There is another dimension to this question that the original poster asked: the SASS experience.
Having done SASS twice, for many years each time, I can hopefully ffer some perspective on it.
First, the fun parts:
- You get to dress up and "act the part"
- You HAVE to shoot using an Old West alias name!
- You get to shoot THREE weapons at each and every stage of a match, and there are generally quite a number of stages. A match will take hours at least, and many take a day - or two.
- You will get LOTS of practice, with at least 3 different types of firearms, and at least 4 weapons per match
- In some states, where open carry is allowed, it's fun having munch at a local restaurant and having all the Asian tourists snap photos
- It's a history lesson every time
- There is a rule called "spirit of the game" which penalizes or disqualifies anyone who tries to "game" a stage
- Humor is usually built into the stages. Example: at one national match in Wyoming years ago, one stage began with you sitting on an electric horse, holding a lever action rifle. When the start whistle blew, you had to throw a quarter into the electric horse to get it rocking, say "Take this you varmints", and start shooting at 6 different targets, while the horse is rocking! When my turn came to shoot, it started to RAIN. That made activating the horse a hard chocie question: Do I want to forfeit the stage by not shooting, or risk getting electrocuted?
Now the not so much fun parts:
- You go through a LOT of ammo each match. At today's prices, this is an expensive sport
- You have to clean FOUR weapons at the end of each day, when you are tired from being in the sun all day
- You need a GUN CART to haul around the FOUR weapons plus ammo plus accouterments all day (No joke - you physically cannot carry it all)
- The full "costume" can get pretty costly. For a man: Old West trousers. suspenders (no belts), boots (no running shoes allowed - seriously), old west shirt, western hat, bandana, holster rig, shotgun shell belt or slide, etc
The sheer volume and weight of stuff to be carried, the number of weapons to clean every night, and the sheer cost of ammo (even handloading) kind of wore on me, and violated my desire for "simplicity".
But, when participating, I can't think of any other shooting sport, or ANY other activity, that was more sheer fun!
Jim G