Cowboy Action Shooting (CAS) is a world-wide sport with clubs around the world. You will never meet a group of shooters who have more fun than the Cowboys. Here are several things you may be interested in:
Firearms: All firearms must be representative of guns used from the mid to late 1800’s. Original or reproductions are acceptable. The SASS website explain in detail what type guns are acceptable.
Shooters need a rifle, shotgun and two single action revolvers. Some choose a double barrel shotgun while some prefer a pump action. Make and caliber vary. Some folks use black powder ammunition while some use smokeless. There is something for everyone.
Don’t have all the correct guns but would like to get started in CAS? Bring what you have and meet us at the range.
Before buying a firearm, we suggest coming to one of our matches and check out the guns used by our members. We will be happy to let you try them and explain the good and bad points of each kind.
Costume: Competitors are required to wear clothing typical of the late 1800’s. You can also dress like your favorite Wild West movie star, such as Roy Rogers or Dale Evans. We do not have any “clothing police”. No one will yell at you if your shirt or pants is not of the correct period. As long as it is suggestive of the period it is OK. However, tennis shoes and baseball caps are not allowed for competitors.
To see what some of our members wear to a match, check our Scores and Pictures pages. The link is at the top of this page.
Half the fun is dressing the part.
Alias: Members are required to have an alias that can be registered with SASS to prevent duplication. Some members find their alias in western books and movies while some just make them up. Having a western alias and dressing the part is all part of the persona you can develop. Have fun with it.
Competition: Our club holds a match on the first and second Saturday of each month. We shoot at five or six different positions or “stages”. At each stage the shooters are given a scenario which explains the starting position and the target order. Typically, each stage requires 10 pistol rounds, 10 rifle rounds and 2-4 shotgun rounds.
Targets: Targets are steel that “ring” when hit. Normally there are three to five pistol targets and three to five rifle targets for each stage plus 2-4 shotgun targets.
Scoring: Shooters compete one at a time against the clock. An electronic timer measures the time from the starting beep to the final gunshot. Five seconds are added for each miss and 10 seconds are added for a procedural penalty.
"Speed is good but accuracy is better."
The only prize we offer on regular matches is bragging rights.
Safety: Each match is preceded by a mandatory safety meeting conducted by the Range Officer. Loading and unloading of guns is carefully monitored. Shooters and spectators are required to wear eye protection and hearing protection. Safety is something we take very seriously.
If you think you would like to try CAS, come to one of our matches. We would love to meet you and answer your questions.