Cowboy action shooting is the re-creation of a gunfight which, in the minds of the event organizers, occurred in America’s Wild West. They fabricate a stage, using store fronts and props, to add realism.
Then they script a competitive Cowboy Action shooting scenario based on a real or imaginary story line.
Cowboys assume a catchy alias and participate in authentic attire, with vintage or replica centerfire black or smokeless powder firearms of the period. Shooting stages are monitored by a number of range officers and assistants responsible for safety. The range and safety officers make sure your gun is properly loaded, assure that you are carrying it holstered in a safe condition, and stand right behind you when you shoot.
Twirl a loaded Colt and your SASS membership would probably be cancelled. Drop your gun during a stage, and you are disqualified for the day!
They mean business…
And when you have finished your stage, they monitor the unloading of your guns to assure that all firearms are EMPTY.
As we stated in Part I of this review, airguns are not permitted in SASS events, but the Colt Peacemaker pellet revolver may be a viable, low cost option for newcomers to discover whether Cowboy Action is their passion.
Each handgun is loaded with five cartridges, and the hammer is lowered on the remaining empty chamber. In the typical stage, the Cowboy prepares to engage his targets (BAD GUYS) with loaded handgun(s) holstered.
On Command, he/she then draws the first holstered gun and begins shooting the target sequence scripted before shooting begins. Novice shooters shoot one handgun at a time, using a two-handed hold.
The participant is NOT permitted to begin cocking his Single Action revolver until the barrel is pointed in the area of the target(s).
For right handed shooters, the left hand cocks the hammer for the next shot executed by the right hand. Following the handgun shots, the shooter engages adjoining targets with his rifle and shotgun.
A total handgun/rifle/shotgun score of 18 seconds (typically 24 shots) is outstanding, but a score of 35-40 seconds is typical.
I contacted Iron Burner (Chuck), Marshall Kenny Hittum (Ron K) and they agreed to join me (Sundance Harry) on the gun club outdoor handgun range to see how the Colt Peacemaker pellet revolver performed under typical Cowboy Action conditions.
We first tried the Colt on traditional steel plates. The plates on our handgun range are smaller than typical Cowboy Revolver targets (10 inches vs 16 inches), and are nearly twice as distant (35 feet vs 20 feet), but Iron Burner and Marshall Kenny Hittum were up to the challenge!
Both hit the steel clanger five times in succession using cowboy, two-handed technique. And because the participants don’t have to wear ear protection for a CO2 event, each successful target hit can be heard to emit a distinctly audible “PLINK”.
Here’s the Cowboy Action Shooting timing/firing sequence, shown by Marshall Kenny Hittum:
1. Above. No contact with the gun until command!
2. Above. Draw the gun with hammer down on empty chamber.
3. Above. Begin cocking motion when the revolver is just below the area of the target.
4. Above. Fire! Don’t return the gun to the holster until all five rounds have been safely expended down range.
After shooting the clangers, we set up a five target stage (paper plates stapled to the perimeter of a target frame), and created rules to match our primitive targets. Each participant engaged the targets twice with our Colt Peacemaker pellet revolver.
Each engagement consisted of 5 shots, timed from the command “DRAW” until the fifth shot was fired. Each missed target was penalized two seconds.
As you can see, Marshall Kenny Hittum won the match. Kenny was able to draw the Colt Peacemaker pellet revolver on command, and shoot the five targets in succession from left to right, in exactly 4 seconds. On his second attempt, the stage rule required him to sweep the five targets from right to left. That slowed him down to 5.2 seconds! His total score for the 10 shot stage was 9.2 seconds.
Cowboy action participants are NOT scored for accuracy. It’s HIT or MISS on each target. Cowboys were known to reload their black powder cartridges by the campfire using hand cast bullets and primitive nut cracker tools. Winning a bulls eye contest the next day was not an objective. Keeping the rustlers away from their doggies was!
Cowboy Action handgun targets typically are 7-10 yards distant from the shooter, and are steel ovals up to 16 inches in diameter. Speed is everything – within the boundaries of absolute safety! Big events use hanging or knock down steel plates as targets, while small informal events sometimes use paper.
Practice, Practice, Practice…
Cowboy Action participants spend a lot more time practicing than they do actually shooting at targets.
The Colt Peacemaker pellet revolver (without pellet cartridges and CO2 catrridge) is ideally suited for dry fire Cowboy Action practice.
Practice the Cowboy Draw, the Move to Target and the Hammer Cock. Repeat…
The cowboy can’t touch the handle of his revolver until he hears the command to draw, and can’t begin cocking the gun until the barrel is less than 45 degrees below the horizon. Fanning is a NO NO!
And Cowboys don’t dawdle on sight alignment. They soon develop a sixth sense for an instinctive “Point and Shoot” style once the gun is directed at the target. Developing a rhythm for drawing the gun, moving it safely up to the first target, and cocking the hammer once the barrel alignment is near optimum for a safe shot takes some practice.
Once the shot is executed, the Cowboy immediately pans to the next target. After five shots, he holsters the empty gun. After you’ve developed the rhythm, have a friend or family member call “Draw”, and time you from that point until you’ve executed five dry fire shots at five successive targets.
BUY FROM PYRAMYD AIR
Colt SAA CO2 Pellet Revolver ![]()
BUY FROM AIRGUN DEPOT
Colt Peacemaker SAA Pellet Pistol
Cost to shoot a Colt
Just a word about the cost to purchase and shoot a Colt Peacemaker pellet revolver vs. Colt’s centerfire handgun. An on-line search indicates New Colt Single Action Army (Peacemaker) revolvers have an MSRP of $1700.00. Or, you can purchase a Ruger Vaquero in 45 Long Colt for about $600.00.
Fifty rounds of factory ammunition will set you back another $30.00. If you plan to reload your empty 45 cases, factor in a substantial outlay for reloading equipment. Compare that to $149.00 for the Colt Peacemaker pellet revolver, and an outlay of about two cents/shot for pellets and CO2. And reloading your empty cases doesn’t require a special tool!!
Another consideration is centerfire gun maintenance. You’ll spend 20-30 minutes cleaning your firearm after EVERY use and you’ll have to wear ear plugs or muffs when you practice Cowboy Action.
See ya on the range…
Sundance Harry, Marshall Kenny Hittum, Wyoming Whiskers and Iron Burner.
A summation of the sport is best described by the Single Action Shooting Society:
The truly unique aspect of Cowboy Action Shooting is the requirement placed on authentic period or western screen dress. Each participant is required to adopt a shooting alias appropriate to a character or profession of the late 19th century, or a Hollywood western star, and develop a costume accordingly
American history buffs and serious shooters alike agree the use of vintage firearms, authentic costuming, unique targets, and fast action make Cowboy Action Shooting one of the most interesting of all shooting sports for both spectator and contestant.
Safety Considerations
Cowboy Action is NOT Fast Draw !
The Cowboy Fast Draw Association limits the caliber of the handgun to 0.45, the propellant to a single pistol primer, and the bullet to a cast, wax projectile. The velocity is regulated to 650 FPS, and the shooter begins cocking his Single Action Army (or equivalent) almost before the gun is out of the holster. NOT a safe shooting style for lead projectile guns – including the Colt Peacemaker pellet revolver.
SAFETY first. Original Colt Single Action Army, and Ruger single action revolvers pre-1973, would fire the round chambered ahead of the hammer if the gun was dropped or the hammer was sharply struck. For obvious safety reasons, the guns were always carried without a round in that chamber.
Ruger’s post 1973 come equipped with a safety transfer bar which prevents inadvertent discharge unless the trigger is pulled. But SASS rules dictate that all participants in Single Action Shooting Society events load only 5 rounds per revolver, with an empty chamber positioned ahead of the firing pin.
Colt Peacemaker pellet revolver owners should consider following the same rule.
I checked the Colt Peacemaker pellet revolver, and the hammer is blocked from striking the CO2 discharge bar, unless the trigger is pulled simultaneously. That being said, a simultaneous trigger pull and hammer “jar” will discharge a pellet from a loaded cartridge. For extended carry, Umarex has provided a safety which blocks both the trigger and the hammer. Be TOTALLY safe!
Carry your Colt Peacemaker pellet revolver like the old timers did: with an empty chamber ahead of the hammer and the Umarex Safety ON.
Even a 0.177 pellet would make an ugly, painful wound at close range! Youngsters learning this habit early will be well served when they handle a vintage Colt or Ruger for the first time.
The post Cowboy Action Shooting with The Colt Peacemaker Pellet Revolver – Part 2 appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.