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Jbar4Ranch
New member
The cheapest way, and still have decent guns would be used Ruger Blackhawks, used Marlin rifle, used SxS shotgun. Unfortunately, Remington indefinitely discontinued the 1894 & 1895 line in August and used prices are going up accordingly. A lot of folks don't think a '92 can't be competitive anymore, but it's cheap and gets you in the game. I just sold a brand new 20" Hartford 1892 .45 Colt to a new shooter for $400, and he finished 3rd overall out of 19 with it last weekend. I picked it up a year ago for $350.
I own and shoot many Uberti's, and the Cattleman works just fine, but the Rugers are a bit beefier and use coil springs. Blackhawks can be found used cheaper than Vaqueros, and adjustable sighted revolvers are legal in all age based categories as well as B Western. Fixed sight guns, on the other hand, are legal in all categories.
You should be able to find a decent 12g SxS in a pawn shop or the Nickel Paper for a couple hundred bucks. Even a single shot is legal, but you're a bit handicapped on aerial targets. A SxS with hammers is legal in all main match categories (hammerless is legal in all but Classic Cowboy), but a '97 or '87 has certain categories it can't be used in.
Go HERE to read the rule book - it can be a bit confusing at first.
I own and shoot many Uberti's, and the Cattleman works just fine, but the Rugers are a bit beefier and use coil springs. Blackhawks can be found used cheaper than Vaqueros, and adjustable sighted revolvers are legal in all age based categories as well as B Western. Fixed sight guns, on the other hand, are legal in all categories.
You should be able to find a decent 12g SxS in a pawn shop or the Nickel Paper for a couple hundred bucks. Even a single shot is legal, but you're a bit handicapped on aerial targets. A SxS with hammers is legal in all main match categories (hammerless is legal in all but Classic Cowboy), but a '97 or '87 has certain categories it can't be used in.
Go HERE to read the rule book - it can be a bit confusing at first.
Shotgun693
New member
Here's my standard answer:
Don't buy any guns until you've been to about 3 matches.
Find a local club. Go to their monthly shoot. Take 2 boxes of either .38 SPl or .45 Colt revolver ammo, light lead target stuff is great. Take one box of shotgun shells, 12 or 20 ga, something for doves.
Just show up. Very many Shooters are going to let you shoot their guns and you'll see what you really want. There's a very good chance the guns you buy before hand won't be exactly what you decide you really want.
If by chance you have a SA Revolver, Lever Action pistol caliber Rifle, SXS Shotgun, bring'm along and see how they work out for you. Don't be surprised if you learn you want something else.
BTW, lots of guns change hands at matches.
Have fun.
Don't buy any guns until you've been to about 3 matches.
Find a local club. Go to their monthly shoot. Take 2 boxes of either .38 SPl or .45 Colt revolver ammo, light lead target stuff is great. Take one box of shotgun shells, 12 or 20 ga, something for doves.
Just show up. Very many Shooters are going to let you shoot their guns and you'll see what you really want. There's a very good chance the guns you buy before hand won't be exactly what you decide you really want.
If by chance you have a SA Revolver, Lever Action pistol caliber Rifle, SXS Shotgun, bring'm along and see how they work out for you. Don't be surprised if you learn you want something else.
BTW, lots of guns change hands at matches.
Have fun.
Stephanie B
New member
I'm going to second the "try before you buy".
One guy I knew who was a serious shooter (then he got sick and quit) told me that it's hard to go wrong with a Ruger Vaquero. I personally like the feel of the Colt clones Cimmaron sells. I can't stand the matte finish on the lower-priced Ubertis, it just looks wrong to me.
But I'm not a serious shooter and I'm not going to put the thousands of rounds through a revolver that a competitive shooter will.
If you are going to be serious about it and, unless you've got a fair amount of disposable income, you'll probably want to learn how to reload your own cartridges, if you don't already know.
One guy I knew who was a serious shooter (then he got sick and quit) told me that it's hard to go wrong with a Ruger Vaquero. I personally like the feel of the Colt clones Cimmaron sells. I can't stand the matte finish on the lower-priced Ubertis, it just looks wrong to me.
But I'm not a serious shooter and I'm not going to put the thousands of rounds through a revolver that a competitive shooter will.
If you are going to be serious about it and, unless you've got a fair amount of disposable income, you'll probably want to learn how to reload your own cartridges, if you don't already know.
OutlawJoseyWales
New member
I got a couple of Umberti Cattlemen in .357 from Tanners.
Although I don't shot in SASS matches, I couldn't pass up the deal.
I think that if I did compete I'd have these revolvers "tuned-up" though.
But for $250 each, they were a good buy.
http://www.tannerssportcenter.com/
They still have them in .45 long colt at this price.
Although I don't shot in SASS matches, I couldn't pass up the deal.
I think that if I did compete I'd have these revolvers "tuned-up" though.
But for $250 each, they were a good buy.
http://www.tannerssportcenter.com/
They still have them in .45 long colt at this price.
Jbar4Ranch
New member
Yep. This is about as serious as I get.
Great pic, JBar......the last time I had pistols that hung below my knees, I was was 4 years old.....
I wholeheartedly agree with the "go to a match and shoot everyone else's stuff" mentality. SASS shooters let all the new folks (and even seasoned shooters) shoot their guns. It's the only way to know what meets YOUR needs and desires. SASS can be a rather hefty investment, so it only makes sense to figure out what works for you before you buy.
You'll get lots of opinions, and that can be good. Just digest the information, shoot different guns, and figure out what YOU want.
Welcome!
Tanker6 a/k/a Chickahominy Charlie
I wholeheartedly agree with the "go to a match and shoot everyone else's stuff" mentality. SASS shooters let all the new folks (and even seasoned shooters) shoot their guns. It's the only way to know what meets YOUR needs and desires. SASS can be a rather hefty investment, so it only makes sense to figure out what works for you before you buy.
You'll get lots of opinions, and that can be good. Just digest the information, shoot different guns, and figure out what YOU want.
Welcome!
Tanker6 a/k/a Chickahominy Charlie
Jbar4Ranch
New member
Three feet of fun, eighteen inches of .45 Colt hellfire and brimstone on each side!