What is Cowboy Action Shooting?

If you love Western movies, whether it’s the modern ones or the old black & white ones, or are of an age that you remember all those Western TV shows this is your chance to live out the fantasies of your youth by becoming a Cowboy Action Shooter. As one of my Pards, Bad Penny, says “Your are never too old to have a happy childhood.” and Cowboy Action Shooters around the World prove him right every weekend.

Cowboy action shooting is a fantasy shooting sport using firearms of the Old West to shoot an array of metal targets with real ammunition while being timed. Shooters are required to dress in Old West type clothes which can be as simple as jeans, a western shirt, boots and a cowboy hat or it could be as elaborate as you want. The dressing up is a big part of the sport and adds immensely to the fun atmosphere of the matches.

You will also assume an Old West alias which may represent an historic person or a movie hero or just a character from your own imagination. Your alias becomes such a part of your Cowboy action shooting that most fellow shooters don’t even know each other by their “street names”.

Cowboy action shooting has categories that allow you to compete with people your own age, shooting style and type of firearm. The atmosphere at a Cowboy match is first and foremost one of safety, the fact that we are handling real firearms with real ammunition is never forgotten. The second most important thing at a match is fun. The people that participate in CAS are there to enjoy the fellowship of other shooters and have a lot of laughs. You are there to compete but no one takes the competition seriously enough to spoil a good time for themselves or anybody else.

Cowboy action shooting is a sport that the whole family can enjoy together, every member of your family will be treated with respect and as an equal. They will also find a category that will allow them to compete with people of their own age and gender. Wives and youngsters are encouraged to shoot and when they do, they are usually surprised how good they are and how often they beat the men folks. Youngsters often gain confidence quickly as they learn safe, responsible handling of firearms, become an equal among people of all ages and join in the fun.

The Single Action Shooting Society or SASS is the world wide governing body of Cowboy Action Shooting and along with providing many services to members has an online forum to exchange ideas. Whenever people on the forum are asked their favorite part of Cowboy Action Shooting the overwhelming majority say it is the people they meet at matches and the good friends they have made while participating in this sport.

Cowboy Action Shooters have been known to develop interests in Old West history, art and preservation. Many people plan their vacations around Cowboy Action Shooting matches that happen near the historical towns of the Old West and around the World. Yearly matches take place a most of the famous places of the Old West. Imagine walking the streets of Tombstone Arizona dressed like Wyatt Earp or Doc Holliday and then going to their annual match just outside of town. It happens every year!

Your family is invited to come out and see what a Cowboy Action Shooting match is like and even give it a try. Check the Match Calendar and the club lists to pick a match close to you. Call the club contact and arrange a visit or just come on out. You will be warmly welcomed.