Cowboy Action Shooting

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Nut3lla

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Hello,

Not certain this is the right fourm feel free to redirect if not. New shooter here and I'm interested in Cowboy Action Shooting. Can anyone recommend how one could get started or whom I could reach out to for more information on such.

Much appreciated.
 
I just searched the internet for "canada cowboy action mounted" and the results incuded websites for national, provincial, and local groups.

SASS has a find-a-club-near-you search field.

(From there, it depends upon where you're at.)
 
Do not know where you are located but pretty much every Provence has clubs .Find a club and go to a match ask questions and watch what the shooters are doing. Do not be surprised if someone invites you to shoot with borrowed equipment.
Google SASSnet they will have info on rules and safety and where to find clubs with contact info. There are plenty of you tube video's on different aspects of the game. It's about the most fun you can have with your boots on.
 
slowfire has pretty much laid it out for you. Here's a you tube source which will give you a real flavour for the sport: jed i tv.
Well worth watching. Lots of action and great information. Closest thing to being at an actual match.
By the way, this is the right forum to ask questions about the sport. Feel free to ask. Plenty of highly experienced folks that can answer all of them.
 
Yup Alex and Slowfire are right but first we need to know where your located.
wendel is also right to a degree, there is a vast difference between "Mounted Shooting" and "Ground Cowboy shooting" so make sure you are researching the sport you want to get into.

Getting geared up for ground cowboy'n is expensive but a mere drop in the bucket compared to mounted shooting....but mounted shooters get paid when they win, not much but a little bit were as ground, you only get the satisfaction.
 
Fingers is right about the expense part
Unfortunately under the currant Liberal firearms fiasco. unless you are already set up with your handguns any handgun games you might want to play will likely involve borrowed guns.
 
Cowboy Action Shooting is probably the most shooter friendly shooting discipline for both men and women alike. As was said before, go to a match, watch what happens, ask to try out different firearms. BEFORE you spend any money, read the SASS Shooters Manual, discover what category appeals to you, as some categories require specific (read as possibly expensive) and spend your money wisely. My wife likes to shop a thrift stores for "period correct" clothing. While initially expensive while you kit out, the fun you will have and the friendships that will develop are priceless.


Also keep in mind, Junior won't be around for ever, we have no idea what the firearms laws will look like 2 years from now.
 
When you're just starting out, basic cowboy attire works; you don't have to immediately meet the requirements for Frontier or B-Western and can avoid going down the perfect-costume rabbit hole indefinitely.

Likewise Gunfighter and Duelist shooting categories are optional, and a lot of shooters draw their revolvers one after the other and fire each two-handed. That's easier and faster and meshes better with modern training you're likely to have nowadays.

And if you don't have two single-action revolvers but do have a 1911, the Wild Bunch rules recently changed to make that more accessible.
 
slowfire said:
Do not know where you are located but pretty much every Provence has clubs .Find a club and go to a match ask questions and watch what the shooters are doing. Do not be surprised if someone invites you to shoot with borrowed equipment.
Google SASSnet they will have info on rules and safety and where to find clubs with contact info. There are plenty of you tube video's on different aspects of the game. It's about the most fun you can have with your boots on.
Click to expand...
Appreciate it. Ill definitely look into the resources provided and go from there. Ill have to do a bit of travelling probably due to living in TO.
 
Nut3lla: You won't need to travel far. Burlington, Wentworth(Hamilton), Decew (Thorold) and Barrie, all host cowboy action matches. For full information on these, plus others within easy driving distance from Toronto, visit the OSASF (Ontario Single Action Shooting Federation) website. A full calendar of events and location info, is posted there. Plus, plenty of other useful information.

Al

ps: Be sure to follow Garand's advice: Before you buy any guns, gear, clothes, etc., attend a few matches as an observer. See what the competitors use....and why. Ask plenty of questions. Don't be surprised if you're invited to shoot a stage or two. The cowboy action community features some of the nicest, friendliest, most helpful and generous folks on the planet.
Just show up. Let them know you are new to the sport and want to learn. You can be assured of having a great time.
 
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freddyfour: Along the line of your idea....A category called: "Josey Wales" is one variation which is occasionally seen at local club level matches. In this variation, revolvers are substituted for the rifle portion of stages. Shotgun remains the same. So...four or more revolvers, plus shotgun.

Note: To my knowledge... to date: This variation is not SASS sanctioned. So would not be allowed at any major sanctioned match. This is strictly a club level category....only.

Participation is entirely at the club Match Director's discretion. This also includes any restrictions as to target engagement, scoring, etc.

For those who wish to compete "Josey Wales" style, permission should be sought, prior to the match.

It bears mentioning that, so far, I have not seen anyone turned down. Or in: "Working Cowboy"...which is a single revolver, only. Reloads on the clock. Rifle and shotgun are included, as usual. To fill out the battery.

With the current handgun freeze in place.....In my opinion....rifles could just as easily be substituted, as another variation. So long as this does not create an unfair advantage for the rifles-only shooter. Again....with the Match Director's prior consent.

Should you wish to participate in this way, I suggest contacting your local club(or clubs) for direction.

Al

ps: In the meantime, we'll just have to wait until October 2025 (hopefully sooner), to see whether this current madness continues.
 
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A long-arm-only class would have to be two rifles for 10 rounds each plus the shotgun. This would be substantially faster once you get going, and wouldn't be of interest offiically to SASS in the US, but maybe could work as an unofficial thing in Canada for new shooters without revolvers until that gets reversed.
 
Now I am going to date myself, I remember when CAS went from shooting with one handgun to requiring 2 handguns. At the time I was unable to afford a second handgun for about 3 years and during that time I was able to borrow a spare handgun from a friend who also shot cowboy action. Many of the competitors that shoot, bring "backup" guns just in case of breakage during a match. While it is not a perfect solution, it could suffice until we get our next government to flush this woke B$ legislation that has been passed.
 
Nut3lla said:
Hello,

Not certain this is the right fourm feel free to redirect if not. New shooter here and I'm interested in Cowboy Action Shooting. Can anyone recommend how one could get started or whom I could reach out to for more information on such.

Much appreciated.
Click to expand...
If you are ok with shooting black powder, you can get into ammo for very cheap. I came into most of my cowboy shooting stuff for free from people who were scared of their grandfather's black powder ammo cache in the basement. Good luck getting your own six gun right now though. keep an eye on CAS facebook groups, something will come up.
 
old303: I couldn't see SASS adopting that classification, either. Many folks are a lot faster with rifles, than handguns. To some shooters it doesn't make the least difference, one way or the other. As they are equally fast, regardless of the firearm used. But to some, it could be seen as having an unfair advantage. SASS rules are all about having as level a playing field as possible, for all competitors.
Still...there is a lot more to the sport of cowboy action, than being able to beat the other fella at gun play. So I don't object at all, to the way a person chooses to compete. Unofficially. So long as it keeps drawing people into the sport. For ultimately, we are all there to shoot, have fun and enjoy the company of some great folks.

Al

ps Garand: There are still a few clubs out there that occasionally host cowboy action matches, like those in the "good old days" of the sport's infancy. Using props, special stage set ups, stage instructions, etc.** These always add a bit more flavour to a match.
The current trend toward raw speed may be exciting, but....there's nothing that will get the blood pumping like nearly falling flat on your backside, while attempting to dismount from a saddled stand... in the middle of shooting a stage. Especially, in front of a crowd!
True...Most seasoned shooters will bring along spare guns....and plenty of spare ammo. So, new shooters shouldn't be afraid to show up, if missing a few guns, etc. There will always be someone(or a bunch of folks), willing to lend one to shoot.
** The famous: "Outhouse Stage" at SMLC, being a perennial favourite. Always fun to shoot.
 
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I run matches in Chatham but as others said there are lots of clubs near the GTA. Personally if a new shooter didnt have access to revolvers I would have no problem sharing for matches. The other members where I shoot would alll say the same thing too. Have fun getting into it I was surprised to discover that it is my favorite discipline by far. If you have more questions feel free to send a Pm
 
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Alex, I remember when the "Outhouse Stage" was first built about 10+ years ago. My wife was shooting .38 Specials with a PF of 82 and could barely open the door with a first shot. Everyone aims for a low PF, right up until you shoot at a club that uses steel reactive targets.
 
Garand: Absolutely true. It seems that many cowboy action shooters are so caught up in chasing that lowest velocity/lowest recoil rabbit that, they forget about power factor. Until one of those pesky steel plates won't fall. Have seen it happen more than once...as I'm sure you have, too.

I like to maintain a minimum of around 80 pf for revolver loads(Currently sits at 78). And a minimum around 90, for rifle(Currently 93 pf). That combo seems to work well for me, as I've had no problems knocking over steel. The "Outhouse" plate always succumbing to my knock.
Of course, like many other cowboy action buffs, I am always tinkering with loads to see whether one might perform just that wee bit better than the other.

Still chasin' that rabbit.

Al
 
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I have been shooting a pair of Original Ruger Vaqueros in .44 mag for the best part of 25 years and the lowest PF that I have been able to achieve that gives me good accuracy is 120. Below that in .44 mag the bullets go everywhere.
 
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