new Henry rifle...

[lazs2]

My experience has not been like yours..   the 45 brass I have is not even close to the old balloon head stuff from the turn of the century but it is several decades old.    The cases just seem to split more than 44 mag cases.   It sure looks like the 454 brass is a lot tougher.

The most noticeable thing is to use a carbide die to size the brass..  it is a real noticeable difference between 44 mag brass and say 45 colt or 45 acp.. the latter two are very easy to resize..  almost like they are lubed.  

I also like the way powder charges fill out the 44 case compared to 45 and I like  the extra meat a 44 bore gives to a cylinder compared to a 45 colt but...

 got to admit...  the main draw is all the 44 stuff I have already.   When I started with the 44 mag..   guys were blowing up 45 revolvers trying to load em up.. even rugers old flattop blackhawk.   also.. 44's always seemed to have an accuracy edge with full power loads.

lazs

[SIG220]

Originally posted by indy007
So... when shooting guns of that era... is it a requirement that you dress ridiculously too? That chick could be cute but she's wearing something that looks like its from a bad stephen segall movie.

Actually I believe that is a replica of the jacket worn by Annie Oakley, the famous markswomen of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show.

SIG 220

[SIG220]

Originally posted by Yeager
is replica a bad word?  I guess if your a antique firearms collector it is.  

If the replica is high quality and continues a beautiful and important lineage of history and engineering then a replica is a most critical and important thing.

Some people do indeed collect the real thing.   Such antiques are many times in rather poor condition, though.   And they also tend to be quite expensive.   So most Cowboy action shooters shoot replicas, and not actual antiques.

I only own one Cowboy action type gun myself, and it is actually the real thing, an actual antique.   Replicas of the Winchester Model 1897 pump shotgun are made in both China and Brazil.   And these are what most of the Cowboy action shooters who prefer to use this model shotgun actually shoot.   These replicas are not expensive, and sell for only around $350

I had tremendous luck, though, in finding a true Winchester Model 1897 from an estate sale of a man who owned a lot of nice guns.   It was in great shape, too, which just normal wearing from being shot some.  Not a bit of rust anywhere.   And I managed to get it for only $750

I would shoot myself before owning a "Winchester" shotgun made in China.

SIG 220