What Categories Can I Shoot In?

SASS has a number of different categories in which a shooter can compete. These are designed to allow all shooters to be able to shoot in the style they would like to, as well as allow them to shoot against their own peers in order to find their own level of success. A wide range of shooters compete in this sport, with some as young at 8 and others in their eighties. By separating the categories as we do, this allows people to do well within their categories while all shooters still battle for the top cowboy (or cowgirl). Each of these categories is further separated by ladies and men.

The age-based categories are as follows:

  • Buckaroo: Under age 14. Shoots .22 and .410 shotgun is allowed
  • Young Guns: Age 14-16. Shoots smokeless with two-handed grip
  • Cowboy: Any age. Shoots smokeless with two-handed grip
  • Wrangler: Age 36-48. Shoots smokeless with two-handed grip
  • 49er:  Age 49-59. Shoots smokeless with two-handed grip
  • Senior: Age 60-64. Shoots smokeless with two-handed grip
  • Silver Senior: Age 65-69. Shoots smokeless with two-handed grip
  • Elder Statesman: Age 70+. Shoots smokeless with two-handed grip

Other categories include the following:

  • Duelist: Age 59 and under. Shoots smokeless with one-handed grip, one pistol at a time
  • Senior Duelist: Age 60+. Shoots smokeless with one-handed grip, one pistol at a time
  • Gunfighter: Age 59 and under. Shoots smokeless with one-handed grip, both pistols out at the same time
  • Senior Gunfighter: Age 60+. Shoots smokeless with one-handed grip, both pistols out at the same time
  • Classic Cowboy: All ages. Special clothing and caliber requirements, shoots with one-handed grip
  • B-Western: All ages. Special clothing and gun requirements, can shoot with a variety of grip styles
  • Frontier Cartridge: All ages. Shoots black powder with two-handed grip
  • Frontier Cartridge Duelist: All ages. Shoots black powder with one-handed grip
  • Frontiersman: All ages. Shoots black powder with cap and ball revolvers with one-handed grip

As stated in a previous post, when you are first starting out, we recommend that you begin in an age based category until you learn the ropes, then decide if you want to branch into other categories.

What Is It With The Clothes?

One of the misconceptions that we regularly hear is in regards to the clothing. People may say that they like the old style guns, but they don’t want to play “dress up.” Clothing is just one part of the sport, and our shooters across the nation range from those that take great pride in being historically accurate, to those that want to dress like their B-Western heroes, to those that just want to dress the minimum to be legal. Bear in mind that we are not historical reenactors. This is a shooting sport with minimal clothing requirements, and all are welcome.

You may see many people at our events that look like they stepped out of the 1880s, but you do not have to go that far in order to take part in a sport that is the most fun you can have with your boots on. All that is required of your clothing is the following: jeans, long sleeve “cowboy style” shirt, cowboy hat, and boots. If you choose to go farther, that is great, but we will not look down on you for dressing to the minimum, and this allows most people to get started with clothes that are probably already hanging in their closet.

The only exception to this is for those of you that choose to compete in the categories that are costume based, such as Classic Cowboy or B-Western, but we don’t recommend that shooters start here. Start off with age-based categories and get your feet wet, and then decide what you would like to branch off into.

The only clothing that is specifically banned by SASS is the following:

  • Modern shooting gloves
  • Short sleeve shirts (applies to males only)
  • T-shirts and tanks tops (though long sleeve Henley shirts with buttons are allowed)
  • Designer jeans
  • Ball caps
  • Athletic shoes or combat boots (some exceptions can be made if need is due to medical issues)
  • Logos or sponsorship on clothing

Saddle up and join us soon!

What Is Cowboy Action Shooting?

Even if you have heard of our sport, you may have questions of what we are all about, and what is involved with what we do. A few years ago, a shooter from Colorado, Grizzly Dave, put together a very detailed introduction to our sport. Sit back, pop the top on an ice cold sarsaparilla, and enjoy the video introduction…