I Want One of These

Next year we are going to try expanding attendance at our IHMSA (International Handgun Metallic Silhouette) matches by also running (very similar) NRA handgun metallic silhouette (the only difference being that the smallbore and Field Pistol chickens are shot at 25 yards in IHMSA, and at 40 yards in NRA). We’re also going to start shooting Cowboy Rifle (an offshoot of Cowboy Action shooting.)

Cowboy rifle rules allow the use of lever-action rifles on the Hunter Pistol (small targets at 40, 50, 75, and 100 yards) and Big Bore (full size targets at 50, 100, 150 and 200 yards) targets.

So I want one of these:

The Marlin 1894SS, chambered in .44 Magnum. Ten-round magazine capacity, 20″ barrel, and it weighs about 6 pounds. The .44 Mag out of a handgun is sufficient to knock down the Big Bore targets, so out of a 20″ rifle barrel, it won’t have ANY problem. The problem would be my eyes and iron sights.

I’m really not much of a fan of Cowboy Action Shooting (I believe it was Oscar Wilde who said “beware of any hobby that requires a new wardrobe”) but I know I’d enjoy this, and I’m enough of a Western fan that I’d kinda like at least one lever-action. I’ve seen them on sale used between $325 and $500. It’s got an MSRP of $680, which I think’s a bit pricey for a lever-gun, but the popularity of CAS has put them in demand, I guess.

Maybe when I win the lottery.

UPDATE: Great minds think alike. Dipnut over at Isn’tapundit wants an 1894SS too, and a Ruger Vaquero to go with it. And we posted on the same day at very close to the same time.

Coincidence? I think not!