Why aren't you a cowboy action shooter?

[Claude Clay]

http://www.zootshooters.com/

for trickyasafox or any other interested in the 'G-Man' period of American history. think of it as the grand-children of the SASS generation grown up and still playing with guns

 

[Oyeboten]

I had some acquaintances who were into the 'Cowboy Action Shotting' when it was first starting up, or when I first heard about it anyway, which was like in the mid 1980s.

I was interested, but, the people who were into it seemed really stuck up and condescending about it and were just too hammy with the schtick of how they were so special and cool with all their fake and typically TV Land costumes and always totally wrong Shoes and so on, and, no one else was allowed...etc.


I felt embarassed for them.

I tried several times, over-coming their attitudes, to go out and check things out some more, and, just got run arounds or told how one HAS to have the 'three guns' or whatever it was, so I never even got to where I could just show up and watch or see things...all of it very snooty and excluding.

Since then, now and then talking with different people who are into it, it did not seem much better.

All the hammy stupid personas and 'nick names' and so on, everyone prancing around like they were a famous outlaw or lawman of the old West...just so 'click-ish' and myopic demi-monde.

Yuck...

Just seems like a bunch of silly people trying desperately to 'be' someone to eachother, they have no interest in being friendly or inviting to any new-comers.


Not saying I will not try again...or that it might not be netter or worse elsewhere...but, been trying to 25 years now to see if I could meet any groups or individuals who were not idiots and aloof snooty ham-actors first and foremost, with the rest of it as a sort of pretext, has not been encouraging.


Maybe it was spending time with old time Bulls Eye Shooters, that sort of spoiled me when it comes to trying to get along with click-ish snooity demi-monds full of idiots.

Those old guys I got to know a little bit, and shoot with, were just so gentlemanly, serene, intelligent, quiet, good humor, no BS, deep knowledge, and more than glad to extend a friendly hand to a new comer. Glad to have me come and watch, try their old pre-war National Match Pistols, tips and pointers, everything so nice and on the level.

 

[Professor Gun]

I have no interest in dressing up in the costumes they wear. Also the types of courses of fire just do not seem as relevant to self defense scenarios compared to USPSA, IDPA, or Three Gun (I know, those are usually not that relevant either to real life but I think they are closer); the firearms are not as useful to me for self defense compared to modern firearms.

Having said that, I fully support our Cowboy Action Shooters; anything that gets people out to shoot and involved in the shooting sports, more power to them. To me, a shooter is a shooter no matter which shooting sport they prefer.

 

[Kingofthehill]

I have no desire to play Dress-up and shoot old stuff.

I like Modern, fast, latest and greatest.

JOe

 

[EddieNFL]

I don't carry a six-shooter. Can I use 1911s?

 

[Sniderman]

Too wierd,,,
Never felt comfortable talking to someone who is pretending to be someone else.
I find myself embarrassed for the participants, whether it's a "Cowboy Action" shoot or a "Mountain Man" rendezvous.
I've been to both and after about an hour I'm ready to get back to my home planet.

However, I do admit to a certain attraction to the "Salloon Girl" participants.

 

[Cosmoline]

I love the firearms, but I really don't like the overlay of strange rules. Beyond that, I like friendly chats at the range but it's a solo activity for me, not a group one. Once I start getting competitive the fun goes out of it and the stress comes in.

Also, if I ever dress up it would be to get a better appreciation for actual historical periods. In this respect the muzzleloader folks are a lot more interesting to me than the CAS crowd. CAS seems more about recreating a media "west" that never really was. Where everyone was a drover or a riverboat gambler who could somehow afford a revolver costing a year's earnings. I've done quite a bit of research into western American history, and you'd be much more likely to find men in suits and ties than in chaps and cowboy hats. Drovers were the bottom of the bottom of the barrel. It's nothing like most of the films show. Nobody back then wanted to be a cowboy. They wanted the same things people want now. Land, house, family, stability. Hollywood took the dime novels and the CM Russell paintings and turned them into something that never really existed at all. I love old westerns, but I'd be more interested in recreating what really was.

But I'm all for the activity, and I get a kick out of watching their shoots. And if someone ever does a ZOMBIE action shoot, I'll be all over it. Something where you don't get to pick your own firearms, but have to use a mix of ratty old single shot toppers and H&R breaktops.

 

[volleyfire]

Cost. Even cap & ball revolvers are just to expensive now.

 

[Single Action Six]

Not Friendly At All..!!

@ Oyeboten post #52

I agree with what "Oyeboten" had to say in their post.

Often, when I'm thinking about joining a organization or group that I might be interested in, I use a technique to see what they're like that I call "sit back.. and see what happens". I did so recently when I went to one of the local club shoots (about 30 miles away), to decide if they were a group that I might want to join.

That morning I got all cowboy'd up from hat to boots, along with bringing my two B.P. 44's and Stagecoach 12ga. (Don't have a lever action.) I purposely sat at one of the wooden benches (along with my empty firearms), that was located in one of the stage areas. Every so often I would nonchalantly walk among the shooters (this was before even the first stage was to be shot), while innocently looking at some of their equipment on the gun carts.

I expected someone within the group (I counted 34 shooters that were there that day), to at least come over, say HI.. and introduce themselves. Unfortunately that didn't happen. The club members were either standing around in their own "click-ish" groups, or seemed to have a "stuck-up" attitude of NOT having any interest in being friendly or inviting to a new-comer.

I returned to my seat (next to my firearms) and waited to see what would happen. Needless to say, it wasn't until half way through the shoot that someone FINALLY decided to come over, introduce themselves and ask if I was looking to shoot.

It is no wonder at all why this club might have a problem with increasing membership if, considering, they act this way toward prospective members. I haven't been back there since. There's another SASS club about 15 miles North of where I live that I'm thinking about joining, but will only be able to tell once I "sit back.. and see what happens".

So to answer a question often asked.. "NO, they're NOT friendly at all!!"

Single Action Six

 

[sappyg]

I use to shoot SASS for several years. Why I stopped:

It was simply a lot of work. Most people don't see what goes on behind the curtain. Setting up a match is a chore. There is a ton of steel to set up and you get little help doing it. In my experience most of the older guys are not so into helping out when it comes to the grunt work. Add to that working the match in progress and barely take the time to shoot. When the match ends you get to tear down and store all the equipment while they watch. That got real old. What starts out as fun just becomes too much like work.

It was expensive and you have to have a backup for everything. i.e. 2 pairs of pistols, 2 rifles, 2 shotguns yadda yadda yadda.

Unless it came to work most of the people i met were nice enough. All clubs seemed to have a kind of personality. Some clubs were gamy, some were strict, and some were more open and super friendly.

 

[Patriotme]

1) I don't want to dress like a cowboy.
2) I don't want to buy several new firearms just to shoot these matches.
3) My time is limited and if I do shoot a match I'd rather use my self defense firearms to shoot an IDPA match or steel plate match. I think this would be better real world practice (better skills builder).
4) I cut back on the different calibers that I shoot and SASS shooting would add more calibers to the mix and they would probably be more expensive than what I currently shoot.
5) I really don't want to dress like a cowboy.

It looks like fun and if it was some way to rent the gear for a day then I might try it just for kicks but it just seems to be too much money to put out for something that I might not really like. I can shoot steel plate matches, IDPA or local matches with my self defense guns so my costs are lower, I'm building some skills and some muscle memory. I've watched a SASS match and the people seemed very nice and really enjoyed themselves. It's just not for me.

 

[Patriotme]

That's a shame.
I don't think that I'll ever really get into SASS but I did see them shoot a match one day at my range. Everyone was very friendly towards my wife and I and they really seemed to want new members. They seemed very nice but kind of reminded me of Dungeon And Dragons guys from High School (and yes, HS was long ago).

 

[co_dave]

Single Action Six - I'm sorry your experience was less than enjoyable.

Perhaps part of the problem is that since you dressed cowboy, you were less obviously a newbie.

Ranges I have shot at require you to sign in, pay the match fee, and sign a waiver. New comers that are identified at that point are most often assigned a mentor to walk them thru their first match. My first full match I didn't have a shotgun, and was set up with a mentor that not only guided me, but loaned me a shotgun and provided shells.

Additionally, at the clubs I shoot at, during the safety meeting it is almost always asked if there are any first timers, either at that range, or with cowboy shooting. At that time they're assigned a mentor.

I shoot at several different clubs, and I don't know everyone. If I see someone who looks the part, I don't necessarily identify them as a newbie. Show up not looking the part, and I'll probably introduce myself and see if you have any questions.

I hope your next try goes better.
Dave

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

I was for awhile, but the whole thing, buying two handguns, a lever rifle, and a "cowboy" type shotgun, not to mention the possibility of another $1000 worth of clothes, leather, and hat to go along with it, seemed like an unreasonable expense for a beginning hobby. More expensive than getting into practical pistol shooting. I already had several avenues of gun culture (hunting, long range shooting, Class III, combat pistol shooting) that I had put money into, and the SASS "game of shoot this, don't shoot that", etc, was more of a "Simon says" than anything real. IDPA/USPSA had already turned me off that way....more gamesmanship than "practical",that it became "not fun" anymore. Additionally, some guys that "created" cowboy shooting" were clipping EVERYONE $35 a year to belong to SASS....great thing for them......what is it now, 50,000 plus memebers times $35 going into the pocket of a handful of guys so that you could keep a tin badge and get a newsletter, and a badge number that allowed you to shoot in cowboy shoots. Somebody gets rich, but non-profit organization they ain't. I shoot in my backyard, challenge myself, and don't feel like I'm missing that much, as I have a lot of friends that join me.

 

[SaxonPig]

I did it for a while where I lived before moving to my current city of residence. But the group quickly proved to be a bunch of... well, let's just say I didn't wish to continue their company.

After moving here, there was no active group. I have heard there is one getting started but I have already lost interest and sold my guns. Well, I kept the shotgun because it's too cool.

 

[Jon Coppenbarger]

They need to come out with more video games taylored to SASS. Look at all the action shooting games out on video in the last say 10, 15 or 20 years.
It is only a natual progression of a yound kid learning on a video game and when they gr w up and are old enough to buy a gun on their own they would wish to still have the same fun as when they were just a pup.

Just look at the make up of certain sports.

say trap shooting or long range shooting at a national level you usually find folks that are highly educated and well off and have more time on their hands so they can afford to travel around to compete.

I see SASS as a more family sport that you see alot of familys participate in. It looks like fun and the few events I have watched I saw alot of husbands and wifes and some of the kids also shooting. Great sport!

Cmp and highpower and small bore I see alot of young folks shoot but when they reach the late teens and early twentys they most of the time move out of the sport due to many reasons. school, getting married, jobs or just not as much fun any more or when you have to foot the bill it gets put on the back burner so you see alot of folks in their late twentys and up.

The run and shoot sports from what I have seen for the most part derived from them having that glock or ar15 and shooting aliens and the such in all of those video games so when they grew up its just natual to want to continue on with it.

Now we are going to get some folks in each sport that have just gotten into the sport of their choice because they just thought it was darn fun and thats ok also as what ever sport you do nobody else should knock you for which ever shooting sport you pick.

 

[Nushif]

I actually really wanted to try it once, but then I was told I needed two single action revolvers.

Now, I understand that the stages for scoring need to be standardized, but for some reason I think if I ever had to use a gun to defend myself and I actually had a rifle I'd use that, instead. 8)

So what turned me off it was the whole two revolvers needed thing. If they ever have a "hold-out" or one gun competition I might rethink it though. A stage that really only calls for one revolver.

[edit]

They need to come out with more video games taylored to SASS. Look at all the action shooting games out on video in the last say 10, 15 or 20 years.

They do actually! The western games got a huge revival with Red Dead Redemption. I wouldn't be half surprised if most meets don't get at least one or two fresh faces just because of the revival of western games.

[/edit]

 

[Jon Coppenbarger]

Saxonpig I have one of those shotguns also. I really like them and forget I have it sometimes untill someone talks about one or I see a photo of it.

Again nice shotgun!

 

[mcdonl]

Blue jeans, a modern western shirt (long sleeve), a modern western cowboy hat, and modern cowboy boots suffice

You don't call that a costume!!??!!

There is NO "role playing" whatsoever. In fact, that one is so far out in left field I'm not even sure where it came from.

I see more role playing in IDPA... shoot, every stage is setup to simulate a shooting situation so I do not see where this is a bad thing.

 

[liberty -r- death]

I did it for several years off and on. I had alot of fun doing it, but got bored with it and moved on to other shooting.

 

[Jon Coppenbarger]

Yes you are right I remember them talking about and seeing that video game advertised on tv. I think they talked like it was a real high selling game if I remember right.

 

[Sam Cade]

1.) I have no desire to dress up like a cowboy.

2.) The only reason I shoot any competition is to keep myself inoculated against stress should I have occasion to use the same skills and weapons in a "social" context. I don't really shoot for "fun".

3.) I already run tabletop RPGs a couple times a month so I get that particular need out of my system.

4.) My 5 year old said that playing dress up is silly.

 

[ArthurDent]

It's all been said before, but I'll say it again.

When I first got interested in firearms, I heard about cowboy action shooting, and it sounded very interesting to me. I did some investigation, and promptly ruled it out.

Why it sounded good:

I'm old (46) and I like old, historical guns. I like the history of firearms.

I like the idea of getting together with other like-minded folks to share an interest.

There are at least two clubs that meet regularly within 10 miles of my house.

At the time I was dating a woman who loved horses and she had the whole style of the old-west going on. I thought it might be a good hobby to go along with her interests.

Why I rejected it:

Costumes: Seriously? you HAVE to dress in period costumes?

Fake "Stage" Identities: SERIOUSLY??? I have to make up a person from that era, and then become that person and behave in character the ENTIRE event? If I read the requirements correctly, that is part of it. I might choose to play-act for a short part of the event, but I'm too old to play make-believe for long. I am who I am.

Also, it seemed that you HAVE to have a whole set of different types of guns. What about if you were just interested in old revolvers or old lever guns or old shotguns? Of course this also brings in lots of $$$.

So it's never gonna be my thing. Still, if I could find some like-minded folks to play with, I might enjoy getting together to play with old-style guns in a less formal setting.

Bottom line: Too much other <deleted> associated with it, beyond the old, historical guns.

 

[tarosean]

hmmmmm... I own the wrong horses.

1st shot would either

A) result in a immediate trip to the ER.
B) depending on which way they bolted would be a record trip via horseback to either Canada or South America.

 

[tarosean]

They need to come out with more video games taylored to SASS.

Just an FYI.. Red Dead Redemption was last years Video Game of the Year...

Every bit a Cowboy Shooter...