Thread: Cowboy guns anyone?

I was getting interested in the SASS competitions before I finally graduated and moved on to a real job after college. However, at the time it was a bit spendy to get into for a college student who already spent a ton of money on other things like IDPA and IPSC competitions. These days I just have too much on my plate to be able to do any of them it seems.

Hopefully you can drum up some support and interest in your area. It's quite an interesting sport and fun to watch even if you're not the one competing.

Neat stuff.Very interesting.As you can see by my avatar,I'm a cowboy fan.Where does this competition take place?Sure looks like fun.

We have about 83,000 members or so worldwide although not all are active and more than a few have passed on as the average age is likely in the 50+ range. (No, they were not shot). To some extent the demographics are due to the generation that grew up watching B Westerns on tv.

My wife and I are somewhat fortunate being located in Albuquerque which is just a stone's throw from the new home (ranch) for this organization. We're also fortunate to have 3 or 4 local clubs such that we can shoot in a match just about any week we want.

The organization home page can be found at SASS - Home. The contact information for NY clubs is given at SASS - Affiliated Clubs: New York.

I have a handful of single action revolvers (black hawk, SW etc') and three levers, a marlin, Winchester and a Henry .22 (I love that thing)


All hunting guns, I don't think a single one has been used to print a target, maybe some impromptu plinking and sight in targets.

I've always liked older firearms, I'm more inclined to go with the single shot Sharps and so on. I used to have a Springfield 50-70 that was alot of fun. It didn't have the kind of range I was after and got talked into a trade. One day I'll get back into BP Cartrige shooting

Ha there it happened

Dylan (Holli4pirating) says if there ain't a photo it didn't happen.

Colt SAA NF 44 spl

Colt SAA NF 357mag

Winchester M-97 riot circa 1940

I participated in the SASS for a while but left it. I still have my guns, though, and I shoot them often.

I used to be a member also but left it too. Years ago it was a different organization. Just a bunch of people who got together with the aim to shoot and have fun. The outfits were home grown. The organization has become more of a business now. people are more concerned with buying the best outfits and buying the most expensive guns and gear and then sending them out to be custom worked on. It ceased being fun to me.

I just joined a few years ago so I'm not personaly familiar with how it was in the early years. I can, however, speak about the present with respect to the local clubs. I'd say Thebigspendur is correct that many folks are competitive and send their guns out for action jobs. Some of the locals are even supercompetitive and have achieved world champion status in their category. Nevertheless, there are still the majority in our Albuquerque clubs who are just there to have a good time. Most don't even bother looking at their shooting times and placements.

I can certainly understand how some folks are quite bothered by the competitive folks. It even bothers me at times when these folks perform poorly and take out their anger on others. Some folks even quit one club and join another due to the relative friendliness factor. Nonetheless, we have a number of folks who migrated over from IPSC and the fancy 1911 race guns where the competitive factor is many times amplified.

It is fun for me. It is also a good deal more expensive than shaving with straight razors. Probably in the neighborhood of $2k to $3k per person to get started when you consider the guns and the clothes. Additionally there is the ammo cost on a recurring basis although most folks load their own and can save quite a bit while developing the loads they like. Currently, the big issue is a national shortage of primers.