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Introduction and General Information

The Old York Shootists have created this page to answer some of the questions we get from spectators and interested parties at our monthly shoots and at events where we make a show in costume.

Read on to learn about the Old York Shootists and the sport of Cowboy Action Shooting.

WHO ARE THE OLD YORK SHOOTISTS?

The Old York Shootists is an NRA approved SASS affiliated Cowboy Action Shooting club, based in Brooksville, Alabama. We share a love of old west history and folklore coupled with an interest in the firearms of the period and a respect for the American citizens' Constitutional right to own firearms. Old York Shootists are encouraged to join both the NRA and SASS, and a majority of Old York Shootists are members of these organizations. Our common interests lead to a great deal of camaraderie and fun at our events and gatherings.

WHAT IS COWBOY ACTION SHOOTING?

Cowboy Action Shooting is the fastest growing shooting sport in the United States of America and perhaps in the entire world. Our sport also has the most outstanding safety record of all the shooting sports. Contestants shoot a series of scenarios designed to capture the flavor of the wild west shootout. The scenarios are shot with period-style firearms and costumes. Costumes can range fro a representation of a true period character (Wyatt Earp, Wild Bill Hickock, Annie Oakly, etc.), a western movie or TV character (Josie Wales, Hoss Cartwright, Cisco Kid, etc.), or a character of your own imagining portraying a vocation or trade applicable to the period (working cowboy, 49er, gambler, etc.). Costumes do not have to be especially elaborate, but attention to authenticity is appreciated. Cowboy hats, boots, blue jeans and western-cut shirts are okay while sneakers, caps, short-sleeved shirts, or T-shirts are not.

WHAT IS SASS?

SASS is the Single Action Shooting Society. SASS is the international sanctioning body for the sport of Cowboy Action Shooting and they sponsor the largest annual cowboy action shoot: The End of Trail. As a SASS affiliated club, we follow the rules contained in the SASS rule book.

WHAT IS MEANT BY "PERIOD STYLE FIREARMS"?

Cowboy Action Shooting is a three gun sport: pistol, rifle and shotgun. The firearms used must be of a type manufactured and in use in the period prior to 1899. The actual date of manufacture is not important. What is of concern is the date of the design of the gun. Reproductions are fine and in fact are widely used by shooters.

Pistols are single-action revolvers exclusively. No double-action revolvers or semi-automatic pistols, despite the date of their design, are ever used in the cowboy action shooting matches. calibers must be .32 or larger for pistols. Three classes of pistols are permitted: Traditional (non-adjustable open sighted, such as Colt Single Action Army or Ruger Vaquero), Modern (adjustable open sighted such as Ruger Blackhawk or Colt New Frontier), and Black Powder (non-adjustable open-sighted cap and ball revolvers such as the Colt 1851 Navy or the Remington 1858 Army).

The most popular rifles are the lever-action carbines. Rifles for the open match must be of a pistol caliber, .25 caliber or greater. The .30-.30 is a rifle caliber and is not allowed in the open shoot. Most of the popular designs are acceptable: Winchester 1866, 1873, 1886, 1892 and 1994 rifles and carbines (and reproductions of these firearms) make up the lion's share of the rifles used. Pistol caliber Marlin lever-action carbines are also permitted, as are slide-action rifles, again of pistol caliber, from the period.

A good many cowboys use double-barreled side-by-side shotguns for competition. Our rules at the present time restrict the shooter to two rounds in the gun regardless of the configuration. Double barrels can be either exposed hammers or box-locks as long as they do not have ejectors, (if it throws the empties clear of the gun when broken, it is not legal). Some slide and lever-action shotguns are legal. They must be of the period and have exposed hammer, such as the Winchester 1897 model, but again, you are restricted to two rounds in the gun.

As a safety measure, firearms are loaded at the shooting line at the loading tables only. No loaded firearms are permitted anywhere off of the shooting line. Unloading must take place at the unloading tables at the shooting line. Shooting is directed by a range-master, and a safety officer, called a "Posse Leader" who is assigned to each shooting group or "Posse".

HOW COMPETITIVE IS THE SHOOTING?

Shooters range from the serious to the laid back. Cowboy Action Shooting is not intended to be a "serious" shooting match such as IPSC. Temper tantrums are not permitted. For the most part, we're just out to have some camaraderie with like-minded folks, play cowboy, and shoot as well as we can within that frame-work. If you win, so much the better, but it's our belief that the shooter who has the most fun is the true winner.

HOW DO I GET STARTED?

We encourage you to come and observe our match to start with, ask questions, get oriented to our safety rules, get familiar with the cowboy dress and firearms required or preferred for the level of competition you wish to attain. Best to find out what works for the sport and what will work for you before investing a lot of money. Please contact us ahead of time, let us know you are coming to watch and we will put firearms and ammo in your hands to shoot the very last stage. FREE to observe, FREE ammo and use of firearms, and our guest at lunch for the day. Please Email Diana Florence with any questions you may have ahead of time. Also, go to sassnet.com for details about rules, dress, firearms. We would love to have you! Contact us ahead of time to be sure of shooting dates and start times.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO SHOOT?

The shooter's fee is $10.00 for participants ($15.00 for non-members). The fees help defray range fees and help keep the club afloat.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

Anyone over the age of 8 who is physically capable and does not have a felony arrest record or otherwise restricted from owning or possessing firearms can participate (all minors must shoot accompanied by a parent or guardian). A new shooter orientation is mandatory for your first shoot.

HOW DO I GET MORE INFORMATION?

For more information, you can write to the club at the address shown below, ask any of the Old York Shootists when you come to our next shoot or send an Email
Want to join Old York Shootists? You will have to shoot a couple of times with us and fill out an application to be an Old York Shootist!

Application in pdf format

Application in doc format

Heart of Dixie