You've finally gotten most, or all, of the gear that you need together and are ready to go to your first shoot. But you've got some concerns. Will I be able to shoot the stages safely? What do I need to bring? Should I call the match director? Where is the closest shoot? How much ammo do I need? How are the matches run? Will I make a fool of myself? And I bet you have other questions too.

The most important thing is safety! All other concerns are secondary. Your first Cowboy Action Shooting match is not the place to learn to shoot or to learn how to shoot a single action revolver, lever action rifle, and pump, double, or lever action shotgun. So what do you do? Go to the range! Load your guns up in the car and head on out to the range. SASS rules state that revolvers should be loaded with 5 and the hammer on an empty chamber. Make sure that you practice this at the range!

Set up a paper target at 25 feet and get to shooting it with your revolvers. Make sure that you know where they print. High and Left? Low and Right? You'll have to shoot them to find out. Take your time and work on hitting the target center, don't worry about speed. Now, put up a fresh target and send it down 50 feet. Load up your lever rifle and work at hitting target center. Don't rush! When you finish up head on home and clean your guns. Cleaning will help you to become familiar with them.

We're still talking safety here. Gun handling is next. Can you draw, fire, and holster? Can you pick up your long guns and fire them without breaking the 170 degree cone? These can be practiced at home as long as you make sure that YOUR GUNS AREN"T LOADED! If your range will let you, practice draw - fire 5 - holster. Practice. Practice. Practice!

Now that you know how to work your guns, it's time to find a local match. The Cowboy Chronicle is a great place to look. You could also contact your local gun shop, they should have the information that you need. Now that you know when the shoot is, contact the Match Director (MD). A phone call works best. Make sure to discuss your concerns and get a round count. Ask any questions that you have. He/she will be more than happy to chat. Find out what time to be there, registration process, cost, lunch, breakfast, water, bathrooms, and other necessities. If you only have one revolver - or are missing a piece of equipment, make sure to let the MD know. Arrangements can be made to get you a loaner for the day. This can even include a gun cart! Don't hesitate to ask, most shooters are more than happy to lend out any missing equipment.

Now that you have found out that the match is on the coming Saturday, registration ends at 9:30, safety briefing at 9:45, match starts at 10. Also, lunch is provided for a nominal fee by the local Boy Scout chapter. For breakfast, you are on your own. Water is provided. There is a bathroom in the club house. Match fee is $10.00. There will be 5 stages, 50 pistol, 48 rifle, 22 shotgun. You also remembered to get directions to the range. Well, now what?

The night before is the best time to get ready! Get your guns cased (double check that they are unloaded) and make sure that you follow all state and local laws regarding transportation of firearms. Get out a duffel bag and pack up your ammo. Make sure to bring extra! For the counts listed, I like to bring double what is needed. It is possible that you will need to reshoot a stage, so make sure to have plenty of spares. Don't forget to make sure that you get your ear and eye protection in the duffel bag as well. These are required! Make sure that you have enough money for the match and lunch. They have water, but it won't hurt to bring a canteen or water bottle along. Get your holsters and gun belt and shotgun slide or belt into the duffel as well. You don't want to forget anything! Make a checklist and mark off the items as they go into the bag.

Set your alarm to get up early! It will take an hour to get to the range, and you want to be there early, and you need time to make breakfast. You set your alarm for 6. Sleep comes fitfully, excitement builds. The alarm goes off and it's a clear sunny day! You tumble out of bed exhausted and take a shower. Get your cowboy duds on and head into the kitchen to make breakfast. Eggs, sausage, and toast. Plenty of juice, and even some coffee (not too much, you don't want to get jittery). You load up the car with your gun cart, duffel bag, and guns and head off to the range.

You get there in plenty of time. It's only 8:30. You find the registration and sign up, choosing the Traditional class to start. Make sure to introduce yourself to the Match Director and make sure to let him/her know that you are a "tenderfoot." You will be posse'd up with someone that will help you through the day.

You get your gun cart out, and your guns uncased. The leather is on and your revolvers go into the holsters (make sure that they are unloaded). You get your long guns in the cart with the actions open. All your ammo goes into the cart box and you head on down to the growing crowd of well-dressed (and some not so well-dressed) cowboys and cowgirls. You feel a little intimidated by the costuming cause all you could come up with is blue jeans, long sleeved dress shirt, cowboy hat and vest. There are several vendors set up and you go to peruse the clothing options. Maybe you'll buy a new outfit? Maybe you decide to wait until lunchtime.

While you are wandering around, several shooters come by to introduce themselves and make you feel welcome. Some provide some tips and one may even take you down to look over some of the stages. All these targets! Are you going to be up to the challenge? Anticipation and excitement mount!

9:45 rolls around and the Match Director is standing on a table calling everyone together. Make sure to listen closely! There may be local match rules that aren't in the SASS handbook. You will hear again about safety, about not breaking the 170, about not sweeping, and about the "cross draw shuffle" (this is a hip twist if you use a cross draw holster. The goal being to have the muzzle pointed down range when you draw and holster, this way you don't inadvertently sweep anyone). After the safety briefing, the Posse Marshals come out and call out the members of their posse's for the day. You find yourself in Posse 3. So you grab your guncart and head on over.

You introduce yourself to the Posse Marshal and he sets you up with someone named Lumber. He is to be your "guide" for the day and help you along. He will shoot in front of you and make sure that you get through the loading and unloading table and also help you learn about the activities that have to be done in order to make sure that the posse runs smoothly.

He tells you about the Loading Table Officer who makes sure that the revolvers are loaded with five rounds each and the hammer is resting on an empty chamber, and makes sure that the rifles are loaded with the right number of rounds and that one isn't jacked into the chamber. He also makes sure that you have the correct number of shot shells and that you understand the stage.

He tells you about the Unloading Table Officer who makes sure that all of the guns that you have with you are unloaded and clear and that the actions are open.

He tells you about the Spotters who count misses and the Scorekeeper that writes down the scores and calls out the next shooters and about picking up brass and the function of the Posse Marshal.

Once everyone is assembled, the Posse Marshal calls everyone together to go over the stage. This is an easy one! You start with your hands touching the brim of your hat and call you "Hey You". Then the buzzer goes off and you sweep the bank of five pistol targets twice, then sweep the bank of 5 rifle targets twice, and sweep the 2 shotgun targets twice. "No Problem!" you think. You will shoot fifth so you can watch the first few shooters before going to the loading table.

You hear your name called and Lumber comes to help you get your stuff together. You grab your box of rifle/pistol ammo and your long guns and head on over to the loading table. He helps you get loaded up, and you need the help because your hands are shaking with nerves! He also shows you some tricks for making sure that the hammer is resting on an empty. The Loading Officer over sees this and goes over the stage with you one last time before you are called to the line.

It's your turn now! You holster your six-guns and pick up your long guns, holding the muzzles up and head to the line. When you get there, the Posse Marshal shows you how to set your guns on the rest to that they are upright and more easily available. He also goes back over the stage with you one last time and tells you that he will help you through it. You get ready and call out "Hey You!"

The buzzer goes off and you forget the entire stage! You hear the Posse Marshal say "revolver" and then you remember. You draw your first gun and sweep the bank of targets without a miss and holster. Then you draw the second and miss the first two shots and get the next three and holster. You pick up your lever gun and try to remember that Lumber told you to keep it on your shoulder while you work the action. You promptly miss the first three targets, but then hit the next seven! You set the rifle down and the Posse calls out to you to open the action. You remember that the guns are always returned with actions open. You open the action and then pick up your shotgun. Hands are shaking so much in the excitement that you fumble and drop the first two shells. The Posse Marshal tells you to relax, you manage to finish the stage.

You pick up your long guns and head on over to the unloading table and empty them. The lever of your rifle is worked a few times to show the Unloading Officer that it is empty and he also checks the action of your shotgun. As you start unloading the first revolver you hear 5 shots kicked off very fast and you turn to watch Lumber. The Unloading Officer pulls your revolver back to the table and reminds you to pay attention to what you are doing! You finish getting unloaded and get everything back in your cart and the Posse Marshal asks if you can pick up rifle brass.

The rest of the day goes along much better and you start to settle down after lunch. Once your posse finishes the last stage, everyone helps to break it down and you offer to help get packed up. The crew is grateful for an extra hand. After cleanup, you get your guns and gear packed up and loaded in the car and head back to the clubhouse to find out how you did. While waiting for the computer, you make sure to take the time to find your Posse Marshal and Lumber and thank them for the help.

Everyone quiets down to hear the scores called out and you find that you weren't last! The Match Director stops by to see if you had a good time and you assure him that it was great and that you will be back next month!

I hope that this answered most of your questions and expectations about your first match. The shooters that participate in Cowboy Action Shooting are some of the friendliest around and are happy to help out newcomers. Don't be afraid to ask questions! Above all, shoot safe and have fun. I hope to see you down the trail.

Photo credits: Marshal Halloway

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