44-40 WCF caliber were one of the most common combinations seen in "the Old West". For example, the two mounted "Cowboys" at the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral were armed with this rifle and pistol combination. . 38-40 and . 32-20 (.
45 Long Colt would shade the . 44, as it had a heftier bullet (250 grains) and a very healthy charge of black powder. The many variations of . 44 Caliber were the most popular as both pistol and rifle rounds could be loaded from the same pouch.
There were a lot of calibers in use and what a cowboy chose depended a lot on what he wanted the rifle for. Some of the common calibers were 45–70, 45 Colt and 44–40.
What was the most powerful rifle in the Wild West?
The Hartford Rifle is a heavy-hitting sniper rifle in The Wild West, and the most expensive rifle sold in the Gun Shops. It is a powerful rifle with high damage and quick reload, and works well at all ranges, though it only has a single-round capacity.
Revolvers were a popular weapon to gunfighters who were horsemen, cowboys, and lawmen because of their concealability and effectiveness on horseback. The Winchester rifle was also a popular weapon among gunfighters. Dubbed the "Gun that Won the West", it was widely used during the settlement of the American frontier.
Often called "the first cowboy rifle" because its lightweight design made it easy to carry in a saddle-side scabbard, the Yellow Boy rifle debuted in 1866 to wild success.
Who was considered the fastest gun in the Old West?
Bob Munden was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as “The Fastest Man with a Gun Who Ever Lived”. One journalist reckoned that if Munden had been at the OK Corral in Tombstone, Arizona, on October 26, 1881, the gunfight would have been over in 5 to 10 seconds. He could whip out his Colt .
Who was the most feared gunslinger in the Old West?
One — John Wesley Hardin
Hardin was one of the most notorious gunslingers of the Wild West. He is said to have killed over 40 men, including his first victim at 15. He was known for his quick draw and his willingness to shoot first and ask questions later.
Many infamous outlaws terrorized the Old West, gunslingers like Billy the Kid and John Wesley Hardin. But one name stands out as the most efficient, elusive killer of the bunch—Deacon Jim Miller. His dastardly deeds included the first documented murder on the South Plains.
The most common cartridge weapon in the Old West “Cowboy Era”was probably the 45 Colt Single Action. Hollywood favored the Colt Peacemaker Model Single Action Army . 45 caliber revolver for its actors.
Undoubtedly one of the most recognized handguns in the world, Colt's 1873 Single Action Army revolver was the hands-down favorite and the archetypical six-gun of the American frontier. Affectionately known as the “Peacemaker,” it is considered the best balanced, most ergonomically perfect revolver of the age.
The . 45 Colt was the most effective for use against the lawless, while the . 44-40 was seen as the best hunting cartridge—and a formidable rifle cartridge as well. Today Cowboy Action Shooting has different demands.
Doc's weapon of choice early in his western career was an 1851 Colt Navy revolver given him by his uncle, one of four. The remaining three pistols were given by Uncle John to his own sons. Later Doc carried a nickel-plated . 41 caliber Colt Thunderer or the .
45-caliber and a Winchester lever-action shotgun. There is no conclusive evidence as to the kind of pistol that Earp usually carried though, according to some sources, on the day of the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, October 26, 1881, he carried a Smith & Wesson Model 3 with an 8-inch (200 mm) barrel.
His former commanding officer, General George Armstrong Custer, said: “Wild Bill always carried two handsome ivory-handled revolvers… he was never seen without them.” Yes– his favorite gun was the Colt . 36-caliber, six-shot, 1851 Navy revolver.
By reputation, Billy the Kid was lightning fast but only of average accuracy for a gunfighter. According to Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday was 'the deadliest and fastest man with a six-gun he had ever seen.
According to Pat Garrett, Billy was “quick as a flash.” While a good shot, he said, Billy “was no better than the majority of men who are constantly handling and using six-shooters. . . .”
There might be more famous outlaws out there who roamed the Wild West, but few of them, if any, were deadlier than John Wesley Hardin. He bragged about gunning down over 40 men, although newspapers of the time were only able to corroborate around 25 victims.
In the wake of multiple shootouts, his legend grew, culminating at the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. Amid bullet after bullet, he never took one himself, adding to his Old West mystique. But back in 1969, Wyatt Earp carried no such reputation, charisma or swagger. He was just a young man seeking his niche.
After murdering an estimated 25 men (mostly law officers), committing at least 43 robberies, 12 or more one-on-one hold ups and making at least six jail breaks Harry Tracy, the last gunfighter of the Old West , was dead at age 27.
The Colt Single Action Army revolver was the attractive, “cowboy gun,” that leapt from many a western actor's holster. Widely known as the, “Gun That Won the West,” the SAA was a first love for Wayne.
Wayne used the Winchester Model 1892 in a dozen films. The Saddle Ring Carbine version appeared about half of the time. As with the Colt Single Action Army, Winchester's rifle appeared in some of the Duke's most remembered and beloved films.
