From Greenhorn to Gunslinger: How Do You Train for CAS?

[slow poke gear]

When my family and I started I stressed to my kids, 

you can't miss fast enough to win.

I told them to concentrate on accuracy and not wasting movement, their transitions. Speed comes with repetition, when we started we all were shooting 60 second stages. After 3 seasons my son shoots sub 20s the rest of us are consistently in the 20s. 

I found switching from one gun to the next without wasting any movements is the biggest time saver.

By this i mean don't use both hands to set down a rifle to go to your shotgun, instead use one hand to set the rifle down the other should be getting shotshells, or the shotgun. You want both hands doing two different operations as often as possible.

[Phantom, SASS #54973]

1 minute ago, slow poke gear said:

When my family and I started I stressed to my kids, 

you can't miss fast enough to win.

I told them to concentrate on accuracy and not wasting movement, their transitions. Speed comes with repetition, when we started we all were shooting 60 second stages. After 3 seasons my son shoots sub 20s the rest of us are consistently in the 20s. 

I found switching from one gun to the next without wasting any movements is the biggest time saver.

By this i mean don't use both hands to set down a rifle to go to your shotgun, instead use one hand to set the rifle down the other should be getting shotshells, or the shotgun. You want both hands doing two different operations as often as possible.

I would say the point on accuracy/speed is bad advice... If you want to win Championship. 

 

Phantom

[slow poke gear]

Just now, Phantom, SASS #54973 said:

I would say the point on accuracy/speed is bad advice... If you want to win Championship. 

 

Phantom

I feel that as a new shooter they should concentrate on form, speed i feel comes with repetition.

Develop good habits and form first, then pick up speed.

Just my opinion 

[Phantom, SASS #54973]

11 minutes ago, slow poke gear said:

I feel that as a new shooter they should concentrate on form, speed i feel comes with repetition.

Develop good habits and form first, then pick up speed.

Just my opinion 

Of course... Opinion. My comments too are just opinions. 

 

If you combine form with accuracy, that's what you'll get. If you combine form with speed... That's what you'll get.

 

Phantom

[Assassin]

1 hour ago, Phantom, SASS #54973 said:

You folks have a great range that allows a lot of movement. Most clubs don't have that luxury unfortunately. 

 

21 years ago... When I started... they still had the Stoopid Stand and Deliver stages... which I too hate.

 

Back in the day at The Cowboys in Norco we set up stages in the morning. Target size and distance hasn't changed that much... But I do see a bit more target arrays that have all the targets at the same height and in a nice perfectly straight line...ugh...

 

Phantom

Every outlaw and renegade was the same height, and they stood the same distance apart. I liked shotgun flyers too.

 

[Dubious Don #56333]

On 12/11/2024 at 6:36 AM, KatfishKid said:

Howdy, folks!

I’m back to annoy you with more newbie questions! I’m still green as grass when it comes to cowboy action shooting, but with all your help, I’m starting to wrap my head around it more and more!

Last weekend, I had the chance to spend some time with @The Revenuer and it was a game-changer. He broke down so much about the sport and helped me get a way better understanding of how everything works. I’m really grateful for the time he took to explain things. Thank you, partner!

Now that I’ve got a clearer picture, I’m itching to go to work. I know practice makes perfect, but I’m curious, what does your training routine look like?

• Dry fire practice: How often do you work on this? Do you focus on specific drills, or do you just run through full-stage scenarios?
• Live fire practice: How much time do you spend at the range? Are you working on accuracy, transitions, speed...or maybe all of the above?
• Biggest hurdles: What was the hardest part for you when you were starting out? Gun handling, movement, confidence, transitions...what tripped you up the most, and how did you get past it?

For me, it feels like there’s a ton to figure out all at once. Spending time with TheRevanuer and browsing SASS Wire and Youtube has helped me realize it’s all about breaking things down into smaller steps and working on them bit by bit.

I’d love to hear how y’all approach your training. What’s worked best for you? Got any tips for someone who’s just getting started and trying to put it all together?

Thanks in advance for sharing! This community has already been so welcoming and helpful, and I can’t wait to soak up more of your knowledge.

I started CAS in 2003. At the time, I was working full time on a range, Prior, I'd pretty much paused my "shooting hobby" because shooting was now work. I found other hobbies outside of shooting to "relax" when I wasn't working. That lasted um, not quite ten years when I decided I NEEDED to get back into a shooting competition but not shotgunning and not IPSC/USPSA, something "fun". stumbled on CAS, never looked back!

 

I shot it continually up until a few years ago when life got in the way. Happens. Slowly getting everything back on track, CAS is next. Here's how I did it originally.

 

After finding and obtaining the required firearms, leather, etc I started with dry practice. My Practice board was a piece of masonite with circles, cowboys, different simulated targets stuck on. Laid out like you would see at a match stage. I had a folding plastic table, made an upright gun rack to clamp to that and I was in business. Practice the basics. Draw, presentation to line of sight, cocking, firing, different sequences, holster/stage weapons. Just as if I was shooting a stage. Working on a range at least a couple times a week I'd get twenty minutes to myself and I would bring my cowboy guns. Practice the same way live fire. Once I got to shooting matches regular, the dry practice supplemented that.

 

I''m doing the same thing now, been laid off a good bit so practicing up. Don't want to look like a fumblefingers next time out!

Good luck, God Bless!

[Dapper Dave]

Sorry about the layoff, sir. We're hiring, if you want to try something REALLY weird.

I might have to try that - finding lane space at Casa Grande Elzy Pearson is becoming quite the challenge!