r/canadaguns • u/Dill_Pickle_Tears • Mar 01 '26

Buy recommendations Antique Revolvers - Competition Worthy?

With the handgun freeze, does anyone here run antique single action revolvers in cowboy action shooting competitions?

I’d like to get into competition shooting, and cowboy action caught my eye. How common is it to buy antiques for that purpose? Assuming that they comply with the rules of the competition and actually shoot/function safely.

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u/BowFella Mar 02 '26

If you are getting into antique revolvers for practicality be prepared to spend thousands on the gun, reloading, and a gunsmith even. You will have to do a lot of research on safely reloading whatever cartridge it may shoot.

If your competition involves fast reloading then that immediately disqualifies any percussion or loading gate revolver which only leaves you with a select few very expensive revolvers with a swingout cylinder or top break design. Some well known options being webleys, S&W no3s, and Colt 1892s. But those are $3000+

Despite what many say some of these revolvers can certainly handle the strain. I have over 500 rounds put through my montenegrin gasser without any issue, but would not consider it reliable or designed well for any competition. A qualified gunsmith is the only person that can really tell you how good of condition it is in though.

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u/Bowmann-94 Mar 02 '26

Cowboy action the revolvers typically start loaded with hammer resting on an empty chamber (5 rounds loaded) so reloading isn’t a problem. Running them as fast as possible is though… I agree the typical antique would be pushed to the breaking point in typical cowboy action match.

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u/BowFella Mar 02 '26

I feel like the revolvers one would use for this are late 1880s-1897 designs so resting on an empty cylinder is not as much of a concern with a design like a schofield or a colt 1892 where the hammer is not actually resting on the primer like older designs. Although I would still avoid it if you are doing any sort of quick draw.

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u/Bowmann-94 Mar 02 '26

Agreed it’s just in the rules for cowboy action as a hold over from the saa colts. Rugers are completely safe so if the rules were different you could safely load all six but 5 rounds on empty cylinders keeps everyone on a level playing field. If whatever game you play allows full load up by all means load up.

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u/BowFella Mar 02 '26

For sure. Even with revolvers with a floating hammer I would still carry 5 though