Cowboy draw/shoot: Boy do I suck........

Use the sights. Or at least get it up in front of your face. So far as I know, none of the CAS shooting resembles movie shooting, as in, unsighted, not at eye level shooting. if you want to hit, use the sights or get the gun where you can see where its going before pulling the trigger.

CAS shooting is not "quick draw" shooting.

You might try practicing with wax bullets primer only propelled. Don't know if you reload but it would help if you did. My understanding is that that is what they use for quick draw competitions. I read an old book by Bill Jordon called "No Second Place Winner" that devoted several pages to this.

If you're trying to hipshoot, you won't be doing that in CAS.

Don't concentrate on your draw, concentrate on your sights.
Denis

Lots of good advice already in the thread.

I would move the focus from "quick draw" to just drawing quickly.
The same way modern gun games do a draw. Break it down into steps, practice the steps, put it together.

You should probably time yourself, too.

I try to focus on speeding up individual steps like, say, getting my hand to the butt of the gun as fast as possible. No way to have a safety issue with getting your hand there quick.

Finding the front sight is usually the next thing I focus on.

Like said above, there is no hip shooting in CAS, that's for Fast Draw matches.

Be very careful when trying to learn fast draw. You should not use live ammo especially without the safety equipment on your holster. You should add a deflector at the bottom of the holster to keep your foot safe from getting shot off.

This one is good for wax bullets:
http://www.gunblast.com/images/Mernickle_FastDraw/MVC-006F.jpg

I don't know what you saw, but fast-draw & hipshooting have no place in CAS.
Denis

DO NOT USE LIVE AMMO TO PRACTICE FAST DRAW. I had to take a friend to the ER have he shot himself in the thigh. He recovered but has a limp today and the ER visit was years ago.

Rockrivr1 said:

I went to a local match recently and your correct, it must have been Fast Draw as they were timed for draw and firing to target. I also watched revolver, rifle and shotgun match. I went to see what I needed to get involved and thought it was part of an overall match. Thanks for the clarification, because damn did I suck at that kind of shooting. I wouldn't say I drew all that fast, but I didn't have the hammer cocked until more then halfway up to aiming. Very weird shooting that way, but I appreciate all the feedback. Think I'll stick with the other parts of the match.

Click to expand...

It's possible there were two matches going on in the same location. Fast draw is a very specialized disciple with different requirements than CAS. The revolvers are highly modified and the holsters are dedicated fast draw holsters and they are costly. Some people do both but it's rare because of the cost and practice required.

CAS is a lot of fun and can be done fairly well with inexpensive equipment. I have two Ruger Vaqueros and a Marlin levergun in 38/357 all bought used at a good price. The gun leather is by Hunter and Triple K, again not that expensive. No reason to buy an expensive Winchester 97 although they are great, you can buy a Stoeger Coach Gun for a lot less. It can be done well for not a lot of money and it's great fun.

Go to the SASS site, sign up and get your alias and read the rules. Then check on the site for a shoot near you. Most times you can show up and the locals will help you out with what you need and explain everything to you. http://www.sassnet.com

Here is the link to the Cowboy Fast Draw Association if that's your preference. http://www.cowboyfastdraw.com

I'm sorry I can't help you much there since I don't play that game.

Some other things I hope you know:

CAS match directors will almost certainly DQ you if they catch you trying to do quick-draw hipshots during stages.
Totally different game.

For CAS, remember you'll need two handguns, a shotgun, and a rifle to fully participate.
At most matches, people are happy to loan beginners something they don't have starting out, but you can't go on borrowing as a practice forever.
Just saying that if you're interested in getting into CAS, there's a certain expense level in acquiring the guns & gear.

As for fastdraw, also understand that there's money involved.
Fastdraw is very hard on guns.
Typically, guns used there are modified to prolong their life somewhat, but you'll still end up having to get yours rebuilt at some point.
Sooner or later, depending on gun design & how extensively you get into it, your gun will wear out.

Also, as mentioned above, DO NOT USE LIVE AMMO IN PRACTICING.
Most actual official timed matches use wax bullets, not "real" ammunition, and speed is more of a focus point than actually hitting anything.

Your leather will also be an issue to consider.
Fastdraw holsters are specifically designed for competition, and you can't pick one up at WalMart.
The holster will be constructed with specific aspects in mind, and you may even end up with one that has a built-in bullet deflector to keep you from shooting your own leg.
A true competition fastdraw holster isn't cheap.
Setting up your gun isn't cheap.

Understand clearly that these are TWO separate games, and neither overlaps.

A local club may, as you apparently saw, offer a fastdraw event during a match, but such fastdraw events are not sanctioned by SASS, participation is not required, and any score deriving from a fastdraw event will not be included in overall match scores.

There can be quite a bit of money to spend in getting set up to start out.
Not trying to discourage you, just making sure you're aware of what both paths involve.
Denis

I'd like to add....fast draw...if you get fast...will break guns. Might want to get good at replacing parts. In one of his videos, Bob Munden stated that you'll never achieve real speed unless the gun is cocked while in the holster. Let me say right here...I've never tried any of this...and don't intend to. Have fun, be safe!

Mark

Other posters are certainly correct that CAS/SASS and Fast Draw are different games. However, in SASS competition, shooters start with (usually two) handguns holstered and begin shooting the stage when the timer beeps. Since shooters are scored on time and accuracy (with five seconds added to the time for each miss), speed from the holster is essential to winning. But I never saw anyone shoot from the hip in serious competition and as someone else noted, doing so would be discouraged if not cause a disqualification of the shooter.

I second the recommendations to start slow, to practice the draw with snap caps, and to use the sights.

As said, CAS is timed, but Fast Draw techniques like slam cocking in the holster are not allowed. Draw the gun, thumb the hammer, and AIM.

I have not shot CAS in some time, but when I dropped out, targets were getting bigger and closer to emphasize speed. Also the "clean sweep" of no misses for the match has become fairly common. When I started, there might be one or two per match and there might not be any.
A good memory is essential, somebody once added up all the different ways he had seen an array of targets shot and came up with 37 different "sweeps."