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By Susan Laws,
The well-equipped cowgirl sports two single action pistols worn in appropriate period gun leather. She carries a trusty lever-action rifle and an old style shotgun, both characteristic of those used in the late 1800s. She wears a shotgun shell carrier in competition, most commonly constructed to slide over the gun belt. A "possibles" bag of some kind to carry ammo is not a requirement, but proves very handy on the cowboy range. |
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Revolvers Less revered from an historical sense, but still very competitive,
the "Modern Class" allows single action cartridge revolvers
with adjustable sights, such as the Ruger Blackhawk. A third
category, "Frontier Cartridge," requires black powder
propellant in all loads and the gritty "Frontiersman Class"
calls for exclusive use of percussion pistols. New on the scene and just the ticket for small hands is a scaled-down version of the traditional frontier pistol called the "Lightning" manufactured by Uberti and offered by Cimarron Firearms. Ruger also accommodates female and junior CASers with its petite New Model Single Six chambered for the .32 H&R magnum cartridge but designed to handle lead-bullet cowboy ammo as well. There are a good many manufacturers and distributors of cowboy-style revolvers around today. CAS has increased the demand for classic clones and the industry has scrambled to accommodate. European American Arms' Bounty Hunter is geared for cowboys and outdoorsmen. Freedom Arms' Model 97 is the same size as the Colt SAA and is built with exceptional precision. EMF offers a fine selection of single action Colt clones. The EMF Hartford, made by Armi San Marco, is very impressive. Navy Arms has added an 1872 Open Top revolver, made by Armi San Marco, to its already extensive line of Old West firearms. |
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Rifles Winchester is the most recognizable name in lever rifles in the world and certainly a name synonymous with the Old West. The company continues to produce a number of long guns for cowgirls and cowboys today. Also on the scene are many popular CAS rifle and carbine replicas patterned after the Winchester Models 73, 92 and 94. Marlin was also part of the Old West and is well represented
at CAS events today. The company was one of the first to take
a close look at the needs of cowboy shooters and developed its
1894 Cowboy Limited specifically for the game. It features a
tapered, 24" octagon barrel with deep-cut Ballard rifling,
which puts a strong hold on lead bullets used in Cowboy Action. |
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Shotguns Fortunately for today's CAS enthusiasts there are newly manufactured double-barrel shotguns that offer the flavor of the Old West at a reasonable price. Two of the most common choices are the Stoeger Coachgun imported from Brazil and the Bounty Hunter from European American Armory. The Stoeger side-by-side is a staple in the CAS arena. It is a reliable workhorse for beginners as well as champions. The Bounty Hunter is a bit more glamorous in appearance with its exposed hammers. However, the hammers are actually only used to cock the internal action and do not strike the firing pins on the shotgun breech. The shooter gets the look of the classic outside hammer double coupled with a modern internal action. I started my CAS career with a double-barrel Stoeger but eventually succumbed to the lure of the period pump gun. The look and action of the Winchester Model 1897 caught my attention and is a favorite of many Cowboy Action shooters. The historic Model 97 was enormously popular in its time. It cleared trenches in World War I, won championships in Trap and was a fixture in duck blinds for more than 50 years. An original 97 takes a good tug to cycle the action but yields plenty of pleasure. Last year at the SHOT Show, Norinco introduced a replica version of the Winchester Model 97, which drew much interest from the CAS community. The gun has yet to be proven but the idea that manufacturers are paying close attention to the needs of the cowboy is encouraging. Another gun worth mentioning, though fairly rare, is the lever-action shotgun designed by John Browning and manufactured by Winchester. The Model 1887 lever-action repeating shotgun is a fine historical specimen and is suitable for cowboy competition if in good working order. |
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Beyond the Guns In addition to western gun leather, cowgirls must have a shotgun shell holder. These small carriers are es-sential for competition. They are inexpensive and easy to find. If you can't find one locally, Dillon carries two styles in their Blue Press cata-log. They are most commonly made to snap on to the cartridge belt or slip over the buckle. The more shells you can hold, the better off you are, but a capacity of six to eight is most common. |
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Cowgirl costumes can be enhanced over a period of time but proper equipment is critical from the start. Making wise choices will eliminate problems and assure a suc-cessful CAS experience. Help is always available from the Single Action Shooting Society (SASS) or from any of the thousands of enthusiastic cowboys and cowgirls already in the game. |
Cowboy Action Shooting is a multi-faceted activity
that offers women a chance to enjoy competitive shooting in an
atmosphere of fun. Getting started requires a few basic items
unique to the sport. The popularity of CAS has rejuvenated the
vintage firearm (and clones) market and created a whole new demand
for Old West clothing and accoutrements. Once you've selected
a shooting alias and an appropriate cowgirl costume, it's time
to look at equipment.
Pistols, rifles and shotguns
all had their place in taming the western frontier and CAS participants
must be proficient with all three. Shooting categories, however,
are determined by the choice of handgun. By far, the most common
shooting category is the "Traditional Class." It requires
two single action cartridge revolvers (.32 caliber or larger)
manufactured prior to 1896 or replicas thereof. They must have
non-adjustable, traditional, notch-style sights and may use smokeless
powder.
For many, the classic
lever-action rifle has never lost its charm. Cowboy Action Shooting
has given this reliable old friend a new life. Selecting a rifle
which chambers the same caliber ammo as your pistols is of obvious
reloading benefit but not a requirement. The "legal"
CAS rifle or carbine must have lever or slide action, tubular
feed and exposed hammer. It must be centerfire, pistol caliber,
.25 or larger. Only open iron sights or original-style tang mounted
peep sights are allowed and barrel length must be 16" or
longer. Rifles with box magazines cannot be used.
The reliable scattergun
did as much to settle the Old West as the Peacemaker and Winchester
and cowgirls must have a suitable, period-correct shotgun in
their arsenal. Side-by-side shotguns typical of the era, without
automatic ejectors are appropriate. They may or may not have
external hammers and they may have single or double triggers.
Also allowed are lever action or pump shotguns with exposed hammers.
All shotguns must have a BATF legal barrel length (18" or
longer) with no larger bore than 10-gauge and no smaller than
20-gauge.
Once suitable firearms
have been acquired, the well-equipped cowgirl looks for a double
holster rig to compliment her costume. Acceptable styles range
from period-correct designs to those reminiscent of Silver Screen
heroes. Function, comfort and appearance all play a part in selection.
Choices abound and there are as many dif-ferent rigs on the CAS
range as there are cowboys and cowgirls.
Last,
and probably least (but still handy) is a small bag to carry
ammo and other necessities. Often called a "possibles bag"
in the Old West, this pouch is very helpful for stor-ing extra
ammo, empty brass or other miscellaneous items. Cowgirls get
very creative with these bags, using leather, animal fur or various
types of homespun cloth and stitchery. Bags may be worn over
the shoulder or attached to the belt.
