Cowboy Action questions

[Luckyorwhat]

Is there an FAQ available?

I've heard several things, that you need 2 single-action pistols, and a shotgun and a carbine.

But the questions I have are:

-What is the cheapest event to get into?

-Can you go to the events with just 1 inexpensive black-powder Pietta revolver and a holster?

-Do you require a holster course?

 

[Rudy H]

Typically a holster course is not required. It depends on the club's policy. You are not drawing a gun with a round under the hammer so there should not be much of a safety concern.

Stages are typically written for two gun. Its hard to make allowances for a single pistol. We typically let people shoot a double action revolver if they don't have one or both single action guns to start. After the first year of shooting we encourage them to get enough of the proper guns.

Cap and ball guns are not a good idea unless you have a number of them and you are pretty good with them. While fun to shoot, and to watch someone shoot, they do have there own set of problems. Typically there are reliability issues. Also you can't reload them on the line the same as a cartridge gun. Some times stages are written where you load or reload on the clock.

For someone just getting into CAS you are better of shooting a cartridge gun. There are enough other issues to deal with without the extra ones created by shooting a cap and ball gun.

Also remember that the rifle must be in a pistol calibre. One that holds 10 shots is best.

 

[Garand]

If your looking for a cheap hobby, take up knitting!!!! Absolutely no shooting discipline is cheap to get into these days if you want to be completely kitted out. Yes, most clubs require you to have 2x revolvers (not all), 1x pistol caliber carbine, 1x sxs shotgun. Go with a friend, share firearms, you would be surprised how many Cowboy shooters start that way. Cowboy shooters generally have backup guns, just in case. Most Cowboy shooters generally don't mind loaning firearms to newbies, this isn't IPSC, IDPC or trap shooting where each competitive firearm costs $4,000.00!

Holster courses are not required, but safety is watched diligently. While not every club is affiliated with SASS, most follow their rule book. It contains a vast amount of good information helpful in choosing kit.
http://www.sassnet.com/

On the long weekend in May and the long weekend in October, Medicine Hat puts on 2x 2 day matches that are great for newbies and we are only 2 1/2 hours down the road from you. Come join us.

 

[Luckyorwhat]

Unless the matches are Monday or Tuesday, I'll have trouble getting out. Thx for the information, I'll be looking into it.

 

[GrantR]

If your most recent post indicates that you work weekends, unfortunately I don't think you're going to find too many CAS shoots to go to ...

Cowboy Action is basically a "Three Gun" sport (i.e. revolver, rifle and shotgun) which has long since evolved into "Four Gun" (i.e. two revolvers needed) almost everywhere. One "non-SASS" exception is NCOWS (National Congress of Old West Shootists) which has a "working cowboy" class, in which competitors require only one pistol and a lever-action rifle - but there are no Canadian clubs operating under NCOWS rules to my knowledge.

Medicine Hat's Rocky Mountain Rangers club do offer our own version of 'Working Cowboy' - though it requires one revolver, lever action rifle and shotgun. Here is a link to a 'Cowboy Action Shooting Primer' page I added to our website -
http://members.memlane.com/gromboug/RMR4_PRIMER.htm

If you can make it out to a match to observe, don't hesitate to introduce yourself as someone interested in possibly taking up the sport - you'll likely be inundated with offers to try different folks' guns, etc ... most of us are like drug addict/pushers, eager to get others hooked! Contact Bob "Hoot" Gibson in the firearms department of the Calgary Wholesale Sports store - he can let you know when and where the Calgary group are shooting ...

 

[The Cold Lake Kid]

.................
Stages are typically written for two gun. Its hard to make allowances for a single pistol. We typically let people shoot a double action revolver if they don't have one or both single action guns to start. After the first year of shooting we encourage them to get enough of the proper guns.

Cap and ball guns are not a good idea unless you have a number of them and you are pretty good with them. While fun to shoot, and to watch someone shoot, they do have there own set of problems. Typically there are reliability issues. Also you can't reload them on the line the same as a cartridge gun. Some times stages are written where you load or reload on the clock.

For someone just getting into CAS you are better of shooting a cartridge gun. There are enough other issues to deal with without the extra ones created by shooting a cap and ball gun.

Also remember that the rifle must be in a pistol calibre. One that holds 10 shots is best.

If a shooter only has one pistol, we usually stage the second, a loaner, for them at the shooting box. Same with the rifle or shotgun.

Spot on about the issues involved in shooting cap and ball. I'm usually too tired, by the time I get home, to spend time cleaning up Holy Black.
Too old and decrepit I guess