The Legendary Cowboy Rifle in 4.5 mm Diabolo Caliber

1. Introduction

The fascination of the Wild West lives on — not only in films, but also in shooting sports. The Cowboy Rifle in 4.5 mm Diabolo caliber brings a piece of history into the modern world through air-powered replicas. These rifles combine historical design with modern technology and offer an entertaining and realistic shooting experience — whether on the range or in the backyard.

2. Historical Background & Modern Interpretation

The history of the Winchester repeating rifle actually begins before the founding of the company of the same name. The fundamental mechanism was developed by Walter Hunt in 1849 with his "Volition Repeater" and later improved by Lewis Jennings. These patents were acquired by the Volcanic Repeating Arms Company, which a certain Oliver F. Winchester joined as an investor.

The Volcanic firearms were not a commercial success, but the shop foreman, Benjamin Tyler Henry, made crucial improvements to the system. In 1860, he created the Henry rifle in .44 rimfire caliber. This rifle already featured the characteristic lever-action mechanism and a tubular magazine under the barrel. It was a revolutionary weapon that was used to a limited extent in the American Civil War.

Oliver F. Winchester reorganized the company in 1866 into the Winchester Repeating Arms Company. The first rifle under this name was the Model 1866, also known as the "Yellow Boy" because of its distinctive brass receiver. It was an improved version of the Henry rifle, now with a side loading gate on the receiver, which made reloading considerably easier.

Important Models:

• Model 1873: Often called "The Gun That Won the West." It was designed for stronger centerfire cartridges (like the .44-40 WCF), which could also be used in revolvers like the Colt Single Action Army. This allowed cowboys and settlers to carry one type of ammunition for both their long gun and handgun.

• Model 1886: Developed by the brilliant designer John Moses Browning. This model had a much stronger action (locking via strong, vertical blocks instead of a toggle-link) and could fire powerful cartridges like the .45-70 Government, making it suitable for big game hunting.

• Model 1892: Also by Browning, basically a scaled-down version of the 1886 model for the popular handgun calibers (.44-40, .38-40, .32-20). It became world-famous through numerous Western films, often in the hands of John Wayne.

• Model 1894: Another Browning design and one of the most successful civilian rifles of all time (over 7.5 million produced). It was the first American repeating rifle designed specifically for the new smokeless powder ammunition, especially the .30-30 Winchester cartridge. It became the standard hunting rifle for American deer hunting.

• Model 1895: This model broke with the tradition of the tubular magazine and used a fixed box magazine. This allowed for the safe use of cartridges with pointed bullets (spitzer bullets), which could not be used in tubular magazines due to the risk of ignition caused by the bullet tip striking the primer of the cartridge in front of it.

The original – usually the Winchester 1873 – is available today as detailed replicas using airgun technology (mostly CO₂-powered), which combine the legendary design with a practical and legally uncomplicated system. Manufacturers like Umarex (Legends Cowboy Rifle) have introduced particularly popular models in this market.

These rifles allow enthusiasts to experience the feel of the Old West without the need for firearm licenses or live ammunition, making them ideal for hobby shooters, collectors, and reenactors alike.

3. Technical Specifications & Performance

Typical Model (e.g. Umarex Legends Cowboy Rifle):

• Power source: 2x 12g CO₂ cartridges

• Caliber: 4.5 mm (.177) Diabolo or steel BBs (depending on model)

• Action: Lever-action repeater

• Magazine capacity: ~10 cartridges (each loaded with one pellet)

• Energy: ~7.5 joules (non-lethal, legal in many countries without license)

• Velocity: ~120–150 m/s

• Barrel length: ~450 mm

• Overall length: ~960 mm

• Materials: Full-metal receiver, wood or imitation wood stock

• Notable feature: Shell-ejection system for maximum realism

4. Usage Areas

These air rifles are not designed for hunting or self-defense, but are ideal for:

• Plinking (recreational shooting): Especially fun thanks to the lever-action mechanism and realistic shell ejection.

• Particularly interesting due to the loading shells – each pellet is inserted into a metal cartridge, making reloading feel authentic and satisfying. The ejection of these shells adds to the immersive Wild West experience unmatched by standard airguns.

• Target shooting for casual accuracy practice.

• Western reenactments and historical displays.

• Beginner-friendly shooting: low recoil, low risk, and high enjoyment.

5. Accuracy Test

Accuracy test at 10 meters on a standard target, using two different types of ammunition, fired from a supported standing position

1. 4,5 Diabolo
2. 4,5 Steel BB

Round 1.) Diabolos 4,5

Round 2.) Steel BB 4,5

Shooting range: 10 Meter

Equipment:

• Umarex Legend Cowboy Rifle
• Panasonic Camcorder
• Notebook
• Software: BulletHawkHM
• Ammo:
  • 4,5 Diabolo
  • 4,5 Steel BB
• Shooting Rest

6. Conclusion

The Cowboy Rifle in 4.5 mm Diabolo caliber is the perfect blend of nostalgic Wild West flair and modern shooting fun. It brings the legend of the frontier into your hands, offering realistic handling, satisfying mechanics, and a unique shooting experience — especially thanks to the use of loading shells and authentic operation. Whether you're a western enthusiast, hobby shooter, or collector, this rifle delivers a truly legendary experience.

 As the performance test shows, good results can be achieved at 10 meters, even with a smoothbore barrel

7. Detail