January 11, 2003

T WAS A BRISK DAY for a Cowboy Action Shooting match, but the 25-degrees showing on the thermometer didn't deter me from heading to the range. It'd been a couple months since I'd shot a match, but since I was mostly going just to see my pards anyway and make some smoke, I didn't worry about how I'd shoot.

I was happy to see all my friends and they were happy to see me (or so they claimed). Carolina Leadfoot graciously loaned me space in his guncart, as he has done before when I can't take the truck (and therefore my own cart) to a match. By the time we started shooting, the temperature had warmed up to a balmy 30-some degrees -- I was happy for my sheepskin-lined duster and wore it even while shooting. Not a problem, but I had to take it slow and easy, especially with the revolvers.

Stage Three
Our posse began on the 3rd stage of six, with a big batch of bears threatening to eat our sheep. Uh-oh. I took care of five of them with 2 shots each from the Winchester left to right, then switched to my revolver to shoot five more targets left to right. Holstering that gun, I drew the other pistol and shot 5 times right to left. I returned it to leather, grabbed the shotgun and blasted a pair of knockdowns to end the scenario. I mangaged to miss once with my left hand pistol -- on the very last target, of course.

Stage Four
This stage kept us moving, which was nice in the chilly air. I yelled out, "Cold enough for you?" and at the beep drew the first pistol for a Nevada sweep on targets 1-3. I missed twice (left hand again), dang it. I holstered the handgun and ran to the picket fence, where I grabbed my rifle and shot a 9-round Nevada sweep on five targets. Putting the Winchester safely back down, I ran to a table and drew my other revolver for a Nevada sweep on targets 3-5. I got 'em all that time, and blasted the two shotgun knockdowns to finish the stage.

Stage Five
Holding your hands straight up in the "Gabby Hayes" position is tough enough without wearing a big old heavy coat in the cold, but that's how this scenario began. At the beep, I drew my right-side revolver and fired five times through a window, stage right. Moving to the doorway, I picked up my rifle and shot a 9-round Nevada sweep at three animal targets (coyote, snake and vulture) which were not easy to hit... but I got 'em. I stepped to the left-side window, pulled my other pistol and shot each of the five targets once more. After holstering that gun, I moved to the table on the far left, grabbed my double-barrel and blew away four shotgun knockdowns. Blam! No misses, this time!

Stage Six
"The drinks are on me!" is what I said, then the timer beeped. I had my shotgun in-hand and blasted the four knockdowns before they knew what was happening. Dropping the empty double-barrel and racing for the doorway, I picked up the old Winchester and fired a 9-round sweep at the three tiny critters downrange. There were still a few varmints left to deal with, so I stepped over to the window on the right, drew my first pistol and shot the five targets in a left-to-right sweep. That didn't finish 'em off, so I repeated with my remaining revolver. When the smoke cleared, I was the only one left standing.

Who says this isn't a fun game?

Stage One
I had just gotten off my horse when I saw the men what kilt my Paw. "Hands up!" I shouted, and from somewhere behind me I heard a beep. I paid it no mind, but grabbed my revolver and fired five times at the steely cowboy in front of me. I moved to the rear of my horse and pulled the rifle from its scabbard. I shot a 9-round sweep at the three targets I could see and put the empty Winchester back. I'd missed once (drat!), but I spotted another ugly dude to my right, so I eased around my horse, drew my pistol and put five rounds into him. Just to make sure, I grabbed a shotgun and fired twice. Two more knocked down. I wondered where I could get a drink in this town...

Stage Two
The townspeople were a little uncomfortable with my gunplay earlier, so I got on my horse and rode out onto the prairie. The men I shot must have had some pals that heard about what happened, because I hadn't gone far when I was bushwhacked. I whirled a rope around my head, thinking I'd tie one of 'em up first, when I heard that funny "beep" again. "What the...?" I threw the rope down and grabbed my revolver instead, shooting 5 rounds, alternating between two targets. There wasn't much of a breeze blowing, and the clouds of gunsmoke made it difficult to see. I grabbed my Winchester and fired a 6-shot sweep at three other targets, bobbing and weaving in the saddle to try and see past the smoke. It was time to grab the shotgun and just blast away, which I did, taking down two targets. I wasn't clear yet and I used my last pistol to throw lead at a pair of targets, alternating 5 shots between them before I was safe. What a day!

Here's the damage:

Deputy Gene won the overall match and the "Traditional" class, with a Total Time of 154.85 seconds and 14 Rank Points. I didn't shoot as well as I'd have liked to, but it'd been a while since I'd been to a match. And I still had a great time shooting with all my friends anyway -- which is what really counts.