KatfishKid Posted January 2 Posted January 2 It’s kind of wild to think it’s been over a year since I made my first post here when I was brand new to cowboy action shooting. I figured I’d post an update and share where things are headed for 2026. This season I’ll be switching to Frontier Cartridge while still shooting Duelist. I feel like I made pretty good progress during 2025, especially considering I missed about half the season due to illness. When I was able to get out and shoot, things started coming together more than I expected, and that gave me a lot of motivation to keep pushing forward. For 2026 the plan is simple. Shoot more matches. I’m hoping to attend as many as I can, including Indiana State and Tennessee State, and maybe a few others if the schedule allows. Most of my gear will stay the same. I still love my Marion River Woodcraft cart, but when my wife shoots with me it tends to get overloaded pretty quickly. Because of that, I’m planning to add a Rugged Gear cart for next season so we have something that fits our needs a little better when we’re both on the line. The Marion River cart isn’t going anywhere, it’s just time to spread things out. I’m also planning to add another rifle and a shotgun, both to set my wife up better and to have reliable backups. My pistols were trouble free all through 2025. The only issue I had with the rifle was a broken firing pin, and the shotgun has had a few gremlins that are in the process of getting worked out. As far as lessons learned in 2025, the biggest one is that match time matters. Practice helps, but matches teach faster. Reliability matters more than chasing speed, especially early on. Asking questions goes a long way, and this community has been a huge help. Most of all, I learned to relax and enjoy the process. What I’m hoping to get out of 2026 is cleaner, more consistent stages, more time on the range, and more chances to travel and meet people along the way. I also want to help my wife enjoy the sport as much as I do. Looking forward to another year of learning, shooting, and having a good time on the firing line. 15 1 Quote
Eyesa Horg Posted January 2 Posted January 2 Thanks for the update Katfish! Welcome to the addiction and camaraderie. 1 Quote
Frontier Lone Rider Posted January 2 Posted January 2 As you, I am just playing here to have a ton of fun. I hadn't discovered this sport until I retired some 15 years ago. Now just turning 78, I have realized that I am getting a little slower with each passing year. When I turned 74, I decided to go for this sport historically. Our firearms originated during the black powder era, so I decided to go to the black side. 44-40 was the 1st cartridge that that could be used in one's revolver and rifle, so I decided to go with the 44-40 cartridge loaded with black powder. So. I too shoot mostly Frontier Cartridge. These past 15 years have passed so quickly, I feel like I just started. I listen and seem to learn something new at almost every match. So, relax and have fun. Speed is not everything, it is trumped by how much fun you can have shooting with your lovely wife. Memories last a lifetime, so enjoy. 3 1 Quote
Imis Twohofon,SASS # 46646 Posted January 2 Posted January 2 (edited) My ex called it "Cowboy Heroin". I no longer have her but I kept the game and now I have a significant other who I shoot with. Good luck and we will see you at TN State. Imis Edited January 2 by Imis Twohofon,SASS # 46646 4 Quote
I. M. Crossdraw, SASS# 8321 Posted January 3 Posted January 3 That is great! Hope you progress to be proficient in this game of ours. Glad that your better half is also joining the game. It will give you both the best time of your lives to spend time together and making memories. Stick with it and enjoy yourselves. Practice, practice, and practice. See you on the trail. I. M. Crossdraw 2 Quote
watab kid Posted January 3 Posted January 3 glad your still with us and having fun , im starting to look at gun switches this year for the same reasons Lone Rider mentioned , i started and progressed to a point that im content with now im playing with historic item changes just for fun and to keep it interesting , i started shooting a bit over 20 years ago but didnt find this place to visit till later , you are doing things right , i just stumbled along 1 Quote
KatfishKid Posted February 25 Author Posted February 25 My first shoot of the season is just a few short weeks away. I was able to get my wife a set of pistols and a SKB shotgun. Jimmy Spurs is currently working on a rifle for me, so my wife and I will have our own guns this season...yay no more needing to share! I also picked up a rugged gear cart so no more struggling to haul our gear across the range. I'm shooting frontier cartridge duelist this season and have the ammo situation figured out. Was able to load several thousand rounds of smokeless for her and APP for myself over the winter. We're both signed up for Indiana state Spring Roundup and we're trying to figure out the logistics so both of us can attend TN state. Gonna be a fun year! 6 Quote
The Original Lumpy Gritz Posted February 25 Posted February 25 Keep a screw driver set with you and check ALL screws on everything before each match. Carry some lube too. 3 1 Quote
Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971 Posted February 25 Posted February 25 You have a solid plan for 2026. I would suggest you add your Regional, Land Run and any annual match within a day’s drive from your home. 3 Quote
The Original Lumpy Gritz Posted February 25 Posted February 25 Build a squib rod. Add a small first aid kit with good tweezers for splinters from props etc. Don't forget a good sized cry'n towel.... 2 1 Quote
SGT. ELI 35882 GUNFIGHTER Posted February 25 Posted February 25 Tennessee State is a great match, I think this is my 24th. Will see you at Spring Roundup, and remember Lakewood Marshals in Cisne, Illinois first match of the year will be March 7th. 2 Quote
I. M. Crossdraw, SASS# 8321 Posted February 25 Posted February 25 Better yet, The Last Stand Florida State is coming up, and you might be able to sign up if there a slot for you and the missus. Don't have to wait for warmer weather there up north and come on down to Florida for some sunshine and warmer weather. Glad your much all set up for that big match. Good luck and have fun for the new season of hooting and hollering cowboy fun. Hope to see you down the trail. 1 Quote
KatfishKid Posted February 25 Author Posted February 25 22 minutes ago, SGT. ELI 35882 GUNFIGHTER said: Tennessee State is a great match, I think this is my 24th. Will see you at Spring Roundup, and remember Lakewood Marshals in Cisne, Illinois first match of the year will be March 7th. We're hoping to make it to Cisne on the 7th! Quote
KatfishKid Posted February 25 Author Posted February 25 13 minutes ago, I. M. Crossdraw, SASS# 8321 said: Better yet, The Last Stand Florida State is coming up, and you might be able to sign up if there a slot for you and the missus. Don't have to wait for warmer weather there up north and come on down to Florida for some sunshine and warmer weather. Glad your much all set up for that big match. Good luck and have fun for the new season of hooting and hollering cowboy fun. Hope to see you down the trail. We'd love to be able to travel more, but we have a little one and it's difficult to find a sitter who's willing to stay with her for multiple days. Quote
Frontier Lone Rider Posted February 25 Posted February 25 1 hour ago, The Original Lumpy Gritz said: Build a squib rod. Add a small first aid kit with good tweezers for splinters from props etc. Don't forget a good sized cry'n towel.... Having been an Army Combat Medic many moons ago, I always bring a full aid bag to each match. But, over the years I have only handed out several band aids. I also carry a short and a long squib rod. I just happen to also carry paper towels and several cloth towels for whatever need may arise. Quote
Randy Saint Eagle, SASS # 64903 Posted February 26 Posted February 26 Look forward to meeting you in Tennessee and hope both of you can make it. I see you have found out that Duelist is Coolest!🤠 Randy 1 Quote
KatfishKid Posted February 26 Author Posted February 26 7 minutes ago, Randy Saint Eagle, SASS # 64903 said: Look forward to meeting you in Tennessee and hope both of you can make it. I see you have found out that Duelist is Coolest!🤠 Randy Likewise! And duelist is absolutely the coolest...just wish I was better at it. 🤣 1 Quote
Randy Saint Eagle, SASS # 64903 Posted February 26 Posted February 26 32 minutes ago, KatfishKid said: Likewise! And duelist is absolutely the coolest...just wish I was better at it. 🤣 Practice, practice, practice, focus on transitions! Looks like you’re shooting Bisleys, remind me to show you mine. Contrary to popular belief, practice isn’t a dirty word!😂 Practice with a purpose, just throwing rounds down range is not necessarily beneficial. Randy 4 Quote
KatfishKid Posted February 26 Author Posted February 26 3 minutes ago, Randy Saint Eagle, SASS # 64903 said: Practice, practice, practice, focus on transitions! Looks like you’re shooting Bisleys, remind me to show you mine. Contrary to popular belief, practice isn’t a dirty word!😂 Practice with a purpose, just throwing rounds down range is not necessarily beneficial. Randy I don't get to live fire practice as much as I would like, but I try to dry fire practice at least 10-15 min every day. When I first started I was determined to shoot double duelist so I practiced a lot with my left hand...that's kind of bit me in the butt. Now I find myself pulling my left pistol first automatically even if the stage would run smoother if i freed up my right hand first (moving left to right). I've been working a lot lately on just picking guns up and sitting them down. Staged pistols ALWAYS throw me for a loop. I was warned early on that I would reach a plateau and feel like I just wasn't getting any better. I'm pretty much there. Now I'm just trying to figure out the small things and getting smoother with my transitions. 2 Quote
Randy Saint Eagle, SASS # 64903 Posted February 26 Posted February 26 6 hours ago, KatfishKid said: I don't get to live fire practice as much as I would like, but I try to dry fire practice at least 10-15 min every day. When I first started I was determined to shoot double duelist so I practiced a lot with my left hand...that's kind of bit me in the butt. Now I find myself pulling my left pistol first automatically even if the stage would run smoother if i freed up my right hand first (moving left to right). I've been working a lot lately on just picking guns up and sitting them down. Staged pistols ALWAYS throw me for a loop. I was warned early on that I would reach a plateau and feel like I just wasn't getting any better. I'm pretty much there. Now I'm just trying to figure out the small things and getting smoother with my transitions. I worked on transitions at home early on and that helps a lot. I found out that if you're dry firing for speed you have to be honest with yourself, I got faster and never missed a target at home. Unfortunately, the result was not the same when I got to the range! 🤣🤠 Randy 2 2 Quote
KatfishKid Posted February 27 Author Posted February 27 14 hours ago, Randy Saint Eagle, SASS # 64903 said: I worked on transitions at home early on and that helps a lot. I found out that if you're dry firing for speed you have to be honest with yourself, I got faster and never missed a target at home. Unfortunately, the result was not the same when I got to the range! 🤣🤠 Randy You're not wrong! I don't even dry fire my rifle anymore. I did a lot in the beginning and I honestly believe it's what made me develop the issue of jacking rounds, since I was using a filed down dummy round that couldn't eject, I wasn't getting a realistic cycle feel which allowed me to lever much faster than I could with live rounds that would eject. Now I just work on picking it up, shouldering and levering that first round. 1 Quote
Jet Posted February 27 Posted February 27 For the wife there is also No Man's Land, https://sites.google.com/view/no-mansland/home held in SC. While I'm single I do go down and support my friends who shoot it and if they do like last year there will be some side matches for the men to keep us occupied when we aren't assisting the ladies. Quote
Jet Posted February 27 Posted February 27 3 hours ago, KatfishKid said: You're not wrong! I don't even dry fire my rifle anymore. I did a lot in the beginning and I honestly believe it's what made me develop the issue of jacking rounds, since I was using a filed down dummy round that couldn't eject, I wasn't getting a realistic cycle feel which allowed me to lever much faster than I could with live rounds that would eject. Now I just work on picking it up, shouldering and levering that first round. I spent the money on Snap Caps so I'd have enough for the pistols and the rifle and made several empty hulled shotgun shells as well. They also sell a small piece of what I guess is foam you can put to block the hammer from falling fully, or just use a piece of a foam ear plug. The snap caps and shotgun shells all have rubber or silicone in the primer pockets to prevent firing pin damage. Enjoy the game, I only have a year or two on you and was out for 6 months last year due to dual knee replacements. Came back stronger than ever with my first two clean matches and snagged a top 49er....there were only three of us, but still 2 Quote
watab kid Posted February 28 Posted February 28 i do as well but ive not been consistent in time allotment and .... as i age im finding some things diminish as fast as you try to improve them , ill just keep having fun and doing my best for me 1 Quote
Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971 Posted March 1 Posted March 1 At a major match a warm-up match will do much to refresh skills and get familiar with the local range. 2 Quote
KatfishKid Posted April 6 Author Posted April 6 Shot my first match of the season a couple weeks ago. Was also my first time shooting Frontier Cartridge (Duelist). Started off rough. The first and second stages that I shot I had a P on the first and a P and couple misses on the second. After that things smoothed out. I learned that I need to back off my pistol loads, they're a bit spicy shooting duelist. And I also learned to wait until the smoke clears a little...you might think you know where the target is, but chances are you're gonna hit the wrong one 🤣. Could of been better, could of been worse. Still had loads of fun! 2 Quote
Tyrel Cody Posted April 6 Posted April 6 19 minutes ago, KatfishKid said: I also learned to wait until the smoke clears a little...you might think you know where the target is, but chances are you're gonna hit the wrong one 🤣. Opposite. Speed up, keep more smoke in the air, confuse the spotters… 2 2 Quote
Eyesa Horg Posted April 6 Posted April 6 Pretty decent times for a newbie, I think! Keep having fun 😊 2 Quote
Old Man Graybeard Posted April 6 Posted April 6 I have had spotters tell me...We couldn't see anything...BUT we kept hearing the dings 1 Quote
KatfishKid Posted April 6 Author Posted April 6 1 hour ago, Tyrel Cody said: Opposite. Speed up, keep more smoke in the air, confuse the spotters… Can't argue with solid logic. 🤣 1 Quote
Choctaw Kid Tulsa Posted April 6 Posted April 6 (edited) I spent my first months as a smokeless cowboy, then moved to frontier cartridge, then got caught up in frontiersman after shooting a borrowed set of pistols. Belching fire and smoke, nothing else like it. For pistols i sometimes wait, but with the right rifle….shoot through the smoke. Edited April 6 by Choctaw Kid Tulsa Quote
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