Comparison of Zoot Shooting Guns

[DeaconKC]

I thought I might give youse mugs a quick and doity comparison of some gats and roscoes we can use in our capers.

In other words, here's a comparison of what to look for when you are choosing a gun for our sport.

http://www.zootshooters.com/rules

Those are the actual rules, for those who are new to this, here are the basics types of handguns you could use:

Revolvers:
These are simple and almost never fail if they are in good condition. You can find good used ones from $250 on up that will be perfect for this sport. Here are two examples of Smith and Wessons, the smaller one is called a M&P [Military and Police], it has a 5" barrel and fires .38 Special ammunition. It is light, will fit most shooters hands easily and has a very mild recoil. The larger one is called a Hand Ejector, this one has a barrel 6 1/2 inches long and fires the .45 ACP round. Heavier and bigger, it also has more recoil.
Colt and S&W were the two primary builders in our time frame, but Harrington & Richardson was another commonly found maker.

Semi automatics, "Autos":
Okay, these pistols use some type of magazine to feed them. Our beloved 1911 is King here, but there are so many different choices it would be a shame to limit yourself. Savage, Browning, Star. Astra, Walther, Mauser, Luger......the list goes on and on. Bear in mind, you have to have GOOD quality magazines for an auto to run right, and many older ones will be fussy about ammo choices. Here's the lowdown on some choices you have. Starting at the .32s you have small pocket pistols, very cool, but tougher to shoot because they are so small. As the rounds get bigger you get bigger guns [obvious, right?] Two of the slickest guns out there are also two of the easiest to shoot, the Luger and the C96 Mauser, the "Broomhandle", they are getting more expensive everyday, but when you pull one of these out, everyone loves em. Make sure you get them in 9mm as the other calibers they were made in are both .30 caliber and don't qualify under the current rules.


A full size gun like these are easy and fun to shoot.



Also, on ammo choices, it is not too tough to find a rifle to match your handgun or vice versa. The advantage to this is only having to keep track of one kind of ammo at a caper. Lever guns can be found in .32, .38, .357, .44 and .45 Colt. Of course the Tommygun is in .45 ACP

[vedearduff]

Nice collection Deacon. Assuming that it's 9mm, will you be using the Mauser for AZSA shoots?

Vernon

[DeaconKC]

Unfortunately, it's a 7.63, so it's not currently legal except in side matches. there's a couple more that aren't pictured that are being considered too.

[TheTman]

Looks like a lot of fun. Unfortunately, I have no weapons that qualify, except possibly a 1911. Plus I don't see any groups in Kansas.

[DeaconKC]

Thet, we are still getting started. 1911 is a great gun for Zoots, and we may have to get together from several states to run some here in the Midwest.