Check things out like Doc said. Then buy a Ruger Vaquero like PreserveFreedom said. The hardest choice will be the caliber of the Vaquero. If you just want to shoot cowboy shoots and plink, get a .357 magnum and shoot .38 specials in it. If you also want to use it to hunt, get a .44 magnum. If you want a traditional caliber, get the .44-40. (It will be harder to reload and more expensive to shoot.) If you want to experiment with loads, or want to shoot what the movie cowboys all shoot, get a .45 Long Colt. If you have a .45 acp or .40 S&W auto, Ruger has Vaqueros in those calibers as well. Check out the SASS (Single Action Shooting Society) website. Have fun, safely ! - Arnie