Plainsman rifle caliber recommendation

[Choctaw Kid Tulsa]

Hello,

 

I currently shoot Frontiersman and am looking at doing some side matches, specifically Plainsman in 2026. I've got all the equipment except for a single shot rifle. I'm leaning towards a rolling block but am unsure of caliber.

 

If the normal Plainsman distances are 75 yards or less would a pistol caliber work just as well as say the 38-55 or 45-70? I shoot 44-40 in my Frontiersman 1873 rifle, but that doesn't seem like a readily available option. 

 

I'm seeing on GB rolling blocks in 357 and 45 as well as 38-55 and 45-70.

 

Is there a preference for a particular caliber and if so, why? Any calibers to avoid? Would 45colt be sufficient?

 

Thanks for any insights.

 

Choctaw Kid  

[Sedalia Dave]

My recommendation is 38-55 or 45-70. The reason is that the larger size makes them easier to manipulate when loading. 
 

Both are easy to download. 1/2 case of BP and 1/2 case of filler. For a projectile a round ball works as good as anything. Seat till the widest part of the ball is just past the case mouth and then add a slight crimp. 
 

Edited October 27 by Sedalia Dave

[Eyesa Horg]

I run a 45-70 with 40gr. of FF real black and a light bullet,visually around 200gr. Recoil is quite minimal. Round balls work well too with negligible recoil.

[Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971]

I have a rolling block chambered in .357 I shoot with my 38 Special main match ammo. It works but the short rounds are slow to load.  I also have a handy rifle in 45-70.  Rifle rounds are much easier to load quickly.  They can be loaded with reduced powder charges and light bullets to avoid damaging targets.

 

The Plainsman is my favorite side match.  Hope to meet you at one.

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

 

Unless a "Modified Plainsman" a lever rifle is a no-no as are cartridge pistols.  However, my Fave rifle is a Handy rifle in 38-55.  I was shooting about 20Gr (by weight) 3F APP and EPP UG-36 bullets.  Shot like a laser with diddly squat recoil.  In my end of the swamp, to get better participation, we do a modified Plainsman with lever rifles and cartridge pistols allowed.  Capitol FUN you betcha

[Nostrum Damus SASS #110702]

I shoot my .45-70 Govt Trapdoor with a 292 gr coated FP-BB pill over a fiber wad pushed just down to touch 30gr (vol) of Hodgdon Triple Seven BP sub.  Light recoil, fun to shoot, easy to clean up.   

[Rooster Ron Wayne]

45/70 or Bust !

[Hawkeye Kid]

At what distance does EOT set the Plainsman rifle targets?  Far it’s I have seen is about 20 to 25 yards.

[Griff]

I've got 3 single shot rifles, a 40-90SBN 1874 Sharps that's slow to shoot with it's manually cocked side hammer.  and unless you wanna eventually break your firing pin, you pull the hammer back to at least the 1st notch before your open the breech.  Plus, with its 34" full octagon bbl, @ 12.1 lbs., it's a handful off-hand.  A Miroku Winchester HighWall in 32'-40 is a prime candidate, but with its Malcolm style scope presently mounted, it's not legal... Plus, again, the full octagon bbl  with that small caliber gets heavy pretty quickly when shooting off-hand.  My final option, which I bought with Plainsman firmly in mind, is also a Miroku, this time a Browning LoWall in 45 Colt.  Its 24" ½-rnd/oct bbl. is much more suited to off-hand shooting.  And, @ just 6-¼ lbs., in comparison to my other choices, it feel like a carbine!. 

 

While a longer rifle cartridge might seem easier to manipulate, the fat 45 Colt isn't really difficult.  Fat enough to easily grasp and load, and small enough, that, if you're quick enough with your opening the action after firing, it jumps right outta the way even without the ejectors, almost as quick like some Handi-Rifles!  Although I'm not sure about other makers, but... unlike Miroku, Uberti's copies of the 1885 action don't cock the gun when you open the action.   This means I don't ever have to thumb the hammer.    I'm sure that with practice, a person can overcome that slight step, (as they must since I'm regularly whipped up on)...  for a person whose Plainsman rifle only gets used during a match, this is, if nothing else, one less thing to think about during the manual of arms.  And as we all know, thinking about something, is likely to turn into screwing it up!

 

A key word, an action that I'd love to be able to participate in, but don't, mostly due to time, is as important in Plainsman as it is for the main match performance... is "Practice".  And the phrase "Practice makes Perfect", is missing a word... it should read: "Perfect Practice makes Perfect."   Simply practicing only makes better.   Good luck with whatever you decide, and welcome to Plainsman, where BP aficionados go to have fun!

[Flanigan Flats]

Trapdoor carbine if you can get one. 

[Totes Magoats]

IMHO, a short barreled,  auto cocking Browning/Miroku low/high wall in traditional category is probably the fastest.  A good throw of the lever will kick out the spent brass and cock the hammer.  I also hear Lee Shaver makes an auto cock mod for the Italian rifles as well, but have never seen one.

 

Choose a caliber that would match other side matches/rifles you might want to shoot (Long Range, Cody Dixon, Teddy Roosevelt, etc).  Makes reloading simpler.

 

Totes

[Three Foot Johnson]

I have several choices, but I normally use a 45-70 Handi rifle with a deep seated 405 grainer over 40 grains BP. There is only one club here that does a Plainsman match, and rifle targets are 80-85 yards. About a year ago, I bought an H&R .45 Colt "Classic Carbine", the relatively unknown third member of the Classic series, but haven't had a chance to take it to a Plainsman match yet.

 

[Johnny Meadows,SASS#28485L]

38/55. It's easier to handle four or five rounds in your hand at one time.

[Jasper Agate]

On 10/28/2025 at 7:38 AM, Flanigan Flats said:

Trapdoor carbine if you can get one. 

Nice rifle but I like my 50/70 roller carbine!

[Joe LaFives #5481]

On 10/28/2025 at 4:45 AM, Hawkeye Kid said:

At what distance does EOT set the Plainsman rifle targets?  Far it’s I have seen is about 20 to 25 yards.

When I set up the plainsman at Winter Range 75 yards was about right.  Not sure who's doing it now.

[Choctaw Kid Tulsa]

Thanks pards!

 

Lots of good reading and gave me something to think about. 

[Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971]

On 10/29/2025 at 9:43 PM, Joe LaFives #5481 said:

When I set up the plainsman at Winter Range 75 yards was about right.  Not sure who's doing it now.

It was much shorter this year.  

[Sgt. Hochbauer, SASS #64409]

My favorite side match. I shoot an original 45-70 Trapdoor carbine. I load 50 gr of Goex 2f with a 405 gr bullet. It is a stout load but manageable.

 

 

Hochbauer

[Rooster Ron Wayne]

On 10/29/2025 at 2:50 AM, Three Foot Johnson said:

I have several choices, but I normally use a 45-70 Handi rifle with a deep seated 405 grainer over 40 grains BP. There is only one club here that does a Plainsman match, and rifle targets are 80-85 yards. About a year ago, I bought an H&R .45 Colt "Classic Carbine", the relatively unknown third member of the Classic series, but haven't had a chance to take it to a Plainsman match yet.

 

I also prefer 45-70 

I can load light as 200g and as heavy as 600g .

What more can you ask for .

45-70  All Day Long !

[Tom Bullweed]

Winchester made and Uberti makes the 1885 Low Wall in .44 WCF (.44/40).

[JohnWesleyHardin]

I am certainly no expert on this subject, but I use a 38-55 handi rifle.