Cowboy action shooting

Shooters compete one at a time against the clock. Most matches are scored simply by "total time" minus bonuses and plus penalties. Other matches are scored by "rank points".[1]

Shooters are timed using electronic timers which record the duration for each stage to one one-hundredth of a second. The timer starts when the range officer pushes the button which beeps to signal that the shooter may proceed. The timer has a built-in microphone and records the time when each shot happens. When there is no more noise, the timer continues to display the final time which is the raw score.[1]

Each shooter's "raw" time for the stage is increased by five seconds for each missed target and ten seconds for any procedural penalty incurred. The fastest adjusted time wins. Targets shot out of proper order incur a procedural penalty, though only one procedural penalty can be assessed per shooter per stage.

In "rank-point scoring" the top shooter of a match is determined by adding up each shooter's ranking for each stage, with the lowest score winning. For example, if a shooter places first in every stage in a 10-stage match, the shooter's score would be 10 (a 1 for each stage) and would be the lowest score possible. There is some controversy as to whether "rank points" or "total time" is a better system.[1] SASS in 2017 moved to total time scoring and discarded the rank point scoring system.

Every stage at a match is intended to be different. Sometimes only two types of guns are used or perhaps even only one. Occasionally a shooter is required to reload a firearm while being timed.[1]

When coming to the line, the shooter places their guns as required by the stage description. When the competitor steps to the start position, the range officer conducting the stage asks if the shooter understands the course of fire and clarifies any questions the shooter may have. The range officer asks if the shooter is ready, tells the shooter to "stand by", and starts the timer within two to five seconds. When started, the timer gives an audible electronic tone and the shooter begins the stage.[1]

An example of a stage might have the shooter draw their first revolver and engage five steel targets, then holster their first revolver and move to the left to where their rifle is staged. They retrieve the rifle and engage the rifle targets, which are set farther away than the pistol targets. These might be nine separate targets, or perhaps three targets which the shooter will "sweep" three times. They then lay the rifle back down on the hay bale with action open and chamber empty and runs to the right where their shotgun is staged. Since shotguns are always staged open and empty, the shooter retrieves their gun and loads it with a maximum of two rounds (regardless of the type of shotgun) and engages two knock-down targets, reloads and engages two more knock-down targets (which must fall to score). The shooter then lays their open and empty shotgun back on the hay bale and draws their second revolver. This time the shooter engages three revolver targets in what is known as a "Nevada sweep" (left, center, right, center, left) for a total of five rounds.[1]

After the competitor is finished shooting, the range officer tells the shooter to take their long guns and go to the unloading table where another shooter supervises the unloading and verifies that the guns are unloaded. The shooter's time is then recorded and any misses or penalties added. Targets are scored by three observers who count misses.[1]

End of Trail – World Championship of Cowboy Action Shooting at Ben Avery Shooting Range, Phoenix, Arizona, US

Land Run – United States National Championship of Cowboy Action Shooting at the Oklahoma City Gun Club, Arcadia, Oklahoma, US

Regionals – Western, Four Corners, Midwest, Northwest, Southwest, Southeast, and Northeast

State Championships – Each State holds their own respective state championship.

Australia National Championship. Australia and New Zealand also have their own respective state championships.

European National Championship – Days of Truth (DOT)

Many countries have their own respective national championship including: Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Finland, France, Germany, Norway, Sweden, The Nederlands, Denmark, Italy, Hungary, South Africa, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and Serbia.

Other major matches of note:

Badlands Bar3 – Comin' Back At Cha

Foremost, safety glasses (shooting glasses) must be worn at all times. In a typical stage the shooter, who is next in line to compete, will load their guns at a loading table under the supervision of a designated loading official. Western-style "six-shooters" are always loaded with only five rounds with the empty chamber under the hammer. The shooter's rifle will also be loaded with the requisite number of rounds with the hammer down on an empty chamber. Shotguns are always left unloaded, then loaded "on the clock".[1]

At a typical cowboy action range, all guns are kept unloaded except when the shooter prepares at the loading table, shoots the stage, then proceeds to the unloading table to unload the revolvers and prove that all guns are empty. Whether guns are loaded or empty, CAS emphasizes safety. Even with the theme of the Old West's cowboy attire, all shooters must wear safety glasses while on the firing line in addition to other important safety rules and more than some other shooting sports have.[1] Many of these safety requirements are due to the nature of reproduction single action revolvers with fixed cylinders, and repeating rifles with non-removable tubular magazines.

The range officer is responsible for safely conducting the shooter through the stage. The range officer's attention is not on the targets but rather on the shooter and their firearms. One important duty of the range officer is to immediately stop the shooter if the shooter's gun or ammunition is defective in any potentially unsafe way.

In addition to requiring shooters to wear Old West attire, the Western theme of the matches is enhanced by having suitable targets and props for the stages. For example, a stage may be set in a bank and the shooter will be required to shoot through a barred "teller" window, then perhaps retrieve a "sack of gold" from a safe and carry it in one hand while shooting with their other hand. Another stage may have a shooter rescuing a baby (doll) and having to carry the "child" through the entire stage while engaging the targets. Other props may include buckboards, chuck wagons, stagecoaches, and "horses" as well as jail cells, oak barrels, hitching posts, swinging saloon doors, etc.[1]

No money or merchandise prizes are offered in CAS, but often there are drawings and prizes, ensuring a more family-oriented sport.[1]

According to SASS, this form uses "firearms typical of those used in the taming of the Old West just after the turn of the 20th century".[3] The revolvers used in normal SASS events are replaced with a 1911 pistol; lever-action rifles remain in use, while only Winchester Model 1897 and Winchester Model 1912 pump-action shotguns are allowed.[3] As in traditional CAS, originals and replicas are acceptable.[4]

In SASS Wild Bunch matches, pistols must be chambered in .45 ACP,[5] rifles must be chambered for pistol cartridges of .40 caliber or greater,[6] and shotguns must be 12 gauge.[7] All ammunition for pistols or rifles must also meet a minimum power factor of 150, calculated by multiplying the bullet weight in grains and the muzzle velocity in feet per second and then dividing the result by 1,000. Additionally, maximum muzzle velocities are limited to 1,000 ft/s for pistol ammunition and 1,400 ft/s for rifle ammunition.[8]

Wild Bunch has two primary SASS-sanctioned categories based upon the style of 1911 pistol and the shooter's grip style that are utilized. Each main category has respective divisions for men, women and junior participants.

• Traditional - Utilizes an original-design M1911/M1911A1 pistol, and the paticipant must use a traditional one-handed grip.

• Modern - Utilizes either an original-design M1911/M1911A1 pistol or a modern-style 1911 pistol. Participant may use either a traditional one-handed or a modern two-handed grip.

In recent years, various clubs that host Wild Bunch matches have begun expanding and developing other categories utilizing various other rifles in lieu of a pistol-caliber lever-action rifle. Though these categories are not yet officially sanctioned by SASS, they have proven to be quite popular with participants in the sport.

• Doughboy - Named after the famed infantryman of World War I, this category utilizes the bolt-action military rifles of the era. Rifles such as the M1903/M1903A3 Springfield, Mosin-Nagant M1891, Karabiner Model 1931 (K31), as well as various Lee-Enfield, Schmidt-Rubin, Arisaka and other World War I bolt-action rifles, are permitted.

• Teddy Roosevelt - Named after the 26th President of the United States, and, notably, the leader of the 1st United States Volunteer Cavalry; known as the "Rough Riders". This category utilizes a rifle-caliber lever-action rifle chambered in cartridges such as 30-30 Winchester and 45-70.

• Audie Murphy - Named after the heralded World War II veteran and Medal of Honor recipient, this category utilizes a semiautomatic M1 carbine rifle chambered in the .30 Carbine cartridge.

Wild Bunch also utilizes the M1 Garand in Garand Action Military Match (GAMM) side matches.

In SASS-sanctioned Wild Bunch shooting events, the typical attire worn by participants is that of early-20th century military, late-19th to early-20th century western (such as that worn in the film The Wild Bunch), Roosevelt's "Rough Riders", or Mexican period.