Non-Costumed Events?

K

kron

New member
I'm having a brain cramp here. I seem to recall reading about a western 3 gun type shooting event/group that doesn't require the costuming like CAS does. From what I recall, it required the same firearms more or less.


Any ideas?

Thanks!
 
Well, I guess you could just enter a regular 3-gun event with your cowboy guns.

We do that up my way, and it's a hoot. Actually, so much so that a couple of the tactical guys got a bit miffed when more guys showed up with "vintage" equipment to shoot their match than with modern equipment. :D

Small match though...usually only 15-20 of us.

I've been thinking of showing up at an IDPA match and running it with a Schofield with real black powder loads. It might confuse the competition. ;)
 
It's called Western 3 Gun. Info can be found here: http://www.western3gun.com/

They require minimum cowboy dress.

DRESS:
Minimum dress required for a W3G match is jeans, western style shirt, western boots, and a cowboy hat. Other accessories such as western chaps, spurs, vests or pocket watches are encouraged but not required. W3G does not allow ball caps, t-shirts, hiking boots with lug tread or sneakers of any kind.
 
They require minimum cowboy dress.

DRESS:
Minimum dress required for a W3G match is jeans, western style shirt, western boots, and a cowboy hat. Other accessories such as western chaps, spurs, vests or pocket watches are encouraged but not required. W3G does not allow ball caps, t-shirts, hiking boots with lug tread or sneakers of any kind.
Click to expand...

It would be fun to do, but to many rules for me. I shoot the same in leathers as I do in sweats. Half that stuff is not necessarily historically correct. Look at old photos taken in salons, most are dressed in their normal working duds. Not many dressed like that. I would feel like an extra at a Hollywood movie.:barf:
 
Cowboy shooting is not about the dress or the guns. Once you've shot a few matches you find that you go to the shoots for the people.
Once that soaks in then the costuming you desire to wear becomes natural. Only in the so called costume categories are there any requirements other than attempt to look "Cowboy". Most people wear hats to keep the hot brass out of their face but hats are not required. Jeans, a long sleeve shirt and leather shoes/boots, without a running shoe or combat boot look, and you are good to go.
 
Cowboy shooting is not about the dress or the guns. Once you've shot a few matches you find that you go to the shoots for the people.
Click to expand...
Nonetheless, one cannot participate without the dress or the guns, which kind of begs the question about 'what it's about', yes?
 
its about socializing
dressing up
showing off your toys
your 73 seconds of glory playing with your toys

substitute golf clubs for guns
or football or bowling.....

all have minimum equipment needs and dress requirments

pick what sport/hobby floats your boat and have at it--some play harder
and more seriously than others. find what makes you happy and try to
embrace the spirit of the game.
 
Sanctioned, official SASS matches seem to bring out the gamers.

Yes, I love to get dressed up, and take original guns with full house vintage loads (not the whimpy mouse-fart ones that some people use to beat the clock).

Although that is fine, we need more folks in the shooting sports- especially younger shooters.

"Cowboy shooting" in general has reached a plateau, and if we don't get new blood in it from all walks of life, it will slowly start to dwindle as old farts like me and many others die off.

I don't care what you are wearing- tennis shoes and a T-shirt, when we hold a "cowboy" match (all our matches are non-SASS sanctioned now), we won't turn anyone away for any reason if they want to try it- even if the guns aren't period. They get their time, but don't get "scored" on the board against other competitors with correct firearms. The idea is to get them to "get the bug" in order to pass on the enthusiasm to other people.

This isn't just a "cowboy" problem- it is the same for trap, skeet, smallbore, silhouette, bullseye, IDPA and many others that I am certain that I've left out.

Take someone shooting as often as possible- preferably to a match you think they will enjoy.
 
Last edited:
You have a larger number of folks who think it's the best thing since sliced bread because they get to dress like an Old West cowboy, participate in a real live "western" and shoot archaic guns they love. While some gripe and complain because you have to dress like a cowboy to participate in "Cowboy Action Shooting". If you could wear a T-shirt and Nike's, it wouldn't be "Cowboy Action Shooting", would it? You can't please everybody. :rolleyes:
 
You have a larger number of folks who think it's the best thing since sliced bread because they get to dress like an Old West cowboy, participate in a real live "western" and shoot archaic guns they love. While some gripe and complain because you have to dress like a cowboy to participate in "Cowboy Action Shooting". If you could wear a T-shirt and Nike's, it wouldn't be "Cowboy Action Shooting", would it? You can't please everybody.
Click to expand...

Additionally, cowboy action shooting often involves running from one part of the stage to another to engage a different target and someone who is wearing baseball shoes with cleats would have a competative advantage to someone who is wearing leather soled cowboy boots.
 
I know I am tossing gasoline onto a camp fire, but the main reason I don't participate in any of those games is the silly wearing of costumes. I have never seen any reason to pretend to be Wyatt Earp just to shoot a single action revolver or, for that matter, to wear a Hines Ward jersey to watch a Steelers game.

I don't dress up like a Nazi Generalstab officer to shoot a Luger, or like Robert E. Lee to fire an 1851 Navy Colt. I am none of those people and I don't play them on TV. I am me, and I like to shoot, not play dress up like a little girl in her mother's high heels.

Jim
 
I mainly just want to get out there and shoot some cowboy guns. Was more iffy about the whole over the top costume thing I've seen some of the people wearing on the websites and TV shows I've seen. The guns are a hoot though.

May just have to take myself out to the local (Houston area) shoot I've seen mentioned that happens every month and see what I see. It may be that more people are wearing the same stuff I wear most days anyways (jeans, boots, western shirt, hat).

Thanks for the responses guys. Will check out the western 3 gun as well. That may in fact be what they are shooting up in the Magnolia area I'm thinking of.
 
I know I am tossing gasoline onto a camp fire, but the main reason I don't participate in any of those games is the silly wearing of costumes. I have never seen any reason to pretend to be Wyatt Earp just to shoot a single action revolver or, for that matter, to wear a Hines Ward jersey to watch a Steelers game.

I don't dress up like a Nazi Generalstab officer to shoot a Luger, or like Robert E. Lee to fire an 1851 Navy Colt. I am none of those people and I don't play them on TV. I am me, and I like to shoot, not play dress up like a little girl in her mother's high heels.

Jim
Click to expand...

Then there's the having to have an "alias" thing. Why can't we just use our perfectly good real names? Besides, when there are 30,000+ SASS members, all the un-lame aliases have all been taken.

I shoot muzzleloaders in TMLRA and NMLRA matches and you use your real name and dress however you want, all they care about is you paying your entry fee and being safe. Nikes, shorts, baseball caps, lederhosen, nobody cares.
 
I know I am tossing gasoline onto a camp fire, but the main reason I don't participate in any of those games is the silly wearing of costumes.

I like to shoot, not play dress up like a little girl in her mother's high heels.
Click to expand...

It's not about the costume altho some really get into it. For most it's about the history. If you have a hat, jeans, a long sleeve work shirt and a pair of work boots without lugs you're good to go for most SASS classes. Some require a little more effort. You can go without the hat but spend a couple of hours in the summer sun and you'll wish you had one.
 
I don't dress up like a Nazi Generalstab officer to shoot a Luger, or like Robert E. Lee to fire an 1851 Navy Colt.
Click to expand...
Nor do you have to dress like Bat Masterson to shoot a 4¾" Colt SAA, but you do have to dress in Old West garb to participate in Cowboy Action Shooting. It's the spirit of the game, embrace it or don't play.

The cool thing is, you don't 'have' to participate. :rolleyes:
 
but you do have to dress in Old West garb to participate in Cowboy Action Shooting. It's the spirit of the game, embrace it or don't play.
Click to expand...

Not exactly. Jeans, western shirt and boots are all that is "required" to shoot in any age based SASS category as well as most others. Hat is optional; but on a hot summer day, it keeps your brain from frying.

Then there's the having to have an "alias" thing. Why can't we just use our perfectly good real names? Besides, when there are 30,000+ SASS members, all the un-lame aliases have all been taken.
Click to expand...

An alias can be as simple as your real name (I know a couple like that), or an ancestors name (I know a few like that too). It only takes a little imagination to come up with an un-lame alias anyhoo.
 
Last edited:
Not exactly. Jeans, western shirt and boots are all that is "required" to shoot in any age based SASS category as well as most others. Hat is optional; but on a hot summer day, it keeps your brain from frying.
Click to expand...

Yep, CAS is not as anal about historical correctness as the Rendevous or the NSSA crowd is. It's not like the TV Westerns took historical correctness seriously. John Wayne fought many a movie battle with guns that weren't invented yet.

Maybe it's time for to create the DASA where you shoot classic double action Smith & Wessons and dress up like Dick Tracy or Barney Fife.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top