theothermike
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Coming this Saturday is my first cowboy match. Any advice for someone new to the sport? Thanks in advance!
Cowboy action, new competitor
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theothermike
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Well I've got two ruger vaqueros in 45lc, one bird head one standard.
A Rossi 92 in 45lc
And a stoeger coach gun in 12ga.
The stoeger is the only modified one, I polished the chambers, disabled the auto safety and smoothed up the hinge.
I load my own 45lc with trailboss and 200gr lead bullets. I have a mild shooting load that is plenty accurate for cowboy action. Maybe some day I'll mess around with black powder loads but not until I know how they work in my guns.
A Rossi 92 in 45lc
And a stoeger coach gun in 12ga.
The stoeger is the only modified one, I polished the chambers, disabled the auto safety and smoothed up the hinge.
I load my own 45lc with trailboss and 200gr lead bullets. I have a mild shooting load that is plenty accurate for cowboy action. Maybe some day I'll mess around with black powder loads but not until I know how they work in my guns.
Crunchy Frog
Member
First, welcome to the sport. You are four guns ahead of where I was when I shot my first cowboy match in 2010. Have you observed a match before? Do you have a mentor to help you through the match?
theothermike
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I was at last months match but just to watch, I have also seen my share of youtube videos of matches. I don't really have a mentor but the guy organizing it has been helpful.
Crunchy Frog
Member
Sounds good. I'd recommend downloading and reading through the Shooter's Handbook.
SASS#23149
Member
ask them to buddy you up ,for your 1st match,with a mentor. Yu'd be amazed at the gun handling mistakes I see new shooter make,
As to some suggestions ;
buy the lightest shot gun ammo u can find,which is usually the 1145 fps stuff,and in a Stoeger coach,it will get your attention but not beat u up like the 1200 fps+ stuff will.If you can find the Winchester Featherlites in ur area, even better.
when you pull the trigger,don't listen for the clang before moving on , it's hit or a miss,just keep moving along. One of my mistakes,early on.
I like your choice of bullet weight, are they rnfp? most carbines don't like swc's. I use 5.6 grains Tb,altho I sometimes use 6 grains in the '66 for a better gas seal.
We were all new once, if you don't understand the stage, don't be afraid to say so. some of the sweeps are tricky.
take a breath,and have fun !
As to some suggestions ;
buy the lightest shot gun ammo u can find,which is usually the 1145 fps stuff,and in a Stoeger coach,it will get your attention but not beat u up like the 1200 fps+ stuff will.If you can find the Winchester Featherlites in ur area, even better.
when you pull the trigger,don't listen for the clang before moving on , it's hit or a miss,just keep moving along. One of my mistakes,early on.
I like your choice of bullet weight, are they rnfp? most carbines don't like swc's. I use 5.6 grains Tb,altho I sometimes use 6 grains in the '66 for a better gas seal.
We were all new once, if you don't understand the stage, don't be afraid to say so. some of the sweeps are tricky.
take a breath,and have fun !
Crunchy Frog
Member
And don't forget to post a reply to this thread with your match report.
theothermike
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will do, thanks for the pointers!
Varminterror
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Take your time with the shotgun - those misses happen, and they're embarrassing.
Crunchy Frog
Member
Right, and most misses on static shotgun targets are the result of shooting OVER the target.
theothermike
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Well It went pretty well. Loads of fun. Im Kilowatt Mike. Had some hangups early on, like an idiot, i never actually counted how many rounds my r92 holds. It holds 9.
The first stage I held the tenth round in hand and loaded it into the chamber. I then missed one pistol target.
The second stage I was offered a spare rifle to borrow, two actually but i chose the one in 45 so I could use my ammo (with the owners permission). That was also a mistake, I didn't know that 1866 rifles were picky on OAL so when I went up stage two, it wouldn't load a single round due to my ammo being slightly too long. I missed the whole rifle section of stage 2.
Stage 3 I used ammo from the kind gentleman who loaned me his rifle. It was the "shooting gallery" stage. 20 targets including a texas star and 2 swinging targets. The goal is to use only your rifle and pistols and not have to use your shotgun. I took my time and got 19 out of 20 and had to use the shotgun on the last swinging target.
Stage 4 I picked up the pace and managed to keep on target. It was a simple sweep stage with 3 sets of four targets and 3 shooting positions.
Stage 5 I kept up the speed and shot clean. It had four targets in a square arrangement. Instructions were to "criss cross" 3 on the bottom then 2 on the upper opposite target. Do that with pistols and rifle. There were also some knock down shotgun targets.
Overall my shotgun work went very smoothly, I had been practicing days beforehand just going through the motions of shouldering, unshouldering, breaking, loading and repeat.
My Vaqueros worked perfectly as expected. Only issue was that up so close point of impact was higher than i was anticipating.
In conclusion I think im hooked and currently in the market for a new rifle...
The first stage I held the tenth round in hand and loaded it into the chamber. I then missed one pistol target.
The second stage I was offered a spare rifle to borrow, two actually but i chose the one in 45 so I could use my ammo (with the owners permission). That was also a mistake, I didn't know that 1866 rifles were picky on OAL so when I went up stage two, it wouldn't load a single round due to my ammo being slightly too long. I missed the whole rifle section of stage 2.
Stage 3 I used ammo from the kind gentleman who loaned me his rifle. It was the "shooting gallery" stage. 20 targets including a texas star and 2 swinging targets. The goal is to use only your rifle and pistols and not have to use your shotgun. I took my time and got 19 out of 20 and had to use the shotgun on the last swinging target.
Stage 4 I picked up the pace and managed to keep on target. It was a simple sweep stage with 3 sets of four targets and 3 shooting positions.
Stage 5 I kept up the speed and shot clean. It had four targets in a square arrangement. Instructions were to "criss cross" 3 on the bottom then 2 on the upper opposite target. Do that with pistols and rifle. There were also some knock down shotgun targets.
Overall my shotgun work went very smoothly, I had been practicing days beforehand just going through the motions of shouldering, unshouldering, breaking, loading and repeat.
My Vaqueros worked perfectly as expected. Only issue was that up so close point of impact was higher than i was anticipating.
In conclusion I think im hooked and currently in the market for a new rifle...
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ADKWOODSMAN
Member
You may also use .45 Schofield rounds in the .45 colt PISTOLS only. lets you reduce powder charge and quicker recovery. the only thing needed is a .45 Schofield seating die.
Enjoy the sport.
Enjoy the sport.
Crunchy Frog
Member
Good report. Not unusual to have feeding issues with the rifle but that can be sorted out.
SASS#23149
Member
sounds like u had a good time,and that is the goal.
Matches are won and lost with the shotgun. I actually practiced every day before our recent 3 say annual, and it helped !
nothing beats a tuned,short stroked '66 or '73, ya just gotta have gold to buy them with these days. I Held off 'stroking mine for about a year, then wised up and had it done. WOW is all I can say.
Good luck at your next match !
Matches are won and lost with the shotgun. I actually practiced every day before our recent 3 say annual, and it helped !
nothing beats a tuned,short stroked '66 or '73, ya just gotta have gold to buy them with these days. I Held off 'stroking mine for about a year, then wised up and had it done. WOW is all I can say.
Good luck at your next match !
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