What is your Favorite Rifle to shoot in Cowboy Action Shooting ?

[Rooster Ron Wayne]

What is your favorite rifle to shoot and your backup ?

Do you have the same rifle as your backup or something different  ?

 

When I started SASS I started with the Rossi 92 .

I had zero complaints with the 92 .

And there was no way I was going to ever out run it .

 

For my first 8 years I shot smokeless powder .

Then I took a ride on the dark side .

And we all know once you go black you never go back .

 

I have owned a few Marlin's and a few 92s but I never shot or had a 66 or 73 .

 

But I used a friend's 66 and fell in love with the 66 for black powder shooting only .

I loved my 92 but it was kinda painful cleaning up the 92 with BP.

 

Then I bought a Henry 1860 and had a lot of fun shooting that with BP and Cap Guns .

 

I wanted to try something new every few years just for the fun and challenge of something new .

 

Then I bought a 73 and it was fun to run and easier to clean even more easer  then the 66 .

 

I ended up buying a Henry Big Boy just because I wanted one .

I loved my 66 and I loved the Brass look of the Henry .

 

I heard all the stories about how bad of a rifle it was for SASS .

And I took a box stock Henry 44 Big Boy brand bew in the box to a local shoot , Just to see for myself and to say I did it .

I shot a clean game that day , With a stock out of the box Henry 44 Big Boy with Black Powder .

With Zero jams or issues. 

 

I did not ever use the Henry Big Boy again because wow it's a heavy rifle .

 

I have tried  just about everything once or twice over the years .

 

I have settled on the 66 in 44 special with the 73 in 44 special as my backup rifle shooting BP.

 

I use my 92 with a Marlin 94 as a backup when I shoot smokeless. 

 

I am blessed to be-able to own and shoot many different guns and styles. 

 

The 92 and the 66 are my favorite go to rifles .

 

What's yours ?

[Boggus Deal #64218]

My Beretta(Uberti) ‘73 in .45 Colt.

[Eyesa Horg]

Been using my Marlin 94 Cowboy Comp. in 45colt for 13 years. For backup I would use Ellie's Marlin carbine in 357. Funds haven't allowed backups!!

[Tex Jones, SASS 2263]

Uberti and Winchester 73s in 44 WCF.

[Prairie Dawg, SASS #50329]

1860 Henry Transitional, customized by Coffinmaker.
Caliber 44-40.

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

AWA Lighting in .45 Colt.

I have other Lightings in other calibers, as well as a Henry, 66's, a 73, 92's, a Marlin 1888 and an original Spencer.  All of these get taken out from time to time, but the .45 Lighting is my favorite.

 

I don't really have a designated "backup" gun.   Perhaps I should.   I suppose that if I was shooting the Lighting, my backup would be an Armi San Marco 92 or an Uberti 66 as they are both .45's.  

If I was shooting a different caliber,  I'd back up the Lightning with a lever gun in the same caliber.  (Although, I do have two .44-40 Lightnings)

Edited February 13 by H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

Marlin 94 in .44 mag, that was made in 1982.

[Doc Moses]

My favorite is a stock Uberti 73 18" carbine in 44 mag. Matches my old Vaqueros. My 'back-up' is an Uberti 73 in 357. Bought used but has had work done. It's great to have two. When I am low on lp primers I run the 357 so I can use sp primers for rifle. (357 runs better I just like the 44mag)  Wish I still had my 92...

[Texas Maverick]

I started out in 2018 and bought a new Uberti 73 and had a local gunsmith do some tuning. I shot it for 2 years until I got a Codymatic 73 and then last year I had the Codymatic 73 upgraded by Shotgun Boogie and liked it so well I bought a new one from him for my backup. So now I have 2 Boogie 73's and will never be able shoot it to its max. His rifles are expensive but you will love one if you ever shoot it. 

 

TM

Edited February 13 by Texas Maverick

[High Spade Mikey Wilson]

Favorite is a slicked up Browning 53 on 32-20

Close second favorite is a Uberti 73 in .357

 

Backup is a pair of 1894 Marlin's in .357

[Anvil Al #59168]

73

Back up is a 73

Wife now shoots a 73

Her back up is a 73

 

We also have a couple of Marlins that the wife shot when she was

shooting B Western. 

Keeping them in case she wants to go back to that category sometime. 

 

 

 

[Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L]

I shoot Classic Cowboy and my favorite main is an 1866 carbine in 38-40 and backup is an 1873 carbine in 38-40 but also have an 1873 short rifle in 38-40 I can use if needed.  If I decide I want to shoot my 1875 Remington Outlaws or my 1851 Richard Mason Conversions in .38 then I use an 1873 short rifle in .357 and backup with a Marlin 1894 in .357 (but shooting .38s in both).

Edited February 15 by Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L
Eveybody else is sharing photos

[Sarge]

My primary is an Uberti 73 Codymatic setup for C.45 Spl. My backup is a Uberti Competition model also set-up for C .45 Spl.  

[Will Kane]

My main match rifle is a Uberti 1873 short rifle in 38-40 that Lefty Wheeler built for me. My back up rifle is a Uberti 1873 sporting rifle in 38-40 I bought from Prairie Dawg several years ago. I shoot smokeless and real black powder in both. Some day, I’d like to own an 1860.

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

 

Uberti Henry Transitional.  Three of 'em.  45 Colt, 16 Inch Barrel, 18 and a half inch barrel and 19 inch barrel.  Had four, but built one for The Prairie Dawg in 44-40 and one for him in .45.  My other two are 1873s, 44 Special Trappers.  Super FUN

[Sam Sackett]

Interarms Rossi 92 in 357 mag. It was my first SASS rifle. I keep trying, but haven’t outrun it yet. Damn thing just plain works for me. Have a Browning B92 as a backup, but have never needed it. Had a Codymatic in 45 Colt. Thing ran real good, but I just liked the 92 better. The 92 is lighter and just handled better. Codymatic went to someone who will appreciate it. Have a Marlin 94 and Rossi 92 in 45 Colt. Don’t use them muck but prefer the Rossi. 
 

Sam Sackett 

[Rooster Ron Wayne]

4 hours ago, Prairie Dawg, SASS #50329 said:

1860 Henry Transitional, customized by Coffinmaker.
Caliber 44-40.

I have been told over the years about Uberti making a small run of Henry rifles in 44 special .

I have wanted on for years .

I found one , One time in Australia for sale on line .

I was willing to pay him his asking price for it .

But it was going to cost twice that amount to get it shipped threw Customs.

And if for any reason they did not like anything about the packaging or the product I would loose the gun in Customs .

And I was not willing to take that big of chance. 

But I'm still looking for that Unicorn  !

Rooster. 

[Rooster Ron Wayne]

I had a moment of stupidity and sold my main match 92 44 mag that I shot for 10 years .

It was Slick as snot .

I very much miss that rifle .

Bought another one and fixed it up the same way .

But nothing is better then 10 years of running a rifle every weekend, too smooth things out the best it can be.

I have just about every rifle or pistol available in 44 Mag 44 special or 44 Russian. 

I usually buy everything that I can get my hands on in 44.

I have a beautiful 1970 Marlin 94 in 44 magnum .

It's my main Hunting rifle .

My biggest desire is for that Unicorn Henry 1860 44 Special. 

I don't remember for sure who it was .

Coffinmaker or one of the other retired gunsmith on the wire has made a few Henry 1860's and or Henry 1860 Transitions in 44 special. 

But I can't even find one of them out here in Unicorn land lol 

Rooster 

 

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

58 minutes ago, Rooster Ron Wayne said:

I have just about every rifle or pistol available in 44 Mag 44 special or 44 Russian. 

 

.44 Russian:

I ain't got.

.44 Special:

1 Taurus Thunderbolt (Lighting Clone) being configured for me by Lassiter.

1 reproduction S&W American.  

2 Colt Sheriff's models, one blue, one nickel

1 Colt Buntline

1 Colt New Frontier

1 Uberti Colt Clone  (Cimarron)

1 Alder Jager Colt Clone (EMF)

 

 

.44 Magnum

1 Rossi 92, pre-safety

1 Winchester 94, pre-83.

I Uberti Colt Clone

1 original Great Western

1 Virginian Dragoon revolver

1 Chiappa 92 Mares Leg!

 

.44 Magnum is a fun caliber to shoot.

 

 

 

[Rye Miles #13621]

My 2 Uberti 73 rifles, one is a Taylor’s Comanchero the other is a Cimarron. Both are in .357 

[Whitey James]

I'm still very new so my opinions are subject to change.

Before I ever went to a match I had decided, by reading the handbook, that I wanted to shoot Classic Cowboy. So my first purchase was a new Uberti/Cimarron 1873 short rifle in 45 Colt. Then I got to thinking that I May also want to try B western so I bought a R92 in 357.  I bought a spring kit for the Rossi and replaced them myself and it made the action much slicker and faster so that is what I started with when I began to shoot and just shot 49er category. Gave my 73 to a fellow shooter to be short stroked etc. so It was gone for a few months. In the meantime, I saw the new Ruger/Marlins were available, so I picked one up and did a spring job on it too and liked the feel/action/ease of cleaning better than the 92 so it has been my main match rifle since.

 

A couple of weeks ago I got my 73 back and finally shot my first Classic Cowboy match.

 

I have the most trigger time with the Marlin and have had zero issues with it and it cycles faster than me so the gun is not slowing me down, I am slowing it down

 

I can definitely see that the 73 will end up being way faster to cycle now that it has been stroked and once I get used to it so it will probably become my main match rifle not to mention that I have the most $$ in it over the other two.

 

The Marlin spring kit was around $35 if memory serves.

 

The 73 cost more to be smithed than the 92 cost brand new.

 

All three are fine rifles but in my opinion, the Marlin is the best value unless you are a serious competitor and need that extra little time savings a 73 will give you.

YMMV

 

 

[Hoss]

I gave 2 Uberti 73s in 38/357 both set up by Brushy Creek Bill. They are very nearly identical. I typically shoot 5 stages with one then one stage with the other, to rotate their usage. I can’t tell the difference between them. 
 

I also have a 66 by Brushy. I like the looks of the brsss, but like the ease of side plates and lever safety on the 73. Probably going to bring the 66 to Texas State swap meet. 
 

also have a Uberti Henry 1860 in 44-40. Hadn’t shot it in a while. 

 

for Cody Dixon

marlin 336CB in 38-55

uberti Win 94 in 38-55

 

for long range pistol caliber 

Marlin 94CB in 44 mag

Browning 92 in 357/38

 

For Long range

Uberti win 76 in 45-60

browning 86 in 45-70

uberti 1885 in 38-55

uberti 1885 in 40-65

 

i like shooting them all!  For CAS the 73s are hard to beat. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Blackwater 53393]

I started out with one of the Miroku Winchester ‘94 Trappers that Schoolmarm bought for me for a birthday present. I shot three matches with it before I found a really nice 24” Hartford Rossi ‘92 in .45 Colt. Willy McCoy worked it over extensively and used it as a test mule for every new trick he came up with for several years. It was  SLICK!!!  I finally sold it to a shooter who wanted to pay me much more than I had in it and I let it go because I was in a real tight for cash!  I wish I had it back!

My own main match rifle is an iron Henry replica in .45 Colt.  I violated every code of Henry ethics with a short stroke kit, lightened spring kit, lighter magazine spring, and aluminum carrier. I also changed the rear sight to an adjustable buckhorn and the front sight to an ivory bead! As a final deviation, I use a three round “no hop” dowel made from tooled steel and cut down to minimize weight.  In the very near future, I plan to make and use the newly approved barrel heat shield.

 

My favorite rifle was a ‘73 Cody Conagher special in .45 Colt with a 16 1/2” barrel that was fully modified with every trick in the book, but a neighbor kid who is a thief and a junkie broke into my house and stole it and my favorite hammer double and they were never recovered.

 

I have a 24” Codymatic ‘66 in .45 Colt and a 20” Codymatic ‘66 carbine in .38 special. These are my son, Hatfield and wife, Schoolmarm’s rifle and carbine respectively.  The .38 carbine is being handed down to my youngest grandson.  I use them all when the mood strikes me.

 

I just purchased a Heritage ‘92 20” carbine in .45 Colt for a fun gun.  It’s a nice little feller, but it needs just a little loving care. I’m having the forestock checkered to facilitate better purchase with my dried out old paws, Willy McCoy is poised to do a mild action job and lighten the hammer spring a little.

 

It may never see action in a SASS match, but I can shoot my “Ruger Blackhawk Only” loads out of it and that’s why I bought it.

 

 

Edited February 13 by Blackwater 53393

[Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L]

5 minutes ago, Whitey James said:

I'm still very new so my opinions are subject to change.

Before I ever went to a match I had decided, by reading the handbook, that I wanted to shoot Classic Cowboy. So my first purchase was a new Uberti/Cimarron 1873 short rifle in 45 Colt. Then I got to thinking that I May also want to try B western so I bought a R92 in 357.  I bought a spring kit for the Rossi and replaced them myself and it made the action much slicker and faster so that is what I started with when I began to shoot and just shot 49er category. Gave my 73 to a fellow shooter to be short stroked etc. so It was gone for a few months. In the meantime, I saw the new Ruger/Marlins were available, so I picked one up and did a spring job on it too and liked the feel/action/ease of cleaning better than the 92 so it has been my main match rifle since.

 

A couple of weeks ago I got my 73 back and finally shot my first Classic Cowboy match.

 

Welcome to Classic Cowboy

[Tell Sackett SASS 18436]

MINE!!

[Dantankerous]

Cody Conaghers worked Taylor's '73 in 45 Colt

 

Backup rifle is also a Cody. A 45 Colt '73 Texas Brushpopper.

 

 

[Widder, SASS #59054]

For around 17-18 years, I've shot nothing but a Marlin 1894 'Widdermatic'.    Either in .38 special, .45 Colt, and

presently in .32 H&R.

 

I've often wondered how many of the 1894 Marlin shooters are shooting the 'Widdermatic' mod rifle.

 

..........Widder

 

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

For non main match rifles....

Long Range Repeater:  Colt Lighting .45-70

.22 Rifle:  Colt Lightning

Single Shot Long Range:  1873 Trapdoor Carbine  .45-70

Single Shot Pistol caliber rifle:  Rolling Block

Single Shot .22 rifle  Rolling Block

 

"Mares Leg type" pistol...

AWA Lightning Bolt  .45 Colt

 

 

 

[Rooster Ron Wayne]

2 hours ago, Hoss said:

I gave 2 Uberti 73s in 38/357 both set up by Brushy Creek Bill. They are very nearly identical. I typically shoot 5 stages with one then one stage with the other, to rotate their usage. I can’t tell the difference between them. 
 

I also have a 66 by Brushy. I like the looks of the brsss, but like the ease of side plates and lever safety on the 73. Probably going to bring the 66 to Texas State swap meet. 
 

also have a Uberti Henry 1860 in 44-40. Hadn’t shot it in a while. 

 

for Cody Dixon

marlin 336CB in 38-55

uberti Win 94 in 38-55

 

for long range pistol caliber 

Marlin 94CB in 44 mag

Browning 92 in 357/38

 

For Long range

Uberti win 76 in 45-60

browning 86 in 45-70

uberti 1885 in 38-55

uberti 1885 in 40-65

 

i like shooting them all!  For CAS the 73s are hard to beat. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have one 66 Navy Arms Older 44 special with the same safety as the 73's 

And one newer Cimarron 66 in 44 special without the safety. 

I'm slow enough to really not worry about the 66 not having a safety. 

 

Edited February 13 by Rooster Ron Wayne

[Tom Bullweed]

I wish that I could say it is my original Win 1892 rifle in .38 WCF, but stovepiping a round in too many stages prevents me from shooting it often.

My Marlin .357 and .44, both microgroove guns, see the most use, but I do shoot an original Win 1873 rifle in .32 WCF once in a while.

[Mister Badly]

I like using my 24" Uberti 1873 in 357. It balances well for hip shooting. 🤪

Edited February 14 by Mister Badly

[Griff]

I started with a borrowed 1892, and shortly bought one of my own.  I made a mistake... it was a .38Spl/.357 and my handgun was a 45 SAA.  The difference in "boom", (or lack thereof) in the .38, offended me sensibilities.  So I bought a '73 in 45 Colt.  On of the 1st 5 imported into the US, a Sporting Rifle, 24-¼" bbl.  I shot it box stock until about 2009, a total of 22 years.  I then had an opportunity to buy an 1860 Steel framed Henry (one of the last Uberti rifle imported by EMF).  It also has a 24-¼" bbl.  Also shot box stock until about 2019.  In 2014 I bought a 18-½" '73 with a ½ round/octagon bbl.  I then replaced the factory springs in all 3 rifles, added short stroke kits to 2 and a Cowboy45Special carrier to Henry.  It holds 19 rounds in the magazine.  I'm waiting on another 1860 steel-framed Henry, but the carbine length, and will short stroke it, replace the springs and add a C45S carrier to it.  It should handily hold 10 rounds of C45S, and is likely to become my favorite rifle, a place currently held by the '73 short rifle.  Oh yeah, that original 1892 was used by my late wife during her 7/8 years of CAS, and is taken out by me occasionally in her honor, or as a loaner, as need be.

 

What one uses to play this game is often times a grave personal decision, be it race gun or bone stock, and matters not what anyone else thinks.  But, if you wanna race... get a race gun, have it professionally tuned and tweaked,   As a smart man once (or many times), said... Mom's Impala doesn't belong on a NASCAR track.  Personally, I believe that even minimal tuning is needed to really enjoy yourself.  As slow as I shoot, I couldn't abide have stock guns in my hands.  Even my hunting rifles are tuned.  

[John Kloehr]

With a handful of matches under my belt in as many years, my favorite is my Miroku 1873 in 44-40. It is a Shot Show special but I could not go to the show due to CoViD travel restrictions. I came across it completely by accident on GunBroker and bought it.

 

I have since bought a replacement safety spring and the stock spring probably costs a good 5 seconds per stage. Have not installed it yet but still choose this rifle when I can shoot. Scheduled crap got me last week, maybe next month.

 

One of the reasons for this model and caliber is the historical John Kloehr shot an 1873 in 44-40. So this gun is faithful to my alias.

 

This is all even though I have an Evil Roy Uberti 1873 slicked by Grimes chambered in .38 Special sitting in the safe. Would probably be a lot faster with it than my Miroku. Perhaps I should try it some day. But as it is, having never even shot it, it is not my favorite.

[Rance - SASS # 54090]

My better half, Lacey Corsette, and I both started out with ‘66 yellowboys in 38 specials.. shot them fer quite a few years..

a friend of ours named “Spur” Put 3rd. Generation short strokes in them..

Spur’s better half Uh Oh.. told Lacey she needed a smaller lighter rifle than the Yellowboy..  so for Christmas I got her “Spur” shortstroked Marlin that he specialized in.. 38 special again… 

I stayed with the yellowboys then Lacey said she needed a backup

for her Spur Marlin.. so I got her another one for backup..

I then thought .. heck.. I should get a new different rifle..

So I got a couple of short barreled. ‘73’s.. 357’s but I shoot 38’s in them..

had them built with Pioneer gunworks Supershort strokes..

Lacey quit shooting a couple years back so her 2 “Spur Marlins” just sit in the gun cabinet.. 

I’m still shooting the ‘73’s but I haven’t bettered my times over when

I shot the 66’s .. of course age has kinda caught me now..

Reckon that’s my story and I’m stick in’ to it.. 

[Sagebrush Burns, SASS # 14226]

For many years I ran a (reproduction) Spencer carbine.  Not fast, but fun (and stylish)!