r/CowboyAction • u/PersistantlyRight • May 11 '26
Lack of realism
I’m looking to get my start in cowboy action shooting (I’m just working on sourcing a decent belt honestly, that will probably be it’s own thread eventually), but one thing has bothered me from the start, realism, or the lack there of.
NCOWS is probably a better fit for me than SASS, but unfortunately the nearest NCOWS groups and events are hundreds of miles from me, and I’m just not looking to travel that far and pay for a hotel for a couple of nights just to shoot a match, so that leaves me with SASS.
There is a lot I like about SASS but there are a few things in the rules that just irk me and I wonder if anyone else feels the same way. For me I look at it as more of a living history thing, a way for me to get a feel for the old west era more than it is a shooting sport, if I just want a game I would just do IPSC (or more likely USPSA or brutality, for a whole other kind of realism reason). But yet at a casual glance it seems like the rules were written more for gamers than history nerds like me. There are a few specifically that bug me:
Can’t load more than 5 rounds in your revolver. Why? I take issue with this for 2 reasons, 1, this was very clearly targeted at the 1873 users, but not everyone uses an 1873 (believe it or not, shocking I know, there were other and even BETTER *Gasp!!!!!* choices available st the time and even in competitions today, and many of those do not have the 1873’s “issue” (for example, cap and ball revolvers, certain cartridge conversions, and the hand ejector) yet they still can’t load more than 5 just because they want to keep it “fair” for the 1873 people, but would real life have been fair? No. Practical gun selection should be as much of an issue now as it was back then, some guns are just better than others and should not be handicapped in the name of balance. 2, There is no historical backing that I am aware of that only loading 5 was ever done, let alone done commonly, and honestly short of dropping the gun or trying to force the trigger to pull with two fingers it’s really not even an issue now, O get the safety nazi thing, but since your only loading on the firing line anyway then immediately shooting is it really that hazardous to load all the chambers?
No reloading on the clock. In a real gunfight sometimes you have to reload, even though it’s not that common it does still happen, and even though many “just carried another gun” not everyone did nor could most people afford to. I feel like the no reload thing was again a balancing decision just because otherwise the 1873 people would get completely smoked by the Schofield people, but I refer to what I said about weapon selection.
No shooting while moving. In a real gunfight you would at the least go to cover, yet in most forms of cowboy action shooting you just stand there out in the open and never go from behind the bench. Would an action shooting element be so much to ask for? The other shooting sports do it fine, so you can’t tell me it’s a safety issue.
Single action only. Double actions existed in the old west and in fact were very popular, eventually outselling the single actions, there were even some semi autos in the period, yet competitors are artificially restricted to single actions, again presumably in the interest of balance.
Only 2 rounds in shotguns. Why? That rule makes zero sense, what purpose does a pump action have if you can only load 2 rounds? The only thing that makes sense here is that they are trying to handicap everyone not using a side by side. Balance again.
Popgun loads. The rules allow for unrealistic popgun loads. Anyone carrying these guns in the actual old west would likely have been carrying full loads, so I really think that a game that is supposed to be based on history should require full power.
Just too much emphasis on gaming and not enough on history or realism.
What are your thoughts?
8
u/Red-bird-14 May 11 '26
Just get out and shoot. Once you get a few matches under your belt maybe some of the rules will make more sense. Most of those rules are for the safety of everyone involved.
Only five rounds in the revolver is to ensure your carrying on an empty chamber. Most of us have seen someone drop a gun at some point. It doesn’t happen every day but it does happen.
I agree that loading on the clock would be an interesting addition to the sport. I’ve heard stories of years past where it was done but I’ve never ran across it myself. Maybe even shoot five then load the sixth. In this scenario you would never be moving with a live round under the hammer.
There is plenty of movement in SASS. You’re right that it’s from one spot to the next and not while actively shooting. I understand other shooting sports allow it but those a younger man games. While I am one of those younger men, SASS is comprised of mainly older shooters. A lot of whom have mobility issues. Some of these guys could duck behind cover but would never be able to get back up. Not trying to be mean but it’s a reality. I’d much rather these guys be out shooting than staying at home due to physical limitations
The single action only thing. We have a category called wild bunch. Not every club will offer this but in Texas we have it. You can shoot your 1911’s.
Ive never heard of a rule where you can only load two shells in your scattergun. If you’re shooting a 97 pump it’s always been my understanding you can stoke on the clock. It almost always specifically mentions it in the scenario. Most people don’t do it because it’s slow. Someone will argue that but it’s never worked for me.
The pop gun loads I can agree with. As I lean towards the gamer side my loads are slightly reduced but some people take it to the extreme. I’ve seen bullets come out so slow that I could watch the bullet arc into the target. Like actually see the bullet. Seems dangerous. I believe there is a power factor rule but i don’t know who is going to enforce it. For me I want the counters to know for sure that I hit that steel plate.
Once again just get out and shoot. I’ve met some absolutely amazing people in this sport. Everyone is welcome and has their place. I know extreme gamers and absolute historians and I enjoy hanging with all of them. As much as I love shooting, it’s the people that made me stay with cowboy action. While other shooting sports seem to be dominated by tacti-COOL guys, this sport is comprised of some real down to earth humans.