What is Cowboy Action Shooting? Cowboy Action Shooting (CAS) is a game of fantasy gunfighting during the days of Wild Bill Hickock, Jesse James and Wyatt Earp. Calamity Jane, Annie Oakley and Belle Star are right in there too as old west icons for CAS participants. These, as well as hundreds of other colorful figures of the past, are seen again at today's shooting ranges reliving the old west excitment.

What is a match competion like? Cowboy Action Shooting is not a fast draw style competiton. Shooters will find movement and plenty of action as they use all three styles of firearms during engagement. This shooting sport was designed for all levels of shooters. Targets are generous in size and placed at such proximity that the difficulty or challenge competitors face is the speed they engage a course of fire. However, we all learn soon enough that no target is too big or too close.

What types of firearms are used? Firearms associated with CAS are typical of the American Frontier from about 1860 to just after the turn of the century. Rifles and carbines are the lever or slide action style of the period. Main match competition requires use of a "pistol" caliber, typically the same as that selected for use in pistols. Separate classes for percussion (cap and ball), black powder cartridge and smokeless cartridge shooting allow broad use and choice of gun styles.

Shotguns used are any side by side common to the era, without automatic ejectors, with or without exposed hammers, with one or two triggers. Any lever action shotgun may be used. Any pump shotgun with an exposed hammer such as the Winchester Model 1897 and the Marlin Model 16 are used (except ones configured for military use).

Traditional Class denotes use of fixed or iron sights. Modern Class brings into play single action pistols with adjustable style of sights. There are up to eight separate classes that provide shooters with a broad range of firearm choice.

Specific firearm rules and explanations can be found in the SASS Shooter's Handbook