At one of the clubs where I compete in Cowboy Action, a regular feature of their stage scenarios involves reloading on the clock. Reloads can be either for rifle, revolver...sometimes both.... in the same stage. How many of you cowboy shooters out there practice rifle reloads, on a regular basis? How many practice revolver reloads? How often? What methods do you find work best, for you?
Cowboy Action Shooting: Reloading on the clock
- Thread starter Alex McKr
- Start date
I had rifle reload once in a while. I use a Win '92 so reload is easy, just drop a round on the top and close the action. Other makes and models may be different...
Revolver reload, on the other hand, i may have had it once in a match in the last 12 years...
Revolver reload, on the other hand, i may have had it once in a match in the last 12 years...
fingers284
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Alberta Cowboy Ranges
We've done both rifle & pistol reloads on the clock...and the wife & I don't practice either one but some after the pink Cadilllac do.
Usually a rifle re-load is only one round "off your body" but staged rounds in a tub or something comes up sometimes. Pistol re-loads can be a one round scenario that is quite easy, pop one in the empty hole, count the clicks & fire...but some times a devious match director will come up with a "complete re-load" that can benefit from a bit of practice.
Many years ago, I was R.O. on a pistol reload stage one time & the shooter, instead of "counting the clicks" actually flipped the gun back, bore to his face & started to watch for the loaded round bullet come around in the chamber end...he didn't get far...DQ...put your guns away ...
Usually a rifle re-load is only one round "off your body" but staged rounds in a tub or something comes up sometimes. Pistol re-loads can be a one round scenario that is quite easy, pop one in the empty hole, count the clicks & fire...but some times a devious match director will come up with a "complete re-load" that can benefit from a bit of practice.
Many years ago, I was R.O. on a pistol reload stage one time & the shooter, instead of "counting the clicks" actually flipped the gun back, bore to his face & started to watch for the loaded round bullet come around in the chamber end...he didn't get far...DQ...put your guns away ...
When I write up a match my wife ensures that there are no pistol reloads on the clock, but she will accept at least 1 rifle load per match without throwing me to the dog house! Neither of us is after the pink Caddy either but we generally make it easy and do "off the body" for whom ever is after the Caddy.
My club does cowboy action shooting, and I think I'd like to eventually try it, but lack anything to do with revolvers or lever actions in my collection. Is their an official site or rule book regarding this sport? Would love to be bale to read what is needed.
Ribstaylor: Go to the SASS(Single Action Shooting Society) site, for all your information, including rules, etc. Also, since you're in Ontario, OSASF(Ontario Single Action Shooting Federation), is a great resource for info on clubs in your area that host cowboy action, calendar of matches, events, etc.
Personally, I enjoy the added challenge. Really spices up the game. Plus, adds to a shooter's repertoire of skills. Makes a nice break from the same old 10-10-4 stand-and-deliver stages. Don't get me wrong. I like them too, since I'm long past the vigour of my youth. And dislike stages that are more marathon, than shooting. But, that adrenaline rush that hits when its your turn to perform is fun, no doubt about it.
I don't think there'll be a pink Caddy in my driveway anytime soon. But I do practice reloads regularly....'just in case'.
I don't think there'll be a pink Caddy in my driveway anytime soon. But I do practice reloads regularly....'just in case'.
fingers284
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Alberta Cowboy Ranges
The "pink Caddy" innuendo has been use for a long time, usually used to 'chide" a gamer trying to win at any expense or method. The pink caddy is just used because of the makeup seller that used to reward their sales excelor's with "pink Caddy's".
also used as an excuse by non-gamers that wont spend anything other than the bare minimum on equipment "because all we ever win is a piece of paper and no "pink Cadillac" so what's the use...
Now you know LOL.
fingers284
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Alberta Cowboy Ranges
Is an option ( I don't recall anything in the handbook that would prohibit it) and probably as quick as a "full reload" would be but the epitome of "full on the clock reloads would be a replica Schofield...break it open and dump the empties in one motion.
The 2 cylinders actually has merit in the mid to late 1800's lore that the sport is based on. The Union Army purposely bought and issued 1858-1863 New Models Rem pistols to their Cavalry soldiers as opposed to the infantry that received the Colts model of 1860. In their trials they came to the conclusion it was far easier for a cavalry trooper to just drop the loading lever that pulled the pin and insert a new cylinder while mounted & moving on horseback as opposed to the Colts that required wedge removal, then barrel removal before cylinder replacement, they had a lot of un-connected parts in-hand to drop, all the while trying to control a very excited animal . The infantry & artillery units were issued the Colts because "if they dropped a piece they just had to bend over to pick it up.
A humorous story that involves an "original Schofield". An old boy in our club used a pair of original Schofield's as his "main match" pistols ( he was a stickler for authenticity). Scenario called for shooter to be seated in a chair in front of a window, at the beep, shooter stood up and drew first pistol to engage targets through the window. At the beep, this shooter started to stand and draw his first pistol all in one motion...however, in his hast to engage, he whacked the front sight of the gun under the lip of the window sill...that old Schofield must have had a bit of wear on the top latch as when he hit the window sill his gun opened completely, dumping all his live rounds at his feet forcing him into an unplanned complete reload on the clock.
And before any "Cowboy R. O's" jump down my throat as to why he wasn't offered a re-start on the basis that he hadn't fire a live round downrange yet, he was offered one but as I said before he was a sticker for authenticity and refused on the basis that "there ain't no re-starts in a real gunfight".
fingers284: Your story about the old timer and his Schofield gave me quite a chuckle. Witnessed almost the same thing, about five years ago. Only this time, as the shooter drew his revolver, his thumb must have been on the cylinder latch. So, as he drew... the thumb pressure tripped the latch. At about that same time, the revolver barrel caught momentarily on the holster. This resulted in a 'perfect storm' of co-incidence. The revolver promptly popped open... enthusiastically ejecting its unfired rounds... exactly as it was designed to do. Since the revolver portion of the stage was at the end of it, he had no choice but to reload on the clock. Or take the five misses. In retrospect, he might have been further ahead just to take the misses. As all that fumbling around, dropped rounds and cursing(he knew some colourful ones, too), cost him a lot more time. Entertaining as it was, for onlookers. But, it was the last stage, of a clean match. So, I get his point. Just another day in the life of a Schofield owner. Thanks for sharing.
Okay, thanks, makes sense.
I've been elsewhere in the pistol sports world and never came across that one, and most terminology makes its way across disciplines. Everywhere you'll see a few intently focused on winning, mostly those who are good enough that it's in reach, and then there are those who seem to always think buying the right magic geegaw will put them on the winning track, and then at the far unfashionable end of the bell curve those who apparently aren't even trying. The key thing seems to be to actually enjoy the sport, followed by putting in enough effort at doing it right that you're not a discredit to the sport or a danger to yourself or others. If reloads, weak-hand-only, odd shooting positions and the like are part of the sport then actually practising them is generally considered a good thing, though it is a very time-honoured thing that whoever is setting up the match will choose the one thing you didn't practice lately as a feature of a stage.
I've been elsewhere in the pistol sports world and never came across that one, and most terminology makes its way across disciplines. Everywhere you'll see a few intently focused on winning, mostly those who are good enough that it's in reach, and then there are those who seem to always think buying the right magic geegaw will put them on the winning track, and then at the far unfashionable end of the bell curve those who apparently aren't even trying. The key thing seems to be to actually enjoy the sport, followed by putting in enough effort at doing it right that you're not a discredit to the sport or a danger to yourself or others. If reloads, weak-hand-only, odd shooting positions and the like are part of the sport then actually practising them is generally considered a good thing, though it is a very time-honoured thing that whoever is setting up the match will choose the one thing you didn't practice lately as a feature of a stage.
Northaways
Regular
- Location
- Northaways
So a ‘gamer’ is someone that admits to practicing things like reloads in Cowboy Action Shooting competitions?
Hmmm ...all the sports i’ve ever competed in practice was always strongly encouraged. Given the importance of safety in our gun sports I would think encouraging competitors to be proficient in handling their guns would be paramount.
As an RO many of the safety infractions I’ve see are often caused by shooters that haven’t practiced enough and are not confident in the use and handling of their guns.
The great thing about Cowboy Action Shooting is that there's a place for just about everyone:
If you want to be pushing the speed envelope with a super slicked up Vaquero and a short stroked '73 then there's a category for you.
If you want to dress head to toe in sequins and stun the crowd with your clothes craft then there's a category for you.
If you want to be historically accurate and wear what they wore and shoot what they shot then there's a category for you.
Honestly, there's absolutely no need for name calling in CAS. If you don't like the competitiveness in your category then maybe you should change categories? "Take the Black" and join the Brotherhood.
If you want to be pushing the speed envelope with a super slicked up Vaquero and a short stroked '73 then there's a category for you.
If you want to dress head to toe in sequins and stun the crowd with your clothes craft then there's a category for you.
If you want to be historically accurate and wear what they wore and shoot what they shot then there's a category for you.
Honestly, there's absolutely no need for name calling in CAS. If you don't like the competitiveness in your category then maybe you should change categories? "Take the Black" and join the Brotherhood.
Tudenom: "Take the Black". I do like that. Mind if I use that at my next match? Might finally make some converts.
Could not agree more. There is a place in Cowboy Action for everyone, at every skill level or desire. I've been called a 'gamer', a few times. Even jokingly called myself that, a few times. But, most folks: including myself...understand that the 'gamer' tag is nothing more than a lighthearted jab among fellow enthusiasts. Trash talk. So never taken seriously.
Too bad some folks take 'winning'...or themselves... too seriously. I guess you'll see that in any competitive sport. These are the 'gamers'. So, we poke fun at one another. Something like: "You could end up like THAT guy"!
That being said, I do work hard to constantly improve all of my skill sets, with regular practice. But don't expect to see that Champion buckle on my belt, anytime soon. That isn't my goal. Which I suspect is a shared goal, among many others, too. Ultimately: its all about doing one's best. Enjoying the company of other like-minded people. And just plain just having fun. We are playing a game, after all. That's my take on it, anyway.
Could not agree more. There is a place in Cowboy Action for everyone, at every skill level or desire. I've been called a 'gamer', a few times. Even jokingly called myself that, a few times. But, most folks: including myself...understand that the 'gamer' tag is nothing more than a lighthearted jab among fellow enthusiasts. Trash talk. So never taken seriously.
Too bad some folks take 'winning'...or themselves... too seriously. I guess you'll see that in any competitive sport. These are the 'gamers'. So, we poke fun at one another. Something like: "You could end up like THAT guy"!
That being said, I do work hard to constantly improve all of my skill sets, with regular practice. But don't expect to see that Champion buckle on my belt, anytime soon. That isn't my goal. Which I suspect is a shared goal, among many others, too. Ultimately: its all about doing one's best. Enjoying the company of other like-minded people. And just plain just having fun. We are playing a game, after all. That's my take on it, anyway.
