In 1979, Harper Criegh, Bill Hahn and Gordon Davis formed the Single Action Shooting Society (SASS) and began reenacting legends from the American Frontier as a competitive sport. Now, fifteen years later, thousands of participants recreate events from the old west in hundreds of events around the world every year.

Typically, match shooting scenarios revolve around events during the old west era. Some match themes come from actual incidents, stories or movie scenes while others are scenarios derived from the imagination of the match designer.

Cowboy Action shooting continues to draw new participants each year - some without any knowledge or skill at all. Since shooters can compete and enjoy the sport at all skill levels, it's easy to immediately enjoy the old west fun the sport brings.

A large part of the Cowboy Action Shooting sport is the costuming. Many shooters have found this aspect to be one of the most interesting. Costumes are modeled after everything from the old west era to silver screen cowboy films. Both shooters and non-shooters attending these events may compete in costume contests. 

Coupled with costuming, each shooter chooses a name or alias to go by. All SASS alias's are registered and an alias list is available through the SASS office. These names are chosen in many ways but typically are representative in some way of the old west. A few examples on record include: Flint Westwood, Doc Hollandaise, Mild Bill Hiccup, Hans M. Stranger and Dunn Tawkin'. More traditional aka's may also used. A few examples include Buckskin Frank Leslie, Calamity Jane, Bat Masterson. Humor is always welcomed as in Black Bart Simpson, Dusty Bottoms, Justice B. Dunn, Pasture Patti. It's up to each shooter, from movie star to a childhood nickname.