Cowboy Action Shooting Match
- Thread starter ziachm
- Start date
You'll find us a pretty tolerant bunch about many things, especially due to weather conditions, new shooters etc.
A couple of decades ago, I recall a greenhorn showing up with what they had: a double action S&W MP-10 and a Remington 870. We loaned him a rifle so he could play with us.
He did have a hat.
Getting started in CAS can get expensive and if it takes a while for someone to build their persona and accumulate their stuff, so be it.
I just want to see folks have some fun, because what are we in the long run?
ANSWER: (IMHO
A bunch of older people, living our childhood dream, play-acting with real guns and meeting some really nice people.
So don't take it too serious and have fun!
I'll now step from my pulpit and invite you to come on out and play with our gang.
Hope to see you'all next match!
Blessings+
A couple of decades ago, I recall a greenhorn showing up with what they had: a double action S&W MP-10 and a Remington 870. We loaned him a rifle so he could play with us.
He did have a hat.
Getting started in CAS can get expensive and if it takes a while for someone to build their persona and accumulate their stuff, so be it.
I just want to see folks have some fun, because what are we in the long run?
ANSWER: (IMHO
A bunch of older people, living our childhood dream, play-acting with real guns and meeting some really nice people.
So don't take it too serious and have fun!
I'll now step from my pulpit and invite you to come on out and play with our gang.
Hope to see you'all next match!
Blessings+
I dress according to my category, which is laid out in detail in the SASS manual. I've shot 4 different categories in the last 10 years, its lucky my wife likes to shop for Cowboy clothes for both of us. I am very tolerant of new shooters and ask that they check the manual for what category they want to shoot in and try for minimal dress standards. Mind you after the 3rd match where they haven't tried to expand their clothing selection I will mention the fact. I was also under the impression that blue jeans made by Levi Strauss were first sold around 1871, so that would make the basic jeans period correct. We need to bring new shooters into our shooting discipline and with the current economy we really need to be coincident of helping new shooters, if we don't our discipline will fade into obscurity within 15-20 years. It is getting Very, very difficult to recruit new shooters these days, that is reality.
LOL Good one!!!
Garand:
Along the line of helping new shooters. Around mid-October this year, we had a fella(Turned out, he was the club's President)show up at one of the local shoots..... who was interested in starting up a Cowboy Action section, at their gun club. So of course, everyone offered as much help and advice as possible. He got a chance to compete along with the rest of us and had a great time. In the end...it looks like yet another club will add cowboy action to its activities...and the sport grows more potential enthusiasts. Naturally, the local cowboy action community will do whatever it can to promote that club's success. Including participation, loaning guns, leather, or whatever new shooters might need, until they can get their own.
You are absolutely right....If we don't promote the sport and do everything we can to attract new shooters, cowboy action shooting will fade away. And if new shooters show up in jeans for the first couple of shoots....that's okay, too. But we like to see them getting into the spirit of the sport and dressing the part, as soon as possible. Otherwise...the real flavour of the sport will get lost, and cowboy action just becomes another target shooting game with everyone strutting around in spandex shirts.
Red River Kid: Most of us who have been around the sport for a while, fully understand where you're coming from. That's why it is so important to retain its unique Old West ambiance, as accurately as we can. But, still leave a bit of wiggle room. So if folks want to dress in jeans and a simple shirt, that's okay, too. Cold Lake Kid is right....not everyone has the budget to go all-in on outfits, etc. So allowances should be made. As long as we're still 'cowboyin'.
Along the line of helping new shooters. Around mid-October this year, we had a fella(Turned out, he was the club's President)show up at one of the local shoots..... who was interested in starting up a Cowboy Action section, at their gun club. So of course, everyone offered as much help and advice as possible. He got a chance to compete along with the rest of us and had a great time. In the end...it looks like yet another club will add cowboy action to its activities...and the sport grows more potential enthusiasts. Naturally, the local cowboy action community will do whatever it can to promote that club's success. Including participation, loaning guns, leather, or whatever new shooters might need, until they can get their own.
You are absolutely right....If we don't promote the sport and do everything we can to attract new shooters, cowboy action shooting will fade away. And if new shooters show up in jeans for the first couple of shoots....that's okay, too. But we like to see them getting into the spirit of the sport and dressing the part, as soon as possible. Otherwise...the real flavour of the sport will get lost, and cowboy action just becomes another target shooting game with everyone strutting around in spandex shirts.
Red River Kid: Most of us who have been around the sport for a while, fully understand where you're coming from. That's why it is so important to retain its unique Old West ambiance, as accurately as we can. But, still leave a bit of wiggle room. So if folks want to dress in jeans and a simple shirt, that's okay, too. Cold Lake Kid is right....not everyone has the budget to go all-in on outfits, etc. So allowances should be made. As long as we're still 'cowboyin'.
I just shot my first CAS match on Saturday with the Circle Square Wranglers. My 10 year old daughter wants to shoot too, so she is pretty much all set up.
That said, I have dumped in excess of $5000 into extra guns for me and a full setup for my daughter (plans to shoot this summer). When I looked at another $250 US and about $60US in shipping for clothes I could not bring myself to do that right now. Run to the local Value Village and a striped shirt that I cut the collar off and a pair of biege slacks that I cut the belt straps off of and stitched on buttons for $10 suspenders from Amazon. Love to have the fancier stuff but that will have to wait. Used winter boots and gloves this match as i like my diabetic fingers and toes not to fall off. Will not be wearing cowboy boots as my feet will not tolerate them. No sneakers though.
Going to go bare minimum for my daughter until she gets full size.
If it got to be as militaristic about the costuming, I think my daughter and I would step away.
That said, I have dumped in excess of $5000 into extra guns for me and a full setup for my daughter (plans to shoot this summer). When I looked at another $250 US and about $60US in shipping for clothes I could not bring myself to do that right now. Run to the local Value Village and a striped shirt that I cut the collar off and a pair of biege slacks that I cut the belt straps off of and stitched on buttons for $10 suspenders from Amazon. Love to have the fancier stuff but that will have to wait. Used winter boots and gloves this match as i like my diabetic fingers and toes not to fall off. Will not be wearing cowboy boots as my feet will not tolerate them. No sneakers though.
Going to go bare minimum for my daughter until she gets full size.
If it got to be as militaristic about the costuming, I think my daughter and I would step away.
My wife went to value village, got some ugly brides maid dress and fixed it. What ever you need to do, ask around. Old cowboys get fat and sell off stuff cheap. Or ride off and sell out.
I am just a saddle tramp. Dollar a day and found. I look for crap that is mismatched and worn.
Boots look for ropers, lace up. Diabetic feet can use them.
Winter, lots of Carhart cowboys.
Check out the" Ontario single action shooting federation " sale page.
I am just a saddle tramp. Dollar a day and found. I look for crap that is mismatched and worn.
Boots look for ropers, lace up. Diabetic feet can use them.
Winter, lots of Carhart cowboys.
Check out the" Ontario single action shooting federation " sale page.
Corey: Did you and your daughter have a good time at the shoot? Did you feel welcomed? As long as you're making the effort to participate, that's all that matters. By the way, you can wear ordinary lace-up work boots, to any match. No obvious lug soles('tactical' combat boots, etc.), though. Perfectly legal, according to SASS rules... as that type of boot was common, in the mid-19th century. So were collared shirts. And you're right...the fancier stuff can always wait for later.
Attend as many matches as you can. Learn the sport. And have fun. The rest will take care of itself.
If possible... you and your daughter should try to attend the 2021 Eastern Canadian Championships....hopefully.... this coming July, 2021. See how a major match is run. Compete. Expect to see some really top-notch competitors in action and learn from them. You will gain a ton of experience.
And as most of us know....Value Village is the cowpoke's friend.
Al
Attend as many matches as you can. Learn the sport. And have fun. The rest will take care of itself.
If possible... you and your daughter should try to attend the 2021 Eastern Canadian Championships....hopefully.... this coming July, 2021. See how a major match is run. Compete. Expect to see some really top-notch competitors in action and learn from them. You will gain a ton of experience.
And as most of us know....Value Village is the cowpoke's friend.
Al
We had a pile of fun! Hard to shoot wearing a mask as it fogs up the glasses (4 misses directly tied to that). No excuses after I do not wear a mask 
.
We were welcomed from the minute we showed up in September to watch a match in September. Red Storm was the one that told my daughter she could compete at her age; she was SO excited. Was offered a full shooting setup to compete at the match but decided to wait.
I have been welcomed by everyone. I have spent more time helping Red and the rest of the posse work on the range tjam I have on my own house. Always welcome to practice on the range as well. Feels good to see all of the posse's hard work come to fruition.
As for boots, Blundstones makes a lace up pair of boots with very sedate soles that probably will be my go to boots in the warm part of the year. Also, updates on a costume will probably be birthday and Chrismtas presents for some time to come.
.We were welcomed from the minute we showed up in September to watch a match in September. Red Storm was the one that told my daughter she could compete at her age; she was SO excited. Was offered a full shooting setup to compete at the match but decided to wait.
I have been welcomed by everyone. I have spent more time helping Red and the rest of the posse work on the range tjam I have on my own house
. Always welcome to practice on the range as well. Feels good to see all of the posse's hard work come to fruition.As for boots, Blundstones makes a lace up pair of boots with very sedate soles that probably will be my go to boots in the warm part of the year. Also, updates on a costume will probably be birthday and Chrismtas presents for some time to come.
Alex, no matter where my wife & I travel too, she hits the local value village looking for "period" clothing. I think that can be said for any experienced shooter. We initially buy our clothes at Lamellae's (sp) or Wild West Mercantile and quickly discover the importance of second hand clothing stores. I have lost count of how many times over the years I have outfitted new shooters who want to shoot their first match with leather, rifles, pistols, shotguns and ammunition, the least a new shooter can contribute is paying lip service to the minimal clothing standard. If the shooter develops enough interest after this first experience, they will no doubt understand that there will be a cost involved.
As for new clubs, my wife and I discovered a new group about 90 minutes south of us, earlier this year that had been going for a couple of years. They are a group of 8, that don't apparently believe in advertising themselves, they have built 4-5 really nice frontages, got steel in various sizes, placed it at various distances from 15 yds to 47 yds, when asked about rules, I was told "we don't follow anyone's rules" and apparently after a couple of years of shooting I was the first to bring a timer with me. One of their shooters told me that in the future that they hope to hold a match with 40+ shooters. Its my opinion that the only cowboy shooters that are willing to travel to a match repeatedly are SASS members and that paying lip service to the rule book will bring more shooters out. Which I pointed out, sadly I feel I have happened upon deaf ears.
As for new clubs, my wife and I discovered a new group about 90 minutes south of us, earlier this year that had been going for a couple of years. They are a group of 8, that don't apparently believe in advertising themselves, they have built 4-5 really nice frontages, got steel in various sizes, placed it at various distances from 15 yds to 47 yds, when asked about rules, I was told "we don't follow anyone's rules" and apparently after a couple of years of shooting I was the first to bring a timer with me. One of their shooters told me that in the future that they hope to hold a match with 40+ shooters. Its my opinion that the only cowboy shooters that are willing to travel to a match repeatedly are SASS members and that paying lip service to the rule book will bring more shooters out. Which I pointed out, sadly I feel I have happened upon deaf ears.
Sounds like a good group of outlaw shooters.
Garand: I feel your frustration. Been in much the same situation, myself.
You are right.....SASS shooters will often travel great distances, to enjoy the sport. But....when they get there, they will expect that event to be run properly and safely, and according to SASS rules. "Outlaw" shoots might be fun on occasion. Say...as a side event at a sanctioned match. I very much doubt that club will attract many serious competitors. My guess is these folks are attempting to run "old school"...the way many early SASS matches were held. Those days are long over. SASS has evolved a great deal, over the past 30-plus years. In any case, I wish them success.
The cost.....and especially shipping charges!!.....of "authentic" cowboy duds from the US has always stuck in my craw, too. Unfortunately, without a reasonably priced Canadian alternative....we're pretty much at their mercy, in our quest for period authenticity. Value Village and other "thrift" stores have become the steady friend of many cowboy action shootists. I am constantly amazed at how easy it is....for those(like myself) with even minimal sewing skills....to transform garments from the used bin to useable "period correct" cowboy attire. "Cowboy engineering", at its ingenious best.
Most cowboy action enthusiasts take great pride in their dress, deportment and dedication to the sport. "Looking the part", is one of the major reasons Cowboy Action is so unique among the shooting sports. But a person doesn't have to break the bank to do it.
You are right.....SASS shooters will often travel great distances, to enjoy the sport. But....when they get there, they will expect that event to be run properly and safely, and according to SASS rules. "Outlaw" shoots might be fun on occasion. Say...as a side event at a sanctioned match. I very much doubt that club will attract many serious competitors. My guess is these folks are attempting to run "old school"...the way many early SASS matches were held. Those days are long over. SASS has evolved a great deal, over the past 30-plus years. In any case, I wish them success.
The cost.....and especially shipping charges!!.....of "authentic" cowboy duds from the US has always stuck in my craw, too. Unfortunately, without a reasonably priced Canadian alternative....we're pretty much at their mercy, in our quest for period authenticity. Value Village and other "thrift" stores have become the steady friend of many cowboy action shootists. I am constantly amazed at how easy it is....for those(like myself) with even minimal sewing skills....to transform garments from the used bin to useable "period correct" cowboy attire. "Cowboy engineering", at its ingenious best.
Most cowboy action enthusiasts take great pride in their dress, deportment and dedication to the sport. "Looking the part", is one of the major reasons Cowboy Action is so unique among the shooting sports. But a person doesn't have to break the bank to do it.
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Corey: By now, you understand why many cowboy action shooters: "Come for the shooting. But stay for the people". No matter where your travels may take you as a cowboy action competitor, you can expect the same warmth and generosity from the folks you "posse up" with.
By the way....misses are a fact of life, for cowboy shooters. They're gonna happen. My advice: When you miss....don't take it seriously. Have a good laugh at yourself. Shrug it off and move on. The more you practice and compete, the sharper your skill sets will become. Misses will become fewer and fewer. You likely won't eliminate them altogether....very few if any, do. But over time, they become less important. Better to concentrate your energy on overall performance.
Follow this mantra: "Smooth is fast. Fast is smooth". Once you understand how to apply this concept to your shooting...you're going to realize that that, is the key to success, in this game. Above all....enjoy yourself.
By the way....misses are a fact of life, for cowboy shooters. They're gonna happen. My advice: When you miss....don't take it seriously. Have a good laugh at yourself. Shrug it off and move on. The more you practice and compete, the sharper your skill sets will become. Misses will become fewer and fewer. You likely won't eliminate them altogether....very few if any, do. But over time, they become less important. Better to concentrate your energy on overall performance.
Follow this mantra: "Smooth is fast. Fast is smooth". Once you understand how to apply this concept to your shooting...you're going to realize that that, is the key to success, in this game. Above all....enjoy yourself.
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Historically correct or not, I wear both a belt on my jeans and suspenders, some of us have a lot of kit on our gun belts! In my case 2 holsters, 2x "original Vaqueros in .44 mag, shotgun slides for 8 rds, 26 rds of .44 mag, screwknife, 5 rds of .45 Colt. The buckle on my jeans supports my gunbelt in position.
