How to Get Started in Cowboy Action Shooting

What cowboy action shooting is

Cowboy action shooting is a timed sport in which competitors shoot a series of stages with single-action revolvers, a lever-action rifle and a shotgun, all of Old West design or replicas, while dressed in period or Western-film costume and using an Old West alias. Stages often tell a little story, and targets are usually steel at close range, so the emphasis is on smooth gun handling and safety rather than long-distance precision.

The Single Action Shooting Society (SASS), formed in 1987, governs and sanctions cowboy action shooting and its 1911-based cousin, Wild Bunch Action Shooting. It describes itself as an international membership organization with a focus on safety and a family-friendly setting.

Step by step

1. Watch a match. SASS's own getting-started advice is simple: find a nearby club and go watch a match or two. Wear eye protection as a spectator, especially anywhere in line of sight of steel targets. Talk to shooters between stages; they will tell you more about guns, gear and categories in an afternoon than any article.
2. Borrow before you buy. SASS notes that most shooters will loan their firearms and leather gear to help newcomers get started. Shoot a match on borrowed guns and you will know what you actually like before you spend anything.
3. Join SASS and pick an alias. SASS members register an alias representing an Old West or Western-film character or profession. It must be family-friendly and unique, and SASS says you do not need one the day you join; many people choose after settling into a local club. Duplicates are not allowed, and "if it sounds the same, it is the same," so tacking on "II" or "The" will not make a taken name yours. The registry changes daily, so confirm your choice with SASS headquarters.
4. Join a local club. Club membership is where you find regular matches, range access and the people who will help you.
5. Read the Shooters Handbook. The SASS Cowboy Action Shooting Handbook is the rulebook. It covers categories, firearms, ammunition, costume and safety. Read the current version before your first match.
6. Build your kit slowly. SASS advises not buying guns until you know what you want to shoot, and you do not need everything at once. Many shooters start with borrowed shotguns or rifles and buy one gun at a time.
7. Shoot your first match. Tell the match director you are new. You will usually be paired with someone experienced who will walk you through loading, the stage and unloading.

The four-gun kit

For cowboy action at the basic level, SASS lists two single-action revolvers, one pistol-caliber lever-action rifle and one shotgun, either side-by-side or pump. Most shooters use the same cartridge in rifle and revolvers so they only carry one type of ammunition.

The rifle

A 1873-pattern rifle in .38 Special/.357 Magnum is the most common starting point, because it suits nearly every category and runs smoothly on light lead loads. Our best cowboy action rifles guide goes through the options model by model.

If you already own a pistol-caliber Henry, the Big Boy Side Gate is a practical match rifle because the receiver gate makes loading at the loading table easy.

The revolvers

Revolvers are covered in depth on our sister site, wheelguns.co's single-action revolver guide. The key point for a new shooter is to buy a matched pair in the same caliber as your rifle.

Categories in plain English

SASS divides shooters into categories by shooting style, gear and age, and some categories have specific firearm rules. A few examples from the current handbook:

• Classic Cowboy/Cowgirl: rifles of 1873 or earlier design in rimmed cartridges of .40 caliber or larger, with more costume requirements.
• B-Western: rifles of 1880 or later design, with Hollywood-style holster rigs.
• Frontier Cartridge: black powder in all loads.
• Duelist and Gunfighter: revolvers fired one-handed; Gunfighter uses a revolver in each hand.
• Age categories run from Buckaroo (13 and under) and Junior through Wrangler, Forty-Niner, Senior and beyond.

Most new shooters start in a general or age-based category and change later. Do not let category rules stall you; pick one that fits the guns you have.

Ammunition rules

SASS ammunition rules are specific and they are enforced. Per the current handbook:

• Revolver and rifle bullets must be all lead: no jacketed, semi-jacketed, hollow-point, plated or gas-checked bullets.
• Maximum velocity is 1,000 fps for revolvers and 1,400 fps for rifles, with no velocity under 400 fps and a minimum power factor of 60.
• Shotgun shot must be lead birdshot, number 4 or smaller; no steel, plated, magnum or high-velocity shells.

Factory cowboy loads are made to fit these rules. In .38 Special, look at Magtech Cowboy Action 158-grain lead flat nose or the 125-grain version. In .45 Colt, Hornady Custom Cowboy 255-grain is a common choice.

Safety rules that matter most

Cowboy action has an excellent safety culture, and new shooters are expected to learn its rules quickly. The most important:

• The 170-degree rule. The muzzle must always point downrange, within 85 degrees either side of straight ahead, and must never sweep another person. Breaking it earns a stage disqualification at minimum.
• Five rounds, hammer down on an empty chamber. Six-shot revolvers are loaded with five, with the hammer resting on the empty chamber.
• Loading and unloading tables. Guns are loaded and unloaded only at designated tables, under supervision.
• Eye protection is mandatory in and around shooting areas, and hearing protection is highly recommended.
• Disqualifications are real. Dropping a loaded gun, a discharge at the loading or unloading tables, or sweeping someone with a loaded gun can earn a match disqualification.

Pick up quality shooting glasses and hearing protection before your first match. Electronic muffs make it easier to hear range commands.

Costume without the cost

All shooters must be in costume, and costumes stay on for match events, dinners and awards too. That sounds daunting, but the basics are simple: a long-sleeved shirt, trousers or a skirt of period style, boots and a hat will get most newcomers through a local match. Thrift stores and Western-wear shops are your friends. Classic Cowboy and B-Western categories have extra requirements, so check the handbook if you want to shoot one of those.

What a first match day looks like

You will arrive early, sign in, and attend a safety meeting. Shooters are divided into posses that rotate through the stages. At each stage you load at the loading table, wait your turn, shoot the stage on the timer, then unload at the unloading table where someone checks your guns are empty. Between your turns you help reset targets, pick up brass or keep score. Most people find the help and the company as much fun as the shooting.

Editorial note: This is an independent editorial overview built from manufacturer specifications, retailer listings and published sources. We have not performed hands-on testing of the products discussed, and nothing here is a performance guarantee. Verify specifications, compatibility and the law where you live.

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