It Should be Illigal!!!! Cowboy Action Shooting

[rbertalotto]

Went to my fourth shoot today in CT.

I'm here to tell ya, this much fun should be outlawed! I've shot Benchrest, Silhouette, IPSA, Balloon Shoots, you name it, I've most likely shot it over the past 40 years of shooting. But nothing compares to CAS. Lots of shooting (120 rounds today), not crazy competitive, very relaxed atmosphere.........and you get to really wail on your lever gun!

Today I shot my converted 1860 Colts for revolvers......smokeless powder for the first few stages and then I switched to Black Powder. After the fourth or fifth shot I couldn't even see the targets any longer! So I just pointed in the general direction and let lead fly. And I actually hit them!

My 1873 Winchester in 45LC just was unstoppable. You point it in the general direction of a target and it sings.......great rifle!

My 1897 pump action shotgun..................not so much! You need to beat this shotgun like an old mule or it simply will not cooperate. But by the third stage it knew who bought the oats. But I still need lots of practice single loading this beast "over the top".............

The costumes were a hit. The lady shooters were something to see............Very nice!

Can't wait for next month!

[pokey]

sounds like you hate that stuff, alright.

keep trying you might get to like it.

[rjohns94]

Very nice sounds like lots of fun

[O.S.O.K.]

It is a hoot. I competed for several years. My cass number is 10XXX which tells you when I got it.

As long as the "gamers" don't move in and spoil things it really is a good time.

[Chuck 100 yd]

I know what you mean pard!!
CAS = loads of fun.

[Pitchy]

Lookin good guys

[shooter]

Looks like a ton of fun. I have some acquaintances that shoot CAS over in Greenville, TX. I've been promising myself to get out and see what it's all about, but haven't yet.

[Old Savage]

And you get to wear a cowboy hat.

[rbertalotto]

ANY day you get to wear a Cowboy hat......................is a good day!

[M. M. Wright]

Most fun I ever had with my clothes on!

[FatJackDurham]

I'm going try that this year... When it gets above zero....

[redhawk]

That and mounted shooting seems like a good way to spend the day. Seems the only shooting fun most people want to have these days is "tactical" in nature.

[adirondakjack]

And Roy, yer just getting started! Wait till the day comes when ya sail through a stage like yer behind is afire, everything just clicks, and they all "ding". Yer gonna have so much adrenaline flowing ya won't hardly be able to clear yer guns. When I can run a 10-10-4 shooting "outlaw" (shotgun and pistols from the hip, rifle normally) and git em all, I grin fer aweek.

[FWiedner]

Don't worry, it probably will be after Obomney gets (re)elected.

[piller]

I really need to go to an event and watch. It sure sounds like a lot of fun. I was going to say it sounds like a blast, but that would be too much like a pun.

[kimwcook]

My SASS number is 29 thousand something. I don't remember my number without looking. I went to a number of shoots years ago, but I have to drive 60 miles to get to the closest shoot. Time ended up being a factor and I haven't been to one for years. They're a hoot and Adirondakjack is right about the adrenaline. It's some of the most fun I've ever had with my boots on.

[veeman]

I've been shooting CAS for a number of years now, and this year I got the extra gun so my wife can shoot too! It is alot of fun and a great way to make new shooting friends too.

[AJMD429]

Dumb Question:

• I've seen pictures of guys doing CAS, shooting balloons from horseback and so on - do you have to have (or ride) a horse to do CAS, or is that just one part of it that some people participate in and some don't...?

[rbertalotto]

Horse back is only for the "Mounted" category.

All you need is two Single Action revolvers, a lever rifle in a handgun caliber, and a side by side shotgun (or a model 1897 Winchester pump).

120 rounds of pistol and rifle ammo and maybe 30 rounds of shotgun ammo. A set of Period Correct holsters and some kind of cart to haul everything from stage to stage.

A Cowboy hat and a pair of boots....(check out the rules at SASS, Single Action Shooting Society to be sure they are "period correct"....eye and ear protection.

Black jeans will work for pants and a long sleeve shirt without button down collars..................And you are a CAS shooter!

From here, the sky is the limit for costume..........Not much needed in the gun area, maybe have them slicked up a bit. But it doesn't become an "equipment race" like some shooting sports

Put aside a few hours to spend here:

http://www.cascity.com/

Look around on the internet, tons of articles on how to get started.

Go to YouTube and you can see videos of a whole stage to get an idea what performance is needed. Targets are real close, but with a timed event, still challenging..........

Enjoy!

[MrMurphy]

I've shot one CAS match.

It was fun, but the starting costs are prohibitive for me. I don't have wheelguns and shotguns falling out of every closet or gunsafe.

I do tend to be a tactical shooter and keep proficient, because it may keep me alive someday.

But if I had more disposable income, i'd run a CAS match pretty regular just for fun.

[adirondakjack]

There really is something for almost every shooter in CAS.

You can focus on the period stuff, dress to the nines with yer pocket watch and old coins in yer pocket.....

You can be all about style and accuracy, a clean match your goal.

You can be about the boom and roar of a heavily loaded BP gun (some fellers shoot 10 ga BP shotguns).

You can get into the speed aspect, practicing endlessly with slicked and tricked guns.

You can just shoot and hoot and holler and have fun like an overgrown kid.

OR

You can do a chinese menu, selecting whatever combination of the above you feel like on any given day.

I've shot a cap and ball pistol mis-matched with a smokeless cartridge gun in duelist category (one hand shoots the pistols) and my "tricked out" rifle blazing away. Not setting any records with the pistols mind you but having fun while I'm at it.

Most importantly, you will meet some really fine folks who will keep you coming back. The community aspect of CAS has to be experienced to be understood. I have developed some really good friendships over the years through CAS. A weekend "away" shoot becomes a circle of modern day wagons (RVs) where you can drift from camp to camp and be welcomed at every one. Ya can't beat it.

I'm fixin to relocate to the SE, and expect I'll be welcomed as I have been in the NE and midwest, with plenty of handshakes and smiles.

[longarm4146]

My sass number is 4146,been around for awhile. Shoot double duelist and gunfighter mostly in Classic Cowboy. Shoot smokeless mostly, but BP 4 or 5 times a year. You should seriously think about switching to a SxS if you]re gonna keep shooting the holy stuff. This is the most fun you can have with clothes on......

[Chuck 100 yd]

Lets see if I can post a video clip or two?? click on the pic!!



Just a fun day at the range...

[JerryB]

My grandson Jerry3 and I did some cowboy shooting about three years ago. We had a great time and really did enjoy all the shooting (and reloading), but it was a long drive and just to far to go.

[Griff]

As seen in my tag line, my SASS # 93... I HAVE been around awhile... and was shooting CAS before they started SASS for a couple of years... And if you really want a challenge; give up those suppository handguns... shoot FRONTIERSMAN!

Although in this pic I'd just picked up my 1860 Henry and only had smokeless ammo (borrowed from my B-I-L) so I just entered as Traditional.. still slower'n molasses, but... what a HOOT!

As much as I like cowboy action shooting... the mounted stuff is still the cat's meow!
My last match:

My 2nd:

There are no pics of our 1st mounted events... we were using live ammo! Stupid, stupid idea!

From 1998 when I was the TX champ:

From about 1996 or '97 when I experienced my first mounted win... not bad for a city kid!!!

But, next to mounted shootin'... yeah, CAS is wonderful... I came for the shootin' of my old guns... and stayed because of the friendships I've formed... so many that have lasted over the 26 years I've been involved!
Team Match team from 1987:


And a couple of years ago... 3rd place long range rifle (I'm on the far right with the REALLY small trophy):

[Griff]

Okay, yes, video is the BEST way to get an idea of how it's done...
From the 2009 No Texas Roundup (The oldest annual cowboy match in TX - started in 1991), the side match "Mano y Mano"! And it's obvious why so many champions are getting away from the '97s and the trend is to the double. Back when I "practiced", there were no '97 shooters that could beat me with a double. Today... sure, but give me a few months of practice... and I don't think so! (Always good to be positive!)

[Rube Burrows]

My SASS number is 29 thousand something. I don't remember my number without looking. I went to a number of shoots years ago, but I have to drive 60 miles to get to the closest shoot. Time ended up being a factor and I haven't been to one for years. They're a hoot and Adirondakjack is right about the adrenaline. It's some of the most fun I've ever had with my boots on.

Im with you. I have to drive a pretty good distance.....closer to 80-100 miles one way so I dont go as often as I would like too but me and my son do go when we can. We have lots of fun.

It is by far one of the best shooting comps out there. In some of the other modern pistol comps.....if a gun breaks or something you are SOL.......at the cowboy shoots, someone will loan you a gun so you can keep on going. A truly laid back atmosphere and fun for all ages.

[FatJackDurham]

Just went too my first cowboy shoot in Dalton, NH. Fantastic range, with little fake store fronts at each stage. Great group of shooters, mostly older, and willing to impart tips galore. First tip learned, when loading a revolver, skip the second chamber, that way you will end with the empty chamber under the hammer.

I shoot perfect with my rossi, and boy did reloading my own cartridges come in handy. A regular shoot can require up to 300 rounds.

Unfortunately, I need to by a second revolver and a shotgun to be able to compete there for score. Oh, well,if that is what I have to do....

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

Went to my fourth shoot today in CT.

I'm here to tell ya, this much fun should be outlawed! I've shot Benchrest, Silhouette, IPSA, Balloon Shoots, you name it, I've most likely shot it over the past 40 years of shooting. But nothing compares to CAS. Lots of shooting (120 rounds today), not crazy competitive, very relaxed atmosphere.........and you get to really wail on your lever gun!

I too came from the other gun games. My SASS # is 6765 so that puts me in around 92-93. That's about when my eyes started going south. The SASS/CAS game with it's big up close targets works for tired eyes and is not as macho driven as the other games. I tell folks is more like a costume party with guns.