Cowboy Action Shooting
{Click photos to enlarge}
Cowboy Action Shooting (CAS™) sometimes
called Western Action Shooting is a form of
target shooting with a twist. We normally shoot 6 "stages"
at our "Old
West" town shooting range. At THSS this town is called
"Gunsmoke". Each scenario is a "little story" with props. For example,
you might have to "hop up out of bed,
unlock the jail cell, shoot
through the window
with your pistol, grab the money bag, go out and get
your shotgun and shoot 4 shells from behind the rock, then get you rifle
from the horse's scabbard and ....", etc. The "scenarios"
are
different each match. You're scored for time and accuracy.
For
some this is a competition, for others it is just for fun, but for all
it is less stressful and more relaxed 
than any other kind of
competition. This is also a very FAMILY FRIENDLY sport.
Women and kids compete,
also. The law requires proper supervision of minors apply to and
are observed at THSS, just as they are by any shooting club that follows
the law. We've got shooters all across the
board, professors, teachers, preachers, carpenters, businessmen,
retirees, and law officers.
Each
shooter's basic rig requires two single action revolvers, one lever
action rifle, and one shotgun. See Shooters Equipment. Each "scenario" uses different
combination of these guns, in some one or two of the guns may be left
out.
Certain months we have
a central theme that the shooter may or may not be involved in.
These or optional. Every October we have a Wild
Bunch Shoot
with period guns and garb. This is along
with the regular Cowboy Action. In August we have the Hawaiian
Shoot which only involves the cooler Hawaiian clothing. Boots
and Hat are still required.
The Cody/Dixon Category is now a regular category for
the Monthly shoots and Trailhead. There are a lot of Cowboy Action
Shooters that have “big bore” rifles, but say that they hardly ever get
a chance to shoot them. Most Annual Shoots usually have a “big bore”
side match of some sort. Some Clubs have enough room on there range
that they can set up long-range target at their monthly shoots, but
again that is usually for just a few shots either during or after the
main match. Or maybe you have been shooting Cowboy Action for a long
time and are looking for something a little different to try. Well,
the
Cody/Dixon category was developed for just those kinds of shooters.
Besides the main stages, there are also Side
Matches and team shoots that are usually following the main shoots.
At Trailhead they may be before & after the main shoot.
These
modern gunfighters (ladies and gents) recreate every
aspect of frontier
life, adopting names, guns and attire from the 1860-1899's. Costuming and aliases are a big part of
WAS See
Outfits for shooter. There's no rhyme or
reason to selecting your alias, historical reference or a favorite
movie character. They are all very proud to be wearing their
offical THSS badge. More under Visitors
and Members.
THSS at
Gunsmoke has one match a month.
This is the
3rd Sunday of each month
with one exception
in March when our yearly Trailhead
(Special Events) takes its place.
Maps and Directions
Weather varies, so
you might want to check
the
weather to see what to bring. Remember in hot weather to drink
a lot of water before and during the shoot
