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Variety is the caliber of fun


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I’m not fast, I’ve been known to shoot out of sequence to earn a P ( not quite a gold star but I’ve earned every P ever awarded me)

 

I’ve decided that gun collecting is so much better when you shoot them so now I’ve been able to shoot matches with .38, 38-40, 44, and 45C. Maybe next year I’ll even try some different shooting styles.

 

To each his own right?

 

WN

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I agree 100%. I like to shoot a variety of different calibers myself. I can choose between .22LR, 32-20, 38 Special, 45 Schofield, 45 Colt, and 45 ACP in my revolvers. I have at least one rifle that I can shoot any of those calibers in except the 45 ACP.

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I’ll generally shoot one match a year (usually in the summertime)  in Buckaroo catagory with 22s and a 410 just because they are fun to shoot!  (And it’s legal since my wife at I act like I’m 9 all the time )

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Posted (edited)

I did this for several years! I had guns in .38/357, .44magnum, .44 Russian, .45acp, .45 Colt, .44 cap ‘n’ ball, .36 cap ‘n’ ball, .32 S&W for side matches, 10ga, 12ga, 16ga, and 20ga!!
 

With guns capable of using those calibers, I was able to also shoot .44 special, .45 Schofield, .45 Cowboy and various other oddball calibers.

 

Add to that .308, 7.62 X 39, .32acp, .22lr, and 30-30 and the shelves in my gun room were sagging badly!!

 

Four or five years ago, I made the decision to shrink my selection of calibers and with it the guns to shoot them.  I sold and traded ammunition and guns, making some difficult choices along the way and subsequently a few bucks in more than a few cases.

 

I’m now down to .38/.357 in rifle and pistol, .45 Colt/.45 Cowboy in rifle and pistol, .45 acp, 22lr, and 30-30 and 7.62 X 39 in rifle.  My shotgun selection is down to 10 and 12ga.

 

I still have my .44 cap ‘n’ ball stuff and my son, Hatfield, has gone to .40S&W for his personal carry needs.

 

I have gone from keeping twenty different varieties of ammo to eleven.  I no longer have to find someone to load some of those calibers or buy factory ammo in several cases.  


I’m within one or two guns of having the same number of guns and by decreasing the variety, I’ve been able to increase the volume of each selection.  The shelves don’t sag anymore, but it’s because while I was shuffling things out and in, I was able to improve the shelf structure!!  There’s a lot more there and it’s better organized.

 

I am also now able to reload for all of my needs, myself!!

 

I’ll never regret having played with all of those different guns and calibers, but I regret even less being more streamlined and better equipped and organized.

 

 

Edited by Blackwater 53393
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I seldom shoot two matches in a row with the same mix of guns or calibers. 32 S&W, 32WCF,  38 Special, 38WCF,  44WCF,  45 Colt. 12 gauge and 10 gauge. Usually my choice is influenced by latest gun I've made ready.  I love the old guns. 

 

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I've only shot three different calibers in CAS... 1st a .38/.357rifle with my 45 Colt SAA... then a 45 Colt rifle (Uberti 1873).  Beginning in 1986, I began shooting an 1851 in .36 cal.  Which I still do to this day.  But, my real idea of fun is to only shoot the corners of targets, or a leg, foot, brim of the hat, or in the case of T-Bone's chicken targets, the head.  Sure, it makes me a little slower than if shooting at the larger portion, but when I do miss, I EARNED it!  

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I have main match guns in...

 

.32 S&W

.32-20

.38 Long Colt

.44-40

.44 Special

.44 Magnum

.45 Colt

56-50 Spencer

Depending on which caliber I decide to shoot at any given match, I get to choose from all kinds of different/fun guns.

At once upcoming match, I will run .32-20 so I can compare a Winchester 73 to a Winchester 92 to a Colt Lightning to a Marlin 1888 to see which one I am best with, and which one is the most fun to shoot.

At another, I'll run .44 Magnum so I can compare a pre-safety Rossi 92 to a pre-83 Winchester 94.

I am looking forward to it all with anticipation.

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Posted (edited)

Yep, 

I did this for about 20 years!

.38/357

.44 M agnum

.44 Special

.44 Colt

.44 Russian

.45 acp

.45 Colt

.45 Schofield

.45 Cowboy Special

.44 cap ‘n’ ball

.36 cap ‘n’ ball

.38 S&W

.32 Short & Long

10ga, 12ga, 16ga, and 20ga
 

Mostly with 1Fg. 2Fg, & 3Fg Black Powder, & some smokeless too!

 

Too Much Fun!

Edited by Prairie Dawg, SASS #50329
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I support the idea that 'variety' makes things fun.  I don't have nearly the options as you Gun Masters, but a simple shotgun change can also liven-up a match.  I'm headed to the RV Lifestyle, so I have to pare-down my calibers and my collections.  My wife would rather have space for clean towel in the RV closet, than 22 pairs for pistols !!  LOL

Keep it Fun !

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I shoot B Western from SC State in April thru the SE Regional, shooting my .45 OMVs, Baby Vaqueroes in .32, Marlin 1894 in .38 and Win 1897s.  I shoot a lot of stages in GF mode.

After the regional, I shoot Frontiersman (Piette 1851s), original Win 1873 in .32/20, and original Win 1892 in .38/40, until March, when it is time to get to easy and fast.

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I shot a six stage match in 2013 using not only 24 different guns, but each one chambered for a different cartridge or gauge. With the consent of the posse, I added .410 and 28 ga to get six different shotguns. All of the pistols & rifles were shot with their respective "dedicated cartridges", meaning I didn't shoot .38 specials in .357 magnums or .44 specials in a .44 magnum. My '82 Honda Civic hatchback served as my gun cart that day. :P

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I primarily use a few different .45 Colts but have to been know to also use .44 Spcl's and 44-40's..... I do love the collecting and gathering aspect of CAS.

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7 hours ago, Three Foot Johnson said:

I shot a six stage match in 2013 using not only 24 different guns, but each one chambered for a different cartridge or gauge. With the consent of the posse, I added .410 and 28 ga to get six different shotguns. All of the pistols & rifles were shot with their respective "dedicated cartridges", meaning I didn't shoot .38 specials in .357 magnums or .44 specials in a .44 magnum. My '82 Honda Civic hatchback served as my gun cart that day. :P

 

At the MA/CT/RI Tri-State last weekend, I used different guns on every stage.  The stages were inspired by "Westerns through the decades."   So, I tried to use guns that were seen in the Western in question.

 

On all stages, since in the movies that had a shotgun, a side by side was featured, I used a 30" Parker with F/F barrels.

 

The Great Train Robbery:   Remington 1875 (replica).   Colt SAA (2nd Gen)  Both with 7.5" barrels.  No rifle featured in movies, so I just used an ASM 92 rifle.  .45 Colt.

Stagecoach:  Large Loop Winchester 92 carbine.   Uberti SAA, 7.5".  Original Great Western, 5.5".  .44 Magnum

Treasure if the Sierra Madre:   ASM 92 Rifle.  4.75" Colt (3rd Gen)  7.5" Colt, (2nd Gen) .45 Colt

High Noon:  Winchester 92, Colt 7.5" (1st Gen) Colt 5.5"  (3rd Gen)  .32-20

The Magnificent 7.  S&W New Model 3.   Colt 5.5" (1st Gen)  Uberti Henry, .44-40.
The Outlaw Jose Wales   Uberti Walker, Pietta 1860, Uberti 1866 rifle.  .45 Colt 

Silverado:  75 Remington 7.5" SAA 2nd Gen, Hollywierd Henry based on Uberti 66 carbine.   Pistols in .45, rifle in .44-40

Unforgiven:  Uberti Schofield, 75 Remington, .45 Colt.  Original Spencer 56-50.

Open Range  7.5" Colt and 75 Remington.  66 Rifle  .45 Colt

True Grit (remake)   Colt Dragoon, Uberti Schofield, 66 rifle.  .45 Colt.

I had FUN.   

 

I think I set a record on the Unforgiven stage, 200+ seconds!   Not only was it with a Spencer, but it didn't eject the rounds properly, just pulled them halfway out of the chamber so I had to flick 'em.

But....

I shot a clean match.   :)

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