Are There Cowboy Action Shooting Experiences?

[Daekar]

My wife and I are planning a trip to Texas and it occurred to me that they might have some kind of business that allows you to get the cowboy action experience even if you don't own the guns for it. I'm envisioning something where they give you a few pieces of costume, walk you through gun safety and function for the guns you'll use, and then set you up to go through a few supervised courses of fire on their SASS range with one or more guns.

The idea sounds really fun, but I don't know if it's actually a thing. Does anybody know of a place like that?

[Rapier]

If you have a single action and a western style rig, bring it with you with loads on the order of a 38 Spl wad cutter. You do not need an outfit. Find a range shooting SASS matches on your route and work the get together date. Go by and watch for a bit, they will usually ask if you brought your rig. Every place I have ever been was a come on down, kind of match. A hat for the sun, shooting glasses and ear protection is a must, you shoot steel plates, pop, tink, sort of thing.
My first time out of the chute, I brought my OM Blackhawk in 44 Mag with my silhouette load, first shot, was a total freak out, woah, woah, you are destroying our target, which I certainly would have done had I shot another round. The first 240g hard cast with 23g H-110 on that thin, soft steel made a 1/2” deep dent in it. I had no idea they were shooting so soft a target. You feel kind of dumb, if you are a steel shooter, tearing up a target like that, I was used to shooting 1/2” T-1 armor plate targets.

[waksupi]

If you have a single action and a western style rig, bring it with you with loads on the order of a 38 Spl wad cutter. You do not need an outfit. Find a range shooting SASS matches on your route and work the get together date. Go by and watch for a bit, they will usually ask if you brought your rig. Every place I have ever been was a come on down, kind of match. A hat for the sun, shooting glasses and ear protection is a must, you shoot steel plates, pop, tink, sort of thing.
My first time out of the chute, I brought my OM Blackhawk in 44 Mag with my silhouette load, first shot, was a total freak out, woah, woah, you are destroying our target, which I certainly would have done had I shot another round. The first 240g hard cast with 23g H-110 on that thin, soft steel made a 1/2” deep dent in it. I had no idea they were shooting so soft a target. You feel kind of dumb, if you are a steel shooter, tearing up a target like that, I was used to shooting 1/2” T-1 armor plate targets.

A lot of us got out of the game when powder puff loads came into being.

[dannyd]

if you show up at a match most times before the shortage someone would let you use their guns and shoot a match don't know about now.

That's a long drive from Virginia been there done that.

[dverna]

The first match I went to was to scope it out and see if I liked it. During the lunch break, I was asked if I wanted to try it. They gave me a holster and two revolvers, a rifle and shotgun plus the ammunition and let me shoot a stage. It was a blast. I shot the stage clean but was slower than a crippled porcupine.

I got hooked and did it for about 10-12 years. The folks at a CAS are great. You can be a gamer or just go and have fun...nobody cares. The reason I stopped going to matches was that I love to shoot and matches are not a lot of fun. You shoot for 25-35 seconds and then stand around manning the loading, unloading tables, picking up brass/hulls, running the timer, or spotting....so "work" for an hour until the next stage. Matches last 6 hours to shoot for 3 minutes. If the social aspect means the most to you...go for it. If you like putting rounds downrange, there are better venues. We wound up spending 2-4 hours a week on the practice range burning through 400-500 rounds...and stopped going to matches.

Some folks get their panties in a knot over "powder puff" aka "gamer" loads. That is what the winners shoot, plus most of people who participate. You can shoot full power .45LC but not many do.

When I left, there was a push to add more categories and that was a turn off. Not sure how that panned out.

[Springfield]

I have been shooting SASS matches since 1999. Every club I have been to will let new people try out their guns and shoot a simulated stage if they want to,usually after the match.
Yes, the loads have become lighter over the years for those who really want to "win", but many, like myself, have either stuck to the more realistic loads or have switched to Blackpowder rounds. And then we compete with others who have done the same and ignore the overall winners list. There are no prizes, so to us having more fun is winning. I shoot with my wife and 2 kids most of the time, with my daughter also shooting BP, while my wife and son shoot smokeless.
As for the targets, most clubs have switched to better steel, as even slow soft rounds will damage the targets eventually. And as for 6 hours matches, I have never been to a local shoot that lasted more than 3.5 hours. A 6 hour match is more in line with a state or national shoot. Concerning "too many categories", I agree, but don't really care. I just shoot how I want to shoot and let the other guy do the same. As long as everybody follows the rules, I am good.
If i want to just shoot a lot of rounds, I go to practice days, and go for it. Not the same as a match, though. Nobody to make fun of my mistakes or me to make fun of. All in fun but it keeps you on your toes more if someone is watching. Be kind of like playing golf by yourself, or going to a batting cage by yourself, and never play with other folks. Seems kind of boring.

[Walks]

A long time ago, in a century far away....

SASS decided in the early 1990's handgun knockdown targets would be set to fall from a hit with a Standard .38Spl 158gr RN Service load.
I don't know what it's like today, as I quit Cowboy Shooting in 2009.
Handgun plates at 18" X 18" set less then 20ft away became ridiculous to Me.
Spirit of the Game was dead. The gamers killed it.

[Txcowboy52]

Big targets up close , lost interest really quick, like others have said it was great fun until the gamers ruined it.

[dannyd]

A lot of people moved on; you can only shoot so many clean matches then it's getting boring

[rockshooter]

"Spirit of the Game was dead. The gamers killed it."
Exactly. I have badge 442 hanging on the wall. When it left El Toro it had already changed for the worse.
Loren

[BunkTheory]

if you want the genuine cow boy shootout experience, simply drive an escalade through el paso

[Bad Ass Wallace]

Been shooting cowboy for over 30 years, never lost the urge to simply have fun. BAW shoots the biggest meanest guns possible, 50/70 and 45/90 for long range, 44/40 for rifle and pistol with stiff loads.
It was funny last month, I got deq'ed when both barrels of my shotgun went off, the darn gun flew over my shoulder and hit the RO. Pretty serious at the time but we all laugh about it now.

Shoot for your own pleasure and don't worry about keeping up with the Johnes!

[ulk77more]

i am looking for some C&B bp shoots in the MD VA area, anyone know of any?

[remy3424]

So they must not time the runs. Might start timing yourself for a challege or change disciplines. Doesn't sound like it is meant to be a competive sport.

[shooterg]

If you have a single action and a western style rig, bring it with you with loads on the order of a 38 Spl wad cutter. You do not need an outfit. Find a range shooting SASS matches on your route and work the get together date. Go by and watch for a bit, they will usually ask if you brought your rig. Every place I have ever been was a come on down, kind of match. A hat for the sun, shooting glasses and ear protection is a must, you shoot steel plates, pop, tink, sort of thing.
My first time out of the chute, I brought my OM Blackhawk in 44 Mag with my silhouette load, first shot, was a total freak out, woah, woah, you are destroying our target, which I certainly would have done had I shot another round. The first 240g hard cast with 23g H-110 on that thin, soft steel made a 1/2” deep dent in it. I had no idea they were shooting so soft a target. You feel kind of dumb, if you are a steel shooter, tearing up a target like that, I was used to shooting 1/2” T-1 armor plate targets.

Our club requires all steel bought by any discipline to be AR500 or better - just in case !

[David2011]

So they must not time the runs. Might start timing yourself for a challege or change disciplines. Doesn't sound like it is meant to be a competive sport.

Huh? They most definitely time the runs. I’ve seen guys fire 10 rounds through a lever action rifle in the 3 second range. Five rounds from a revolver in under two seconds. It’s extremely competitive for the serious shooters.

[M-Tecs]

So they must not time the runs. Might start timing yourself for a challege or change disciplines. Doesn't sound like it is meant to be a competive sport.

To be a national level competitor takes an incredible amount of skill and dedication.



However, until like most competitive shooting games a lot of people shoot it solely for fun. One gentlemen locally loads his shotshells with real black and glitter and or feathers alone with the shot. He will never win much except for the fun factor awards.

[M-Tecs]

These folks are just shooting for fun.

[M-Tecs]

Basics here but check out the shooter at about the 4:53 mark.

[shootinfox2]

Go to sassnet.com. Loads of info. Look up a club close to you and give them a call. You will be suprised what people will do to assist you into our sport.