Hot Iron Hill Posted September 22 Share Posted September 22 Howdy all, I just picked up a mint, like new pair of “old” model Vaqueros in 45cal… My question is, should I go all in on 45 cal or should I sell them and go with .357/38 Special? Is .357/38 Special that much better? Thank you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rye Miles #13621 Posted September 22 Share Posted September 22 8 minutes ago, Hot Iron Hill said: Howdy all, I just picked up a mint, like new pair of “old” model Vaqueros in 45cal… My question is, should I go all in on 45 cal or should I sell them and go with .357/38 Special? Is .357/38 Special that much better? Thank you .38’s are cheaper to reload or buy factory but not necessarily better or worse! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Idaho Gunslinger Posted September 22 Share Posted September 22 45 can be loaded fairly light to the point it likely doesn't matter too much compared to 38. But 45 costs quite a bit more to shoot than 38. 125gr bullets for 38 are $49 per 500 and 160gr bullets for 45 are $65 per 500. Just shooting one 5 stage monthly each month for a year will cost you an extra $40 just for bullets. They use a little more powder as well. Brass costs quite a bit more for that initial buy in and at the moment large pistol primers are a little more expensive than small pistol primers. It all adds up. So you end up paying more for a cartridge that might actually perform worse. All that being said I am shooting 45's... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texas Maverick Posted September 22 Share Posted September 22 Besides the cost you also need to decide which category you plan on shooting. Some require the 45. So you have some decisions you have to make to answer your own question. TM 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sixgun Seamus Posted September 22 Share Posted September 22 We both shoot 45's due to category requirements. The cost might be a couple cents more per round but I feel that is negligible. You have the 45's already, so go with them. We shoot an average of 35-40 matches per year. If I was concerned about a couple bucks a week extra to shoot 45's, I would have quit long ago. Besides, real calibers start with a 4. 8 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hot Iron Hill Posted September 22 Author Share Posted September 22 Thank you all, I really appreciate it… I have been looking for a pair of 38 Vaqueros for a while now and was at a sale and there was a pair of 45’s with consecutive SN, in new condition, with a SN# starting with a 056-. I told myself if they went to a certain price I would get them and they did. Now just tried to decide the direction to go in… I still need to purchase a rifle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colorado Coffinmaker Posted September 22 Share Posted September 22 (edited) Also consider. .45 Revolvers are lighter than .38 Revolvers. Next up, Shooting "Cowboy 45 Special" cases, with .45 Barnstormers (130Gr) bullets, you're sitting right at .38 level recoil. Considering the smaller capacity case, a lighter powder charge and the 130Gr bullet, where is the advantage to a .38?? By the way, yes, I shoot .45s with C45S cases and 130Gr Barnstormers. Barnstormers are available from Shootin Fox. Just give him some lead time. it is also possible to acquire 45 ACP cylinders and utilize 45 ACP cases for everything except Classic Cowboy. Let Us Play!!! Most Forgot: Also most FUNNER with 3F APP you betcha!! Edited September 22 by Colorado Coffinmaker Add some FUN 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rye Miles #13621 Posted September 22 Share Posted September 22 33 minutes ago, Sixgun Seamus said: We both shoot 45's due to category requirements. The cost might be a couple cents more per round but I feel that is negligible. You have the 45's already, so go with them. We shoot an average of 35-40 matches per year. If I was concerned about a couple bucks a week extra to shoot 45's, I would have quit long ago. Besides, real calibers start with a 4. A couple cents more a round for you since you use less powder in your mouse loads than I do in my .38’s 😂😂😂 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitey James Posted September 22 Share Posted September 22 I had the same questions and it caused me to buy both! I was not sure what category or categories I wanted to shoot. I know that not everyone has the means to do that so I would say go with what you have. Honestly, if you reload, it's not enough of a difference to make a difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Idaho Gunslinger Posted September 22 Share Posted September 22 Isn't Classic Cowboy the only one that requires 40 cal or larger? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rye Miles #13621 Posted September 22 Share Posted September 22 29 minutes ago, Idaho Gunslinger said: Isn't Classic Cowboy the only one that requires 40 cal or larger? Yes, and a hammer or lever shotgun with clothing requirements! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rafe Conager SASS #56958 Posted September 23 Share Posted September 23 I use 45 Schofield brass with 185 or 200 grn. Lead doesn't use as much powder and has less airspace when using smokeless powder. Since I mostly shoot black powder or app I get more loads per lbs. Of powder. Lighter guns than my 38s Rafe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Original Lumpy Gritz Posted September 23 Share Posted September 23 Research .45 Cowboy Special 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hot Iron Hill Posted September 23 Author Share Posted September 23 Just started to look into the 45 Cowboy Special… very interesting. I didn’t even know it existed. Is it popular in the Cowboy Action World? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted September 23 Share Posted September 23 30 minutes ago, Hot Iron Hill said: Just started to look into the 45 Cowboy Special… very interesting. I didn’t even know it existed. Is it popular in the Cowboy Action World? Very. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erasmus Posted September 23 Share Posted September 23 5 hours ago, Idaho Gunslinger said: Isn't Classic Cowboy the only one that requires 40 cal or larger? Also Tom Horn if your club shoots it (generally speaking anyway). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hot Iron Hill Posted September 23 Author Share Posted September 23 If go with shooting the 45 cowboy special in my revolvers… what caliber rifles should a person go with if the category I want to shoot in doesn’t require .40 cal? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badlands Bob #61228 Posted September 23 Share Posted September 23 Life will be less complicated if your rifle and pistols use the same caliber. Wild Bunch recently changed the rifle requirement to allow any SASS legal rifle to be used. That promoted a number of used 45 Colt lever actions rifles for sale at reasonable prices. I'd recommend getting a Uberti 73 in the caliber of your pistols. Whatever your rifle likes, feed it to the pistols. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Duncan Posted September 23 Share Posted September 23 (edited) I’ve had a few target edge hits with my 45 that would have been misses with a 38. Edited September 23 by Matthew Duncan 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Three Foot Johnson Posted September 23 Share Posted September 23 In addition to the 130 grain Barnstormer bullet mentioned above, a company called Old West Bullet Moulds will make you a similar mold style out of brass, but with a deeper hollow base that weighs only 110 grains. I have their 4 cavity design of this mold with a flat base @ 155 grains, and being made of brass and with such a small bullet, it is HEAVY. They call it the "45 Drill Bit" mold. https://oldwestbulletmoulds.com/shop/ols/products/45-caliber-454-155-grain-revolver-bullet-double-cavity-mould Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griff Posted September 23 Share Posted September 23 (edited) BTW it's "cowboy45special", or C45S. And with either the Widdermajik mod in a Marlin 1894 or a C45S carrier in a 1860, '66 or '73, you can run the same ammo thru the rifle & handgun. See: maruader.homestead.com/rifles.html and for the c45s carrier it's Bill English @ 401-864-2348. Edited September 23 by Griff 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ORNERY OAF Posted September 23 Share Posted September 23 Don't the uberti 73s come in 45? I dont know if they run well or not, never had one. But 45c in revolver, 45c in rifle, what's to ponder, except why in the holy blacks goex heaven would you shoot a 110-115 grain bullet in a 45, i think ole JMB would dot your eye....if ya want mouse guns, buy mouse guns. Could always sell them and get 44-40 across the board and load black powder to the top for the whole fun barrel of monkeys! JMHO, all in fun, no insult to my brothers and sisters... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cold Lake Kid, SASS # 51474 Posted September 23 Share Posted September 23 I switched to Cowboy.45 Specials in my SAAs only for now. I was just a little apprehensive, looking into the Titegroup that looked lost in the bottom of the .45 Colt case. I'm saving the last of my CLAYS and TB for the rifle. I did find the C45S left a ring inside the chamber cylinders of my SAAs that would not allow me to them chamber a .45 Colt cartridge. However, a couple of quick passes with a cylinder hone cleaned it out. YMMD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McCandless Posted September 23 Share Posted September 23 On 9/22/2024 at 2:55 PM, Hot Iron Hill said: Howdy all, I just picked up a mint, like new pair of “old” model Vaqueros in 45cal… My question is, should I go all in on 45 cal or should I sell them and go with .357/38 Special? Is .357/38 Special that much better? Thank you A question to ask is, do you reload? If yes then it's only a matter of the difference in the cost of components. If no, then .38 special is far more economical than paying over $1 a round for .45 Colt... 120+ rounds per match x the number of matches you shoot per month. That's not counting any practice you may wish to do. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Three Gun Cole Posted September 26 Share Posted September 26 I would mention the word “Budget” When shooting on a limited budget, brass and bullets are cheaper for 38 special. Many shooters can shoot more matches on 38’s vs 45 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
watab kid Posted September 26 Share Posted September 26 this is an age old question that gets asked by new folks and as you can see there are a bunch of correct answers , a lot depends on what you intend to do - i have both after years of this , there are a lot of others i dont have that if like i think , in the end these are "tools" of our game and only you can answer the real question when you decide what your approach and end game is , i like my 45s - have more of them , i like my 39s and shoot them less but wont part with them either , i shoot for fun - not gonna win anything in this life again , i shoot what makes me happy any given day , Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griff Posted September 27 Share Posted September 27 On 9/22/2024 at 1:55 PM, Hot Iron Hill said: Howdy all, I just picked up a mint, like new pair of “old” model Vaqueros in 45cal… My question is, should I go all in on 45 cal or should I sell them and go with .357/38 Special? Is .357/38 Special that much better? Thank you I started with a 45 Colt revolver, they'd just outlawed the .30-30 as a main match cartridge and I ended up buying a .38/.357 Rossi carbine. After a very short while the BANG/CLANK of my handgun loads in comparison to the pop/tink of the rifle loads began to eat at my sensibilities... I bought a 45 Colt rifle. If you really want a challenge, buy .36 caliber BP handguns... their pop/thud challenges spotters to the point of exasperation, many of them just giving up and calling misses. While it means nothing as far as competition... what exactly is your self-image? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Three Foot Johnson Posted September 27 Share Posted September 27 For several years, I've made a note of which guns I took to each match. This list is pistols only, but the .44 special easily came out on top. 44 spl 45 acp 45 Colt 38 spl 38-40 44-40 32 H&R mag 44 Russian 32-20 9mm 44 mag 357 mag 40 S&W - One time only, using .38-40/.40 S&W convertible Vaqueros 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Bill Burt Posted September 27 Share Posted September 27 I just did a quick check with on a couple of my suppliers websites. 230 grain .45 is about .06 more per bullet. The difference in the cost of powder (the cheapest component) is going to be well under a penny (in favor of .45). So for a match you'll spend about $7.20 more shooting .45. Four matches a month and you're at not quite $29. Then there's the cost of brass. I use North East Reloading for used brass. 38 special is a little over .07 a piece. 45 is about .18 a piece. I like to keep a minimum of 10,000 pieces, so if you're a first time buyer you could be spending $700 or $1,800 if you purchase that much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971 Posted September 27 Share Posted September 27 Keep in mind that Old Model Vaqueros are larger-framed revolvers than new production Vaqueros. The Old Models may fit your hands better than current models. Handle revolvers before considering trading. I shoot Old Models chambered in 357 and 44 mag. The heft of the large revolvers helps protect my arthritic hands from recoil. Regarding ammo cost, once-fired 38 Special brass is cheap and easy to purchase. Once-fired 45 Colt brass is not so available. You may have to buy virgin brass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abilene, SASS # 27489 Posted September 27 Share Posted September 27 Howdy HHH, when I started in '99 I was a "big bore guy", 45 Colt and 44 Special. Then I won a beautiful charcoal blue .357 '73 carbine with tiger-striped wood. I didn't shoot it for almost 6 weeks since I was thinking about trading it for a .45. But finally I decided I wasn't going to look that gift horse in the mouth and decided to shoot it. What sealed the deal was that Cimarron came out at that time with the '51 Richards-Mason conversions, and I loved the look of that with its octagon barrel, and those come in .38 only. So I eventually ended up with 5 of those, plus plenty of other guns, and I was shooting about 7 calibers. (Variety is a spice that I enjoy). But several years ago I started concentrating on the .38's and actually using the same round in both rifle and pistol for the first time, and that is what I do now quite a bit. It just simplified a lot of stuff for me. As I am shooting every weekend, I still shoot all those other calibers, both BP and smokeless, but just not as much. So I have to ask. Your SASS number says you have been around a while and I see you joined the Wire in 2015. But your questions sound like a new shooter. Did you join up but then life got in the way and you are just now getting back to the fun? If so, better late than never! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sixgun Seamus Posted September 28 Share Posted September 28 2 hours ago, Captain Bill Burt said: 230 grain .45 is about .06 more per bullet. Wow! My bullet supplier's cost difference between 125gr 38 and 200 gr 45 is only 2 cents. Powder difference is only 2 gr between 38 and 45 (my loads) so to me that is insignificant. Primers around here might vary by one penny and I really don't factor in brass because I have so much with very little loss. Just my view from the saddle. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Bill Burt Posted September 28 Share Posted September 28 59 minutes ago, Sixgun Seamus said: Wow! My bullet supplier's cost difference between 125gr 38 and 200 gr 45 is only 2 cents. Powder difference is only 2 gr between 38 and 45 (my loads) so to me that is insignificant. Primers around here might vary by one penny and I really don't factor in brass because I have so much with very little loss. Just my view from the saddle. I may need to use your supplier!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
watab kid Posted September 28 Share Posted September 28 i guess the cost can be a factor but that has never been my concern when it came to this game , i do it for fun as a hobby type thing that i do not track cost on - if i did that , id have no hobby's or vices , and i really like the few i have left , life is short , gotta enjoy what i have left , 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk James Posted September 30 Share Posted September 30 38 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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