About Illowa Irregulars

Welcome to Illowa Irregulars Cowboy Action Shooting!

Illowa Irregulars is the only SASS-sanctioned Cowboy Action Shooting club in the Quad Cities area and one of the longest-running clubs in Illinois. Founded in the mid-1990s, we’ve been keeping the spirit of the Old West alive ever since!

We host monthly Cowboy Action Shooting matches from April through August, then again in October and November. September is set aside for our signature three-day annual match, Fall Round-Up, which has earned a great reputation among shooters. In addition to Cowboy Action, we also offer Wild Bunch matches and long-range Buffalo Shoots throughout the season. Check out our Club Calendar for match dates and details.

A Little Club History

It all started in 1993, when the Bartels family put on the first cowboy shoot at Saukenuk. The event was such a hit that they worked with Milan Rifle Club (MRC) to make it a regular thing. MRC has been our home range ever since! The Bartels chose some great cowboy aliases—Paul Bearer, Pushes Up Daisies, Mort Tician, and Pearl E. Gates—to set the tone for the club’s fun and welcoming spirit.

Over the years, many others have helped build and grow the Illowa Irregulars. Some of these pioneers are honored on our stage facades, including:

  • Filmore (Stage 1 – Filmore’s Farm, Feed & Seed)
  • Preemption Judge (Stage 2 – The Courthouse)
  • T.A. Spurs & Shamrock Sis (Stage 4 – The Saloon)
  • Sassparilla Ken (Stage 5 – The Gun Shop)
  • Will Dunn (Blacksmith Shop)
  • Digger Sam (Stage 10 – Peterson & Sons Excavating)

We tip our hats to them and to all the early cowboys who helped shape the club into what it is today!

Shooting With the Irregulars

While we’re a SASS-affiliated club and follow SASS rules, you don’t have to be a SASS member to shoot with us at our monthly matches or Fall Round-Up. There are no club membership dues—just $15 per shooter per monthly match.

Here’s what you need to know about our monthly shoots:

  • Where & When: Registration opens at 8:00 AM at Camden Mills (across from the Trading Post). The shooters’ meeting is at 9:15, and we start shooting around 9:30.
  • Posse Assignment: Shooters place their names on a card and hand it to one of the posse leaders at registration. We typically start with four posses, but we’ll adjust as needed.
  • Monthly Match Format: We shoot six stages per match, with an expected round count of:
    • 60 pistol, 60 rifle, and 25-30+ shotgun shells

We mix things up with a variety of CAS targets, including squares, rectangles, rounds, cowboy silhouettes, buffalo, bear, and cougar targets. We also have plenty of fun specialty targets, like:

  • Texas Star
  • Dueling tree
  • Swingers & plate rack
  • Shotgun knockdowns
  • Vertical clay throwers, snakes-on-posts, a shotgun star, and even a Medusa!

A Unique Match Experience Every Month

One thing that makes Illowa Irregulars stand out is that each monthly match is written by a different guest Match Director. This means no two matches are ever the same! Each MD brings their own style and creativity, so you’ll see fresh target layouts, shooting sequences, movement, and scenarios at every match.

If you’re looking for fun, variety, and great cowboy camaraderie, you’ve come to the right place. Come on out and join us!