Competition involves a number of separate shooting scenarios known as "stages". Stages are always different, each typically requiring ten revolver rounds (shooters generally carry two single-action revolvers), eight to ten rifle rounds, and two to eight shotgun rounds. Targets typically are steel plates that ring when hit. Sometimes, reactive targets such as steel knockdown plates or clay birds are used. Misses add five seconds to the competitor's time; safety violations and other procedural violations add 10 seconds. Competition is close and contested with the national and world championships attracting over 700 competitors.
Scoring Shooters compete one at a time against the clock. Most matches are scored simply by "total time" minus bonuses and plus penalties. Other matches are scored by "rank points". Shooters are timed using electronic timers, which record the duration for each stage to one one-hundredth of a second. The timer starts when the range officer pushes the button, which beeps to signal that the shooter may proceed. The timer has a built-in microphone and records the time when each shot happens. When there is no more noise, the timer continues to display the final time, which is the raw score. Each shooter's "raw" time for the stage is increased by five seconds for each missed target and ten seconds for any procedural penalty incurred. The fastest adjusted time wins. Targets shot out of proper order incur a procedural penalty, though only one procedural penalty can be assessed per shooter per stage. In "rank-point scoring" the top shooter of a match is determined by adding up each shooter's ranking for each stage, with the lowest score winning. For example, if a shooter places first in every stage in a 10-stage match, the shooter's score would be 10 (a 1 for each stage) and would be the lowest score possible. There is some controversy as to whether "rank points" or "total time" is a better system. SASS in 2017 moved to total time scoring and discarded the rank point scoring system.
Events Every stage at a match is intended to be different. Sometimes, only two types of guns are used or perhaps even only one.Occasionally, a shooter is required to reload a firearm while being timed. When coming to the line, the shooter places their guns as required by the stage description. When the competitor steps to the start position, the range officer conducting the stage asks if the shooter understands the course of fire and clarifies any questions the shooter may have. The range officer asks if the shooter is ready, tells the shooter to "stand by", and starts the timer within two to five seconds. When started, the timer gives an audible electronic tone, and the shooter begins the stage. An example of a stage might have the shooter draw their first revolver and engage five steel targets, then holster their first revolver and move to the left to where their rifle is staged. They retrieve the rifle and engage the rifle targets, which are set farther away than the pistol targets. These might be nine separate targets, or perhaps three targets, which the shooter will "sweep" three times. They then lay the rifle back down on the hay bale with action open and chamber empty and run to the right where their shotgun is staged. Since shotguns are always staged open and empty, the shooter retrieves their gun and loads it with a maximum of two rounds (regardless of the type of shotgun) and engages two knock-down targets, reloads and engages two more knock-down targets (which must fall to score). The shooter then lays their open and empty shotgun back on the hay bale and draws their second revolver. This time the shooter engages three revolver targets in what is known as a "Nevada sweep" (left, center, right, center, left) for a total of five rounds. After the competitor is finished shooting, the range officer tells the shooter to take their long guns and go to the unloading table where another shooter supervises the unloading and verifies that the guns are unloaded. The shooter's time is then recorded, and any misses or penalties are added. Targets are scored by three observers who count misses.
Major matches End of Trail – World Championship of Cowboy Action Shooting at Ben Avery Shooting Range, Phoenix, Arizona, US Land Run – United States National Championship of Cowboy Action Shooting at the Oklahoma City Gun Club, Arcadia, Oklahoma, US Regionals – Western, Four Corners, Midwest, Northwest, Southwest, Southeast, and Northeast State Championships – Each State holds their own respective state championship. Australia National Championship. Australia and New Zealand also have their own respective state championships. European National Championship – Days of Truth (DOT) Many countries have their own respective national championship including: Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Finland, France, Germany, Norway, Sweden, The Nederlands, Denmark, Italy, Hungary, South Africa, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and Serbia. Other major matches: Badlands Bar3 – Comin' Back At Cha
Safety Foremost,
safety glasses (shooting glasses) must be worn at all times. In a typical stage the shooter, who is next in line to compete, will load their guns at a loading table under the supervision of a designated loading official. Western-style "six-shooters" are always loaded with only five rounds with the empty chamber under the hammer. The shooter's rifle will also be loaded with the requisite number of rounds with the hammer down on an empty chamber. Shotguns are always left unloaded, then loaded "on the clock". At a typical cowboy action range, all guns are kept unloaded except when the shooter prepares at the loading table, shoots the stage, then proceeds to the unloading table to unload the revolvers and prove that all guns are empty. Whether guns are loaded or empty, CAS emphasizes safety. Even with the theme of the Old West's cowboy attire, all shooters must wear safety glasses while on the firing line in addition to other important safety rules and more than some other shooting sports have. Many of these safety requirements are due to the nature of reproduction single action revolvers with fixed cylinders, and repeating rifles with non-removable tubular magazines. The range officer is responsible for safely conducting the shooter through the stage. The range officer's attention is not on the targets but rather on the shooter and their firearms. One important duty of the range officer is to immediately stop the shooter if the shooter's gun or ammunition is defective in any potentially unsafe way.
Themes In addition to requiring shooters to wear Old West attire, the Western theme of the matches is enhanced by having suitable targets and props for the stages. For example, a stage may be set in a bank and the shooter will be required to shoot through a barred "teller" window, then perhaps retrieve a "sack of gold" from a safe and carry it in one hand while shooting with their other hand. Another stage may have a shooter rescuing a baby (doll) and having to carry the "child" through the entire stage while engaging the targets. Other props may include
buckboards, chuck wagons, stagecoaches, and "horses" as well as jail cells, oak barrels, hitching posts, swinging saloon doors, etc.
Prizes No money or merchandise prizes are offered in CAS, but often there are drawings and prizes, ensuring a more family-oriented sport. == Categories ==