Old West Guns

Single-Action Revolvers: The Heart of the Old West

The single-action revolver requires manually cocking the hammer before each shot — the defining mechanism of the Colt Single Action Army that became the most iconic firearm of the American West. Modern single-action revolvers from Heritage Arms (Rough Rider series) offer authentic SAA ergonomics at entry-level prices, with .22 LR and .22 Magnum options that are ideal for first-time or budget-conscious shooters. Colt continues to produce the Single Action Army in .45 Colt, .44-40, and .357 Magnum — the authentic article at a collector’s price. Ruger’s Blackhawk and Vaquero are the practical modern choice, built on stronger frames with transfer-bar safeties that allow safe carry of six rounds.

Lever-Action Rifles: Winchester and Henry in the Modern Era

No firearm is more synonymous with the American frontier than the lever-action rifle. Henry Repeating Arms produces the widest range of lever-action rifles in the market — from the brass-receiver Henry original in .22 LR to the Big Boy series in .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum, and .45 Colt, to the X-Model lineup with modern synthetic stocks and threaded barrels. Marlin’s Model 336 in .30-30 and the 1895 in .45-70 are the classic big-game lever guns. Winchester’s Model 94 in .30-30 is the rifle that defined deer hunting in America for a century. For cowboy action shooting, pistol-caliber lever actions in .357 Magnum and .45 Colt are the standard choice.

Cowboy Action Shooting: Getting Started with SASS

Single Action Shooting Society (SASS) and Cowboy Action Shooting require a single-action revolver (two are needed for most stages), a lever-action rifle, and a period-appropriate shotgun — all in calibers available in the late 19th century. Common SASS calibers are .38 Special/.357 Magnum, .44-40, .45 Colt, and .44 Special. The most popular entry-level SASS setup is a pair of Heritage Rough Rider revolvers in .22 LR for practice, graduating to a Henry Big Boy or Marlin 1894 in .357 Magnum paired with single-action revolvers in the same caliber for matches. The shared caliber between rifle and revolver is both authentic to the era and practical for ammunition management.

Reproduction and Collector Revolvers: Cimarron, USFA & Colt SAA

For collectors and shooters who want the most authentic Western experience, Cimarron Firearms imports high-quality Italian-made reproductions of Colt SAA, Remington 1875, and other period revolvers. These are true to the original dimensions, finish options (color case hardened, nickel, blued), and calibers. Colt’s own Single Action Army remains in production in the Custom Shop and select standard configurations — the most historically significant option and the most valuable to collectors. For display and occasional shooting, a Cimarron is the practical choice. For investment and authenticity, only a Colt will do.

Old West Calibers: .45 Colt, .44-40, .38 Special & .30-30

The classic Old West calibers remain in active production. .45 Colt (also called .45 Long Colt) is the original SAA cartridge — a large-bore, moderate-velocity round with excellent stopping power and a storied history. .44-40 Winchester was the first cartridge chambered in both a revolver (Colt SAA) and a lever-action rifle (Winchester 1873), making it the original shared-caliber cowboy combination. .38 Special is the most practical modern choice — wide availability, low recoil, and compatible with .357 Magnum revolvers. .30-30 Winchester remains the definitive deer hunting cartridge for lever-action rifles after 130 years.

Old West Guns & Related Pages

For single-action revolvers and the full revolver selection, see our revolvers page. For lever-action rifles, see our dedicated lever-action rifles page. For the Heritage Arms brand including Rough Rider revolvers, see our Heritage page. For Henry Repeating Arms, see our Henry page. For cowboy action ammunition, see our .45 ACP, .357 Magnum, and .38 Special ammo pages.