassiter. 

[Jed I. Knight, SASS #36423]

@Deacon Doug runnin’ his 1887 Lever Action Shotgun: 

 

 

And, an older video of me runnin’ mine: 

 

[Sedalia Dave]

2 hours ago, Trouble on the Rhein said:

If the two drop mod is installed, can you not load directly into the tube? I'm not familiar with that, I saw something like that on the Stevens video one of the first replies talked about

 

The way the modification works the carrier is prevented from fully dropping and aligning with the magazine tube. This hard stop ensures the top shell is in alignment with the chamber so that when you close the lever the bolt pushes the shell into the chamber.

 

The carrier doesn't drop down into alignment with the magazine tube until you begin to close the lever. When this happens, the bolt blocks you from being able to push shells into the magazine.

 

In rare cases you can stoke the magazine tube. However, it is extremely difficult and not worth the effort.

 

When you hold one of Lassiter's 1887s in your hands and see how the action works you'll understand.

[Trouble on the Rhein]

2 hours ago, slow poke gear said:

For the biggest part when lassiter does his 2 drop mod. You can't use the magazine tube. There are always one or two exceptions.  Mine and my daughters you can't load the tube, they are from lassiter. 

Ah, thats a shame. Ill probably just try to learn to do it normally, since i'd still like to retain the tube for personal use and shooting

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

Depends on who build the '87 for SASS.

Coyote Cap build ours, many years ago.

You can load 2 or stuff the magazine tube. 

Sadly, Cap passed a few years back .....

[Cusz M. Dutch SASS Life 55326]

load one over the top also works like the 97.  Holding the gun into the shoulder with the lever.

[Sedalia Dave]

17 hours ago, slow poke gear said:

My 12 year old daughter and I run 87s. 

They are fun, but they have a VERY LARGE learning curve. Most of the time I see classic cowboy shooters using them I believe that is because for a classic there are only 2 real options 87 or a hammered double. Lassiter is the man to send it to if you get one. His 2 shot drop is second to none. My daughter and I practice alot with snap caps to get smooth with it.

 

That was nicely done.

[CyPhi]

I shoot a 1887 for fun and a SxS for speed. This year I am working on speed but I sure am missing the fun and style of my lever shotgun. After Canadian SASS Nationals in August I'm going back to the 1887.

It took me a year of shooting only my 1887 to get somewhat consistent with it. At my clubs fun shoot I only have one or two train wreck stages with it. I am shooting so much better with it now. 

 

 

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

The '87 lever SG, is the coolest gun used in this game! 

[Will Kane]

Here's a fun video of Fireball shooting his Winchester '87.

 

 

[Chicken George*]

On 5/24/2024 at 12:17 PM, Idaho Gunslinger said:

I've read on here that the 1887 is probably the fastest shotgun out there

Who said that? 

[Idaho Gunslinger]

8 hours ago, Chicken George* said:

Who said that? 

I don't recall. But I thought it held or used to hold most of the speed shotgun records. 

[Chicken George*]

3 hours ago, Idaho Gunslinger said:

I don't recall. But I thought it held or used to hold most of the speed shotgun records. 

Smokestack holds the world record for 4 shots with the '87 with a time of 3.13 seconds. The world records for a '97 and a hammerless double have always been lower than that (both currently under 2 1/2 seconds). 

 

The fastest times for 4 shotgun at the last EOT shotgun speed event:

Pump- 2.55

Hammerless Double- 2.82

Hammer Double- 4.11

Lever- 4.11

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

On 5/24/2024 at 2:50 PM, Trouble on the Rhein said:

Attending my first match tomorrow with The Sheyenne Valley Peacekeepers, over in Enderlin, ND. It'll be interesting to see what all everyone uses for their own shooting.

So, how'd it go?

[Trouble on the Rhein]

2 hours ago, The Original Lumpy Gritz said:

So, how'd it go?

Not bad, had some good fun, came in last. But thats good, only up from here. Everyone there was very kind and courteous, one person let me borrow their extra set of guns, another had a gunbelt to borrow, another had a shotgun shell holder, overall i had a great time.

I did try and pay it back by helping them paint the targets for the next day.