Cowboy Action and Other Kinds Of Competitive Shooting

[Nameless Range]

Anybody here compete in them? It’s been over 15 years since I’ve participated in one and I doubt I ever will again.



They’re kind of a funny thing, and when I explain them to people who have never heard of them the reactions have been interesting. I describe them as Star Wars conventions, but everybody’s dressed up like cowboys, and the guns are real and you have to prove you can shoot them.

I’ve shot a couple does with this Vaquero, which was my primary six-shooter.



My dad, whose alias was Sheepdip, was really into them when I (Clancy Spur) was in high school. He cast his own .44 caliber bullets, and out of our .44 magnums we competed with .44 Specials. He took me all over the state to many shoots and it was a lot of fun shooting thousands of rounds through old guns, and seeing some really skilled shooters. Looking back it was a lot of work for him and I’m grateful. When my kids are a little older I’d like to get them into some kind of competitive shooting.

There wasn’t a whole lot of kids doing it then.



What kinds of competitive shooting do folks here participate in?

 

[BrentD]

BPCR
BPTR
LRML
and
.22BPCR
oh, and LAS


I suppose that's a lot of code but it's bed time. Till tomorrow.

 

[Tradewind]

Pistol league
F class

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s05jcrJw0as

 

[WildWill]

My dad and I competed in SASS for several years in the early 2000s. Still have the Uberti Schofield, Ruger Vaquero, and Winchester 94 trapper all in 45 long colt that I competed with. The Oklahoma city gun club use to hold matches regularly my handle was the Push county kid.

 

[1100RemingtonMan]

I being from Iowa where most hunting is for Pheasants & Waterfowl. I shoot Trap Competive and won the Iowa Northeast Zone AA class with 100x100 on Singles and 98x100 on my Handicap.

 

[BrentD]

11100RemMan, nice shooting. I wish I could shoot a shotgun.

Being from Iowa, maybe you heard or even shot this event in Ackley back in the day. It was the best rifle match ever invented.



There would always be 4 different herds of 25 targets. Targets were all different sizes and at different distances and angles. Might be 100, might be 400 and for sure lots in between. Rangefinders were a no-no...

25 shots, 10 minutes, and they have to go down to count.

 

[Nameless Range]

Some pretty cool stuff. My dad used to go do those silhouette shoots. I remember camping with him at one somewhere out by Big Timber.

 

[BrentD]

Nameless, that silhouette shoot by Big Timber was probably a regulation match. Greater distances 200-500 meters. Distances are all known and you only shoot one distance at a time with sighters. BPCR is what it is known as. It is a great game too but different than the one and only and defunct Ackley match where distances are unknown, there are no sighters and you will shoot all distances in a single relay. The Ackley match really was a lot more like hunting than BPCR. But I shoot BPCR a lot and it is the best game going. BPTR is more or less the same rifles out to 1000 yds, and the targets are paper bulls of course.

did you ever shoot at Big Timber yourself?

 

[Dan O]

Black Powder Cartridge Rifle (BPCR) = Silhouette. Shot next to Brent D at Raton last year, it was a fun time. I've also shot a little Creedmoor with my Sharps and the holy Black Powder. I won the scope class at the Nationals in Raton in 2016.
Also some trap & skeet leagues.


Dan

 

[Nameless Range]

I never did them myself I was just a young boy at the time. But you’re right, the distances were known and there was a spotter.

I bet unknown distances make it a whole lot more interesting.

 

[Dan O]

Nameless, that silhouette shoot by Big Timber was probably a regulation match. Greater distances 200-500 meters. Distances are all known and you only shoot one distance at a time with sighters. BPCR is what it is known as. It is a great game too but different than the one and only and defunct Ackley match where distances are unknown, there are no sighters and you will shoot all distances in a single relay. The Ackley match really was a lot more like hunting than BPCR. But I shoot BPCR a lot and it is the best game going. BPTR is more or less the same rifles out to 1000 yds, and the targets are paper bulls of course.

did you ever shoot at Big Timber yourself?

Brent I bet that was at Big Whiskey about 20 miles east of Big Timber and hosted by Shiloh Sharps. Del and I have been shooting that for about 5 years now. Last year Del won the rifle with a off hand shot on the rams. One shot, one ram, one rifle won it was pretty cool.... I was spotting for him and I'm not sure who was more surprised him or me. but no matter it was a heck of a shot with iron sights to boot.

Dan

 

[BrentD]

Dan, wasn't there another range around BT years ago? I don't really know, because I've never shot there. Been to Big Timber, but not for a match.

Since you were his spotter, ah, he owes ya, right? I mean, we all know it's the spotter that counts. The trigger jerker is just the trigger jerker.

I need to get back to Montana for a match. Hard to fit in 2800 miles of driving though.

 

[Dan O]

Livingston has a range. That's where I met MLV in the 90's when he put on the matches there. It's about 30 miles west of Big Timber. I haven't heard of any other silly wet ranges near there.
Your right it's all the spotter the trigger jerker just listens points and jerks the trigger. LOL
I think the regional in Missoula will be a 4 day ( 2 scope - 2 iron ) in September. Check Del's web site for dates.

Dan

 

[BrentD]

Why is it that I never hear about matches or scores in Livingston? Are they trying to keep it a secret? Do they even still shoot there?

 

[1100RemingtonMan]

BrentD I had heard of the shooting out at Ackley IA but I was living in Sioux City at the time and knew a guy who went there to a Cowboy shoot there, but that was around 20 years ago, can't remember all he had told me about it.
Looks like Fun

 

[BrentD]

Yes, that would have been the NCOWS matches. I never did the cowboy stuff. Just the herd matches. Too bad it all fell apart.

 

[Tradewind]

Brent I bet that was at Big Whiskey about 20 miles east of Big Timber and hosted by Shiloh Sharps. Del and I have been shooting that for about 5 years now. Last year Del won the rifle with a off hand shot on the rams. One shot, one ram, one rifle won it was pretty cool.... I was spotting for him and I'm not sure who was more surprised him or me. but no matter it was a heck of a shot with iron sights to boot.

Dan

I've shot there. Nice range