Hmmmm ....

[PJ Hardtack]

The more I hear and read about NCOWS, the more I think this is the way to go. I'm fed up to the teeth with the elitist 'IPSC Cowboys', their wimp loads and short stroke actions. Paying a hefty match fee and then being given a set time to shoot a stage and leaving my brass on the ground ....? I think not.
My roots in CAS go back to the days when it was one pistol, usually a .44 or .45. I bought a Vaquero as that was all I could find at the time. The stock answer to equipment eligibility was : "If John Wayne would use it, it's OK." Yeah, right .... not now.
I took a break from the sport and when I came back, it was two pistols, wimp loads and speed was paramount. I bought a 2nd Vaquero so I could play. My latest cowboy guns are a consecutive pair of Taylor's Uberti-made 44-40 '63 New Model Army conversions and I wear them in 'Slim Jim' unlined holsters.

The back cover of the current issue of GOTOW magazine is a full page Ruger ad featuring the "New SASS Vaquero" - "The 'Old West Isn't So Old Anymore". They aren't kidding.
The same issue has a review of the 1883 Burgess lever action rifle. The author used it in an NCOWS match and did well with it. He mentioned the distance for rifle targets was greater than he was used to at SASS events. He also mentioned the fewer categories in NCOWS, including the "Working Cowboy" class - one pistol, rifle and no shooting cart.
My wife and I are into reenactment, so period correct dress is our bag, and we both have period correct guns. I've tried to generate interest in getting an NCOWS affiliate going here, but fuggedaboudit.
If there was an NCOWS affilate group in Alberta, I'd go to it.

[Cliff Fendley]

Finding NCOWS has recently got me into CAS. I had checked out other avenues and they didn't appeal to me because it was so far from the real thing so I would just do my own thing at home or up on the farm. A fellow NCOWS pard saw me and my period gunleather when I was doing a local gun show and told me about NCOWS and a posse in my neighboring county. I only wish I had found out sooner.

[Pancho Peacemaker]

If there was an NCOWS affilate group in Alberta, I'd go to it.

I know of one NCOWS pard in BC, Sir Charles:  http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php?action=profile;u=2040. 

I know that's a drive for you, maybe yall can get somethin' goining.

Heck, then we can have us an NCOWS INTERNATIONAL championship match!  I like the sound of it already!


Pancho

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[Montana Slim]

Glad to have you with us!...whether you're able to join us in person...or only in spirit 

Regards,
Slim

[Steel Horse Bailey]

PJ, good to hear from ya!  We'd be real happy for you to join us in NCOWS.  I'm a Life Member of SASS, but also a "Member for Life" in NCOWS.  (That means that while I no longer have enough money to do the Life Member thing, I CAN and WILL continue to pay my NCOWS dues every year!)  I wouldn't have found out about NCOWS had I not been in SASS.

Your equipment sounds fine as does getting your wife into the act ... she is also welcome to join the Ladies groups!

The GOTOW piece you referenced was written by a pard (LaVista Bill Bell) who is in one of the posses I shoot with.  The rifle is a good one and a LOT of folks enjoyed either shooting the Burgess or watching him shoot it.  One of our other members liked it so well that he contacted Taylors after the shoot and bought the now "used" Burgess rifle!  (Bill wasn't the ONLY writer who "tested" and wrote about said rifle.)

Anyway - good to hear from you, P.J. Hardtack  and hope that you and your wife decide to join.  NCOWS has several "levels" of authenticity and whether you're a hard-core reenactor or just someone who simply desires to be at a level higher than what you've already found, I hope you'll give NCOWS a try.

Welcome!

[Windy City Joe]

RattlesnakeJack is out of Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada. You can find him on the GAF site of the Barracks.
http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/board,20.0.html

He travels down here (USA) for our GAF shoots.
Windy City Joe

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

I know of one NCOWS pard in BC, Sir Charles:  http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php?action=profile;u=2040. 

I know that's a drive for you, maybe yall can get somethin' goining.

Heck, then we can have us an NCOWS INTERNATIONAL championship match!  I like the sound of it already!


Pancho

I don't get around that much, make about two shoots a year.  The whole spirit of NCOWS just appealed to me after a spread in a Dixie Blackpowder Annual many years ago now encouraged me to join. Will Ghormley was writing a leatherwork column in each issue of THE SHOOTIST.  I have never joined SASS for the same reason that I have never bought a '51 in .44 or a Open top in .38 0r 45.  It just didn't feel right.  Without having a group to meet with has probably let me off the hook on absolute authenticity, but I try. I attempt to promote authenticity, but there are so few shooters that it would be counter productive to divide the sport here.  I remain an ALONE RANGER, at least for now.  Maybe we can get the minimum numbers to have a Posse between BC and Alberta, pretty spread out though!

Yes it is a bit of a drive to meet PJ.  About 7 hours of mountain driving and a 1;40 minute Ferry ride, plus waiting and another hour drive on my side. ($45 for the vehicle and $13.50 per person - but BC seniors ride free from Monday to Thursday!)

NCOWS WAS international when I joined!  There was a Dutch Posse, The Lowland Regulators, in Hertogenbosch.  Whatever happened to them? I thought about looking them up when I visited England.

[PJ Hardtack]

Thanks for the welcome, pards! Strikes me that a Canuck arm of NCOWS could rightly be called CANCOWS .... ;>) Which brings to mind the novelty song - "Cows With Guns", but that's another story.

The idea of the NCOWS 'Working Cowboy' class holds a LOT of appeal - one pistol, my Henry slung on my shoulder and my leather-bottomed canvas satchel for ammo and brass.
Years ago, I attended a match in Idaho where a Cowboy wearing chaps, two pistols, rifle, shotgun, saddle bags for ammo was also packing a saddle - no kidding! The long guns were in scabbards.
It was hot as hell and he sweated like a hog. I asked him what the gig was and he said his horse had been shot out from under him and he wasn't about to leave his saddle.
He won the 'Best Working Cowboy' class hands down, a costume-only award. Two worthy 'also rans' were a pair of Cowboys with cotton dresses over their clothes. I asked 'why?' Answer - "Were paying off a bet".

[Windy City Joe]

Here is the web site for  RATTLESNAKE JACK'S
http://members.memlane.com/gromboug/rmr4site.htm

[Drayton Calhoun]

I'm not a member of either SASS or NCOWS, but, I plan on NCOWS. I was into Buckskinning for several years, so period correct is already there. I have to admit, watching videos of the speed shooting in SASS kinda turned me off. Unfortunately, there aren't any posse's in my area of Alabama. The nearest is close to 80 miles away, so, even weekend shoots are out. Stll, it is wonderful to be on a site like this.

[Books OToole]

I guess the farther west that you live, the distances that you consider tolerable are longer.  At the KVC, the average distance to the range for the 12 most active members is about 75 miles.

That maybe why most of us camp.  We have as much, or more fun, after the shooting is done.  The core of our Posse are all former buckskinners.

Books

[PJ Hardtack]

My wife and I have been Victorian military/civilian (circa 1858-63) reenactors for years. We used to do 'period' camp set ups at SASS events hoping to attract some participants amongst the tin teepee/motorhome crowd. Our clothing was authentic, hers hand sewn from original-type fabrics. A final straw was when we lost a costume judging to a lady wearing a modified bridesmaid dress from Valu-Village and a guy wearing a modern military uniform he couldn't even identify! In the end, we gave up.
 
Having a love of the guns of the era, it was painful to watch the gradual slide that SASS took from 'Cowboy' to 'IPSC in Cowboy Boots' with loads consisting of 1-1/2 grs of baby powder and pill-sized bullets. In my IPSC days, power was justly rewarded with higher points for anything other than a centre hit.
I haven't recently checked the NCOWS eligilbility list, but I feel that the ACW and British carbines ought to be encouraged, in their own category if necessary. I horrified some 'gamers' by stating that I hankered for a Spencer 56-50 instead of one of the current crop of 'short strokers'.
Hell, I'd like to see a class where you need a single shot ML as your main rifle! My wife has a beautiful Uberti RB rifle (not carbine) in .357. It perks with smokeless or BP loads, and would do for a 'rook rifle' side match as it approximates the .38 RF and CF.

Too be sure, I find 'Farbees', 'Stitch Nazis', 'Button Police' and such to be a PITA, but it would be good to associate with people other than 'Drug Store Cowboy' clones.

[Books OToole]

At one of the KVC matches a couple years back there was an attempt to handicap the shooting/scoring so that leverguns, single shots and muzzleloaders could all compete.  There was a ratio of shots.  The leverguns shot 10, the SSs 5 and the MLs 3.  Or something like that.

It is a workable concept, but it would require a lot of research/range time.

Books

[John Smith]

I shoot a 56-50 Spencer as a main match rifle in SASS events, my .45 revolvers shoot 259 gr bullets with a heafty load of Red Dot, and I use a double hammer gun.  I'm definately high drag, low speed, but nobody has any more fun than I do.

[Steel Horse Bailey]

I shoot a 56-50 Spencer as a main match rifle in SASS events, my .45 revolvers shoot 259 gr bullets with a heafty load of Red Dot, and I use a double hammer gun.  I'm definately high drag, low speed, but nobody has any more fun than I do.

I'm still a SASS member, but prefer the "atmosphere" I find at our NCOWS matches.  The SASS folks I shot with were much more geared toward the OLDER style of SASS, rather than the more modern "Shoot Fast" crowd.  However, some of those "Speedsters" are a hoot to watch!

I went to all BP loadfs while I was still shooting SASS, but was also shooting with my GLFMC friends.  They time me with a sundial.  I figger that with me shooting at my own "comfy" speed, I spend more time on the range with my favorite guns and spitting fire & clouds of white smoke ... (with my guns, too!) so I have waaay more fun shooting since I shoot waaaaay longer!

 


Like Mr. Smith said, it's all about fun !