Starting out in SASS

[Dakota Hardcase]

I have a question on SASS. I have become intrested in joining but the more i read it looks like I have to have at least two pistols, a rifle and a shotgun to compete in SASS. I own one pistol a ruger 45 and had hoped taht would be enough to enjoy the SASS matches. Any info or inforamtion would be of help.

[Dr. Bob]

Howdy DH,

You might look at  www.ncows.org  and see if there is a posse near you.  NCOWS has a 2 gun category, Working cowboy with 1 revolver and 1 rifle.  Ruger Vaqueros, old & new are OK.  Blackhawk & Bisley V's are not.  There is a NCOWS forum here in CAS City, so drop by and meet the folks.  Real friendly.  "Course the SASS folks are too!!

[Driftwood Johnson]

..........the more i read it looks like I have to have at least two pistols, a rifle and a shotgun to compete in SASS.

Howdy

You are correct. You will need 2 pistols, a shotgun, and a rifle to compete in most SASS sanctioned matches. Historically, way back in the 1980s, SASS started with just one pistol, a shotgun, and a rifle, but folks started bringing 2 pistols along, to have more fun, and the scenarios started featuring 2 pistols instead of one. When I first started, the club I started at still only used one pistol, but eventually they went to 2 pistols also.

Scenarios almost always call for 2 pistols now. You may find that some local matches will allow you to load your pistol a second time on the clock, or simply take 5 misses if you elect to, but I would call ahead and find out from the match director to find out if you will be allowed to do this. Better to call ahead than show up and be dissapointed. At any level above a local match, 2 pistols, a rifle, and a shotgun will be necessary.

Do not let the lack of equipment stop you from participating. You will never find such generous people as SASS shooters in any other shooting sport. Call ahead to the match director and explain your situation. I can almost guarantee he will hook you up with someone who can supply you with a loaner pistol for the day. You will be amazed at how many shooters will be standing in line to let you try their pistols. As for the long guns, shooters share rifles or shotguns all the time if they only brought one for two of them.

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[Camille Eonich]

You're getting good advice.

[Pinto Being]

Dakota Hardcase,

Dr. Bob and DJ are steerin' you straight on this deal.

SASS started the formal sport of Cowboy Action Shootin' (CAS).  NCOWS came a bit later and is more oriented toward preservin' the historical aspects of the sport.

And your information is correct that you need 2 revolvers, 1 rifle, and 1 shotgun to shoot a typical CAS match.

Howsomever, many folks (myself included) started off with only one or two guns.  Awkward though it may be, there is no shame in borrowin' guns to be able to shoot a CAS match early on.  For example, in the 9 years that my CAS club has been in existence I'll bet that 40 or so CAS cowboys and cowgirls shot their first 1-5 matches with borrowed guns.  And now THEY are loanin' out THEIR guns to new shooters.

It's the Cowboy Way to loan guns to shooters who are just gettin' started and it is essentially a convention, of sorts, in our sport.  It's just one of many unique features of CAS that keeps most of us interested and comin' back year, after year, after year...

Welcome, pardner.   Keep yer powder dry and watch yer topknot.