Cowboy Action Shooting

A typical match runs six stages, each one telling a story. Maybe you're defending the bank from outlaws, or clearing snakes out of the bunkhouse. Each stage gives you a specific shooting sequence--usually starting with your rifle, transitioning to pistols, then finishing with the shotgun.

Typical Cowboy Action Shooting stage sequence

The timer starts when you draw your first gun and stops when your last target falls. Pistol targets sit at 7-10 yards, rifle targets out to 16 yards, shotgun plates within 16 yards. Miss a target, add five seconds. Shoot out of sequence or break a safety rule, add ten seconds or get disqualified.

What makes this different from other shooting sports is the complete package. Your shooting alias becomes your identity--mine's been "Deadwood Dick" for fifteen years. Your costume has to be authentic to the 1800s, and yes, people will notice if your boots are wrong.

Your shooting alias becomes your identity--authenticity extends far beyond just the firearms to encompass the complete Old West persona.

The Single Action Shooting Society (SASS) runs the show, with over 100,000 members worldwide. Started in the 1980s by a group of California shooters who wanted to use their Colt reproductions for something more interesting than punching paper.

Evolution of the Single Action Shooting Society

You need four firearms: two matching single-action revolvers, a lever-action rifle in the same caliber as your pistols, and a period-appropriate shotgun. Most newcomers start with .38 Special/.357 Magnum--mild to shoot, easy to reload, and works in everything.

Revolvers and Caliber Selection

For revolvers, Italian reproductions from Pietta or Uberti give you the most bang for your buck at $400-600 each. They're faithful copies of Colt 1873s and Remington 1875s, and they'll run reliably right out of the box.

Serious competitors get action jobs done for smoother trigger pulls, but that's a $200-500 upgrade you don't need starting out.

Rifles and Long Guns

Lever rifles are where you'll spend real money. A Rossi 92 runs $800-1,200 and handles the workload fine. Winchester 1873s and Marlin Cowboy Limiteds cost twice as much but feel like precision instruments. The rifle has to be tube-fed and in a pistol caliber--no scoped hunting rifles allowed.

Shotguns need to be side-by-side doubles or single-shots with external hammers. The Stoeger Coach Gun dominates the budget market at $350-450. Custom doubles from the high-end makers will set you back $1,500 or more, but they break open smoother and balance better.

Leather and Accessories

Don't forget the leather. You need a gun belt and holsters that look like they belong in 1875, not 2025. Figure $300-500 for good leather from makers like Kirkpatrick or Mernickle. The holsters have to hold your guns securely while still allowing a reasonably quick draw.

Safety Protocols

Safety comes first, period. Break the 180-degree rule (muzzle goes behind the firing line) and you're done for the day. Drop a loaded gun, same result. The community doesn't mess around with this stuff.

Loading and Ammunition Rules

All guns stay unloaded except when you're shooting under a Range Officer's direct supervision. You load exactly what the stage calls for--usually ten rounds per pistol, ten in the rifle, and however many shotgun shells the targets require. Loading more ammunition gets you a procedural penalty.

Shooting Sequence Requirements

The shooting sequences matter. Each stage description tells you exactly which targets to engage and in what order. Shoot the wrong target first, that's ten seconds. Use your rifle on pistol targets, ten seconds. The penalties add up fast.

Modern shooting techniques are discouraged or outright banned depending on your category. No Weaver stance, no thumbs-forward grip, no speed reloads. You're supposed to look like you learned to shoot in 1875, not from watching John Wick movies.

Find your local club through the SASS website and contact the match director before showing up. Most clubs welcome new shooters and will arrange loaner guns for your first match. Don't worry about having a full costume--clean jeans, boots, and a collared shirt will get you by while you learn the ropes.

Plan on spending 4-6 hours at a monthly match. You'll be assigned to a "posse" of 8-12 other shooters, and you'll rotate through stages together. Between your turns shooting, you'll help set targets, score for others, and pick up brass. It's part of the culture--everyone pitches in.

Your first few matches, focus on safety over speed. Learn the stage procedures, practice your gun handling, and don't worry about your times. Everyone finishes dead last when they start. The goal is completing stages cleanly without penalties.

Common rookie mistakes include:

• Rushing between shooting positions (safety violation)
• Shooting targets out of sequence (procedural penalty)
• Loading too much ammunition (another procedural)
• Forgetting to engage all targets in a sequence

The veterans will help you avoid these traps, but expect to make them anyway.

Initial Equipment Investment

Getting equipped properly runs $2,500-4,000 minimum. That's for reliable but basic guns, decent leather, and a simple costume.

You can spend twice that without trying hard--custom guns, hand-tooled leather, and tailored period clothing add up quickly.

Ongoing Match and Travel Costs

Match fees run $15-35 locally, $25-50 for bigger regional events. Figure 70+ rounds of ammunition per match, which costs $35-50 unless you reload your own. Most serious competitors reload--it cuts ammunition costs in half and gives you better control over your loads.

Annual costs for an active shooter run $800-1,500 for local matches only, $2,000-5,000 if you start chasing regional and national competitions. The big matches require travel, hotels, and higher entry fees, but they're also where you'll find the vendor rows with all the specialized gear.

Hidden and Upgrade Expenses

Hidden costs include gun modifications (action jobs make a real difference), multiple costumes for different weather, and the inevitable upgrades as your tastes get more expensive. Reloading equipment pays for itself over time but requires a $500-1,000 initial investment.

This is primarily an older crowd--average age probably sits around 60. Don't expect to find many competitors under 40.

Most people come to cowboy action after they've tried other shooting sports or when they have more time and disposable income.

The community genuinely welcomes newcomers. Experienced shooters will loan you equipment, share reloading tips, and help you avoid rookie mistakes. The monthly matches feel more like social gatherings than serious competitions, especially at the local level.

Regional and national matches get more competitive, but the friendly atmosphere persists. The annual SASS National Championships draw 600-700 shooters and feel like a giant family reunion with guns and costumes.

Online communities on Facebook and the SASS Wire forums keep people connected between matches. The Cowboy Action Shooting Facebook group has over 15,000 members sharing everything from costume research to gun modifications.

Cowboy Action Shooting rewards smooth technique over raw speed, making it accessible well into your golden years--but expect to spend serious money on equipment and embrace the full theatrical experience.