No Working Cowboy category in SASS?

g.willikers · July 22, 2015, 02:23 PM

I've always had an hankering to do cowboy matches, except for all the paraphernalia required.
At least four guns, two holsters, a cart to drag it around, all too much.
Recently the NCOWS folks have added Working Cowboy division to their matches.
One revolver and one rifle, period correct, of course.
And a similar division for one revolver and a shotgun, the name of which escapes me.
Now, that sounds like what I was looking for.
But natchurly, there's none of those matches around these parts.
There's plenty of SASS associated clubs, but they don't honor these new categories.
Seems like they are missing something, as the NCOWS folks say they have become run-away the most popular among both their new comers and regulars.

yadkin · July 22, 2015, 05:35 PM

I'm the same, not to big on SASS, not authentic enough for me and the group here all they want to do is shoot and get drunk and then they shoot on Sunday also.

Crunchy Frog · July 22, 2015, 08:52 PM

From what I understand, in the early days of SASS, the shooters used a single revolver. That means either getting only five pistol rounds downrange on each stage or you had to do an "on the clock" pistol reload. Over time the game evolved to employ a second revolver. It means more shooting while keeping the match moving.

My home club is pretty typical in that we shoot six stages in a monthly match. If we used a single revolver, that would be only 30 pistol rounds downrange. Hey, I came to shoot!

True, SASS does not have an official category for the use of less than four guns. It would be hard to incorporate that since in addition to category awards most matches include awards for overall placement and since we're a timed event, a category that involves fewer firearms (fewer targets per stage) would give shooters in those categories an unfair advantage, or else they'd have to exclude those shooters from eligibility for overall awards.

Local clubs have the flexibility to create "unofficial" categories and I've heard of some clubs recognizing categories with fewer than four guns. I've also heard of local matches that allow adults to shoot .22 caliber. That may be available at your local club if you ask.

It is very common in my club for new shooters to have less than four guns when they start out. In fact, we encourage folks to come out before they buy guns. If a shooter has a single revolver, the SASS rules allow for two possibilities: take the penalties for five unfired rounds on each stage, or reload the revolver "on the clock".

In five years of shooting I have never seen either situation. This is because if you show up to shoot a match with one revolver, just about every other shooter on the posse will lend you a second revolver. This is not in the rules but it's in the culture. The clubs in my area are eager to help new shooters and this is one way that we do it. Personally, I had zero guns when I got started so I shared guns for a year before I had all of my own stuff.

SASS does not claim to be 100% authentic. I know some SASS shooters who enjoy using period correct gear (right down to the ammo boxes) and if that's what you enjoy, great. If you want to shoot a match where the rules require this of everyone, you might really enjoy getting involved in NCOWS.

Yadkin, sorry to hear your report. I don't think that is representative of SASS clubs. The clubs in my area are family friendly and I have not seen alcohol on the premises during or after a match. Some of the clubs in my area shoot on Saturday, which is my preference, and some shoot on Sunday (in my local club all of the matches of any type are held on Sunday). We have cowboy shooters who don't shoot matches on Sunday and I respect that. I also know of a couple who own their own business that is open on Saturdays, and the Sunday matches allow them to participate.

g.willikers · July 23, 2015, 10:18 AM

Quote:

if you show up to shoot a match with one revolver, just about every other shooter on the posse will lend you a second revolver.

Wonder if that would work for some of the other guns, too.
And how often a guy could get away with it.
Kind of like having a friend with a boat.

.22s would still require a boatload of guns, though.
Nothing wrong with reloading on the clock that I can see.
Every other action game requires it.
Sounds like authentic fun, actually.

45_auto · July 24, 2015, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by g.willikers

Wonder if that would work for some of the other guns, too.
And how often a guy could get away with it.

I would hazard a guess of about once a month for at least a year in the Greenville, SC area based on the post above yours:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crunchy Frog

My home club is pretty typical in that we shoot six stages in a monthly match....Personally, I had zero guns when I got started so I shared guns for a year before I had all of my own stuff.

SBH · July 24, 2015, 04:41 PM

Can you form your own group ? Do your own thing get a few people interested and run it the way you want.

g.willikers · July 25, 2015, 10:17 AM

Been there, done that, many times.
Getting too old for that much work.

July 22, 2015, 02:23 PM	#1
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	No Working Cowboy category in SASS? I've always had an hankering to do cowboy matches, except for all the paraphernalia required. At least four guns, two holsters, a cart to drag it around, all too much. Recently the NCOWS folks have added Working Cowboy division to their matches. One revolver and one rifle, period correct, of course. And a similar division for one revolver and a shotgun, the name of which escapes me. Now, that sounds like what I was looking for. But natchurly, there's none of those matches around these parts. There's plenty of SASS associated clubs, but they don't honor these new categories. Seems like they are missing something, as the NCOWS folks say they have become run-away the most popular among both their new comers and regulars. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.” Last edited by g.willikers; July 22, 2015 at 05:52 PM.

July 25, 2015, 10:17 AM	#7
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	Been there, done that, many times. Getting too old for that much work. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

July 22, 2015, 05:35 PM	#2
yadkin Member Join Date: September 21, 2012 Location: North Alabama The Heart o Posts: 32	I'm the same, not to big on SASS, not authentic enough for me and the group here all they want to do is shoot and get drunk and then they shoot on Sunday also.

July 22, 2015, 08:52 PM	#3
Crunchy Frog Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2008 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 591	From what I understand, in the early days of SASS, the shooters used a single revolver. That means either getting only five pistol rounds downrange on each stage or you had to do an "on the clock" pistol reload. Over time the game evolved to employ a second revolver. It means more shooting while keeping the match moving. My home club is pretty typical in that we shoot six stages in a monthly match. If we used a single revolver, that would be only 30 pistol rounds downrange. Hey, I came to shoot! True, SASS does not have an official category for the use of less than four guns. It would be hard to incorporate that since in addition to category awards most matches include awards for overall placement and since we're a timed event, a category that involves fewer firearms (fewer targets per stage) would give shooters in those categories an unfair advantage, or else they'd have to exclude those shooters from eligibility for overall awards. Local clubs have the flexibility to create "unofficial" categories and I've heard of some clubs recognizing categories with fewer than four guns. I've also heard of local matches that allow adults to shoot .22 caliber. That may be available at your local club if you ask. It is very common in my club for new shooters to have less than four guns when they start out. In fact, we encourage folks to come out before they buy guns. If a shooter has a single revolver, the SASS rules allow for two possibilities: take the penalties for five unfired rounds on each stage, or reload the revolver "on the clock". In five years of shooting I have never seen either situation. This is because if you show up to shoot a match with one revolver, just about every other shooter on the posse will lend you a second revolver. This is not in the rules but it's in the culture. The clubs in my area are eager to help new shooters and this is one way that we do it. Personally, I had zero guns when I got started so I shared guns for a year before I had all of my own stuff. SASS does not claim to be 100% authentic. I know some SASS shooters who enjoy using period correct gear (right down to the ammo boxes) and if that's what you enjoy, great. If you want to shoot a match where the rules require this of everyone, you might really enjoy getting involved in NCOWS. Yadkin, sorry to hear your report. I don't think that is representative of SASS clubs. The clubs in my area are family friendly and I have not seen alcohol on the premises during or after a match. Some of the clubs in my area shoot on Saturday, which is my preference, and some shoot on Sunday (in my local club all of the matches of any type are held on Sunday). We have cowboy shooters who don't shoot matches on Sunday and I respect that. I also know of a couple who own their own business that is open on Saturdays, and the Sunday matches allow them to participate.

July 24, 2015, 04:41 PM	#6
SBH Member Join Date: January 21, 2015 Location: New Mexico Posts: 61	Can you form your own group ? Do your own thing get a few people interested and run it the way you want.