Cowboy Action legal firearms from Civil War Era

[Rob Pincus]

If someone were to want to compete with metallic cartridge (.38/.44/.45) what guns (obviously replica or conversion) that were used during the Civil War would be legal and which would any of you doing the CAS thing recommend?

I have found 1860 Henry replicas that fire .44 and cartridge conversions for a few late 50's early '60's revolvers. What do you guys suggest?

What about shotgun?

 

[Jim Watson]

Well, a Henry is about the only C.W. repeating rifle that would be competitive; although you can now get a Spencer repro in a revolver caliber to shoot as a main match rifle if style is more important to you than speed.

I don't know of any cartridge service revolvers in the War Between the States. Except some pinfires from Europe. Cartridge conversions for percussion revolvers date to the late 1860s, after the War. So you can rassle with a cap and ball or be a little anachronistic with a cartridge conversion. I think a pair of repro '58 Remingtons with R&D or Kirst conversions would be your best bet. There was a guy with repro Colt Richards-Mason conversions at my last shoot and they hardly worked at all. Maybe a Colt Kirst Konverter would do better, I just don't know.

The best period shotgun you could get would be a hammer double. Familiar looking break action doubles for centerfire shells were made in England from 1861 and earlier on the Continent, so they are authentic. Communist Chinese and Russian scatterguns are pretty cheap.

 

[fal308]

Most any single action (replica or orginal) in .32 cal or larger is legal. Originals that were double action ( some Starr etc) are not. Several firearms that were originally DA have been replicated in single action (Starr, Lightning-style revolvers)
As stated above there are several conversions with the R&D conversions having the best reputation. Though I know of a Kurst Conversion that has had no problems.The R&D can be had from Taylors & Co http://www.taylorsfirearms.com/r&d.html. Ready-made conversions can be had from several companies, including www.cimarron-firearms.com among others.
A good source to start looking would be the SASS website www.sassnet.com Look at the Shooter's Handbook for the rules governing most CAS matches and the links page has a listing of vendors.

 

[Rob Pincus]

Thanks guys...

I'm compromising this all the way around: Civil War Era for style points, but I'm not willing to go full-boat and shoot cap'n'ball.

At any rate, I may just go with a more traditional set up and shoot duelist style for the style points. A lot of it depends on what shows up in trades or $$$ for the stuff I'm trying to get rid of to make room in the safe.