Firearms And Equipment

The firearms are a big part of Cowboy Action Shooting’s Old West appeal. Choosing equipment also means paying attention to the rules for your category, the match, and the host club.

Start with the current SASS handbooks, and contact the Illowa Irregulars if you have questions about a particular firearm or setup before buying or bringing it to a match.

The basic setup

A typical main-match setup includes:

  • Two eligible single-action revolvers.
  • An eligible pistol-caliber rifle.
  • An eligible shotgun.
  • Suitable holsters and a shotshell carrier.
  • Approved ammunition for the category and match.
  • Eye and hearing protection.
  • Clothing that meets the applicable costume requirements.

Firearms used in cowboy action shooting are generally of pre-1900 design or manufacture and permits modern replicas, e.g., the Ruger Vaquero and Uberti 1866/1873. Eligibility depends on the actual firearm and applicable rules, not just its appearance or model family.

SASS regulates firearms and modifications to maintain the character of the sport. Check the rules before making changes to a firearm.

Rifles

  • Lever or pump action, with an exposed hammer, tubular magazine, and open or iron sights.
  • Pistol caliber, .25 caliber or larger.
  • Henry and Winchester-pattern 1860, 1866 (“Yellow Boy”), 1873, and 1892 rifles or replicas; Marlin 1894 rifles; and Colt Lightning rifles or replicas.
  • A standard-velocity .22 rimfire exception for the Buckaroo category.

Revolvers

  • Single-action operation.
  • Two revolvers for competition.
  • .32 caliber or larger.
  • Cap-and-ball revolvers in the Frontiersman category.
  • An optional standard-velocity .22 rimfire exception for the Buckaroo category.

Shotguns

  • Winchester 1897 pump-action shotguns or replicas, in 12 or 16 gauge.
  • Side-by-side and single-barrel shotguns, with or without external hammers, in 10, 12, 16, or 20 gauge.
  • Winchester 1887 lever-action shotguns or replicas, in 10 or 12 gauge.
  • A .410 exception for the Buckaroo category.
  • No automatic ejectors, except on single-barrel shotguns.

Ammunition

Only lead bullets and lead shot are to be used. Copper-jacketed bullets, copper-washed bullets, and gas checks are NOT allowed. Main-match ammunition is centerfire, with a single exception – .22 rimfire for the Buckaroo category. Round-nose flat-point (RNFP) bullets for tubular-magazine rifles are recommended.

For shotgun ammunition, No. 7½ shot or smaller is required. Some categories use black powder or black-powder substitutes.

Holsters, shotshell carriers, and clothing

You will need suitable holsters for your revolvers and a way to carry shotshells. Have your equipment checked for the category you plan to shoot. If you use a gun cart, follow the required storage and handling procedures described at the match. The Shooter’s Handbook is a good source for specific information.

For clothing and aliases, see Getting Started. For transport, loading, unloading, and range commands, see Safety.

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