Cowboy trick shooting

[str8shooter]

Has anyone looked into what the cowboy sideshow shooters use for guns and ammo? I'm assuming, and I could be wrong, that they aren't using off the shelf guns and ammo, so I was wondering if anyone knows what they do use. I've tried to go "cowboy style" with my S&W 66 and I think I'd break a finger if I tried spinning a gun and holstering it like the show folks do, and using even the lightest .38 spl loads, I couldn't put 6 shots in the air as fast as they do without everyone within a mile ducking for cover.

This leads me to some questions. One, for the fancy gun handling do they use special made light weight guns, and if so, could they really shoot an off the shelf load without damaging the gun? Although the guns look like big bore western 6 shooters, but are they shooting really shooting .22s made to look bigger, and/or are they using extremely light loads to minimize recoil and make rapid shooting easier? I've seen many an "amazing video" and several live shows with trick shooting and gun handling, but I can't even imagine getting through the quick draw and single action fire with any sort of accuracy using my 66, let alone picking off silver dollars in the air and reholster after a few spins quicker than I can say "The Lone Ranger".

[tdyoung58]

I think a lot of that trick shooting stuff is with a shot shell type of bullet.

[str8shooter]

Originally Posted by tdyoung58

I think a lot of that trick shooting stuff is with a shot shell type of bullet.

Interesting thought, it could definitely explain the never miss phenomenon and why no one worries where a bullet fired into the air eventually lands in a stadium full of people. I carry a snubby .38 loaded with those when walking through rattler country and never even gave that a thought.

[smoke-wagon]

bob munden (one of the best, search for him on youtube) shoots a piece of tape through a washer in mid air, something a shot shell wouldn't be able to do, also cutting a card would be harder with shotshell. i believe he uses .45lc mostly. and does all his own gunsmithing and provides a gunsmithing service on his website.
joe bowman, another exhibitionist i've read up on uses a ruger blackhawk that he gunsmithed into a vaquero type and engraved himself as well. the article was in a ruger catalogue i picked up last year.
if i were to want to get into trick shooting i would get a uberti SAA clone or a ruger vaquero and shoot the poop out of it and then send it to one of those guys as they obviously know what is needed in their sport, from what i've read fanning is not recommended for unmodified SA revolvers.
i do own a ruger blackhaw 50th flat top w/ 4 5/8" barrel and the balance is just not there for spinning and the weight is a killer on the finger.
i think the .45lc is just a really accurate round (i know in my anaconda it's amazing) and with the light recoil of cowboy action black powder loads and a supreme action job and 1,000's of rounds down the pipe you would be well on your way to putting on your own shows.

[Jailkeeper]

This is an area that fascinates me. A month or two ago I bought a Ruger New Vaquero. I also purchased a video and read everything I could find on the subject.

I mostly want to learn how to spin it & holster it quickly. So I spun it & spun it and finally dropped it (threw it?) on my right ankle. I was wearing shorts and no socks, and I limped for 3 days.

A lot of the "close up" shooting is done with blanks or just a primer. They show that in the video and suggest caution when shooting blanks.

The holsters they use are lined with metal to hold them open and in proper position for quick draws.

I'll keep spinning my New Vaquero, but I'll be wearing boots in the future!

[smoke-wagon]

there are dry fire specific pistols, i cant remember the company but they are an exact replica of a working pistol that would also help you with spinning and not have to worry about dropping your firearm. i'll post a link when i find them again, i believe they were within the $100-$200 range.

[synergy]

I had a buddy that could hit a soda can in the air all day long.

He was using .44 magnums though, factory rounds.

I think a lot of those rounds are .45LC, and might be loaded lightly depending on their application.

[Shawn.L]

wax bullets with just a primer

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wax_bullets

http://www.banditshooting.com/

[smoke-wagon]

never mind about the dry fire pistols, just found it again at emf-company.com for $449! you could just buy another vaquero for that.

[Lady Beretta]

I was always curious also, friends of mine do mounted cowboy shooting and tried to get me involved. (cept' there aren't any near me... boohooo). I wondered about the ammo with the crowds and horses.