Western
Action Shooting is a timed shooting sport in which shooters
compete on a series of different shooting stages. The shooters
are attired in "Old West" style clothing, and use
firearms typical of the guns used in the "Old West", such as; single action revolvers, pistol caliber lever action rifles, shotguns, and
single shot black
powder cartridge rifles. The
stages consist of various scenarios, many based on famous
incidents, which requires the shooters to pit their skill against
steel targets.
The Great Lakes Freight & Mining Co. is a Posse (Charter Club) of the National Congress of Old West Shootists (NCOWS). NCOWS is a organization whose goal is to promote Western Action Shooting and the heritage of the "Old West". Another organization with similar goals is the Single Action Shooting Society (SASS). Both NCOWS and SASS establishes rules and procedures to ensure safe and fair competition at their sanctioned shoots. They also endorse Regional Matches and each sponsors their own National Shoot ("End of Trail" sponsored by SASS and "Showdown on the Prairie" sponsored by NCOWS).
While there are many similarities in the two organizations there are also a few differences. SASS requires a shooter to use an alias while NCOWS does not. SASS has a class for modern revolvers with adjustable sights, such as the Ruger Blackhawk, and allows shooters to portray Western TV & movie stars, while NCOWS encourages a high level of historical authenticity to the period of 1866-1899 in weapons, clothing, and accouterments. We have a page with some Frequently Asked Questions about NCOWS. Also, a more complete explanation of the rules and regulations of NCOWS and SASS can be viewed online at their web sites. Click here to visit the NCOWS By-Laws page, and click here for the SASS Shooters Hand Book page.
In spite of the few differences and because of the many similarities, many of the members of the Great Lakes Freight & Mining Co. belong to both NCOWS and SASS, and we even have some members that belong to the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association (CMSA).
For more information on NCOWS, SASS, and CMSA;
National Congress of Old West
Shootists
P.O. Box 221, 602 State St.
Cedar Falls, IA 50613
(319) 277-6839; FAX (319) 277-6840
E-mail: ncows@cfu-cybernet.net and shootist@cfu-cybernet.net
Web site: http://www.ncows.org
Single Action Shooting Society
23255 La Palma, Yorba Linda, California 92887
(714) 694-1800; Fax: (714) 694-1815
E-mail: SASSEOT@aol.com
Web site: http://www.sassnet.com
Cowboy Mounted Shooting
Association
29317 N. 154th Place
Scottsdale, AZ 85262
Phone (480) 471-0485; Fax (480) 471-0467
E-mail: turben@futureone.com
Web site: http://www.cowboymountedshooting.com/
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The Colt Army, a .44 caliber cap and ball revolver gained fame during the Civil War, and is still a popular black powder revolver today. Colt also made a .36 caliber version designated as the Navy. Remington was another popular maker of cap and ball revolvers, and also made both an Army and Navy version. |
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The Colt Single Action Army, also commonly known as the "Peacemaker", was one of the most popular handguns in the Old West. The Peacemaker was chambered in .45 Colt, and later Colt introduced a model they called the "New Frontier" that fired the .44-40 cartridge. Today Peacemakers and Peacemaker clones can also be found in .38 Special, .357 Magnum, and .44 Magnum. |
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The Remington Model 1875 was one of the Peacemakers main rivals, along with such revolvers as; Merwin & Hulbert's Army, Smith & Wesson Model No.3, and S&W Schofield. Remingtons and Merwin & Hulberts' were usually .44-40. The S&W No.3 was a .44 S&W Special, and the S&W Schofield used the .45 Schofield round. Many of the modern reproductions of these guns can also be had in the same calibers as the new Peacemakers. |
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The Henry Rifle was one of the earliest repeating rifles. The Henry was originally chambered in .44 Henry rimfire. Modern reproductions are usually either .44-40s or .45 LC. |
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The Winchester Model 1866, commonly called the "Yellowboy", featured some improvements in the basic Henry design such as a wooden forearm and a loading gate on the receiver. The '66 like the Henry had a receiver made of brass. |
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The Winchester Model 1873 further refined the design of the lever action rifle. Most notably the receiver was made out of steel rather than brass, and the rifle was chambered for the centerfire .44-40 cartridge. |
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Double barrel shotguns saw extensive usage in the Old West. Side by sides could be found with and without external hammers. |
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Winchester Model 1897 pump action shotguns are one of the more popular shotguns for Western Action Shooting. |
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Winchester Model 1887 lever action shotgun. |
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One of the more popular black powder cartridge rifles today, the Remington Rolling Block appeared in 1866, and was second only to the Sharps in popularity among the buffalo hunters of the late 1800s. Featuring a very strong action, the Rolling Block was chambered for dozens of cartridges and adopted as the military rifle by several foreign countries. Over its lifetime it would be chambered in all the "buffalo calibers" including .45-70. |
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The most popular black powder cartridge rifle today, the Model 1874 Sharps was developed from the Model 1863 Sharps percussion rifle that was used in the Civil War. Manufactured from 1871 to 1881 the breech loading, single-shot Model 1874 cartridge Sharps in .45 and .50 caliber was the first choice for buffalo hunters who mainly used the Sharps. The Model 1874 was built in a variety of calibers such as .40-90, .44-77, .45-70, .45-110, .50-70 and .50-90 (commonly called the "Big Fifty"). Either single or double set triggers were available, and barrels could run from 22" to 32". |
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Another popular black powder cartridge rifle is the Trapdoor Springfield. The Trapdoor in .45-70-500 was chosen as the new military rifle in 1873. The infantry version had a 32" barrel, and there was a 22" barreled carbine version adopted for the cavalry. The Army test records from the 1870s show the carbine and rifle respectively shot groups of 3.2" and 2.8". |
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Winchester referred to their single shot rifles as either the "Model ‘85" or as "The Single Shot". The name "Highwall" was never used by Winchester, but shooters of the late 1800s adopted the name for the rifle Winchester chambered in nearly everything from the .22 Short to .50-140 Sharps. |
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The Great Lakes Freight
& Mining Co. would be happy to hear from you.
Please contact us with any questions, or comments, at:
GreatLakesFMC@insightbb.com
OFFICERS: Marshal- Bill Allen (Will Henry),
Deputy Marshal- Greg Limbach (Dutch), Banker- Dave Lee (Deadeye Dave),
Secretary- Dave Scott (Irish Dave), Range Marshal- Charlie Wilson (Fall Creek
Sam), Territorial Representative- Steve Coop (G. W. Schofield)
Updated February 23, 2005.