Why aren't you a cowboy action shooter?

[SuperNaut]

Could it be MAYBE that you're overthinking this thing juuuuuuust a little bit???

Busted! It is a personal failing.

We've got a shooter in our club that goes by the alias of "Just Carl". His name is Carl. People seem to be putting WAY more emphasis on the alias requirement than it really deserves. It's just like the costuming requirement; you can put as little or as much emphasis on it as you want.

As I keep trying to point out, it seems that CASS has an image problem as well as some confusion amongst it's own membership as to the rules. While this thread has been informative, your real portal to the world is your website and supporting documents, and they do not offer any of the flexibility that some in this thread are claiming. Worse, some good suggestions ITT have been ignored or dismissed out of hand, that doesn't exemplify flexibility to me...

 

[Smokin Gator]

How many of the shooters here who have considered cowboy shooting and found enough things about it not to their liking, participate in other action shooting sports? Have you found one of them that does everything just the way you would do it if starting a shooting sport from scratch? Smokin Gator

 

[co_dave]

Yes, there are rules and requirements, I don't know of an organized world wide sport that is competitive on some level and scored that doesn't have them.

Yet, on a local level, things can be a bit flexible depending on the people involved.

One of the things I like so much is all of the folks I've met are ready willing and able to help out folks who are just taking a look, or just starting in the game. It took me several months to get together the money to buy the guns, yet still when I went to matches, someone was happy to loan me what I didn't yet have.

If you've taken a look and it isn't for you, that's fine, but don't bad mouth it just because it isn't your cup of tea and spread misinformation to folks who just might think it's just what they've been looking for, but never knew it existed.

Dave

 

[oldfool]

OP asked no one to either criticize, nor praise
just asked "if not, why not ?"

preponderance of answers said pretty clearly why not
no one is "demanding" they change their rules; their game, their rules, how it is
preponderance of "in defense of" answers clearly show no interest in changing rules (so don't, no defense required)

love the game, play the game
if not, find a game you do love
(but don't ask questions you don't want answered, friends)
it's a big enough community for all of us, whatever your game

"I just want to know why you decided it was not for you."
costumes (boots), investment time & cost, event availability & distance, caliber/load/model restrictions, multiple gun requirements
no surprises in any of that
but no reason to change your game, either
enjoy

PS
a few years ago, down south once-a-year small town local "street fair" day
lots of real good friendly people, lots of close friends & family, as sociable as it gets, all the "good stuff", no "bad stuff"
including a "turkey shoot", just for fun, $1 a bang, charity thing
so I toted my O/U 28 gauge along
but it was "must shoot our gun, our shells not your gun, your shells"
fair enough reasons for that (the rules), but if I don't shoot my gun, I don't shoot, I like my gun
(no whining, no crying, I just don't shoot)
dropped a couple of dollars in the box, locked my shotgun up in the trunk, and enjoyed the day
how it is

 

[Ken C]

Interesting comment, oldfool. If nothing is going to change, one wonders why the question (Why aren't you a cowboy action shooter?) was asked in the first place.

 

[co_dave]

"Interesting comment, oldfool. If nothing is going to change, one wonders why the question (Why aren't you a cowboy action shooter?) was asked in the first place."

Ken - He asked "why aren't you" NOT "how can we change it to make it more attractive to you." As has been said several times in this thread, this was not an official effort from SASS, just a curious inquiry from one of its many members.

As far as several of us "defending" CAS, it gets tiring hearing people repeat something they heard third hand about something they haven't even taken he time to check out themselves. Just trying to clear up misunderstandings and paint an accurate picture of the CAS / SASS we know from first hand experience.

 

[gdcpony]

aside from the lever the weapons hold no interest for me.

 

[Ken C]

The opening remark that started this thread is "There is a discussion on the SASS Wire about how to attract more shooters into Cowboy Action Shooting. " I read that as asking how CAS might change, NOT how I might change. Sorry if I mis-understood. A moot point as until the four gun requirement is relaxed, CAS, although interesting and probably fun, is not interested in having me as a member.

 

[J-Bar]

The opening remark that started this thread is "There is a discussion on the SASS Wire about how to attract more shooters into Cowboy Action Shooting. " I read that as asking how CAS might change, NOT how I might change. Sorry if I mis-understood. A moot point as until the four gun requirement is relaxed, CAS, although interesting and probably fun, is not interested in having me as a member.

The "discussion on the SASS Wire" was a casual conversation between the usual suspects, not a formal effort on the part of SASS Corporate management to make changes. Some clubs experience slower growth than others, and the posters on that thread were exploring strategies for getting people out to a range.

When I posted the question that began this thread, I expected to get maybe 10 posts in response.

Two weeks, 17 pages, and 408 replies later, here we are.

Who knew!!??

 

[gc70]

Owen, the average age of a SASS shooter is the late 50s. It is expensive. A youngun would have a hard time without Dad or a trust fund.

Folks in SASS already know why it is difficult to attract new shooters. The minimum up-front cost of guns, leather, and reloading equipment is steep enough for older shooters and is simply prohibitive for many, if not most, younger shooters. And the rules are way too convoluted, even requiring specific types of guns for certain styles of shooting.

 

[Leaky Waders]

The cool thing about the CAS, even though I don't do it (see other post somewhere in this thread) is all the cool things that's come about because of it:

1) Trailboss - a powder specifically for older cartridges
2) SAA clones and offerings from Colt are fun to compare and contrast whata variety we have to choose from - we are lucky!
3) The lever action market is awesome - I own and 1873! Well, it's uberti/beretta, but still who would've thought that I could own a shootable version - and in 45 Long Colt no less (yes I went there with the long )
4) You can actually see 45 long colt, 44-40, 38-40 on like a shelf...they all aren't special order or reloads should you just want to shoot grandpa's gun a time or two.
5) A whole new chapter in reloading manuals concerning CAS shooting and powder choices/requirements.
6) Affordable brass and lead.
7) And, maybe not directly attributable to CAS, but heck maybe so, is the resurgence of the 45/70 as a 'common round'.
8) The whole CAS, stetsons and all, are great ambassadors for the shooting community through their wire and you tube.
9) Oh and nice gunleather, scarves, websites that show how to tie the scarf...all pretty neat stuff IMHO.
10) And, lastly, those babesters that Red Cent has linked rival Farrah Faucet's red swimsuit poster. No wonder those cowboys are always smiling.

LW

 

[Red Cent]

"And the rules are way too convoluted, even requiring specific types of guns for certain styles of shooting. "

Most of that came from the membership. Traditional class (two handed shooting, no adjustable sights) encompassed those from younguns to 60 years old. Since they have invented the 49ers Men and Ladies. 49-59. Now there are more classes.

There are so many categories that it has become a financial drag on the annual state matches.

Monthly matches simply recognize winners. Braggin' rights.

Some of the more experienced can step up here, but for years at the State level to the World Level, rifles, pistols, shotguns, leather, reloading equipment, and any other cowboy related item was handed out. Either by raffle or just paying the registration fee. About 2006, I won an 1873 Border Deluxe in 357. YES!

Get involved if you want a category.

 

[co_dave]

Ken C - you have a point, I'd forgotten that part of the original post. I can see how it would be easy to read that as "how can we change the game to attract more shooters,"

From my point of view being in the CAS game, I read it more as "how can we better let folks know what CAS / SASS is all about."

Dave

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

There are so many categories that it has become a financial drag on the annual state matches.

Same thing happened with IHMSA. At first it was Production, Standing and Unlimited. Then they decided revolvers needed their own class. Last time I checked, there were over a dozen classes, involving scopes, half size targets and all manner of confusing rules.

In the early 1980s Handgun Silhouette was the fastest growing shooting sport and now it's just a minor sport, populated by a few aging shooters who just keep hanging on. The reason, IMO, is that they kept trying to accommodate everybody, and in the process, diluted what made the sport special down to the point where most of the participants simply gave up.

 

[gym]

you arent going to attract more shooters in this economy. I just doesn't fit in with the times. And few young familys have the necessary time or disposable income to persue it. it doesn't interest most people who carry for hd

 

[cane]

Most of that came from the membership. Traditional class (two handed shooting, no adjustable sights) encompassed those from younguns to 60 years old. Since they have invented the 49ers Men and Ladies. 49-59. Now there are more classes.

They did away with the "traditional" and "modern" catagory a couple of years ago.

 

[Red Cent]

Fannie and Tornado Alli.



Circle City Blondie



End of Trail (I think) World Championship



Winter Range (National Championship)



End of Trail



Splinter Hauser, handsome cowboy, Island Girl (5 time World Champion)

 

[109Hammer]

I would love to hear more about it. Any know of good sites to visit with info?

 

[royal barnes]

sassnet.com is the official website for the parent organization. Pretty much everything you would want to know is found there under the subheadings.You can also do a search under "cas city" and "the open range" for other related topics.

 

[Red Cent]

Kill 'Em All Kate, Island Girl, and there is that handsome cowboy again. Three Cut is in the background. Kate was one of the top lady shooters. Shoots Ruger flattops and whooped up on most of the boys.

 

[Red Cent]

Having problems with pictures.

 

[Red Cent]

Kate, IG, handsome.
Handsome.
Silver City Sam.

 

[Red Cent]

This picture may mean something to a few.
Left rear - Stump Water
Handsome
Far Right - Rocky River Jeb
Back row arms folded - Red River Ray
Left seated - Buck Sage
Left head bowed - Oklahoma Charlie
Seocnd head bowed - Pecos Pete

 

[xcgates]

So with the really dressed up and lookin' fine women, do they all shoot, or do some just come along for the socializing?

 

[Wes B]

I don't because I don't have the Cowboy Action guns.

Yet