What's the differance between NCOWS and SASS?

[Pitspitr]

Mike makes a very good point....
"It may not be played the way you think it should be played, but quit bellyaching 'cause we're on borrowed time. "

I'm just it's still played at all .... what with Liberal Grabbers, transport laws,  Loading component shortages,  add in travel costs and our ages....

Echo that! and +1!

[major]

In NCOWS does everyone shoot one handed (Duelist style), or do some shoot with two hands?  All the pictures I have seen of NCOWS showes them shooting one handed.

[River City John]

Both styles.



RCJ

[Johnny McCrae]

Getting younger people interested in this sport is a big concern at our Clubs. Our local Gun Club sponsors a NCOWS Posse and a SASS Club. For our NCOWS matches 53% of the Shooters are Seniors or older. For our SASS matches 52% are Seniors or older. Lots of Elders.

[Baltimore Ed]

We have had several kids and grandkids of shooters shoot with us over the years but invariably when they hit puberty and they notice the opposite sex and get old enough to drive cas gets dropped like a hot potato. We do have one twenty something gal who shoots with us. I had high hopes for my daughter inlaw but when she had her daughter her CAS career was over. My son and grandson have no interest unfortunately. Here's our most recent 'family ' photo, lots of old codgers, yer dern tootin.

[major]

We have had several kids and grandkids of shooters shoot with us over the years but invariably when they hit puberty and they notice the opposite sex and get old enough to drive cas gets dropped like a hot potato. We do have one twenty something gal who shoots with us. I had high hopes for my daughter inlaw but when she had her daughter her CAS career was over. My son and grandson have no interest unfortunately. Here's our most recent 'family ' photo, lots of old codgers, yer dern tootin.

BE
I have had the same thing happen with Civil War reenacting.  We get a kid when he is 12 or 13 that is interested in reenacting the Civil War and since they can't carry a gun into the field until they are 16 we make them runners or flag carriers.  Then when they turn 16 they discover Girls and Cars and most of the time we loose them.  We also made it a requirement that anyone under 16 needs to have a parent or guardian in camp all weekend for them to participate.  What was happening is we were becoming Civil War Day care.  Parents would drop there kid off on Friday and return to pick them up on Sunday and we had to take care of them and be responsible for there welfare all weekend.  We actually got a fair amount of new adult members this way and it stopped the daycare problem.

[PJ Hardtack]

One of the problems with the re-enactment group I belonged to was that we were all too old for the historic roles we portrayed. In the era, people our age would have long been retired.

Young people are not interested in their own history unless it is about the politically correct highlights. I was often amazed that people from all over would come to Barkerville in the Cariboo Region of BC and know squat about the Gold Rush era that ushered in the creation of the Colony.

Oddly, it was the Europeans and the Americans who knew what the history of the era was. Some even dressed to get into the spirit of the place. Most Canadians were in shorts and flip flops and asked the stupidest questions - "Is that real food?" as we cooked over open fires in cast iron.

I fear that within a decade, CAS (SASS/NCOWS) will be a much less active sport than it is currently. I can't think of the last 'young' person I've seen at an event.

[Buffalo Creek Law Dog]

Our CAS club dropped out of being a SASS affiliated club about two years ago and, as a result, I also dropped my SASS membership along with many other members.  I also belong to a Muzzleloading black powder club and last year we had 91 members of which 65 were 65 or older.  Went to an impromptu muzzleloader shoot last fall, there were 8 of us and we were all over 70.  I thought CAS had old members, there are some muzzleloaders that I am sure that they actually knew Daniel Boone.

[greyhawk]

Our CAS club dropped out of being a SASS affiliated club about two years ago and, as a result, I also dropped my SASS membership along with many other members.  I also belong to a Muzzleloading black powder club and last year we had 91 members of which 65 were 65 or older.  Went to an impromptu muzzleloader shoot last fall, there were 8 of us and we were all over 70.  I thought CAS had old members, there are some muzzleloaders that I am sure that they actually knew Daniel Boone.

I started in a muzzle loader club in 1990 - there were kids everywhere - mostly 8 to 15 years old - nothing to see fifty line up in a junior tommyhawk throw - my son has kept his interest (hes more enthusiastic/dedicated than most older fellers) but only a handful of guys his age still in it - Western Action came along about mid 1990's and drew quite a few of the younger more competitive ML shooters - some of us just couldnt go there - the sight of a city dude that never sat a horse in his plastic cowboy boots and ridiculous mexican spurs .............. we never expressed our own frontier history - there were plenty of bad dudes - villians and holdup men - guns all over the place those days ... anyway ... that branch of the sport pulled on those same blokes that grew up watching cowboy movies - many of em went to Vietnam  - some are older than that - very diverse professional backgrounds - it would be interesting to see what the common denominator is ......anyway enjoy it all while it lasts

[PJ Hardtack]

Like the SASS founders, I was an IPSC burn out when I came to CAS, fed up with the impracticality of "Practical" pistol shooting.  At that time we had a Canadian body named the Western Canadian Frontier Shootists Society (WCFSS), a perfect name for a group shooting Cowboy era guns! My membership was #22.

Trouble was, it was not a truly national society as you had to be present in Victoria, BC in order to vote, no proxies allowed. It also totally embraced SASS rules as to firearms eligibility, ruling out the guns of the British Empire.

Big bore rifles like the Martini-Henry were ruled out as they were not side hammer, along with the handguns used and carried by the NWMP/RCMP.

This was unacceptable and splinter groups formed across the country. Finally it made more sense to unite under the SASS banner and the WCFSS faded into obscurity.

In the past I made several events at Cody, Wyoming and Couer D'Alene, Idaho (did I spell that right?) in the day when all you had to do as you crossed the DMZ was show a shoot flyer and/or a letter of invitation to get into Fortress America. After 911, you needed a note from your mother and a thumb print from God (ATF) to enter with your guns and I gave up crossing the Medicine Line.

[Cliff Fendley]

Age is a state of mind, the trouble is my mind and my body are no where near the same age.

Same here

[Coffinmaker]

When I look inna mirror, I keep asking myself "Who is that OLD guy"

Echo Baltimore Ed.  Mind and body are definitely NOT of the same age.

[PJ Hardtack]

If I felt as old as I look, I'd be in trouble.

Then I remind myself that this old man daily does an exercise routine that would hospitalize most men half my age. That includes chin ups, push ups, sit ups, handstand push ups and pumping iron.

Been doing this for so long, I can't remember when I started. My Dr. said - "Whatever you're doing, keep it up. Don't quit!" I have no intentions of quitting. My philosophy - "Death is nature's way of telling you to slow down. Never use your age as an excuse.".

Not to forget daily walks with the dogs, x-country skiing and snowshoeing which I do by stepping outside the door.

Had a stage four cancer scare eight years ago that reinforced that attitude in me. Made me more appreciative and grateful for everyday. It upsets me when I see so many who have given up on themselves and do things detrimental to their health and well being.

Now if I could only work on those nagging faults of character like my sharp tongue and quick temper ...... but I regard myself as a work in progress.

[LongWalker]

I started in a muzzle loader club in 1990 - there were kids everywhere - mostly 8 to 15 years old - nothing to see fifty line up in a junior tommyhawk throw - my son has kept his interest (hes more enthusiastic/dedicated than most older fellers) but only a handful of guys his age still in it - Western Action came along about mid 1990's and drew quite a few of the younger more competitive ML shooters - some of us just couldnt go there - the sight of a city dude that never sat a horse in his plastic cowboy boots and ridiculous mexican spurs .............. we never expressed our own frontier history - there were plenty of bad dudes - villians and holdup men - guns all over the place those days ... anyway ... that branch of the sport pulled on those same blokes that grew up watching cowboy movies - many of em went to Vietnam  - some are older than that - very diverse professional backgrounds - it would be interesting to see what the common denominator is ......anyway enjoy it all while it lasts

Didn't we just have this discussion, with a bunch of posts about how Doom Is Upon Us, and When We Die Off The Sport Will
End?

Oh wait, sorry, had a TBI moment--that was on the CAS-L, back about '96.  Kid Carl and I piped up and admitted to being Gen-Xers, seems like there were a few others.  How many folks in our age group have come back to the game since then? 

We saw the same thing in ML in the '80s; I know I was the youngest member in my home club, where the average age was 57 or so. . . .  A lot of the kids I shot with back then have returned to the sport and become the next generation of folks worried about "no young people shooting". 

We introduce the kids to the sports now, so they have good memories and want to come back. 

[greyhawk]

Didn't we just have this discussion, with a bunch of posts about how Doom Is Upon Us, and When We Die Off The Sport Will
End?

Oh wait, sorry, had a TBI moment--that was on the CAS-L, back about '96.  Kid Carl and I piped up and admitted to being Gen-Xers, seems like there were a few others.  How many folks in our age group have come back to the game since then? 

We saw the same thing in ML in the '80s; I know I was the youngest member in my home club, where the average age was 57 or so. . . .  A lot of the kids I shot with back then have returned to the sport and become the next generation of folks worried about "no young people shooting". 

We introduce the kids to the sports now, so they have good memories and want to come back. 

I think this stuff runs in cycles - I have been dismayed - disgusted - dissapointed well not enjoying what I see when I go into gunshops - the last five years - all of the wannabee army boy camo gear - and the look alike gunz that go with it - I think (hope) this phase is on the wane in recent months - this is nothing about disrespect of the kids that stick their hands up to defend us (from imaginary enemies concocted by corrupt politicians who do not give a shit about those same kids welfare now or later - but that another argument entirely) 

[Cliff Fendley]

Didn't we just have this discussion, with a bunch of posts about how Doom Is Upon Us, and When We Die Off The Sport Will
End?

Oh wait, sorry, had a TBI moment--that was on the CAS-L, back about '96.  Kid Carl and I piped up and admitted to being Gen-Xers, seems like there were a few others.  How many folks in our age group have come back to the game since then? 

We saw the same thing in ML in the '80s; I know I was the youngest member in my home club, where the average age was 57 or so. . . .  A lot of the kids I shot with back then have returned to the sport and become the next generation of folks worried about "no young people shooting". 

We introduce the kids to the sports now, so they have good memories and want to come back. 

The challenge is getting the kids to shoot enough to even build good memories.

[Rowdy Fulcher]

 Cliff
Can't shoot a weapon with a cell phone in your hand . Might miss a text .     

[Baltimore Ed]

A duelist could but would have issues with his or her longguns. Speakerphone? Sound like an idpa course of fire.

[Abilene]

Dang!  As if the shooter's handbook wasn't long enough already.  Now they gotta add "No texting while shooting."

[bear tooth billy]

Funny story, I went out shooting with some friends last Sunday, they have a 21 year old cousin (young lady)
I let her shoot my .380, couldn't hit S_ _ _. the she tried a Glock 9mm same result. Next I handed her a Ruger
single six and had her shoot at a buffalo, wa-la all shots in a 2'' group. Then a Henry golden boy, very good group.
And finally an original 92 in 32-20, and also did very well. Now she wants to try cowboy shooting, and I will
guarantee she would rather hold that 92 than her cell phone. (I may never get it back) LOL

                          BTB