Why aren't you a cowboy action shooter?

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Overall, I guess I'm with everyone else. I don't mind buying more guns. :)

But to get all dressed up and not shoot real loads, seems odd to me. If wearing the clothes is supposed to make it "authentic", why not use real loads too?

If you swapped it around and used authentic loads but did away with the costumes, I think it will appeal to gun people more. As it is, I think it would appeal more to people that want to be actors than people that enjoy shooting.
 
I played for several years. Somehow I became a Life Member and still get the publication, but I stopped shooting CAS a while ago. One of the big reasons was equipment. If you couldn't afford the latest modifications or gunsmithing to "slick up" your '73 or '97, then you weren't going to go to the top of the class. There are those who love it and have made it a way of life. I read the writing on the wall and decided to play another game (IDPA) It wasn't like I was bad at it, I have numerous local trophies and plaques, but when I saw a top shooter advertising ten different things to make me a better shot, I knew CAS had gone completely commercial.
 
Buck---i ain't takin no offense about no nuttin you said, but a little bit about the way you said it;

my handle is the one period outfit i ever had--still have.
your loads may be croned at the match so factory power levels are out. but i get as close as i can and often get long looks from other's what for all the noise i make and tipping over some of the steel; it being use to powderpuff loads.

i grew up with a peacemaker ( well, a cattleman actually) and am a point shooter--something that gets you DQ'ed real fast. even in the 90's when i was ranked high, i did not take it too seriously as a full time job kept me from traveling to overnight regional events. thus i never submitted my 'games' for score and played locally just for the fun of it.

IDPA, once you get the rules down and your score raises ( due in part to the lack of penatities) so does the fun factor. same with CASS

and fun it was till it attracted too many 'gamers' with the resulting flood of rules.
 
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I used to shoot CAS, and I'm a life member of SASS. In fact I competed at Winter Range for a number of years. It was great fun, but I've drifted away for a number of reasons:

[1] Dealing with all the gear got to be very old and not much fun. Whenever I went to a match, even for a day's shooting at my local club, I needed to lug two pistols, a rifle, a shotgun, ammunition, accessories for my costume and a shooting cart to carry it all in.

[2] The stages tended to be too choreographed -- right down to the details of the order in which targets were engaged. I tended to prefer IPSC where we had a shooting problem and we had more latitude deciding how to solve it (as long as we were safe).
 
By way of background I've been shooting since the late 70s; began reloading while in college to be able to afford to shoot. Shot IPSC back in the 1980s. I put shooting on hold for several years to concentrate on career and starting a family. Decided to get back into shooting a couple of years ago; started shooting clays and decided to get back into competitive pistol shooting. My local gun club has a very active IDPA chapter, a smaller non-affiliated action pistol league, and a SASS-affiliated cowboy action club.

Just over a year ago I thought it looked like fun so I contacted the match director of my local club [this is a great way to get started or to find out about cowboy shooting, just go to www.sassnet.com, click on the "SASS Clubs" link, click on your state, and you get a club list showing match dates and the name, phone number and email address for the club match director or officer]. I did not own a single cowboy gun and no Western clothes. The guy said, "come on out, don't buy anything, you can bring some ammo if you have it but just come out."

I showed up in jeans and tennis shoes. Everyone made me welcome and I was invited to shoot if I wanted to try it. An extra gunbelt materialized. A stranger handed me a pair of three-screw Ruger Blackhawks to use for the day. The rest of the morning people practically lined up to offer me the use of different types of rifles, shotguns and revolvers. I had never fired a single action revolver or a lever action rifle before. I did not try to hurry and I'm sure I had the slowest time on every stage. No one was impatient. After a stage people would say things like "good shooting", "you're getting the hang of that rifle", and "I've been doing this for years and I'm still having as much fun as you're having today". Some shooters gave me ammo to shoot in their guns (a wise precaution) so I offered to pay them. No one would accept payment and when I would thank them they would say, "no problem, lots of people helped me when I was a new shooter, hope you come back next month".

The shooting was fun. If you like to shoot (and not just talk BS about shooting like some gun owners) it's a good sport. We generally shoot 120 rounds of pistol/rifle ammo and about a box of shotshells per match. The people are what stand out, though. There are some very good shooters in my club but they are good folks. They do not look down on the less "competitive" shooters. We have some folks that are really into costuming. Some are more into the shooting part. We have teenagers, a good number of lady shooters and we have some older folks. The level of skill and competition really varies but everyone gets along great.

I'd like to address some of the points from the local club standpoint. Keep in mind that what you see on TV or on YouTube may not be representative of local club matches which are the real life of CAS. First, as to costuming. Unless you opt for one of the costume based categories, the minimum clothing requirements for SASS (which by the way local clubs can choose to loosen for local matches) is pretty basic: Long sleeved shirt (other than t-shirt), no ball caps, tennis shoes or combat boots. You don't have to wear a cowboy hat or cowboy boots if you don't want to. If you don't have what you need in the closet you can probably get it for ten bucks at a thrift store. You can easily satisfy the clothing requirements in such a way that won't draw attention when you stop for gas. Believe me, no one will care what you wear.

Yes, we use aliases. It keeps us from taking ourselves too seriously. Make up something humorous. If you don't have a sense of humor, well, I don't know make up something grouchy. "Andy Dry Gulch Rooney" or something!

I wanted to address the "no way to try before you buy". The cost of guns thing resonates with me (remember I didn't have any cowboy guns when I started). What offsets the cost is the fact that cowboys tend to be friendly people who want to encourage new shooters. That means they tend to share. We make a point of telling prospective new shooters NOT to buy any guns. We let the new folks try examples of what is out there before they buy. Lots of cowboys have "backup" guns (often because they bought one thing and upgraded later on). I shot for about three or four months before I bought my own revolvers. I continued borrowing long guns after that while I saved my nickels. I finally got my own rifle last month. I always had guns to shoot.

Also once you decide that cowboy shooting is for you, you will probably hear about guns other cowboys have for sale. That is often a great way to get into the sport at less than retail.

Occasionally you run into a real great deal but let's be honest. Good quality guns are not cheap. On the other hand if you buy them and later decide to go shoot Sporting Clays or start scuba diving, you can sell the guns and not lose your shirt on.

A word about ammo. Yes, I've seen the videos with people shooting loads so light that it looks like they are dry-firing. I don't see much of that in our local club. The rules mandate lead bullets at low-to-standard velocity since we are shooting steel at relatively close range but most of the ammo I see fired is not the super wimpy version. Oh, and wait until you see the guys and gals who shoot black powder-see the ball of flame and feel the concussion in the air and then tell them about "wimpy loads".

Most cowboys handload. I think it's another fun part of the shooting sports. If it is not for you, there are options that are cheaper than the factory ammo at your local gun store. For example, www.georgia-arms.com. If you are interested in starting reloading, it can be done at a reasonable outlay. Shooting cowboy you would recoup the equipment costs after a handful of matches. With lead bullets (if you know where to buy them) the savings with handloads is significant.
 
I'm not a big one for playing "dress up".

Aside from that, I think the rules regarding pump shotguns are weird and unrealistic.

My best friend from college likes cowboy action.
 
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Howdy folks!

There are several flavors of cowboy action
- Western 3 gun - I've never tried it, understand it to be alot of run and gun
- NCOWS - never tried it, understand it to have a heavy emphasis on costuming and period correctness.
- SASS - Is a bit of a mixture of the two above.

I've been shooting cowboy action with SASS clubs for three years now, and would like to share a bit of what I've learned about it with you.

COSTUMES - While there are some costuming requirements, especially for some shooting classes, a pair of boots, jeans, and a work shirt are all that is really needed. If you want a hat, then some sort of cowboy hat. Many folks get their "costumes" from the good will thrift store for little money.

GUNS / AMMO - A wide variety are used in the game, from cap and ball to cartridge guns. Initial cost is steep for some folks, the $2500 estimate above is about what I spent. Most, if not all clubs welcome new shooters and are happy to loan them guns to try for a stage or a match so they can decide if the game is for them or not. Most clubs are flexible on the costuming requirements for regular monthly matches, especially for newcomers. I shot for several months in tennis shoes, sweat pants and a t-shirt, and borrowed the guns I hadn't gotten yet, as I was getting started.

LOADS - Like many gun sports, some folks use lower power loads to reduce recoil in hopes of being more competitive. Others use full case black powder loads. Some like the little .32s, some like the 45 long colts. It's all a matter of how the individual chooses to enjoy the game. I use 38s to reduce my reloading cost over 45s, but load them nearly at the top of the published range.

MANY WAYS TO ENJOY THE GAME - Some folks love the costuming and go to the Nth degree with their costumes. Some just wear jean,s boots and a work shirt. For others it's all about the guns, shooting cap and ball pistils, open tops, schoefileds, mule ear shotguns, or whatever. For others it's all about the competition, they practice each transition and sequence to be as fast as they can be. The game truly is many different things to different people, from a fantasy of being in an old west gunfight to just enjoying shooting with a bunch of friends.

It's been said many times, with cowboy action shooting, you come for the shooting but stay for the people. For the most part folks are always ready to lend a hand, especially to new comers.... anything from coaching to lending guns and ammo, to repairing a broken gun.

Besides, in what other gun game/sport do you get to shoot along side ladies in saloon girl outfits? :D

If it sounds interesting I'd suggest going to a match to check it out. Ask questions. Chances are you'll be welcomed with open arms and offered guns and a chance to shoot a stage to see how you like it, or invited back to a clinic for folks new to the sport.

It's not for everybody, but I know I've certainly enjoyed it.

Dave
 
We have SASS at our club and I ocassionally volunteer once a month during the summer as a helper at their matches. We have people from IA, IL, and neighboring clubs that participate on a regular basis at our club. There are 3 persons from the SASS group that practice .22 pistol metallic silhouette on Wednesday nights during the summer season. I have found the SASS folks most, humble, have loads of fun, and offered to have you try their equipment if you are hanging around before or after match. Yes, like any group, some members are more friendly than others.

If someone is hanging around our metallic Silhouette range, I am always the first one to offer they try using my rifle or pistol, which ever night it is. I am a very outgoing person and always invite people which there aren't many of us in todays society. Most people today have to take the initiative to make/meet a friend.

My first choice before being active in SB Mettalic Silhouette was SASS, 5 years ago. When I started pricing out used and new equipment, that pretty much did me in. I was not worried about joining a group and making friends later. It was the INVESTMENT. I thought if I bought just 2 six guns for starters, I could compete just in that stage. Well, they don't just have strictly six gun stages ........it is all or nothing.

I think mainly of the old wild west as 6 gun competition first with shot gun and rifle as secondary. I could afford 2 used six guns to try the sport out with expensive off the shelf ammo. .22 caliber six gun class would be even nicer for the young and old. Be able to dress up in blue jeans, a flannel shirt, no hat, and work boots, for example.

Any more ideas out there? SASS is looking for input to make their sport better or inviting to the mass or more affordable. One can start small and graduate up if so desire?
 
Y'all talikng about SASS or NCOWS?

If'n y'all talking SASS:

Powder puff loads? Yep some do. Mine is 45 Colt with a 250 grain bullet. 1 grain below manufacturer's recommended maximum of Titegroup powder.

Costumes? You got work shoes, blue jeans and a plaid shirt? Hat is optional.

Free Education
 
Funny you should ask. I've been seriously looking at going to a CAS shoot as one of my goals this summer, it looks like fun. The thing that really turned me off was the rulebook. I wanted to know what kind of guns were allowable, and what the clothing requirements are. I figured, "hey, I'm a farmer, it should be no problem to dress up like a cowboy." Then I read the rulebook: "must pick four from this list of accessories..." Yikes. I don't like being micromanaged to that point. I don't mind buying guns (although that list seemed a little restrictive, too) or handloading light or BP loads, but the dress code turned me off. Let me show up in jeans, work boots, and a straw hat and I'd be more interested. I think I'm going to look into 3 gun instead. It's at the same club and I wouldn't have to buy anything new.

The other thing that turned me off was the cost to join SASS, the local club, the range, and then more money to shoot. I understand the local club has costs, but SASS wants a bunch of money just for a newspaper and a cute name. Maybe they should offer a limited membership for people who just want to shoot local meets

I appreciate Crunchy's post above. Perhaps the local clubs are more forgiving of the rules. I may have to attend one of their shoots just to see it & talk to some of the people there. The problem I see is that people will loan guns to a new shooter, but you still have to buy them if you want to keep coming back, and I have to save for months to buy a new gun. Maybe SASS could encourage local clubs to start a gun rental program. Shoot with the club's rifle/shotgun for $5 until you can get your own.
 
I expect I ain't the first saddletramp to tell you that a three gun admission can be a bit dear to folks right off. Yeah, I know, it keeps out the riffraff, but if you want more people you're gonna have to widen the crack in the door a might and deal with the salloon trash like me who manage to crawl in.
 
CAS/SASS is freakin' awesome. The photos I've seen from the End of Trails event look like it would be a blast to attend, and I have no doubt that the matches are a lot of fun.

Frankly, I consider Cowboy Action Shooting one of those things that is uniquely American, not because of the historically-influenced aspect of the game, but because it's a thoroughly self-contained sub-culture of like-minded people out to have a good time and openly celebrate something that they all geek out over.


That said, the reason I don't compete in Cowboy Action matches has to do with where my interests lie. Old west stuff, and cowboy stuff just doesn't get me all that fired up.

It's purely a personal preference, but I'm much more interested in USPSA, Steel Challenge and modern 3 Gun.
 
Local SASS affiliated clubs are free to pretty much do as they want as far as costuming and gun requirements for local matches. SASS membership is not required at most of the clubs I know of for monthly matches, Many offer .22 adult classes at some shoots, some offer classes where only one pistol is used.

Sure, there is a rulebook, if you want to play at the state, regional and national level, you need to follow it. As far as "choose 4 from the list.." I think you are referring to the Classic Cowboy category, There are more requirements for that category, but there are plenty of other categories that have much less requirements.

If the cost of guns is the only thing holding you back, find a buddy, each buy one pistol, one buy a rifle, the other a shotgun, and then share guns at a match, my brother in law and I did this. Not a big deal.

This thread is an informal information gathering effort by a member of SASS, not an official thing, just one guy trying to gain some insight.

Like I said in my other post, it ain't for everyone, but if it sounds interesting, go out to a match and find out! Don't let the cost scare you away. I had NOTHING when I started, but I gave it a try, liked it alot, and sold off other toys to buy my cowboy guns and gear.

Dave
 
You will rarely, if ever, find nicer, warmer people all in a bunch than Cowboy Action boys and girls. It's all smiles and open arms with a whiff of cordite for spice.
 
I will when the kids are older and don't require so much direct attention.

I like cowboy guns and even the clothes. I must say that the fluffy loads used by most of the competitors is definitely counter to the strong cowboy image. Not at all sure why that is allowed, but maybe something that had to be done to draw enough people into the sport.
 
I was skimming the rule book, and theres one phrase that caught my attention:

American history buffs and serious shooters alike agree the use of vintage firearms,
authentic costuming
Click to expand...

Everything that I've heard about the sport gives off this slightly serious vibe, that I'm not really interested in. Thats not really a big deal, but I thought before I start into my rant, I should atleast try to give you some constructive criticism :D

For me its the cost:

I could probably piece together a costume from Good Will for about $15-20, so thats not too bad, but the guns and ammo add up.

Including the non-working derringer/minirevolver, I own 10 guns. Of those, 2 are apropriate for CAS, but since one is the aformentioned non working pistol, that leaves me with a single shot shotgun.

I'd have to buy a rifle and a revolver. Thats cool, I'd love a lever gun and a large wheel gun, except that the guns I would use for real world aplications don't fit the bill for CAS. I really like the idea of Cowboy Shooting, but I just can't afford to put $800+ dollars into guns that will only be used for competition, when I'm scraping together all the cash I can find, just so I can start reloading. And yes, reloading is a much higher priority, because its the ONLY way I'll be able to shoot the guns I already have.

For me, it comes down to the fact that I might be able to piece together an acceptable costume, but right now, I can't even pay the match fees, let alone a whole new set of guns and the ammo to run them.

It sounds like a lot of fun, but I just can't swing it right now. Maybe one day...

Chris "the Kayak-Man" Johnson
 
My grandpa was in SASS for a long time. After I was shooting out in the boonies one day and drove past the shooting range I saw signs for the state SASS championship. So I stopped by and observed for quite some time. When the events for the day were over I started talking to some of the competitors and they were all really friendly. They told me what equipment they prefer to use and how to get started.

I think that they were impressed that a 20 year old went out there and was interested in the sport. Considering the youngest shooter there that wasn't a child was probably in the mid 30's.

I also like to play dress up. A lot of comments here show that members don't like dressing up. The only thing that is really keeping me from competing is the equipment cost. I have some of my grandpa's stuff, but there are other firearms higher up on my purchase list and I don't have disposable income right now. Plus I need to get into reloading, which isn't a bad thing because I have been putting it off for a few years.

It honestly looks like a lot of fun with a great group of people. I think if they reduced the clothing requirements they could draw more shooters. (Like maybe allowing a "western" style button up shirt, jeans and normal western boots. So you can dress casually but still have that modern western look.

I also thought there are events where you can use one pistol, I don't remember them saying you need two. Only if you want to shooting the gunslinger class or whatever its called.
 
WOW, there is a LOT of misinformation and misconceptions here.

1- You do NOT have to wear a costume, all you have to do is dress western. Blue jeans, a modern western shirt (long sleeve), a modern western cowboy hat, and modern cowboy boots suffice. Your dress does not have to be "period correct," but you're welcome to do that if you want to. Since I'm from Colorado, that requirement is rather easy to fulfill. I started that way because I felt the costumes were silly, but the longer I've been into the game the more the costumes have grown on me. Your mileage may vary. Don't like the costumes? No problem. Wear something western.

2- The point of the game is NOT historical re-enactment. It's having fun with guns from the old western era. You can dress historically authentic, modern western, or "Saturday at the matinee."

3- There IS a "hollywood" costume category for those who want to dress like a B western. If you don't like the B western look, don't shoot in that category.

4- You CAN use authentic loads or shoot one-handed if you want to. "Authentic" loads are black powder, and there are classes for black powder cartridge shooters -- both one-handed and two-handed. One-handed shooters are called "duelist," and you only compete against other duelists. For super-authenticity, shoot "frontier cartridge duelist" category (black powder cartridge, one-handed).

5- There is NO "role playing" whatsoever. In fact, that one is so far out in left field I'm not even sure where it came from.

6- The rule book makes concessions for those with physical disabilities, so the guy who can't wear cowboy boots would still be allowed to shoot. Just make sure the rest of your clothing is western.
 
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