Cowboys shooting it out, right now

Well Freedom, I'm sorry that you are so sensitive because nothing I said was bashing anyone. Those were my bad experiences while shooting IPSC, and I'm sure I could list a number of circumstances if you want to drag this out. Personally I would say criticism, but believe me not bashing. You are probably correct that Cowboy Action is a more social sport, I know in my experience it is. I would hardly bash something that I had invested 10 years competing in, now would I? It would be like admitting that I wasted my time, and I know I didn't.
 
I was at the shoot in Saskatoon. Sunday morning you would have found me at the end of the row of campers & RV's sitting outside my tent drinking coffee and eating oatmeal. The water was boiling over the fire. I'm something of a history buff and it sets the tone for my approach to CAS shooting.

I shoot 44-40 through a pair of Remington '75's and a Winchester '73 (yeah they're Uberti) but my SxS 12 ga is a 100+ year old Remington hammer gun. All of it using Goex blackpowder. In some circles I would be called a Warthog - fine (I also like the ale).

The only person I'm competing against is me. My goals are:
1. Enjoy shooting with a bunch of friendly people.
2. Shoot every stage coorectly.
3. Hit what I aim at.
4. Look good while I'm doing it.

It doesn't matter to me what other people are shooting as long as they are there shooting safely and enjoying the day.

This year I donated a small prize for the person who completed both days of shooting and who had the least number of misses. Clean shooting is something I admire. The winner shot 12 stages (with about 24 shots per stage) and only had 8 misses!!! During the shoot, our posse raised a cheer for every person who shot a clean round and it happened a few times. I'm bringing a bigger prize next time.

Do I expect everybody to do what I do - definitely not. Do I like the overall feel of what is going on in Saskatchewan Association of Wild West Shooting - yup.
 
Yes Bob, you do achieve objective #4 if nothing else. :D

I'm still kicking myself for not finding my keys to my Schofield so I could shoot BP in 3 out of 4 guns anyway. My goal for next year is to get it together enough and shovel coal with every touch of the trigger.
 
I certainly admire these last 2 shooters, doin' this for all the right reasons, a few there even had old style tents. If you've ever seen Icebox shoot you will know that he enjoys doing it the old way and looking the part.
 
Icebox said:
I was at the shoot in Saskatoon. Sunday morning you would have found me at the end of the row of campers & RV's sitting outside my tent drinking coffee and eating oatmeal. The water was boiling over the fire. I'm something of a history buff and it sets the tone for my approach to CAS shooting.

I shoot 44-40 through a pair of Remington '75's and a Winchester '73 (yeah they're Uberti) but my SxS 12 ga is a 100+ year old Remington hammer gun. All of it using Goex blackpowder. In some circles I would be called a Warthog - fine (I also like the ale).

The only person I'm competing against is me. My goals are:
1. Enjoy shooting with a bunch of friendly people.
2. Shoot every stage coorectly.
3. Hit what I aim at.
4. Look good while I'm doing it.

It doesn't matter to me what other people are shooting as long as they are there shooting safely and enjoying the day.

This year I donated a small prize for the person who completed both days of shooting and who had the least number of misses. Clean shooting is something I admire. The winner shot 12 stages (with about 24 shots per stage) and only had 8 misses!!! During the shoot, our posse raised a cheer for every person who shot a clean round and it happened a few times. I'm bringing a bigger prize next time.

Do I expect everybody to do what I do - definitely not. Do I like the overall feel of what is going on in Saskatchewan Association of Wild West Shooting - yup.
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Now that's the Cowboy Way!!!!!
Thanks for sharing that! I'd love to shoot with ya'll one of these days.
 
I'm looking forward to shooting in Saskatoon and PA in a couple of years, when I retire and have far more time for road trips. I shot a match yesterday in Tompkins, with Greybeard and Granny Oakley and they tell me the ranges up north are expanding quite nicely.
 
I don't care what you shoot

I started running 45 LC the "real mans bullet", then when my wife started shooting, she is a duelist. We bought 4 of the SASS Vaquaros they only come in 38. We got matching rifles to. We want to travel and run one cal and be able to use each others guns if we have breakdowns. I love the cowboy action shooting the only negitive I ever hear is the people complaining about people running 38cal. I thought about going back to my 45lc. When I soul searched I realized the only reason I was thinking of going back was so I would have an excuse not to be the fastest. I timed myself with my new 38's and my old 45's I averaged half a second diffrence per stage. I love the fact there are diffrent types out at the shoots black powder, gamers, traditionalist, old and young, b western, some slow some fast. I hope I never make anyone feel bad about what they shoot or what they where. We are all just trying to enjoy what little free time we have left

Preacher Man John
 
Cowboy Shootist said:
If you disallow .38 and .357 then you will lose half of the CAS members. The .38 was in vogue just after the US Civil War in the .36 cal cap and ball conversions. One cannot state that the .38 cal is not period correct. There are some who say that if it doesn't start with 4, then it doesn't count. Are you going to tell Wild Bill Hickok who carried a pair of .38's that he shoots wimp loads? Well, not to his face anyways.:)

Cheers!
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Wrong...Hickok carried a pair of 1851 Colt Navy`s in .36 caliber....The .38spc was invented around 1899, and I don`t consider it period correct....I can see some people using it for the lower recoil (if they have arthritis, for example)...The "race gun" cowboys use the ridiculously mild loaded .38 strictly to win at all costs...So much for "the spirit of the game"....As long as they compete in a different class, I don`t care....
I`m happy to shoot my pistols in .45 Colt, using BP, 12ga brass shotshells using BP, and my Henry, Yellowboy lever action`s in .45 Colt (I could not find 44-40`s at the time)....I enjoy shooting my guns the way they were shot 140 years ago.....
 
Airwolf said:
Wrong...Hickok carried a pair of 1851 Colt Navy`s in .36 caliber....The .38spc was invented around 1899, and I don`t consider it period correct....I can see some people using it for the lower recoil (if they have arthritis, for example)...The "race gun" cowboys use the ridiculously mild loaded .38 strictly to win at all costs...So much for "the spirit of the game"....As long as they compete in a different class, I don`t care....
I`m happy to shoot my pistols in .45 Colt, using BP, 12ga brass shotshells using BP, and my Henry, Yellowboy lever action`s in .45 Colt (I could not find 44-40`s at the time)....I enjoy shooting my guns the way they were shot 140 years ago.....
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Having said that, the '97 shotgun was not part of the "old" west, yet a lot of cowboy shooters use them.

I see cowboy shooting in thirds.....one third shooting, one third socializing and one third costume. Going to the cowboy shoot in Calgary this coming Sunday (Sept 26).
 
Airwolf said:
Wrong...Hickok carried a pair of 1851 Colt Navy`s in .36 caliber....The .38spc was invented around 1899, and I don`t consider it period correct....I can see some people using it for the lower recoil (if they have arthritis, for example)...The "race gun" cowboys use the ridiculously mild loaded .38 strictly to win at all costs...So much for "the spirit of the game"....As long as they compete in a different class, I don`t care....
I`m happy to shoot my pistols in .45 Colt, using BP, 12ga brass shotshells using BP, and my Henry, Yellowboy lever action`s in .45 Colt (I could not find 44-40`s at the time)....I enjoy shooting my guns the way they were shot 140 years ago.....
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I have a 1861 Navy C&B in .36 cal however, I use .38 cal balls because with .36 I had to use a wad to hold it in.

We had one on our posse at the Canadians who was a gamer and when it came to one stage that had knock down pistol targets, the bullets were hitting them and they went clang however, they did not budge and the person had to take them as misses. Kind of ruined their run for the gold so to speak. I was in the bottom 1/4 out of 130 some odd shooters overall however, "my" .38s knocked them all down. As I mentioned in an earlier post that some load so light that you can actually follow the bullet from the muzzle to the target.

Calgary cowboy shoot tomorrow and another at Rocky on Oct 02. Take care all.
 
Cowboy Shootist said:
I have a 1861 Navy C&B in .36 cal however, I use .38 cal balls because with .36 I had to use a wad to hold it in.

We had one on our posse at the Canadians who was a gamer and when it came to one stage that had knock down pistol targets, the bullets were hitting them and they went clang however, they did not budge and the person had to take them as misses. Kind of ruined their run for the gold so to speak. I was in the bottom 1/4 out of 130 some odd shooters overall however, "my" .38s knocked them all down. As I mentioned in an earlier post that some load so light that you can actually follow the bullet from the muzzle to the target.

Calgary cowboy shoot tomorrow and another at Rocky on Oct 02. Take care all.
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I shoot .38spl in my NM Vaqueros. My loads will throw down a poper with no issues what so ever.:D To generalize based on caliber seems a bit extreme. There are certainly other reasons to go .38, cost for one, I don't believe everyone out there shooting .38 is a gamer and those out there that feel that it's what they're about well thats their trip it's not up to me to agree or disagree. Ultimatly like the rest of you I'm out to have fun, I've yet to win anything, that isn't the point for me, I love anything "Cowboy" and I have since I was a pup. Now at 51 I get to play cowboy again what could be better?:)
 
Curious what rules you guys are shooting under.

As I recall .38 cal revolvers and Win 97 shotguns are legal under SASS rules.

Has this changed? Or are you shooting under a different set of rules?

Also I am wondering if these 'gamers' are shooting such light loads how did they get by the chrony. Isn't there a minimum PF?

John
 
Listening to all the comments really has me thinking...

I think maybe it is the power factor and light loads that has me really upset. I have no problem with those using .38's but the use of super light loads that when they shoot don't even budge in thier hands...that is my problem.

So if you intend to use 38 specials go for just use a regular load and not get gamey.

that is the cowboy way...in my mind at least.
 
Cowboy Shootist said:
Having said that, the '97 shotgun was not part of the "old" west, yet a lot of cowboy shooters use them.

I see cowboy shooting in thirds.....one third shooting, one third socializing and one third costume. Going to the cowboy shoot in Calgary this coming Sunday (Sept 26).
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I'll see you at the match in the morning, am driving in from the Hat. Calgary is always a good match!
 
bersmith said:
Listening to all the comments really has me thinking...

I think maybe it is the power factor and light loads that has me really upset. I have no problem with those using .38's but the use of super light loads that when they shoot don't even budge in thier hands...that is my problem.

So if you intend to use 38 specials go for just use a regular load and not get gamey.

that is the cowboy way...in my mind at least.
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Personally I feel very frustrated at the gamers. At Rocky Mountain House this year, one gentleman was actually shooting a custom made Vaquero in .38 Short Colt. Its gamey but the caliber has existed for over 150 years.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.38_Short_Colt
 
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Howdy ; If en you can not hear or see a hit its a miss . If the shooter says he knows it was a hit cause he saw the bullet fall from heaven and land on the on the target as he walked away ,suggest he add more gun powder to the load so it hits the target before sundown .
 
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