{"id":1138,"date":"2019-01-16T19:49:09","date_gmt":"2019-01-16T19:49:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wideners.com\/blog\/?p=1138"},"modified":"2023-06-16T11:00:05","modified_gmt":"2023-06-16T11:00:05","slug":"guide-to-cowboy-action-shooting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wideners.com\/blog\/guide-to-cowboy-action-shooting\/","title":{"rendered":"Guide To Cowboy Action Shooting"},"content":{"rendered":"

Guest Writer: Kenzie Fitzpatrick<\/a><\/p>\n

So You Want To Be A Cowboy (or Girl) Action Shooter?<\/b><\/h3>\n

Out of all the shooting competitions I have done in my life, cowboy action shooting is the most fun I\u2019ve ever had. Getting started with the Single Action Shooting Society (SASS) can seem challenging. However, I can promise you it\u2019s not as hard to get started as you think. <\/span><\/p>\n

I always recommend that new shooters attend a match just to watch before competing so that they know what to expect. One day, at my home range, I walked over to watch the monthly cowboy action match going on. A stranger asked me if I\u2019d like to shoot the stage using his guns and ammo. How could I say no? From that moment on, I was completely hooked. <\/span><\/p>\n

From my very first match to today, every cowboy I have shot with has offered me their tips, guns, and gear. I am truly thankful for the generous community cowboy action shooting has. I\u2019ve been given a lot and I can tell you, I can\u2019t wait to pay it forward and let others use the gear and knowledge that I have. For a complete guide on SASS, check out the <\/span>handbook<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

Starting at the most basic level, you need to get the guns to shoot a match and then worry about the rest of the gear later.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

From beginning to end, here’s how I got myself fully locked and loaded on shooting cowboy matches:<\/span><\/p>\n

Cowboy Action Shooting Pistols<\/b><\/h4>\n
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Choosing the right pair of pistols for CAS depends largely on finding a caliber that you shoot accurately.<\/p><\/div>\n

To shoot a match, you need a pair of pistols. Cowboy action shooting (CAS) requires two pistols to be shot per stage, but only 5 rounds loaded per pistol. My favorite part about CAS is that there are so many categories and types of guns that you can use, there\u2019s something for everyone. <\/span><\/p>\n

Cowboy Action Shooters are divided into two different categories: <\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Open Age (Any Age)<\/li>\n
  2. Age-Based (Specific Age Categories)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    There are also two main shooting style categories: <\/strong><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Duelist Style – Single Fixed Sight Revolver or Double Duelist<\/li>\n
    2. Gunfighter Style – Two Fixed Sight Revolvers<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      I got started with a set of .38 special<\/a> Ruger Vaquero\u2019s. Depending on what you\u2019re looking to shoot, you can choose .32 caliber or larger with non-adjustable sights, adjustable sights, use black powder, .36 caliber or larger percussion pistols, and many more depending on the category.<\/span><\/p>\n

      Cowboy Action Shooting Rifles<\/b><\/h4>\n

      The next gun I picked up was a brand new lever-action 1873 Uberti short rifle. The rules for the rifle are that it must be any lever or slide action, tubular fed, exposed hammer rifle or carbine manufactured between 1860 and 1899, or any reproduction thereof. The barrel must be over 16\u201d in length and no box magazines or rifle calibers such as .30-30<\/a> or .38-55 are allowed. Only original or replica style open iron sights or tang mounted peep sights of the 1860 to 1899 period are allowed. <\/span><\/p>\n

      Cowboy Action Shooting Shotguns<\/b><\/h4>\n

      I was lucky enough to buy an already gunsmith tuned SKB 100 12 gauge side by side shotgun when I got started. This Japanese-made gun comes in a variety of models and isn’t too difficult to find on the market. There are a lot of options out there you can use such as a pump-action, side by side, or even a lever-action shotgun. <\/span><\/p>\n

      Here are a few guidelines on choosing your shotgun:<\/strong><\/p>\n