WOW!
I started shooting SASS a couple years ago, and its been great.
I do see where some of the confusions come from.
SASS is a fantasy shooting sport. It is not a reinactment or perfect history correct sport. There are other Cowboy Action Shooting related groups that cover those. NCOWS being a common one.
You make it what you want. If you want to shoot all dressed up like the fancy cowboys of the big screen era, there's a category for that. If you want to get dressed up like the real cowboys of the late 1800' there's a category for you. If your a woman and want to shoot, there's many categories you will be more than welcome in (girls & guns, what could be better). If your the woman that wants to shoot in a tight visible corset and melt the hearts of all the men in the territory you will be most welcome.
If your a shooter who wants to see if you can improve your shooting skills, using a variety of guns from the old west all at once, this if for you.
If you want be first in class, or first overall, it will still take a lot a practice, skill and a bit of luck.
Categories:
There are many to chose from.
Most are minimum age based (young gun/bucaroo/buckarette up to 14 or 16; cowboy - open to any age; wrangler - 36+; fourty niner - 49+; senior - 60+; silver senior - 65+; elder statesman/grande dames 70+), but there are others to chose from based on shooting style.
Two catagories have the requirement of shooting one handed (duelest and gunfighter), others are open to two handed or one handed. In B-Western its an option to any of the three ways (duelist, gunfighter or two handed).
Gunfighters use two hand guns at once, all others are one loaded hand gun out at a time. Duelist and double duelist are shot one handed either both guns from the same hand, or right gun right hand, left gun left hand.
Any category can be broken down to add an optional ladies category. They do not have to shoot in the ladies only category.
Costuming:
Two are costume based categories (B-Western, and Classic Cowboy) These are the ones you see all the fancy duds and extras that have a minimum requirement. Its also where a lot of misconception that the rules for these two classes apply to all classes. NOT TRUE
All the other categories have very open rules for attire. Leather boots are fine (I use leather work boots). Others use hiking boots. Rules only state no tennis shoes or combat boots.
Long sleeve shirt. Any long sleeve shirt. Only rules specify no advertising/logos.
Hat is optional. (I will say you'll want one) either from the funnin with you'll get about losin your hat, or to keep the weather from getting to ya (straw type in the sun or felt or leather in the rain), or mostly, some guns (1873, 1892 rifles) throw the brass right on top of you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7kuFE3xsL4
We are dressed up because thats what our imagination desired when we decided to complete own little shooting fantasy.
Power factor:
We have a minimum PF. It is rather light to some, but this encourages the targets be close enough to aid the shooter in getting the most hits with minimum splash back in the fastest time. We strive for hits on steel. We like to hear the ring of the steel (see below). PF is rarely checked, and many of the so called Mouse Phart loads would likely be illegal.
Guns:
Pistols, most curently use Ruger Vaqueros or Black hawks, or Colt SAA's and their replicas. If you only have one, you can reload on the clock to shoot the other 5 shots, or maybe hook up with a pardner who will share. Another option I've seen is to shoot one pistol but your score does not count in finals.
Shotguns, most use either a double coach gun with or without visible hammers, or the Winchester 1897 pump action. Another that has a great cool factor is the Winchester 1887 lever action.
Rifles, most use either a Marlin 1894 or reproduction 1873. Another comon rifle is the replica 1892.
Ammo:
We use lead only for all rounds for safety. See PF above.
Scoring.
We have a script or scenario for each stage. Some instructions are more open to interpretation than others. Different clubs will vary just how open the instructions/target sequence. Basicly you have four guns, and an array of targets. The script may give you the order in which the targets need to be hit, or leave the exact order up to the shooter. If there is a sequence and you shoot targets out of sequence, your given a procedural time penalty of 10 seconds. If you miss a target you recieve a time penalty of 5 seconds per miss.
We use a sound pressure sensitive timer. The shooter starts at the beep given from the timer after the shooter acknowleges they are ready (usally saying a line, either made up, or from a movie). The timer picks up the time each shot is fired, and the stage time ends when the timer records the last shot.
Benifit of doubt always goes to the shooter.
If you know its a hit its a hit.
If you think its a hit its a hit.
If you think its a miss its a hit.
If you know its a miss its a miss.
WILDBUNCH
I see some even wanted to play with their 1911's. We gotchya covered here too.
This is for higher PF and a place to use your more current 1911 pistol.
This is new to SASS, but many clubs have been doing it for 10-12 years or more.
Similar to SASS, but hand gun requires a 1911, either "Traditional" original GI style gun, or "Modern" allows things like beaver tails, adjustable sights, and other comon now standard items.
A Winchester 1897 pump action shotgun starts with a loaded mag tube.
A large caliber SASS aproved rifle.
Many clubs offer a little bending of the rules in this class to entice more shooters to come play.
