Cowboy Action

[Bowdrie]

I did it for a few years before other "life things" interfered, CAS takes a good chunk of your time.
As others have said, the top guys are usually fairly young and all of them are using well modified guns with wimpy loads.
I started off with a pair of original Vaqueros in .44Mag, one in 5-1/2", for strong side, and a 4-3/4" in a cross draw.
A Browning B92 in .44Mag, and a Stoeger Coach gun in nickel rounded out the arsenal.
The Ruger's had action jobs, I turned the pistol-grip Stoeger into a straight-stock, (English stock,) got rid of all the checkering and laid on 8 coats of rubbed down varnish.
Also modified the action, changed the safety from automatic to manual, and replaced the stock hammer springs with cut-down 1911 mainsprings, (you want to be able to just "flick" the gun with one hand and have it open and re-cock the hammers while your off hand is reaching for a reload).
Opening up the chamber mouths, (like throating a 1911,) and polishing the chambers really helps your speed.
You don't want to have to "dump" the empty shells, one "flick" and the barrels drop, a quick little upward "jerk" and the empty shells fly out, meanwhile your off hand is getting fresh shells, which drop into the throated/polished chambers quickly.
Note: most stages are won or lost with the shotgun, anything you can do to get your shotgun times down pays off big time.
Used Mag cases in the rifle, (.44 Mag rifles feed mag cases better than special cases,) with 200gr bullets and Unique.
Used Special cases in the Ruger's with 240gr slugs, (heavy bullets hit higher, and I wanted to keep the point of impact closer to the point of aim as best I could with the light loads).
When I went to BP I quit using the Browning B92 and switched to a Marlin 1994SS, it was a disaster until a good gunsmith worked it over, (it wouldn't run at speed without the action getting totally locked up).
Oh, you put 6 rounds of 12ga with BP as fast as you can thru a double and the barrels can boil water. Lol.
You might like it more than you think, have fun.

[Sgt H]

I would like to see what the stage times would be if they had to shoot full power loads in the 38/40's, 44/40's and 45 colts like a real cowboy. I think a thick buffalo leather vest might stop some the wimp loads being used. Maybe it's time for a minimum power factor of 170 or so, that of a full power 38/40 from a revolver.

[armoredman]

Feel free to jump on front of one to test that theory out. Some of our shooters are in their 80s, amigo, and full power loads wouldn't be nice to them. As I said, we do things "real cowboys" don't do, like wear ear and eye protection, and I've never seen anyone pull up to a match on a horse, (how many tactical shooters show up in Hummers? Hmm), but, it looks like you've made up your mind. Have a nice day, pard, and watch where ya step behind the wagon.

[M-Tecs]

Cowboy action shooting when compared to what real cowboys did in the 1860 - 1920 is not remotely related. Reality is most cowboys carried a revolver to shoot the horse if they got hung up in the stirrup and were being dragged. Smokeless powder was not introduced until the end of what most would consider the end of the cowboy era. I have yet to see a cowboy match where the rider gets bucked off and dragged by the green horses they tended to ride during long cattle drives.

From a spectator viewpoint I enjoy watching the head bobbing that the BS shooters need to do on calm days to see through the smoke.

For the people that want more authenticity NCOWS is a better option than SASS.

[Bowdrie]

I would like to see what the stage times would be if they had to shoot full power loads in the 38/40's, 44/40's and 45 colts like a real cowboy.

I switched to BP, (Frontier cartridge class,) as soon as I could get my hands on a stainless Marlin, (B92s are so collectable only a fool would shoot BP in them).
I don't know what the power factor is, but my 1/16" compression loads of 3f in a .44Mag case were NOT wimp loads, nor were they when I went to .45Colt with new model Vaquero's and a Rossi 92.
Hint; a compressed load of 777 is no slouch either.
Today? I'm sure their are "gamers" who've figured out how to make reduced loads of BP without having an air space, or else mixing corn meal with the BP.
If everybody had to shoot "full power" a lot of women and older people with arthritis would be left out.
Authenticity? Look up what a Colt SAA and ammo cost in 1880.
The average "cowboy" was a "20 something" kid making $1 a day and found, and probably didn't shoot a gun 10 rounds a month if he even owned a gun.
A Colt SAA and a box of ammo cost ~a months wages, that's why you see so many old pictures of "cowboys" carrying old converted cap/ball guns, Iver Johnsons, and old "break top" Smiths.

[Half Dog]

All of the replies offer great information. I’m mostly looking at the fun factor.
I don’t do social media but if anyone would like to show more pictures, I would enjoy looking at them.

[Froogal]

Cowboy action shooting when compared to what real cowboys did in the 1860 - 1920 is not remotely related. Reality is most cowboys carried a revolver to shoot the horse if they got hung up in the stirrup and were being dragged. Smokeless powder was not introduced until the end of what most would consider the end of the cowboy era. I have yet to see a cowboy match where the rider gets bucked off and dragged by the green horses they tended to ride during long cattle drives.

From a spectator viewpoint I enjoy watching the head bobbing that the BS shooters need to do on calm days to see through the smoke.

For the people that want more authenticity NCOWS is a better option than SASS.

Bingo!!! NCOWS is where it's at. Some of us are fast, most of us are not, but we all have fun.

[Beerd]

had to look it up, National Congress of Old West Shootists.

http://ncows.com/
..

[armoredman]

They look like fun - but very limited in locations? I looked at the posse pages, and it looks like the closest NCOWS to AZ is in Texas? I have heard from a couple of guys who know NCOWS who really like the stickler for historical accuracy, down to not allowing cap rakes to be installed on black powder revolvers, and I wouldn't mind checking one out for fun, but that's a heckuva day trip!
Unless I am missing something?
By way of comparison, I can think of three SASS clubs within an hour of me, IIRC.
Edit to add, that sounded like I was disparaging NCOWS, not true, just unfortunately that they don't seem to be more widespread, and until I retire in 3 years, 10 months and 5 days, (but who's counting?), traveling for shooting matches is not an option. I know there are a bunch of SASS shooters who travel all over the place, and End of the Trail gets shooters from all over the world.
I hope I'm wrong and the map is inaccurate?

[M-Tecs]

They look like fun - but very limited in locations? I looked at the posse pages, and it looks like the closest NCOWS to AZ is in Texas? I have heard from a couple of guys who know NCOWS who really like the stickler for historical accuracy, down to not allowing cap rakes to be installed on black powder revolvers, and I wouldn't mind checking one out for fun, but that's a heckuva day trip!
Unless I am missing something?
By way of comparison, I can think of three SASS clubs within an hour of me, IIRC.

They did that to themselves due to strict adherence to being historically correct. I would much prefer NCOWS versus SASS due to the course of fire. About 20 years ago I drove about 150 miles one way to attend a match. It was deemed that my normal streetwear glasses were not period enough and I couldn't shoot with them. I turned around and drove 150 miles back. That was my last NCOW match. The best part about SASS is how laidback most people are. I have most of my fun after the matches.

[Bad Ass Wallace]

Of course you don't have to participate in the speed matches; there is always the long range slow matches.

[armoredman]

That is a NICE collection, sir.

[Froogal]

They did that to themselves due to strict adherence to being historically correct. I would much prefer NCOWS versus SASS due to the course of fire. About 20 years ago I drove about 150 miles one way to attend a match. It was deemed that my normal streetwear glasses were not period enough and I couldn't shoot with them. I turned around and drove 150 miles back. That was my last NCOW match. The best part about SASS is how laidback most people are. I have most of my fun after the matches.

The only stipulation that our posse makes is that you MUST wear eye protection. Everyday eye glasses are just fine. If you don't wear eyeglasses, then you must wear safety glasses. Safety glasses are NOT period correct, so there must have been something else going on.

We don't even care if you don't have period correct clothing for your first time, and maybe even for the second or third time, so long as you eventually get some. Only thing that MUST be period correct for your first time is the firearms.

[jonp]

Man, I'm sorry, what horrible "ambassadors" to the sport. If you live in a bigger city or between cities, I'll bet you can find other clubs around with those two gents. Almost every single cowboy I've met has been very open and welcoming to the sport.

I was very disappointing but I guess I found out why no one stopped to talk to them despite the nice examples of firearms they had on display including one of my Grail Guns, a Win 1873

[M-Tecs]

The only stipulation that our posse makes is that you MUST wear eye protection. Everyday eye glasses are just fine. If you don't wear eyeglasses, then you must wear safety glasses. Safety glasses are NOT period correct, so there must have been something else going on.

We don't even care if you don't have period correct clothing for your first time, and maybe even for the second or third time, so long as you eventually get some. Only thing that MUST be period correct for your first time is the firearms.

Nothing else was going on. I do have one correction. It was more like 30 years ago. It was one of their regional multiday matches. I had shot a couple of single day local NCOW matches without issue. I've worn glasses all my life. I was wearing wire frame glasses but the bottoms were the frameless monofilament wireless style.

At least in this area NCOW matches were almost as common as SASS matches in the mid 90's. Today NCOW is almost extinct. I wonder why? Others had similar issues in that time frame. Sounds like they backed off some but it appears it was a little late based on the number of matches today.

[15meter]

Nothing else was going on. I do have one correction. It was more like 30 years ago. It was one of their regional multiday matches. I had shot a couple of single day local NCOW matches without issue. I've worn glasses all my life. I was wearing wire frame glasses but the bottoms were the frameless monofilament wireless style.

At least in this area NCOW matches were almost as common as SASS matches in the mid 90's. Today NCOW is almost extinct. I wonder why? Others had similar issues in that time frame. Sounds like they backed off some but it appears it was a little late based on the number of matches today.

The dress code nazi's can even show up occasionally at SASS shoots. I used to shoot SASS at a semi-local club until I got tired of the snide under breath comments from one over the top "B" cowboy dressed dude. He disapproved of my shoes. I have plantar fasciitis, wearing cowboy boots or anything resembling hard soled shoes causes extreme pain.

He didn't like it and had no problem expressing his displeasure.

Out of 60-80 shooters he was the only one who made it unpleasant for non-conformists. I wasn't the only one he went after, but because he was one of the founding members of the SASS at the club, he got away with it. I didn't go for a couple of years, when I returned, he was still there as rude as ever.

One of my primary rules is avoid toxic people wherever, whenever I can. Haven't been back since. Too much fun in life to tolerate jerks.

[armoredman]

Aaaand my job is telling me whoops, sorry, you have to adjust your schedule and work location...and I will be working when we have our matches. Gee, thanks, guys.

[Half Dog]

Aaaand my job is telling me whoops, sorry, you have to adjust your schedule and work location...and I will be working when we have our matches. Gee, thanks, guys.

Ugh. I told my daughter about the Rio Salado and it’s 15 min from her house.

[Froogal]

The dress code nazi's can even show up occasionally at SASS shoots. I used to shoot SASS at a semi-local club until I got tired of the snide under breath comments from one over the top "B" cowboy dressed dude. He disapproved of my shoes. I have plantar fasciitis, wearing cowboy boots or anything resembling hard soled shoes causes extreme pain.

He didn't like it and had no problem expressing his displeasure.

Out of 60-80 shooters he was the only one who made it unpleasant for non-conformists. I wasn't the only one he went after, but because he was one of the founding members of the SASS at the club, he got away with it. I didn't go for a couple of years, when I returned, he was still there as rude as ever.

One of my primary rules is avoid toxic people wherever, whenever I can. Haven't been back since. Too much fun in life to tolerate jerks.

We have a couple of shooters that absolutely cannot wear anything but athletic style shoes. NO problem.

[armoredman]

Ugh. I told my daughter about the Rio Salado and it’s 15 min from her house.

You can still show up, absolutely, come on down and check it out, everyone would be glad to have you, just remember spectators must have both ear and eye protection on while shooting is going on. Also, I am gonna try to adjust my schedule so I can still shoot the monthly...just need to have a confab with the new boss.