H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 Posted October 28 Posted October 28 A couple Saturdays ago, a local club, the Danvers Desperadoes, offered an option to shoot the match Josey Wales style, and I tried it. I had a lot of fun. I decided to shoot the match with .44 Specials. A pair of Colt Clones, a real Colt Buntline Special, and a reproduction S&W American. I used the clones for the pistols and the Buntline and the American for the rifles. I... Didn't do so well... I found that I could not hit the broadside of a barn with the American for some reason. Now, I have two Americans One has an 8" barrel and is a .45 Colt. I have shot a clean match with it. The one I used for a "rifle" is a .44 Special with a 5" barrel. I don't know if the caliber was the problem, the gun, or both. (Well, the problem was me, of course, but what I mean is, why did I have a problem.) I was told by the TO that it seemed to be shooting high. I'll try the gun again soon just as a pistol and see if the shorter range makes a difference with being able to hit things. I of course, had no problem with the Buntline... If I ever do Josey again, I'll probably use my Big Iron, and a New Frontier Buntline, both of which are .45's. 10" and 12" barrels respectively. All in all, I am glad I got a chance to try this unofficial category. I had fun, but unless I can find a gun combination where I at least have a chance to shoot it clean, I don't know if I'll automatically try it when it is offered. And I just remembered that I have a New Frontier .44 Special with a 7.5" barrel. I shoulda used that gun! Oh well, live and learn. 1 Quote
Prairie Dawg, SASS #50329 Posted October 28 Posted October 28 Most shooters, trying JW for the 1st time, have lotsa misses, because they have no idea where their revolvers print at rifle distances. A little range time will cure that, and then your times will be similar to what you normally shoot. At Tusco, we host a Josey Wales shoot once a year, for those who wish to try it. In fact, it's this Saturday. Tons-O-Fun!!! --Dawg 3 1 Quote
Frontier Lone Rider Posted October 28 Posted October 28 As Dawg, I plan to shoot JW this Saturday using black powder. Our challenge is 1st seeing the target after the 1st round and then hoping to hit the target. Quote
Eyesa Horg Posted October 28 Posted October 28 Our club, the Verdant Mountain Vigilantes hold a JW every fall. We also allow Wild Wales so you can use a 1911. It's always a grin 😎! 1 Quote
Prairie Dawg, SASS #50329 Posted October 28 Posted October 28 13 minutes ago, Eyesa Horg said: Our club, the Verdant Mountain Vigilantes hold a JW every fall. We also allow Wild Wales so you can use a 1911. It's always a grin 😎! I've shot Wild Bunch Josey Wales. It is fun, but a challenge at least for me, cuz I'm just a mediocre shot with a 1911. I'm much better shooting Cowboy JW, especially when I still had my 12" Ruger Old Armies, and used to shoot it with 5 cap-n-ball pistols! TOO MUCH FUN!!! --Dawg 2 Quote
Eyesa Horg Posted October 28 Posted October 28 2 minutes ago, Prairie Dawg, SASS #50329 said: cuz I'm just a mediocre shot with a 1911. What's it called below mediocre? I'm in that group 🤣 1 Quote
H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 Posted October 28 Author Posted October 28 I think next time I try Josey Wales, my left pistol will be a converted Walker. My right pistol will be a converted Dragoon. My first rifle will be the Big Iron, and the second rifle will be the Buntline New Frontier. All .45s. 1 Quote
Prairie Dawg, SASS #50329 Posted October 29 Posted October 29 1 hour ago, H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 said: I think next time I try Josey Wales, my left pistol will be a converted Walker. My right pistol will be a converted Dragoon. My first rifle will be the Big Iron, and the second rifle will be the Buntline New Frontier. All .45s. We use 5 pistols at Tusco. I know some places use 4 pistols and a shotgun, but Josey never had one! 1 Quote
H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 Posted October 29 Author Posted October 29 5 Pistol Wales sounds like fun too. I've got a converted 1860 to finish the battery out, I guess. Quote
Imis Twohofon,SASS # 46646 Posted October 29 Posted October 29 I shoot JW almost all the time. I am a middle of the pack shooter but I have fun. I use two 4 5/8 .357 for pistol targets, two 4 1/2 .357 Gauchos for rifle targets and a 7 1/2 .44 OMV for shotgun. The biggest challenge to JW is not the shooting pistols at rifle targets, it is the logistics of 5 pistols back and forth to the line. I have used a 3 1/2 gal bucket for the rifle and shotgun pistols for a couple of years, it works well. Tip of the hat to Abe E S Corpues for the idea. Imis Quote
Frontier Lone Rider Posted October 29 Posted October 29 15 hours ago, Eyesa Horg said: What's it called below mediocre? I'm in that group 🤣 I am also. I always tell those fast gamers, if it wasn't for us slower shooters, they couldn't afford to run the match. 1 Quote
Prairie Dawg, SASS #50329 Posted October 29 Posted October 29 4 hours ago, Imis Twohofon,SASS # 46646 said: The biggest challenge to JW is not the shooting pistols at rifle targets, it is the logistics of 5 pistols back and forth to the line. I have used a 3 1/2 gal bucket for the rifle and shotgun pistols for a couple of years, it works well. Tip of the hat to Abe E S Corpues for the idea. I wear a third holster to carry my shotgun pistol to and from the line. When I get to the line I stage my shotgun pistol, and slide the 3rd holster out of the way to the rear. My 2 pistol pistols are in holsters on my belt, and I carry 1 rifle pistol in each hand. For safety reasons, we do not allow JW shooters to carry 3 guns in their hands to/from the line. --Dawg 1 1 Quote
Eyesa Horg Posted October 29 Posted October 29 We haven't done it yet with a SG pistol. We've talked about it, so maybe next year! Quote
Prairie Dawg, SASS #50329 Posted October 29 Posted October 29 We have had Josey Wales shooters with all calibers. The smallest was an older woman who was recovering from surgery, but really wanted to shoot our annual, High Noon at Tusco, with her husband. She shot .32 Rugers So, at Tusco, as long as you hit the shotgun target, it does not have to go down, so the spotters must pay extra attention. She had a great time & was happy to compete with her husband. We've kept it that way, and everyone seems happy with it. And, you don't have to keep adjusting the targets, to go down with a pistol hit. --Dawg 1 Quote
Rye Miles #13621 Posted October 29 Posted October 29 I’m using a .22 pistol for the shotgun since I only have 4 pistols in ..38/.357. (I know only 4) All you have to do is hit the shotgun targets, they don’t go down all the time with light .38’s or even light .45’s. Quote
Crooked River Pete, SASS 43485 Posted October 29 Posted October 29 I've found when shooting JW to use the pistols you have been shooting all year as your rifles, then those back ups and safe queens you haven't shot in years for your pistols. 2 Quote
Joe LaFives #5481 Posted October 30 Posted October 30 On 10/28/2025 at 1:32 PM, Prairie Dawg, SASS #50329 said: Most shooters, trying JW for the 1st time, have lotsa misses, because they have no idea where their revolvers print at rifle distances. A little range time will cure that, and then your times will be similar to what you normally shoot. At Tusco, we host a Josey Wales shoot once a year, for those who wish to try it. In fact, it's this Saturday. Tons-O-Fun!!! --Dawg I'm not sure that "rifle" distances are a big deal in CAS. Once upon a time (say around 1992 and earlier) you'd have 25 yd rifle targets but the last 20 years maybe 7 to 10 yards. Unless your shooting with primers only I would think that bullet drop wouldn't be an issue. Quote
irish ike, SASS #43615 Posted October 30 Posted October 30 (edited) We shoot "real" JW. 4 pistols, no shotgun, and single shot big bore rifle. Rifle target is at 30 yards. 2 categories, smokeless and BP. Edited October 30 by irish ike, SASS #43615 Quote
H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 Posted October 30 Author Posted October 30 43 minutes ago, irish ike, SASS #43615 said: We shoot "real" JW. 4 pistols, no shotgun, and single shot big bore rifle. Rifle target is at 30 yards. 2 categories, smokeless and BP. That sounds like fun. Quote
J.S. Sooner, SASS #73526 Posted October 30 Posted October 30 On 10/28/2025 at 4:32 PM, Prairie Dawg, SASS #50329 said: Most shooters, trying JW for the 1st time, have lotsa misses, because they have no idea where their revolvers print at rifle distances. A little range time will cure that, and then your times will be similar to what you normally shoot. At Tusco, we host a Josey Wales shoot once a year, for those who wish to try it. In fact, it's this Saturday. Tons-O-Fun!!! --Dawg My stupid hand cannot keep up to my strong strong hand. It gave a spotters a chance to count with both hands. Quote
Big Gus, SASS# 66666 Posted October 31 Posted October 31 I shoot Jose’s Wales often but not well. VA State match 2024 Quote
watab kid Posted November 1 Posted November 1 id like to try this so ill be at the range shooting mine at rifle target distances Quote
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