Cowboy Action Shooting is my current game of choice. I've participated in many of the other disciplines over the years, bullseye, IDPA, PPC, bench rest, high power rifle, sporting clays, skeet, and trap. And I enjoyed them all greatly. But then, I am a gun nut.
I enjoy cowboy shooting because it does include rifle, revolver, and shotgun on every stage. I like it because of the historical association. Many of the competitors are better historians than your average history Ph.D. I like the people. It doesn't matter whether you are the best shooter or the worst, everyone is accorded equal respect. It doesn't matter to anybody whether you are a millionaire or a ditch-digger. We won't know and won't care. There are very few A$$holes in the game. It a friendly bunch wherever you go and camaraderie is more important than score.
You can play the game anyway you like. Some shoot mousepharts. Others shoot full power .45's. When I began, I was put off by the costume aspect, but it didn't take me long to appreciate that aspect of the game. Now I love it.
Kids are made welcome. Women are welcome. We have many families that shoot together, husband, wife and children.
The down side is that it is expensive to get started. Two single action revolvers, a lever action, and a shotgun are required, although many share guns to keep costs down, especially families. It is hard to get all the guns for less than $1200. and that requires some careful shopping. But most of the old hands keep a complete set of loaner guns for folks who are just getting started.
And finally it is a great game for folks who aren't as young as they once were. We have a lot of senior shooters and special age based categories so they are shooting against their peers if that is what they want to do.
Some of you might want to give it a try. It's as much fun as you can have with your clothes on.
I enjoy cowboy shooting because it does include rifle, revolver, and shotgun on every stage. I like it because of the historical association. Many of the competitors are better historians than your average history Ph.D. I like the people. It doesn't matter whether you are the best shooter or the worst, everyone is accorded equal respect. It doesn't matter to anybody whether you are a millionaire or a ditch-digger. We won't know and won't care. There are very few A$$holes in the game. It a friendly bunch wherever you go and camaraderie is more important than score.
You can play the game anyway you like. Some shoot mousepharts. Others shoot full power .45's. When I began, I was put off by the costume aspect, but it didn't take me long to appreciate that aspect of the game. Now I love it.
Kids are made welcome. Women are welcome. We have many families that shoot together, husband, wife and children.
The down side is that it is expensive to get started. Two single action revolvers, a lever action, and a shotgun are required, although many share guns to keep costs down, especially families. It is hard to get all the guns for less than $1200. and that requires some careful shopping. But most of the old hands keep a complete set of loaner guns for folks who are just getting started.
And finally it is a great game for folks who aren't as young as they once were. We have a lot of senior shooters and special age based categories so they are shooting against their peers if that is what they want to do.
Some of you might want to give it a try. It's as much fun as you can have with your clothes on.