cowboy action calibers

countryboywithgun · April 16, 2008, 11:52 PM

any suggestions on the best caliber to go with on the cowboy action shooting? I have 1 '58 that shoots 45lc but didn't know if when looking at a 1873, and a rifle if i should go with same caliber or go to 357 or 44. Hawg i know you will have good input on this one?

Starting out slow but still going.

angeldeville · April 17, 2008, 12:09 AM

IF you want the real feel of being a cowboy go for the 38-40 or 44-40.....(lever guns weren't made in .45 Colt back then).... Otherwise a .357 mag will do....

zxcvbob · April 17, 2008, 12:10 AM

Have you considered .44-40 or .38 WCF?

Hawg · April 17, 2008, 08:03 AM

It's just whatever floats your boat man. If you plan to use bp you might want to consider the bottlenecks(44WCF,38WCF,32WCF) because they're easier to clean. The thin case neck expands on firing to help keep blowback out of the action. If you're using smokeless it won't matter you'll just have to keep up with two different calibers. I presume you will be reloading. Big bores are more expensive to buy with the WCF's being harder to find and more expensive. 38's are relatively cheap to buy off the shelf.

April 16, 2008, 11:52 PM	#1
countryboywithgun Senior Member Join Date: January 25, 2008 Location: El Campo, TX Posts: 116	cowboy action calibers any suggestions on the best caliber to go with on the cowboy action shooting? I have 1 '58 that shoots 45lc but didn't know if when looking at a 1873, and a rifle if i should go with same caliber or go to 357 or 44. Hawg i know you will have good input on this one? Starting out slow but still going.

April 17, 2008, 12:09 AM	#2
angeldeville Senior Member Join Date: October 19, 2007 Posts: 192	IF you want the real feel of being a cowboy go for the 38-40 or 44-40.....(lever guns weren't made in .45 Colt back then).... Otherwise a .357 mag will do.... __________________ That's the way John Wayne woulda done it.

April 17, 2008, 12:10 AM	#3
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 4,720	Have you considered .44-40 or .38 WCF? __________________ "Everything they do is so dramatic and flamboyant. It just makes me want to set myself on fire!" —Lucille Bluth

April 17, 2008, 08:03 AM	#4
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	It's just whatever floats your boat man. If you plan to use bp you might want to consider the bottlenecks(44WCF,38WCF,32WCF) because they're easier to clean. The thin case neck expands on firing to help keep blowback out of the action. If you're using smokeless it won't matter you'll just have to keep up with two different calibers. I presume you will be reloading. Big bores are more expensive to buy with the WCF's being harder to find and more expensive. 38's are relatively cheap to buy off the shelf.