Got to check out my first cowboy action shooting match

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Russell13

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098A553E-031F-4082-880C-75610F7A8DC0.jpeg Went to the range yesterday and checked out a cowboy action shooting match. It was really cool and the people were very friendly . Apparently there was a cap and ball part but I had missed it. It was like a three gun comp, everyone was using a single action revolver( mostly Rugers), a lever action rifle and a double barrel shot gun. Everyone was so fast I was blown away. They told me they have a class once a month for new people to try it out. I didn’t realize how much stuff everyone brings, everybody has a box on wheels that they push around with all there gear on it.
 
I went to a few. Not my thing. Don't want to dress up (old Army days) and they seem really focused on speed. If it is your thing then it is great. Bullseye (if I shoot competitively again) is more my thing.

What baffles me is the short yardages they shoot at. I like shotguns/wingshooting/skeet, and that stuff is 23 yards (skeet at center stake) with clays flying in excess of 80 mph. Cowboy shooting is at stationary targets.

Go figure.
 
Assuredly the latter. There are a myriad of rules to follow and they are referred to as "Cowboy" loads.

If you have not been introduced to this type of shooting, here are a couple of links:

https://forums.sassnet.com/

https://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php

IMO, they are very full of themselves.

Regards,

Jim

Yup- I am familiar. I wondered what they were using at that match:

1. Full power, like a .44-40 with 35 gr BP (RARE these days).

2. Commercial Cowboy, like .45 Colt with a 250 gr LFN at ~700 fps.

3. Mouse Fart- Like the .45 Colt with a 165 gr or .38 Special 100 gr at 550 fps.
 
That is the "Cajon Cowboys". I've shot with them a few times. They just completely rebuilt the range because they had to move. They are a great bunch of people for sure.

The guy in the picture, wearing the red shirt and big hat, up on the platform, is the fastest shooter you've ever seen. I won't publish his name here for privacy. But he's very well known in the CAS community and wins just about everything he enters.

Speaking of the speed, it's not my thing either. I am never going to compete with 99% of the folks shooting. In my opinion, the targets are way too close, and the guns are underpowered. It takes away from the spirit of the game. I haven't shot in quite a while, because I became disenchanted with the whole thing. And in case you're wondering, it's a VERY expensive sport to take part in.
 
That is the "Cajon Cowboys". I've shot with them a few times. They just completely rebuilt the range because they had to move. They are a great bunch of people for sure.

The guy in the picture, wearing the red shirt and big hat, up on the platform, is the fastest shooter you've ever seen. I won't publish his name here for privacy. But he's very well known in the CAS community and wins just about everything he enters.

Speaking of the speed, it's not my thing either. I am never going to compete with 99% of the folks shooting. In my opinion, the targets are way too close, and the guns are underpowered. It takes away from the spirit of the game. I haven't shot in quite a while, because I became disenchanted with the whole thing. And in case you're wondering, it's a VERY expensive sport to take part in.
Everyone there was so fast, especially with the lever action rifles. I’m sure it would be more money then I want to spend to get into it. But it was really fun to watch and talk with them.
 
Well, "funny" as it may be, if it wasn't for SASS/CAS , you probably wouldn't be on this forum (or any other) talking about bp revolvers. They are more than likely the main reason Uberti and Pietta are still in business unlike all the other manufacturers that are talked about often here but are no longer in business. They also represent about a third of my business and since this is (supposed to be) "The High Road", I won't be participating in "piling on" like grade school kids.

This also bleeds over into the cartridge revolvers as well with the many versions available today. Not to mention the cartridge conversions as well as the aftermarket conversion cylinders available. Add the many rifles and shotguns available today and it's rather clear that thanks to those "funny Cowboys" that provided a need, we have an amazing mix of guns for all to enjoy.

Mike
 
Goon, I cannot disagree more. Maybe your business depends in part upon these guys, but my interests in BP revolvers has nothing to do with those folks with their high and mighty attitudes.

Piling on?? Really?? Gimme a break, sir. Nothing even remotely like that is happening.

My interests are mostly historical insofar as repros are concerned, and all these guys are concerned about is how fast their guns can shoot.

Neither the twain shall meet.
 
Not sure where the "piling on" is coming from. I appreciate what SASS has done for the gun community and have been really happy to have them around and fill my range at times. Not my thing, but I know that the sport has gotten more people into shooting and kept many things alive.

I don't read any "piling on" in the above. I'm no more into it than I am into 3 gun but can appreciate them both for what they are.
 
Expat, my business doesn't depend on them, I just said they are about a third of my business.
The comments about mouse loads and such is more for safety (ricochet and the like)
They are "full of themselves" . . . just the kind of remarks that make the High Road look so good to others.
I should have added IMO but didn't so . . . there ya go.

Left to the "historical society", they (Pietta and Uberti) would have all been gone in the 80's. JMO

Ohen Cepel, didn't say you did and didn't think you were.

Mike
 
I tried it once but up close and personal isn’t my thing. In North South Skirmish competition we’ve had some of the cowboy shooters try it and they complain the targets are too hard to hit. One tried his Henry with cowboy loads and it wasn’t making it to the hundred yard line much less breaking any targets. So yeah, to get the speed they do the ammo is in the anemic mouse fart range.
 
Where I use to live, I intermittently observed several cowboy action shooting events and quickly concluded it’s not for me. The events consisted of speed shooting at very close range targets with no regard for accuracy. It just seemed so mindlessly repetitive and boring. Besides the weapons, I was really disappointed to see almost zero adherence to historical accuracy in much of the other gear and clothing. Where I live now, there’s not a club participating in this literally hours driving in any direction.
 
I used to shoot in SASS years ago. It was a fantastic time and met a lot of good people throughout the eastern US. Still friends with a few scattered about. Started up with 32 WCF SA's, 32 WCF 1888 Marlin and 12 Ga. Stevens hammered double. Tried the 97 pump but just wasn't for me. I saw some incredibly fast shooters with all types of period firearms. Ended up shootin 1872 Opentops in 45 Schofield, 1873 Win. in 44-40 and my 12 double. All black powder loads. 45s at 800fps, 44 at 1100fps. Not max loads but under SASS rule. When they went off it got peoples attention. Shot a few non SASS T-REX matches in Possum Trot TN. 44 cal. or bigger, 200 gr. or bigger bullets compressed black powder no fillers. They were a hoot ta shoot in a small room scenario. Ya better hang on. There are gamers in all sports and others play by how they want if allowed to. Where else could i play Cowboys and shoot the real stuff.
 
Strange, I just read a post by a friend who was shooting full charge black powder .44s at CAS.

I shot factory equivalent smokeless .44 Special and WCF when active in SASS. But policies changed and it became less interesting and my SAAs are idle.
 
Goon, I cannot disagree more. Maybe your business depends in part upon these guys, but my interests in BP revolvers has nothing to do with those folks with their high and mighty attitudes.

I wonder how much you actually looked into CAS.... from your comments.

First, I know of two privately owned gunshops, that were on the brink of closing in the 1990's, and CAS is what saved them.

Second, since your interests are mostly historical, you can thank CAS for repro Schofield revolvers still being on the market, and factory produced cartridges in things like .38-40, .44 Colt, and .38 Short Colt. ;)

I never met anybody with a "high and mighty" attitude when it came just to CAS. I've seen some folks in IPSC, Bullseye, Sporting Clays, skeet, trap, and CAS who were top competitors, and some of them but not all, had some arrogance. OH there is one guy that comes to mind, a lawyer that I knew before he started shooting in CAS, and he had a high and might attitude before CAS, and still does.....,

Cowboy shooting is at "stationary targets"...again not sure you had enough experience to make that claim..., I've seen them use moving steel and flying clays. Heck I've seen where the targets didn't move but the shooter was rocking back and forth.

LD
 
I've shot off a 10 cent kids pony ride, a swingin bridge with safety features, on a pontoon, weak handed and moving while holdin a stick horse between my legs. All sorts of interesting. I played the game how I wanted and had outstanding times. Mostly managed to get in the fun posses'
 
I shot my 3rd Cowboy Action match a few weekends ago. I was the slowest one there but I still had fun.
I'd taken a bit of break between shoots as I really didn't want to pony up the $400 for one of those carts.
https://ruggedgear.com/shooting-carts-3-gun/

Was chatting with a friend over email and told him my cart woes, turns out he had 2 in his garage in Illinois and shipped me one.
I paid him for the shipping.

I shoot my pair of Uberti revolvers w/ 38 special, my Rossi 92 also with 38 special, and a Stoeger Coach Gun.

One of these days, I'll shoot my C&B revolvers. You can shoot with C&B revolvers but you still need the other guns (rifle & shotgun).
.

Cowboy.jpg
 
Where I use to live, I intermittently observed several cowboy action shooting events and quickly concluded it’s not for me. The events consisted of speed shooting at very close range targets with no regard for accuracy. It just seemed so mindlessly repetitive and boring. Besides the weapons, I was really disappointed to see almost zero adherence to historical accuracy in much of the other gear and clothing. Where I live now, there’s not a club participating in this literally hours driving in any direction.

If you're looking for strict historical accuracy you might check out a NCOWS shoot.
Cowboy Action is about having fun.

No cash prizes are given. Guns are raffled off. In CAS anyone of just about any age can have a good time. You can shoot slow or fast and have a good time. You can use powder puff CA loads or full power loads.

Fella shooting at my recent match was shooting full power BP cartridges. His Shotgun sounded like a cannon going off.
He had a good time.
 
Not a member of CASS but appreciate everything they’ve done for reinvigorating the western period guns. No doubt without them there would not be the proliferation of bird heads, Shofields, drop in cylinders, lever guns etc. that are currently on the market.

I hope the sport thrives for many years to come.
 
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