Winter Range and the wonderful world of Cowboy Action Shooting

Arizona Outdoorsman / AZOD

Winter Range and the wonderful world of Cowboy Action Shooting

By Don Burke

Well, winter range is over for another year. I wish it went on all year! Y'all are missing out if you don't get into this exciting sport. Let me tell you a bit about it and the world of cowboy shooting.

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Who doesn't love cowboys? There is something nostalgic about that era that draws people to it. Maybe it's the simplicity or the time, or the aura of self-sufficiency and hardiness of the people of that time. However, the best part about cowboy shooting is the people. They are the nicest you would ever want to meet. A great bunch of folks!

Winter Range was held this year, January 28 - February 1, at Ben Avery Shooting Range in Phoenix. This national event draws nationwide competitors and some heavy duty sponsors like Ruger, as well as many of our very own gun shops here in the valley. Arriving at Winter Range on Wednesday the vendors were in full swing. That afternoon the matches were just getting started and I was able to witness some very fine shooting. Many of the competitors were very fast.

In cowboy shooting, matches are broken down into stages. Each stage was sponsored by a local or national shooting business. Winter range this year had twelve stages, not including rifle, mounted shooting and such. Each stage may have targets for rifle, pistol and shotgun. The stages were just outstanding. Each stage had a theme, and the "building" was first rate. For instance at one stage, competitors staged their shotgun and rifle at two different windows in the front of a "house". Starting in one window, on signal drew pistols and addressed those targets. Moving to the second window shooters would then address the rifle targets. Moving to the "corral" shooters picked up their shotgun and down the shotgun targets. Yes, you CAN miss with a shotgun!

Sometimes instead of a time penalty for missing a target they use "Comstock" rules for shotgun. Meaning that is a shooter must knock down his or her shotgun targets with as many rounds as it takes.

Targets are engaged in a particular order. Scoring is similar to IPSC/IDPA, etc. The faster you go, the less you miss the better your score. At each stage competitors are broken down into groups or posses. Each posse rotates through the stages according to a prearranged schedule. I looked at this schedule posted on the big board in front of the main tent. I never got the "official" count, but there were well over 300 competitors at Winter Range this year. The posses ran smoothly through the stages, a credit to the match officials and competitors. The mounted shooting, sort of like barrel racing with guns, was just great. I had never seen it before, and well, it was great!

Ben Avery Shooting Range is a world-class facility. We are so very lucky to have such a fine facility right here in the Valley. Winter Range was setup in the Western portion, by the practical pistol ranges. The spectator areas for seeing shooting were well marked and some seating was available. The spectator areas seemed far enough away from the shooting but eye and ear protection might be a good idea.

The vendors were located behind the shooting areas on Sutlers Row. I don't know how many there were, but there was a lot of stuff to see! Cowboy clothing of every type, guns, accessories belts, holsters, bullets, powder and all sorts of stuff. You could outfit yourself right here, pretty much one stop shopping. I saw some fine gunsmithing going on too. If your gun broke in the match, there were fellows right there to fix it. Want fancy stag grips for your pistols? They custom fit those and more right there.

Many of the people simply watching the shooting or shopping were dressed in period clothing. But even in you wore a ball cap and sneakers, you were welcome. Did I mention some of the nicest people on the planet are cowboy shooters? Several vendors had food. GOOD food! Important if you planned to stay the day. I visited many times during the week. I found some pretty awesome deals on stuff, too! Parking and amenities were well thought out. Visitors early on could park right across the "street". As attendance increased, parking was down on the long range rifle area about a quarter mile away. Our wonderful Maricopa County Sheriff's Posse did security and parking details, also running a shuttle between the parking area and events.

All in all, Winter Range this year was GREAT! If you missed it this year, you GOTTA go next year. YE-HAW!!!

For more information on Ben Avery Shooting range and their schedule of events go to www.basfaz.com. The Ben Avery website also has links to local clubs. For more information on cowboy shooting go to the Single Action Shooting Society page at www.sassnet.com. –AZOD-