Cowboy Action Shooting: Something for Everybody

This is an educational article from American Rifleman magazine, not a business directory listing. The source material is NRA journalism about Cowboy Action Shooting (CAS) as a competitive sport.

The piece walks shooters through everything needed to compete in Cowboy Action Shooting, a growing competitive shooting sport with three basic rules: no baseball hats, no running shoes, and you must have fun.

To shoot CAS competition, you'll need:

• •Two single-action revolvers (center-fire, minimum .32 caliber)
• •Options range from modern Ruger Blackhawks with adjustable sights to fixed-sight reproductions
• •Budget-friendly choices: Cabela's Millennium revolvers (.45 Colt), Dixie, Cimarron, Uberti, and Taylor's & Co. models
• •Each revolver requires a holster and cartridge belt

• •Lever-action rifle in handgun caliber (Marlin or Winchester in .44 Mag works)
• •Must use open sights or tang-mounted peep sight only—no scopes or receiver sights

• •Side-by-side double-barrel without ejectors, OR pump-action with external hammer (Winchester Model 1897)
• •Gauge requirements: 20 through 10 gauge only
• •Budget options: Stoeger doubles or Norinco pump at around $97-$300

CAS ammunition must meet strict guidelines: - Lead bullets only, no gas checks - Revolver loads: maximum 1,000 f.p.s. velocity - Rifle ammo: maximum 1,400 f.p.s. velocity - Shotgun: No. 4 birdshot or smaller, lead only, no steel or magnum loads

Companies offering CAS-compliant ammunition include Black Hills, Winchester, and Hornady.

"One constant shines through: the guns with the best triggers always turned in the best scores no matter who the shooter was."

A clean, crisp trigger breaking at about 3 lbs. with minimal overtravel makes a measurable difference in speed and accuracy. Spring kits from Midway or Brownells are installable by handy shooters, or take guns to a qualified gunsmith for professional adjustment and action smoothing.

• •Eye Protection: Quality eye protection mandatory for all shooters and observers.

• •Hearing Protection: This is where CAS differs from other shooting sports. Traditional earmuffs don't work with cowboy hats, making foam earplugs (NRR 30-33 dB) the standard choice—but only if inserted completely into the ear canal. Electronic hearing protection devices are an alternative that allows hearing range commands while protecting hearing.

Cowboy Action Shooting is a speed game. The Competition Electronics Pocket Pro timer helps identify weaknesses and track improvement. Electronic timers are essential both during competition and in practice sessions.

Serious competitors handload ammunition. Key differences from standard handloading:

• •Goal is opposite of maximum performance: CAS uses low-pressure cartridges with large powder volumes
• •Powder selection matters: Slow-burning powder provides better case fill density but dirties guns; fast powders produce less recoil and cleaner burning but risk ignition problems
• •Balance is key: Use powder that balances loading density with minimal fouling
• •Never go below starting loads: Risk erratic pressure, poor accuracy, and dangerous bullet-in-barrel situations
• •Progressive loaders essential: Dillon is noted as the standard for quick cartridge switching across multiple calibers

Factory rifle sights work fine for younger shooters. For eyes over 40, consider tang-mounted peep sights from brands like Lyman or Marble's—they're easier to use than factory open sights because the eye automatically centers the front sight as you look through the rear peep.

Shootgun recoil can be cumulative in matches with heavy shotgun work. Solutions include: - Switching to smaller-bore shotguns - Using 7/8-oz. low-recoil target loads (easily handloaded or commercially available)

According to the article, the sport attracts three types of shooters: 1. Lifestyle competitors interested in Old West personas and period clothing 2. Pure competitive shooters focused on speed and accuracy 3. Those in between (most common) who enjoy both the shooting and the style

One competitor quoted: "It's the most legal fun you can have with your clothes on!"

Unlike some shooting sports with hours of waiting and minutes of shooting, CAS means "burning powder all day long."

The governing body for Cowboy Action Shooting is the Single Action Shooting Society (SASS). Information available at sassnet.com.

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• •Note: This article originally appeared in the March 2004 issue of American Rifleman magazine. It's an educational resource about the sport, not a business directory entry for a specific firearms dealer or range.