Most Popular CAS gun?

[Ol' Gringo]

So what is the most popular Cowboy Action Shooting gun out there without modifications, except for grips, do you think?

[Hawg]

Overall I'd say Rugers. I abhor them myself tho.

[madcratebuilder]

I'm going to go along with Hawg, the New Vaquero seems pretty popular in CAS. The Rugers are nothing like the old SAA's revolvers of the old west. The modern design with the transfer bar and coil springs make for a totally different feel.
I own almost a dozen Ruger SA's and do not consider them a cowboy gun, although the Vaquero and New Vaquero come close in appearance.

[Wleoff]

Probably a toss up between the Ruger Vaquero and the Marlin 1894. Since one has to have twice as many SAs as lever actions to play, edge goes to the Vaquero.
SASS #9662

[bobn]

to me shooting a vaquero is the equivilent of helping another man go pee. for a lever gun, 73 win replicas are about even with marlins.

[Hawg]

to me shooting a vaquero is the equivilent of helping another man go pee.

I wish I'd thought of that.

[bobn]

hawg, feel free to repeat it as your own quote! bobn

[Hawg]

Nah, I don't wanna cramp your style.

[Playboypenguin]

I am going to add another vote for Ruger being what I see most. I do see a lot of Uberti/EMF made pistols too.

[robhof]

The 2nd generation Colts are probably the most period correct, but at the price and collectability of them; would you want to run a few thousand rounds a year through them? Where as, the Rugers are like hammers and with a great warranty.

[Hawg]

Rob, I believe he asked what's the most popular gun in CAS, not which one is most historically correct.

[mykeal]

Yes. He asked what gun was the most popular, not what the most clever insult was that one could think up about that gun.

to me shooting a vaquero is the equivilent of helping another man go pee. for a lever gun, 73 win replicas are about even with marlins.

[Hawg]

I agree with him on that score.

[bobn]

for what its worth, mykeal, rugers are hardly the most popular revolver in cas. for beginning shooters it is a starting point. not correct and dont feel correct either. i would say the evil roy gun is the most popular gun in this area, bobn

[Nite Ryder]

I will have to say Ruger Single actions. I truly feel if Bill Ruger would have be born a 100 years sooner there would be no Colts. Yep, I would hate Rugers too, but only if I were a Ruger repairman. They shoot, and keep on shooting, haven't seen a single one break down on the firing line. Yep, I hate 'em...

http://s248.photobucket.com/albums/g...nt=RugerSA.jpg





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[mykeal]

bobn - Thank you.

Your opinion on the most popular cas gun was solicited, and thanks for providing it.

[robhof]

Darn Ryder that's a fine group of them awful Rugers, and my wife thinks I've got them all with 5, and they do work like the energiser bunny. My 1st one is over 25yrs old and still shooting with only cleaning after. Most of my other guns have had work or worn parts replaced.

[Smokin_Gun]

Real nice collection Nite Ryder...

[Beauhooligan]

If you are talking about revolvers, the award would have to go to Ruger; the Vaqueros, New Vaqueros, and the Blackhawks in the Modern category. If it had not been for Rugers back when I got started, say back in '94, I don't think the sport would have taken off as it did. Genuine Colt's were expensive, and there were limited choices in clones; the Rugers were tough and inexpensive. If it's about rifles, then Marlins would come in first, the 1873 Winchester clones coming in next, with Henry, 1866, and 1892 Winchester clones bringing up the rear. I don't see as many 1894 Winchester rifles around as I did 12 years or so ago; but the '94 Winchesters in pistol calibers were pretty clunky.

[Hawg]

the '94 Winchesters in pistol calibers were pretty clunky.

Still are. I'd think the 92 would be more popular than the 73 from the price alone.

[Nite Ryder]

The Winchester 92 would be popular only until a person could get a '66 or '73 and get rid of the 92. Win '92 & '94's are much more difficult to slick up than Marlins, '66 & '73's. In our area it's hard to tell which is the most popular in rifles, Marlins or toggle action rifles ('66 & '73's). Marlins are the least expensive, but short stroke kits are easy to install on '66 & '73's, making them more desirable, but also more expensive. Once in awhile you see a lightning clone (pump action) rifle, but most shooters don't continue to use them. And there is a reason... They don't shoot like a lever gun.

NR


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[Hawg]

Newer 92's are pretty slick out of the box or so I hear anyway. I slicked mine up by filling the action with white lithium grease and working the action for a few hours. You can crank loaded rounds through it with one finger now. The 92 is a much stronger action and will handle 44 mag pressures tho my 44-40 cases don't hold up for very many reloads doing do. Rifles chambered for .45 Colt can be loaded beyond .44 mag pressures with no premature case loss.

[Beauhooligan]

XX

[Beauhooligan]

I made my comment about Ruger Vaqueros and their popularity in Cowboy Action Shooting evident, so I thought I would send you a photo of a few of my favorites. I have stacked eight guns, four pairs, in one Kalispel case. In the bottom are my main match revolvers; two 7 1/2" Blue/CC .44 Magnum Vaqueros with Stag grips. I shoot these with my Marlin 1894 .44 Magnum rifle with a Lyman tang sight. Along side them are two Ruger 5 1/2" SS .45 Colt Vaqueros with Ruger synthetic ivory grips. I shoot these with my Marlin Cowboy in .45 Colt and a Lyman Tang sight. Up top you will see my pretty pair of unfired 5 1/2" SS .44 Magnum Bisley Vaqueros. My pride and joy are the top two 3 5/8" .45 Colt Birdshead Vaqueros. If I ran into any "coyote" in the blackness and he cocked and pointed a .45 Colt Birdshead Vaquero at me, I could only hope I had my Wilson 1911A1 .45 ACP was pointed at him at the same time, or I might lose both bowel and bladder control.

Beauhooligan

I have a couple more I will send along...BH

[Beauhooligan]

I regret that I have just this pair of Vaqueros to present to you. A longtime friend of mine had his "fore-sooth-hag" accuse him of physical abuse. He was my older brother, Army Ranger, 10 Year County Sheriff, Deacon in his Church of Christ, and he was not one for domestic abuse. He had to sell all his firearms over night. I bought his Vaqueros and the matching Pedersoli 30" BBL '73 Sporting rifle, with the promise that if he ever managed to clear his name, I would sell them back for the original purchase price. It's been 12 year's, but the offer still stands. I have been working to render a pair of Stag grips to muster, but I think they have a bit to go. I loaded some SERIOUS ammunition for these revolvers a while ago, 17 grains of Alliant 2400 behind some 210 grain .208 diameter soft points I found at a gun show, and darned if these old calbered revolvers didn't behave like lite .44 Magnums. I still have a hundred rounds or such, but I would never put them though my 1873 Pedersoli '73 Winchester. I'd be too afraid of getting the firing pin back through my eye!!!

Ill tender a photo of the '73 if anyone desires. I have equipped it with a tang sight and globe front. I use it for team shoots, as it holds 15 rounds. End of Trail is too darn far away from California these days, so Winter Range is as far as I go.

Beauregard