Beginner Questions - Thanks in Advance

[Bossloper]

Hi All,

I just acquired a Uberti Hombre and a Uberti Millenium and two matching holsters (strong & cross) and am planning to get in CAS starting this year.  Neither have seen much through the barrel, but I still have to acquire a rifle & shotgun and I was hoping to get some help with that.  My dad & mom shoot bigtime in AZ, and he has a Lightning in 45 and a Marlin in 44, and a double barrel 20ga coach shotgun.  They only shoot the Marlin because the Lightning hasn't been too reliable.  I already reload for both the 44 & 45, and my wife & I will likely share everything because she would like to shoot too.  We're in ME and have some time before the snow melts, but in respect to reliability, cost & shotgun recoil, what's the most affordable way to go on purchasing the rifle & shotgun?  I like the pump action in respect to speed, but they seem to command higher prices than a used double barrel or lever action, but cost is definitely an issue.  Also, any recommendations as to where to get a good deal on soft lead bullets for the 44 & 45 in 160 or 180 grain?  I have lots of both, but what I have may not be soft enough for cowboy action shooting, so what is the maximum brittle hardness (BHN) to stay under that can be safely shot?  And is the cowboy 45 special brass legal for SASS shoots?  I guess that's it for now, accept to say thanks in advance for sharing your knowledge and experience.  We're excited and looking forward to getting involved. 

Thanks, Brett

[alacharger]

Hey Brett,

For a beginner in the sport, it's hard to beat a Marlin 94 rifle, or a copy of the '92 or '94 Winchester and a double barrel 12 gauge.  I recommend 12 gauge, because 12's weigh just a tad more, and with featherlight shells, kick quite a bit less than a 20 gauge.  The '97 shotguns are great, but you can't load more than 2 rounds in them at a time (SASS made it this way, so the double shooters can be competitive).  And, most '97s (as well as some doubles) need tweaking to make them really work well for CAS. Since you already load .44 and .45, I'd try to pick up a rifle in one of those calibers. 

Watch around for bargains, if you've got time. I saw a Stevens 311 in a pawn shop the other day for $225 that had some surface rust that would not affect it's shooting ability.  It would be perfect for CAS.  I bought a '92 Rossi a few years back for $250 from a fellow at a CAS shoot that I had just met.  Just a month or so ago, I picked up an almost mint '94 Marlin in .44 mag, for $325 at a local pawn shop. 

Don't let not having all your guns keep you from attending.  CAS shooters will bend over backwards to loan you guns to join their sport...or those around north Alabama will.  I've provided a full setup of pistols, rifle, shotgun and leather to more than one new shooter. 

SASS requires only that your bullets be lead.  Nowhere do they specify a BHN.  Most of us shoot hardcast bullets. Hardcast bullets are more likely to break up than soft.  The soft are more likely to deform and come back at you. 

The Cowboy .45 special brass was developed for CAS shooter...it's perfectly legal.   

[bilmac]

Did you say one holster is crossdraw. You might ask some of the shooters at the club you are going to shoot about that. Some of the clubs I shot at made you do this silly little dance as you draw from a crossdraw. I got tired of different rules everywhere I went and just bought a lefthand holster. Eventually I quit CAS because they were teaching me bad habits.