Author Topic: CAS Coach Guns (Read 1371 times)

Rodeo Rustler · « **on:** September 15, 2004, 11:01:43 AM »

Hey all,

I experienced my first CAS last weekend. What a blast! I am hooked for good! Anyways. I wanted some input on which coach gun to buy. I like the guns with exposed hammers but I am unsure which brand to purchase. I have heard good things about the new TTN hammer guns. What about the Stoeger or the EAA or the Norinco? Any input would help. Thanks.

RR

Big Hext Finnigan · « **Reply #1 on:** September 15, 2004, 10:55:38 PM »

Howdy,

The TTN is the current darling of the hammergun crowd. And there is nothing wrong with that, just realize that the buzz can be short lived. I have heard, but not seen, about a new Cimarron SxS mulie. It's supposed to be based on the Remington design. The EAA or Bounty Hunter is a decent gun.

If you can, try out different styles. The TTN has a great cast to the stock and makes aiming it more natural for our type of shooting. but everyone is different, so do your best to test them out for you.

Adios,

Will52100 · « **Reply #2 on:** September 16, 2004, 04:03:18 AM »

Took me a while to find one, but I got the Bounty Hunter II, with real external hammers, not the cocking leavers. The gun leaves something to be desired in the fit and finish department, but for the money it's a decent gun. I'm 6'2" and large framed build and it fits me good as far as length of pull goes. The short barrels are good for fast close targets and I've got chocke tubes to make it more versitle, but I would like to see a set of longer barrels for bird hunting, ect. Recoil with the short barrels is stout, but I've installed a mercury recoil compensator so that should help. All in all I'm very happy with mine. I personaly would perfere a more finely finished gun, but it seems the next step up is a lot more expensive.

Big John Wyatt · « **Reply #3 on:** September 16, 2004, 12:25:10 PM »

I have not got to handle a TTN yet, but as Big Hext says they are the current sweetheart for us mule ear shooters. The Liberty II's are a very nicely fit and finish hammer gun and good shooters, upper range in price but not bad. I have a Bounty Hunter that I have had for over 3 years and it has served well. It was a little stiff but nothing a few boxes target loads did'nt loosen up. Middle of the road price. The Norinco gun is the cheapest. Fit and finish is generally poor, but that don't mean it is a poor shooter. The ones I have shot open and close relatively easy, lock up tight and go boom every time. I have a friend that bought one for a backup, and wound up using it as his main match gun. As far as Stoeger goes, they make a very good gun, but they don't make one hammered.

Rodeo Rustler · « **Reply #4 on:** September 16, 2004, 02:00:21 PM »

Hey thanks guys, I'm going to try and look around and see what fits best. I appreciate all the input! I'll keep ya'll posted.

RR

Cuts Crooked · « **Reply #5 on:** September 17, 2004, 05:05:19 AM »

Tell ya what pard, After four years of this game my irons have acquired more than a few dings from the rigours of CAS. Wat I've decided concerning alla this is that I'm not going to be overly concerned with fit & finish issues when buying guns fer this game. I try to find wat fits and wat performs up to my requirments and go with it. I happen to shoot an aging Crescent SxS with full length barrels but it will need to be replaced someday, at which time I will probably go with the Norinco Coach gun. Having handled one recently, I know that they work, fit my body shape purdy good, and they are solid functional guns...not pretty, but they do the job!

Sweetwater Jack · « **Reply #6 on:** September 24, 2004, 07:08:56 PM »

Have bought, shot and lived with the following, all 12 guage, all 20" barrels.

EAA Bounty Hunter (Internal Hammer- Russian) Needed lighter springs to keep it from popping partly closed after you shuck the empties. Still shooting after 5 years. Fit and finish moderately good. Locks up right.

EAA Bounty Hunter II with real outside hammers: (Russian) A little stiff, the "etched" scenes on the sideplates fade after awhile. Locks up tight. Nice fit/finish.

Chas Daly Liberty II mule-ear (Turkish) Beautiful Color Case Finish on receiver, buttplate, etc. VERY stiff hammers and opening. Very Good fit/finish. Shot pretty close to POA with both barrels. Good lockup. A little heavy.

Norinco 99 Mule-ear: (Chinese) Decent fit/finish, very plain. Horrible cross-bolt safety. Lockup OK. Started getting a little "loose" after a year, not much, but noticeable. Understand that new ones coming through Coyote Cap's shop are much improved.

"Lingong" (Chinese) Mule-ear. Very inexpensive, very plain, fit/finish so-so, apparently softer steel as it started loosening up within 4 months.

Stoeger Coach Gun (Internal hammers) (Brazil) A bit stiff at first, put in lighter spring kit and disabled "automatic" feature on tang safety making it a "manual" safety, (15 minutes work for both jobs). Fit and finish very good, points well, reliable for past year. Still locks up tightly. Dark Walnut on stocks.

TTN Int'l, Inc 1878 "Old West" Mule-ear, (Chinese).Excellent copy of 1878 Colt. Plain-jane metal, nice American walnut stocks. Hammers close together as on original. Comes with package of lighter springs and replacement #4 brass front bead. Very good fit/finish. Both barrels shoot exactly to point of aim. 3" chambers with long throats. Heavy in chamber area. Lock-up tight. No cross-bolt or tang safety (just the way the original Colt was), hammer-block safeties only. Even before installing lighter hammer springs I could cock both hammers at once with one thumb.

One Point: I haven't missed a flying bird (clay) on a stage since I started using this gun. (And it isn't ME!) My shop sells 'em for $380.00

JMHOs..

SWJ