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Single Action Mounted Shooting

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Single Action Mounted Shooting (SAMS) is a not-for-profit organization that hosts competitive equestrian mounted shooting events, cowboy action shooting, old west living history and participates in parade events. They also work to promote American West values and lifestyles to school children and disabled or disadvantaged children through word and action.

Description

Single Action Mounted Shooting is a competitive equestrian sport requiring the use of a horse to negotiate a shooting pattern where targets are engaged with theatrical-stage-blank ammunition that is certified to break a target balloon within twenty feet and not beyond twenty feet. (No bullets are used.)

History

Single Action Mounted Shooting is a competitive equestrian sport that originated from more than five hundred years of military cavalry training. When firearms reached Europe from Asia a need for firearms suitable for use on horseback was filled with the creation of a hand-gun as long arms were too heavy and unwieldy for use on horseback. The handgun eventually replaced the bow, the lance, and eventually the sword or saber. When modern cavalry was mechanized or made “airbourne” the horse was regulated to honorary roles such as in for political or ceremonial uses.

In the spirit of the soldier and cowboy a group called the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association was created in the 1990s so that horse people and cowboy action shooters may enjoy the competitive nature of shooting sports while riding horseback. In 1998 group known as Single Action Mounted Shooting was informally created when competitions and instructional clinics were held in Southern Nevada by Richard Howes. Richard first competed in shooting from horseback as part of the 1st Massachusetts Cavalry Co.A civil-war reenacting group. Richard Howes and Dan Dalton assisted the Single Action Shooting Society in hosting the Western Nationals and Nevada State championship in 1999 and 2000.

In 2004, after several years of informal clinics and instruction and competitions, Richard Howes drew up Articles of Incorporation for the Las Vegas Mounted Shooting Association. As the first Life Member (LVMSA #1-Life) of that group Richard lead the way towards formal regularly scheduled mounted shooting events in Southern Nevada. The original LVMSA Logo was designed based on the 1st Massachusetts Regiment of Volunteer Cavalry's campaign badge that was issued to all troopers returning from the civil war. The name of the LVMSA, under new leadership, was changed to the Sin City Mounted Shooters. With the growth of Mounted Shooting in Las Vegas Richard formed the not-for-profit Single Action Mounted Shooting organization in 2006 in order to promote instructional clinics and old-west living history and charitable events.

Firearms

M.S. requires competitors to use single action revolvers, lever action rifles chambered in pistol calibers, and side-by-side double barrel shotguns. Single Action Semiautomatic firearms, also known as self-cocking firearms are also allowed in special military cavalry events

Costume

Competitors are encouraged to wear costumes or clothing of the American west or Classic B-Western Movies or military cavalry uniforms of any time period or country.

Competition

Mounted Shooting requires skill in both horsemanship and shooting that is measured in the form of competitive events. The typical event requires two single action revolvers loaded with five blank-cartridges. Ten targets are arranged in a horseback riding arena. When the competitor is given and go-signal, indicating the arena is clear of people and hazards, the rider guides his horse across a timer-line and engages the ten targets. When all ten targets are engaged, the rider returns across the timer line and his score is determined and recorded. The raw time of the rider is computed and penalties are added for missed targets or failure to follow the specified course or procedure or knocking over barrels or target stands.

Mounted Shooting also includes events such as Mounted Rifle, Mounted Shotgun, Extreme Cowboy, Team, and Cart Shooting.

Scoring

Shooters enter the arena one at a time. Total Score Times are determined by taking the Raw Time for the stage (or course) plus penalties and/or bonuses.

Safety

All events, whether for old-west living history, or shooting competitions, etc, are lead under the direction of a certified mounted range officer. Mounted Range Officers must take classes and be knowledgeable of firearm safety, event organization, as well as good horsemanship. The direction of a mounted range officer helps to ensure the safety of the competitor, spectators, and volunteers at all events.

Awards

SAMS awards all competitors with door-prizes donated from our generous sponsors. Above that competitors typically qualify to win monetary paybacks, saddles, horse tack, and firearms.

Divisions

For the interest of fair-play and to level the field between riders and shooters of varying skill levels mounted shooting has divisions and levels. There are Open and Ladies gender. (Women may compete in Open or Ladies.). The divisions are further divided by age with their own rules for safety applied. These divisions are: 11 and under (may choose to shoot if qualified) 12 to 16 Junior boy or girl 16 plus Open or Ladies 55 plus Senior Open or Ladies

Blank Ammunition and Targets

No bullets are used in the sport. This raises the questions of how targets are struck and includes interest in the safety of the sport. Firearms in general expel a lead bullet from the muzzle of a firearm under pressure from the expanding gasses in the cartridge located in the chamber or cylinder. Mounted shooting uses black powder theatrical blanks with no bullet. These blanks were originally used in movie production and on the theatrical stage so that flame and smoke can be seen from the muzzle of the firearm. This burning powder will break a balloon out to approximately twenty feet.

References

Origins of Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association by Jim Rogers can be found here: http://www.cowboymountedshooting.com/jim_rodgers.htm

Las Vegas Review Journal - SASS Mounted Shooting at Sandy Valley Ranch in 2000 http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2000/Nov-03-Fri-2000/weekly/14703781.html

Las Vegas Sun Newspaper - Old West Event http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/sep/27/old-west-event-comes-henderson/

Las Vegas Sun - Pat Clark 8th Annual Pony Express Shootout Event http://www.lasvegassun.com/photos/galleries/2008/sep/29/pony-express-shootout/

See External Links. Also, original LVMSA and SAMS Treasurers' Reports and email newsletters for 2005 through 2008 available upon request to samscontact@yahoo.com

  • CAS City - the world of Cowboy & Western Action Shooting
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