| If you start talking about cowboy shooting games | | | | There are some variations in cowboy action |
| you could be talking about any number of | | | | shooting -- some people shoot their pistols |
| varieties of the sport, but most likely you're | | | | gunfighter style, one in each hand, and some |
| talking about one of the three main flavors. For | | | | people shoot duelist style, the pistol always fired |
| those interested in, or just getting involved in | | | | from the same hand. |
| cowboy shooting, let's take a look at what most | | | | Mounted Shooting - A lot of people have seen |
| people are doing. | | | | barrel racing with horses, either at the rodeo or |
| Cowboy Fast Draw - This is probably what most | | | | on TV, and mounted shooting can be described |
| people think of when they envision cowboy | | | | as barrel racing with guns. |
| shooting games. On the large and small screen, | | | | Balloons are attached to posts in the arena and as |
| how many times have we seen two men meet in | | | | the horse and rider go through the course, the |
| the middle of the street while the onlookers duck | | | | rider fires at and pops the balloons. The fastest |
| for cover? In the movies the scene usually ends | | | | ride missing the fewest balloons is the winner. |
| with someone lying in the dust while smoke drifts | | | | Cowboy mounted shooting is the only one of |
| from the barrel of the winner's gun. | | | | these three varieties where blank ammunition is |
| Fortunately for the competitors, cowboy fast | | | | used. Even with blanks there's enough material |
| draw is still concerned with drawing and firing | | | | coming from the barrel of the gun that it will pop |
| faster than the other guy (or gal), but now you're | | | | a balloon at several feet. (Most people think blanks |
| shooting at a target instead of each other. | | | | are harmless, but they can be deadly.) |
| When the shooters are ready, a light on the | | | | One thing all of these cowboy shooting games |
| targets comes on after a random number of | | | | have in common is the costuming. The |
| seconds. The fastest to fire and hit the target is | | | | participants are dressed in period clothing, typical |
| the winner of that round. | | | | of what you might have seen in the late 1800s. |
| Cowboy Action Shooting - In this activity the | | | | The firearms are all replicas (or actual antiques) of |
| participants are set up on a stage that appears to | | | | firearms found in the Old West during that time |
| be part of an Old West town. You might see a | | | | frame. |
| saloon, a bank, or a livery stable. The competitors | | | | Plus, all of the participants have their own cowboy |
| take turns shooting a series of targets, | | | | "alias" and many have created extensive stories |
| sometimes going from the window of the bank, | | | | about "their life in the old west." |
| to the doorway of the stable, etc. They're | | | | Spectators are always welcome (safety is of top |
| required to shoot pistols, rifles, and shotguns. | | | | concern at these events) and when you show up |
| Each cowboy or cowgirl is timed from start to | | | | for the first time you're going to think you |
| finish and extra time is added to their score for | | | | stumbled into a time machine and came out in the |
| each target that is missed. | | | | Old West! |