Cowboy Action Shooting
Last Updated: 10 Sep 2006
 
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Cowboy Action Shooting - Bill Tatten A little Cowboy Talk from John Wayne! |
First, you must be a shooter or you wouldn't be here. Remember the TV shows like Rawhide, Gunsmoke, Bonanza and others? Interested in a flair for the Old West? Then, read on!
WSA's newest program - Cowboy
Action
Shooting- a 3-gun event at our Black Powder Range.
All you need to get started is a six-shooter, a scatter gun and/or a cowboy rifle (all described below).If you're really interested, suit up with all 3 guns, add western-style clothing, leather, boots, a stetson hat and more for the cowboy charm. CAS has been 'brewin' for a couple of years out West and is now starting in clubs 'back East'. Cowboy Jim Larkin is our CAS program director.
For each gun in the 3-gun program, there is a specific course of fire - see below. You can enter one or more of the events depending on which guns you have. Oh, you don't just shoot at paper targets. You shoot at real hard steel - that rings or falls down when hit. That adds a little gratification to the game. Drop on over to the Black Powder Range on Saturday morning (that's when it runs) & check it out.
Here at WSA we are just "getting our feet wet" with Cowboy Action Shooting. Our saturday morning shoots are mostly informal practice sessions. Cowboy clothing is optional, but ALL S.A.S.S. AMMUNITION REQUIREMENTS AND SAFETY RULES APPLY! We are here to have fun, but safety is paramount. Anyone thinking of participating should read the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) below before coming out to the range. It might save you the frustration of being told that your gun or ammunition are unsuitable and can't be used. The Range Marshall has the final say on what is and isn't legal for this activity.
FAQ
Where do you shoot?The Cowboy Action Shooting takes place on Saturday mornings at the WSA Black Powder Range. The range is open for blackpowder (muzzleloaders only) shooting in the afternoon and the rest of the week.
Does this mean we can
now shoot cartridges at the black powder range?
ONLY DURING THE COWBOY ACTION
SHOOTING SESSIONS DESCRIBED ABOVE. AT ALL OTHER TIMES THE USE OF CARTRIDGES
ON THE BLACK POWDER RANGE IS A SERIOUS VIOLATION OF RANGE RULES THAT WILL
LEAD TO SEVERE DISCIPLINARY ACTION!
What do you shoot?
We shoot single-action revolvers,
pistol caliber lever-action (and some pump-action) carbines, and double
barrel or exposed hammer lever or pump-action shotguns. Most are of modern
manufacture but they are supposed to look like authentic cowboy guns of
the 1800s.
What ammunition is used?
Center fire cartridges of
pistol caliber using lead alloy bullets at low velocities. Revolver cartridges
must be loaded to a velocity of less than 1000 FPS. Carbine cartridges
must be loaded to a velocity of less than 1400 FPS. Some cartridges (but
not the only ones) that are suitable (when loaded as described above) are:
.32 Magnum .38 Special .357
Magnum .41 Magnum .44 Special .44 Magnum .44-40 .45 Long Colt
Are these black powder
loads?
No, most cowboy loads use
small amounts of modern smokeless powder to achieve the low velocities.
Black powder may also be used, but DUPLEX LOADS (A SMALL STARTER LOAD OF
SMOKELESS BEHIND A BLACK POWDER CHARGE) ARE STRICTLY PROHIBITED!
Can I use a .22 rimfire?
No. These are not allowed.
Do I have to load my own shells?
While many CAS shooters
reload their cartridges either to save money or fine-tune the accuracy
and recoil characteristics, many stores carry factory loads that meet S.A.S.S.
requirements. These will be marked as "Cowboy" ammunition. The growing
popularity of the sport has caused many manufacturers to offer such ammunition
in the popular calibers.
What about shotgun ammunition?
Trap and light field loads
in 10, 12, 16, or 20 gauge are allowed as long as the shot size is not
larger than # 7 1/2 birdshot. Paper, plastic, and brass shells may be used.
No high velocity or magnum loads are allowed.
What do you shoot at?
Cowboy Action Shooting uses
a variety of steel plate targets. Some ring when hit, some fall down or
otherwise move. Because we use steel targets, only softer bullets at low
velocities are allowed to prevent dangerous richochets. THE USE OF JACKETED
BULLETS IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED, AS ARE MAGNUM OR HIGH-VELOCITY LOADS!
Where can I learn more?
Please visit the Single
Action Shooting Society (S.A.S.S.) web site using the link at the bottom of
the page. They have a Shooters Handbook (downloadable for free) that explains
everything in detail. Then come out and join us on a Saturday. Come out
even if you don't already own suitable equipment, or aren't sure. You can
learn a lot by watching and talking to people and the guys are usually
pretty good about letting "newbies" try it out.
See Ya there, Pardner!
Join SASS, the Single Action Shooting Society