Cowboy Guns

[Fred C Dobbs]

 

[Hooch]

Some very nice firearms

 

[contender]

Such beautiful guns,, make me glad I enjoy cowboy guns. Just plain CLASSY!"

 

[Eaglestroker]

That's a whole group of beauties right there!

 

[Fred C Dobbs]

The thing with Cowboy guns is you want to shoot the side matches too so you get a derringer, then you get a single shot for long range, then a lever big bore for the occasional long range bit bore gong match etc. These are all sold now. Arthritis has ruled out cowboy shooting. Not cool to drop a gun in a match. Great sport and fun.
The three rifles are a Marlin 1895 Cowboy in 38-55 and a Browning Traditional Hunter in 38-55 both super accurate. Added real sights to both. I could shoot long range with these because I upped the bullet weight. The Browning shot a 330 grain Hoch Nose pour bullet and I found a 300 grain Saeco mold that made bullet the Marlin liked. I figured the twist rates and put the biggest bullet in that the barrel would stabilize. Accurate Arms 5744 powder and also Blue dot makes a great rifle cast bullet powder for 30-30 and 38-55.
Also a Marlin 1894 Cowboy I had a guy convert to 38-40 with a Green Mountain barrel. Odd thing about this gun is I bought it used as a 45 colt gun and it never did have the usual Marlin checkering, came smooth.
The 73 is an Italian clone in 38-40. Most folks go for the bigger rifles but the short carbine gun is the sweet one for fast shooting. I removed the finish, stained it and refinished with Plinkingtons oil from Brownells. Had a lady cut the checkering for a little added class.
The American arms derringer was in 32 mag and although you would not guess, the darn thing was accurate. Both barrels registered really close at 7 yards. Slow for competition because of the rebounding hammer. Gunsmith polished the SS and added Ellen Hunting real stag trips so I could hold on to it.

 

[don44]

Those are very nice.

 

[Wyandot Jim]

Fred,
Some very nice shooters you got there. Sorry to hear that you had to give up CAS.. I can tell by your post that you as I really enjoyed it.
My Wifie has had to back surgery's due to Arthritis.

 

[Fred C Dobbs]

Thanks folks. I did enjoy it. Some friends still shoot. One is a real competitor. He and his wife bring home the trophies. I was a middle of the pack stage shooter but I'm a good long rifle shot and won several side matches at 400 yards. Two standing. (big gong) Funny thing. I won once with the single shot and they let me take a non counting run with the Marlin lever. Got the same score. Loved those long guns. 38-55 is an amazing and very accurate round.
Arthritis is no fun. I did recently go vegan briefly. Couldn't stop meat completely so I do eat chicken, fish and the occasional cheeseburger. One important thing I discovered is that meat and dairy products seem to add to arthritis inflammation. I feel a lot less arthritis pain on veggies. So I put the smoker in mothballs for a while.
I forgot one pistol. Still have this one and the USFA with the walnut grips and two Marlin .357 lever guns. Can't give em all up.

I hope your wife recovers well. Had both knees and hips replaced so I know the routine at the hospital. No fun.

 

[JWhitmore44]

That was a nice collection of guns. Love that little 32 derringer

 

[Rumrunner]

I sure someone is very happy with those that you got rid of. Nice bunch of guns there.

 

[6GUNSONLY]

Nice. Cowboy guns are for real guns. I'll have to round up all of mine for a photo soon, including my new (to me) '74 Sharps .40-65.

 

[gunsbam69]

Good lookin pieces, all of em. I assume the last one is a Remington :?:

 

[Fred C Dobbs]

Good lookin pieces, all of em. I assume the last one is a Remington :?:

Yup. Uberti (I think)copy of the 1890 police model of the 1875. Barrel is 5.5 instead of 7.5" and the under barrel sail is obviously trimmed back. Lighter and more balanced in my opinion. Got rid of the lanyard ring.
My hands are big enough that I liked the old Vaquero grips but not the new Vaquero. The Rem has more knuckle room than a Colt as well. I like em. A friend shoots a pair of the big ones in 45 and enjoys the guns. Mine is 38/357.
You can see the hole for the missing lanyard ring. Something I didn't need jangling around.

j

 

[Joe S.]

Awesome collection. I want a 30-30 and 45 colt cowboy some kinda bad.
Not to shoot matches. Just like the guns. Nice saddle companions

 

[Fred C Dobbs]

Awesome collection. I want a 30-30 and 45 colt cowboy some kinda bad.
Not to shoot matches. Just like the guns. Nice saddle companions

I used to have a Winchester CAnadian Centenial 94. GReat gun. All blue. did really well with Blue Dot powder and cast bullets. j

 

[WendyZXZ]

That is a great set of guns!

 

[KWYJIBO]

I like 'em--every one of 'em!

Really nice collection you've got. I'm envious, because I've always had a particular fondness for all things "cowboy."

 

[Fred C Dobbs]

Thanks Folks. It was a joy to own and shoot these guns. However the only ones I still are the walnut handled USFA .38 and this 1890 Uberti Remington .357. I got the TruIvory grips and fitted them myself. Tedious but rewarding to fit some nice grips to a gun.
No more large calibers.

 

[win1894s]

Hi love those cowboy guns . Who did work on 38-40 marlin? I was hopen marlin would bring one out in the cowboy.

 

[Fred C Dobbs]

Hi love those cowboy guns . Who did work on 38-40 marlin? I was hopen marlin would bring one out in the cowboy.

I got the barrel from Green Mountain and Bob Shaw (Now deceased) did the work. I also found a guy in Montana who relined and he also relined another 45 Colt gun to 38-40. I sold it to a friend with the caution that it didn't work that well. Turns out there was a gob of epoxy which he used to install the liner was in the chamber area. I had missed it but Tom cleaned up the inside and it seemed to work fine. Not as accurate as the Green Mountain gun but fine for Cowboy work.
If you want a great 38-40, I would recommend a Uberti 73 carbine in 38-40. I don't now why but shooters seem to choose the larger heavier 73s but I found the cheaper carbine version to be a great gun and better balanced for fast shooting.
Here is a picture of the 38-40 I got from EMF I believe. Didn't like the stock finish so I removed it (Nasty difficult job) and replaced with a Plinkington's hand rubbed oil finish. I also had the gun checkered to make grip better and class it up a tad. Good gun but Uberti's have gotten expensive since I bought this one.

 

[Joe S.]

Awesome collection. I want a 30-30 and 45 colt cowboy some kinda bad.
Not to shoot matches. Just like the guns. Nice saddle companions

I used to have a Winchester CAnadian Centenial 94. GReat gun. All blue. did really well with Blue Dot powder and cast bullets. j

Been tryin to talk an old friend out of his. Thats one Winchester j wouldnt mind owning. Ha

 

[The Sturminator]

Fred, great collection and fine pictures there! I, too, REALLY like the 32 derringer. Thanks for posting.

 

[jeffnles1]

nice firearms. Love the cowboy guns.

 

[Fred C Dobbs]

Thanks folks. I enjoy remembering playing with them. I can't part with the Remington 1890. Like that gun. I'm a sucker for blued guns with (faux) ivory grips. j

 

[BearBio]

I agree on the shorter barrel. L had a rifle and a short rifle in 45 Colt. Sold the rifle and kept the short rifle.

 

[CraigC]

My .38-40 rifle is a Uberti 1873 and it's a fantastic shooter. Although I prefer its longer 24" octagon tube to the carbines. Been wanting a custom mid-frame Ruger or Uberti Flat-top Target to go with it.

 

[gunman42782]

I am officially jealous. Beautiful guns!

 

[Fred C Dobbs]

Funny how the caliber and barrel length make a huge difference to me on how I like to swing a barrel and what I like to feel. The absolutely favorite and sweetest rifle for me was a 45 Marlin with a 24 inch barrel. A 20 inch was too whippy. On a .357 with the smaller hole in the barrel, I like a 20 vs a 24. I once had a 32 mag 20 inch Marlin and that little hole in the barrel added a lot of weight.
After looking at a lot of 66 and 73 replicas, the carbine version in 38-40 just suited me best.
All personal taste. I tried shooting a Henry for a while. It was like shooting and trying to hop on a pogo stick all at once. Liked the gun, hated to use it.

 

[Wyandot Jim]

All personal taste. I tried shooting a Henry for a while. It was like shooting and trying to hop on a pogo stick all at once. Liked the gun, hated to use it.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH but Grasshopper you just have to know when to move your hand :wink: When that little thingie comes down the Mag and kisses your finger move it The barrel does get a weeeeeeeee bit warm with a full load of 3F Goex :roll:

 

[Fred C Dobbs]

All personal taste. I tried shooting a Henry for a while. It was like shooting and trying to hop on a pogo stick all at once. Liked the gun, hated to use it.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH but Grasshopper you just have to know when to move your hand :wink: When that little thingie comes down the Mag and kisses your finger move it The barrel does get a weeeeeeeee bit warm with a full load of 3F Goex :roll:

Exactly.