Practical Practice with the Taurus Deputy

The Taurus Deputy in .45 Colt with its 4-¾ inch barrel differs significantly from the other firearms in my gunroom. Yes, I have a few wheelguns for personal protection, like a Taurus 82 medium frame revolver and a Taurus 856 Ultra Lite, both in 38 Spl +P. However, the Taurus Deputy is a horse of a different color. Soon after it arrived, I wanted to spend meaningful time on the range with this gorgeous single-action revolver, which is perfect for Cowboy Action Shooting. So beforehand, I reached out to my friend, Emily Stuchell (Snazzy McGee SASS #66689), a long-time Cowboy Action Shooter, to learn more about the sport and what skills I should practice. Then I went to John Kolis's book "Pistol Practice," and found a few drills to help me work on those skills.

The Taurus Deputy

The classically inspired Taurus Deputy is available in .357 MAG and .45 Colt with 4-3/4 inch or 5-1/2 inch barrel lengths. 

Specs
Caliber: .357 Mag, .45 Colt
Action: Single Action
Capacity: Six Rounds
Front Sight: Blade
Finish: Polished Black
Safety: Transfer Bar
Overall Length: 10.25 – 11.04 inches
Overall Height: 5.11 inches
Width: 1.65 inches
Grips: Polymer
Overall Weight: 36.4 – 41.6 ounces unloaded
MSRP: $606.99

Cowboy Action Shooting

For those unfamiliar with the sport of Cowboy Action Shooting, competitors must shoot firearms typical of the Old West, including single-action revolvers, pistol caliber lever action rifles and old-time shotguns. Also, shooters must dress in clothing typical of the late 19th century, a B-Western movie or a Western television series. Competitors move through different shooting stages in their predetermined posse. At each stage they first meet the posse marshal, who reads the shooting scenario and answers any questions. Then, shooters engage steel targets placed in varying arrays according to the stage description.

Below is an example of the stage, “Lee Van Cleef,” from the 2022 SASS MA-CT-RI State Champions Book. It just so happens Emily’s mom, Appaloosa Amy, did the stage design and shooter’s book. Not included is the graphics of the stage design showing the positions and target locations.

Stage 3 – Lee Van Cleef
1967 - THE GOOD, THE BAD, & THE UGLY

Lee Van Cleef was an American actor best known for his roles in Spaghetti Westerns such as “For a Few Dollars More,” and his portrayal of “Angel Eyes” AKA “The Bad” in “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” where his disfigured middle finger was prominently featured in the climactic gunfight. His character’s greed for gold makes him kill without remorse and makes him an on-screen evil icon.
 
Round Count: 10 Rifle, 10 Pistol, 4+ Shotgun
Shooting Order: Shotgun, Rifle, Pistols
Note: According to the Single Action Shooting Society (SASS) Cowboy Action Shooting Shooter's Handbook, when loading a revolver for cowboy action shooting, competitors must only load five rounds (in a six-shot cylinder) and have the hammer lowered and resting on the empty chamber.
 
Staging the Firearms:
Pistols holstered, loaded with five rounds each, SASS Safe
Rifle staged at Position 2 with 10 rounds, SASS Safe
Shotgun staged at Position 1 – SASS Safe
 
Shooting the Scenario:
Start standing behind Position 1 with hands on belt buckle and when ready say “I think his idea was that I kill you.”
 
At the beep, with shotgun engage the two knockdowns then move to Pos 2 and engage the two knockdowns.
 
With rifle engage the left three targets with 1 round each, the middle two targets with 2 rounds each and the right target with 3 rounds in any order.
 
Move to Position 3 and with pistols repeat the rifle instructions.

Emily, a seasoned Cowboy Action Shooter, stressed the importance of practicing key skills for the sport. These include shooting and transitioning between multiple targets, drawing from a holster, memorizing and planning for the stage description, trigger speed and manipulating the hammer. I found two drills in John Kolis's book that could help me hone these skills.

On the range, I first spent time shooting the Deputy just to get used to manipulating the gun. Admittedly, I struggled to determine the best way for me to grip the revolver and work the hammer. That is going to take some time. I used two types of ammunition, Fiocchi and Magtech's 250 gr. Cowboy Action, which both meet the criteria of all cowboy action contest rules.

The Drills

The first drill, "Transitions and Pairs," is designed to help you engage multiple targets by developing the skills of transitioning the sight picture and increasing the speed of follow-up shots. My targets (paper plates) were smaller and closer together than John's suggested distance of 18- to 24-inches, but it was still a great starting point for me. This drill prepares a shooter for the dynamic nature of Cowboy Action Shooting.

The course of fire consisted of shooting alternating pairs on left and right targets from the low ready and the draw from three yards out to seven yards. The goal (aside from getting all shots on target) is to hear the rhythm, "pop, pop ... pop, pop ... pop, pop."

I shot the drill from the low ready at three, four and five yards. Although I was painfully slow, I did appreciate how I can use the drill in the future for skill development. The drill forced me to acquire the sight picture quickly, trust it and take the shot.

As for the rest of the skills Emily mentioned, I did not have a holster for the Taurus Deputy, so practicing drawing will have to come later. Trigger and hammer manipulation (my main struggles) are two things I will research and practice with an empty gun.

As I mentioned in the beginning, the Taurus Deputy is a beautiful revolver. Whether you are into Cowboy Action Shooting or just want a single-action revolver, once you see the deep satin finish, you'll want to add it to your collection. Furthermore, you can't go wrong at its very reasonable price point.

About the Author

Michelle Cerino, aka Princess Gunslinger, is a firearms trainer, writer, hunter and adventuress. She entered the firearms industry in 2011 as a national training company's co-owner, president and trainer. At the same time, she began competing in both 3-Gun and NRA Action Pistol, becoming a sponsored shooter. 

Currently, Michelle is the managing editor at “Women's Outdoor News” and the author of numerous posts on the site. As a firearms trainer, she works with Apex Shooting and Tactics, instructing the Faster Saves Lives program in northern Ohio. Michelle also manages the social media for FASTER Saves Lives and Vera Koo. You can find more of her writings at “Shooting News Weekly” and the NRA's “Shooting Sports USA.”