I don't think a 170 grain .357 mag or a .44 mag would be out of the question. I have shot my .44 mag Big Boy in the pistol caliber matches with good results but I down loaded it quite a bit. A 240 grain bullet at 14-1500 should be enough for the big rams at 200 I would think.

With all that being said the majority of replies on my last post favored the 30-30 over my 38-55.

 

I have whittled down my "accumulation" and now the only pistol calibers I load for are 38/357 and 44 spl/mag. I also shoot 9mm, but don't load for it. In rifles I load .223, 308, 30-30, 338 Win Mag, and 45-70. I dont shoot the 338 much any more, but it's a sentimental favorite.

I need to go to a match and see what folks are shooting. Two ranges near me host cowboy matches, MVSA in Hot Springs, and the Benton Gun Club in Benton, AR.

 

What are the popular rifles for the cowboy silhouette game?

I have several 30-30s, including a Winchester Buffalo Bill commemorative with a 26 inch octagon barrel.

:questionmark:

Bingo....That would be an awesome rifle for the job with a tang sight. A short range Lee Shaver or Marbles.

 

Bingo....That would be an awesome rifle for the job with a tang sight. A short range Lee Shaver or Marbles.

View attachment 122067

OOOOooooh...Whatchoo got der?

 

Looks like a dandy setup. Since I already have Williams FP and a Lyman 66 receiver sights, I'm going to try them and see how I like it. If I get into the game, I may spring for a tang sight.

 

I use a Rossi '92 Lever in 357 Mag but will be switching to 38 Specials next year.
If you want to shoot at 200 yards which is 5 times a year in my area.
Then you can use the 30-30 or the 45-70's.
I'm knocking rams at 200 yards with my 357 Mag as long as they are not
hard set. If they are hard set then a 30-30 won't knock them over either.
I'm using factory Buckhorns by choice.
Most shooters are using Tang sights either Marbles or another brand and
for receiver sights they are using Redfield sights which are amazing if you
can scrounge everything from eBay.

There are other choices such as the Williams but it depends on what you are
putting them on. You will want the T model which is for target and you get
audible clicks. You will also want a Gib Block Knob otherwise you will need a
screwdriver to make adjustments for each animal, which is a royal pain.

If the guys in your area are all running 30-30's that's great but most here run
357/38 or 44 Specials as the standard targets are set at 25/50/75/100 yards

The other option is to go smallbore cowboy with like a Marlin 39a.
No question that is the most winning 22LR cowboy rifle with a 24" barrel.
I saw a real beauty but at $799 for a JM model it was too pricey.

 

Vernier sights are not allowed in NRA Cowboy Silhouette. They are mentioned in the rules.
They are not allowed at NRA events. They sure work great but they can cost some real
serious money.

 

From NRA rules
• 3.1.3 Cowboy Lever Action Silhouette Rifle – Listed below are the
three classes of Cowboy Silhouette Rifles. The below listed rules (a - f) apply
to all classes of Cowboy Silhouette Rifles. (The intent of these rules is to
establish a match for common hunting carbines and other lever action rifles.
The match is focused toward shooters who enjoy shooting hunting arms and
do not want to make the investment required of other specialized types of
shooting competitions.)
a. Rear sights may be open, receiver, or tang sights, mounted as
originally intended. No Olympic type sights, or extended mounts are
permitted. The front sight must be a post or bead or if changeable
inserts, may use a post or bead insert only. A front sight anti-glare
tube, which may be no longer than 1 1/8” to include any attachments
and no larger than a 3/4” outside diameter, may be used.

I think tang sights cover Vernier sights.

 

Ok, well if you show up with a vernier sight and you are not allowed to use it.
Then you will know. This was covered at an event I went to. They said
by the rules, vernier sights are not allowed.
What they do locally might be different but show up with one at a regional
or national event and you will get protested.
They are great sights but are considered cheating. Same reason we can't
use Olympic sights they work awesome but not allowed.

The Marbles sight is a tang sight that is allowed.

 

FWIW, I shot at the NRA Cowboy Nationals this year. Two of my rifles had vernier sights, as well as probably 30% to 40% of all the other rifles in attendance. Nothing wrong with them, and they are certainly allowed by the NRA tech boys. Every rifle was inspected and certified legal to shoot in the matches. Vernier sights are well within the NRA written rules, as well as the often mentioned "spirit of the rules". Vernier sights have been around a long, long time.

I run the aforementioned cowboy matches at the Benton Gun Club. All of our matches are NRA approved matches and we do adhere to the rules. That being said, if you want to come out and shoot whatever you have, we would be glad to have you.

Greg Sullivan

 

Well locally the 3 clubs I shoot at have specifically told me that Vernier sights were not
allowed. I will contact them and ask them if there has been a rules change that allows
them. I was told at the beginning of the season that they were not allowed.
These guys have been shooting silhouette for 20+ years and run the events.
That is why I assumed they knew what they were talking about.

I know they have been around a long time back in the old west even.

I have no idea where the Benton Gun Club is.

 

Condition 1 - that Vernier sight rule must be a local rule - because it absolutely is allowed in NRA sanctioned matches.
But, you have local conditions to deal with, the rest of is don't.
Benton is just south of Little Rock - that's in Arkansas, between Missouri and Louisiana. The original question was asked by a person from Hot Springs - an hour away from Benton. Its one of my favorite paces to shoot (maybe because I win sometimes, maybe because I've made some friends there, maybe because I have fun at the matches).

Michael

 

I will have a chat with the match directors from all 3 clubs that hold the shoots.
There are restrictions on sights but the ones for verniers may have changed.
I will ask where in the rules it is as well.

 

Here's a link to the most recent/updated rules:
http://compete.nra.org/documents/pdf/compete/RuleBooks/Sil-r/sil-r-book.pdf

Section 3.1.3 Cowboy Lever Action Silhouette Rifle specifically talks about rear sights and reads: "Rear sights may be open, receiver, or tang sights, mounted as originally intended. No Olympic type sights, or extended mounts are permitted.".

FWIW, In case the Olympic sight rule is confusing them (IMO, it IS confusing/subjective in wording), I do know that Vernier sights are not "Olympic type sights"... Here's a pic of an Olympic sight which the rules state are not allowed:

my .02, plus a little more,

-Tim

 

Maybe slightly off topic, but anyone know the closest Cowboy Silhouette shooting to Lubbock, TX. Years ago there was IMHSA shooting here and it died out. But I don't know of any rifle shooting. I'd love to participate, but not wanting to travel for hours.

 

Billy Jack - sad to hear that club folded. They held the Hunter's Pistol Texas State match a few years ago (OK, maybe 20 years ago).

Here is a list of "not-so-current" silhouette ranges. USA Rifle Silhouette Target Shooting Ranges and Clubs
The folks at Steel Chickens may know of a range close to you, but I suspect you may have to travel to New Mexico to shoot.

Michael

 

If traveling from Lubbock it's a wash between going to Haltom City (near FtWorth) and Raton NM for a published Cowboy Rifle match.

There used to be a match at Robert Lee TX, but I've not been able to get verification whether it's still being held, when, and by whom. I've also heard rumors of a match near Midland, but again, no verification.


- Tim

 

Blackdog and GTS, what kind of vernier sight(s) do you have?

 

I got two new rifles in the past 6 months. A Marlin 1894CL and a Marlin 39a. I put Williams receiver sights on both - because it was easy to do, and finding a "good" gunsmith where I live has proved to be a fruitless search.
When I was shooting a .45 colt lever gun I had a Marbles tang sight that worked quite well.

IF, and that's a big IF, I was to put a vernier tang sight on any of my rifles I would go with the Lee Shaver. I've shot with guys who use them and was envious of their ability to dial in small corrections in windage and/or elevation. The Lee Shaver seems like a precision made sight that can give you exact adjustments.
BUT - you have to find a gunsmith who can install it for you, or have experience and confidence to do it your self (I haven't drilled and tapped since I was in Navy "A" school and that was only to show that I understood "righty tighty.")

Do-it yourself = Williams Receiver sight. Good Gunsmith = Lee Shaver.

M

 

Hey gup,

I have several different ones. My 336 CB in 38-55 has a Lee Shaver mid-range Soule sight, my 1894 takedown in 25-20 has a Lee Shaver mid-range economy Soule sight, I have some goofy Ukranian (or something) sight on my 1893 25-36, it works, it's just butt ugly. I just put a home built sight on my 1893 30-30. I'm not sure who made it, but it is a well built sight with windage adjustment. I have not used it yet, as I have been swapping a few parts between the 1893 rifle and an early Model 36 carbine with an 1893 receiver. The carbine didn't start life as a carbine, but appears to have once been a full deluxe Model 36. However, with a shortened barrel, replacement front sight and several extra holes for an old side mounted scope, it was strictly a shooter, but a shooter with really nice wood. Since the frames of the 1893 straight grip and pistol grip are basically the same, except for the bottom metal, I decided to turn my 1893 30-30 into a deluxe rifle. It was always a great shooter, and now I will look good doing it. I will try and post a pic or two of the finished product.

GTS

 

blackdog........

Homepage - Eagle Eye USA Indoor Shooting Range Wentzville, MO

Check out the gunsmith who works here. He has done a couple of projects for me and other shooters I know. One of the things he did for me was mount a Lee Shaver long range tang sight.

 

blackdog........

Homepage - Eagle Eye USA Indoor Shooting Range Wentzville, MO

Check out the gunsmith who works here. He has done a couple of projects for me and other shooters I know. One of the things he did for me was mount a Lee Shaver long range tang sight.

I gave up on St.Louis and the surrounding cities. I'll be moving back to Texas in December. Not because I couldn't find a gunsmith...

Michael

 

This may sound corny but can you shoot a Savage 99 in a cowboy Silhouette match or is it restricted to just certain rifles?

 

The rifles that are allowed in CB silhouette must be fed by a tubular magazine, so no, a 99 would not be allowed. Local match directors might allow them in club matches, but any regional, state or national matches would not.

 

what is the reason the Redfield Olympic receiver sight is not allowed? It is just a receiver sight. The one I bought at a gun show came with a flat mounting base that positions the aperature ahead of the hammer,so it is not extended. The reason can't be the cost, I payed $100 for it , a MVA or Shaver would cost me $300 to $400.

 

I shot my first Cowboy Lever Rifle Match Sunday.

336 CB 38-55, Lyman 17A globe, Lee Shaver Econo mid range rear sight, 265E Accurate mold, Trail Boss @ 1,030 fps, Fed 150M primers. Conditions, 8-15 mph wind from right to left, score 25! The 30-30 guys had more challenges with the wind. The heavier subsonic load did not drift as much as the lighter faster bullets. My spotter called a miss and did not see the impact point on the first ram about the time the bullet got there and knocked it down. All ram hits went down easily, even the low hits.

I think I found a windy day load!

 

Blackdog ... give me a holler if you decide to go to the Benton gun club.

between a neck fusion surgery and now a bad shoulder, I haven't shot rifles with any recoil for a while now. It's funny, I can shoot my 44 mag revolvers fine. But a 45-70 nearly cripples me after a few rounds.

Lucky for for me I have a few 357 lever guns

 

We decided to go to Texas. Corpus Christi area. So I'll be shooting in Houston/Austin/New Braunfels and fishing in Port Aransas and PINS.
Michael

 

I began shooting a Marlin .375 with home grown loads but have since gone to single shot rifles as our club doesn't care and we can practice out to 600 yds when we get done with the 200 yd silhouette shoot. I use a Browning BPCR .45-70 and a Meacham .40-65. All three of my rifles are accurate. I also have an 1892 Winchester .25-20, built at the turn of the Century that I'm working up a 200 yd load for and my short range offhand silhouette rifle is a Marlin 39AS that I've worked the action on so it's slicker than snot on a TN doorknob.
I pour my own lead and load my own bullets for all of these cartridges. My current configs are Lee Verniers on everything but Browning right now. I have a Malcolm 10X 18 inch, 3/4" scope on that. Oh yeah, my 39 has a Lyman on it and I use what I have left of the old Federal Bulk .22LR (maroon box) ammo.

Now that I think of it I still have my Marlin LTD Cowboy in .45 and a an Old Winchester Trader .44Mag that would appear to be safe queens since I just remembered I still have them. I guess I could put the .375 into the same category as I haven't shot that in about 8 months.

 

i use a marlin 39a in smallbore with a second 39a as backup rifle. i use a marlin 1894 - 357 mag, with 18 inch barrel in pc, with a marlin 1894 - 44 mag, 20 inch barrel as backup rifle. i use a winchester 94 in 30-30 with a 24 inch barrel in cla, with a marlin 336 - 30-30 with a 20 inch barrel as backup rifle. all rifles have williams fp and/or lyman 66 rear sights. all rifles have lyman 17a front sights with al foust inserts. i have been looking for a 24 inch barrel 357 mag rifle in either marlin or winchester brand. i have backup rifles for each match because i travel long distance to matches. my shortest match drive is a 3 hours one way. there is nothing like driving 12 hours one way to a match to have a rifle go down in the middle of the match.

 

I shot in my first NRA event this past Summer... Lots of fun!! A friend got me involved while I was up in New England for a visit.. I shot a loaner 1894 of his chambered for .41 pistol.. He was using dialed down hand loads with enough omph to knock over targets while keeping manageable recoil.. And, in thinking about it, I'm pretty sure both were set up with what I'd call vernier sights..