While Cowboy Action Shooting provides a great pastime and entertainment, it is equally a sport of shooting speed and accuracy set in classic Old West atmosphere. Here are some tips on target shooting in CAS for competition or just to have a fun and exciting time.

Shooting competition in Cowboy Action Shooting can be local, regional and national. There are even international matches participated in by national CAS champions who represent their respective countries.

If you plan to join a CAS shooting competition, you can gain a lot of advantage by setting up a shooting scenario in your backyard or on any open space to practice some drills to hone your skills before you go on your first shoot. Needless to say, this setup wouldn’t apply in urban settings where people can complain of the bang and clang you’re creating.

Tips on Target Shooting

Find Your Target

Targets for Cowboy Action Shooting have a wide range of shapes, sizes and materials. For the sake of safety and durability, however, it is best to choose steel targets made out of high quality AR500 Steel. They are designed for Cowboy Action Shooting , capable of withstanding impact from handguns up to the .44 Magnum category, and rifle fire at 100 yards up to speeds of 3000 fps. These steel targets are simple, inexpensive and effective tools for developing CAS accuracy and competition speed.

To find the targets that best fit your needs, browse for CAS Targets here.

Things to Consider in Target Shooting

1. Target Shooting Safety

Be sure that all targets you use for training are built for safety and strong enough to handle the impact of lead bullets, and we’re not talking short-term here. But don’t expect them to last forever.

Avoid using targets that can cause dangers of ricochet. Inspect your steel targets for stress points, weak spots and deformities. Over time, targets can get dimpled or cratered due to heavy impact absorbed, or the type of material they’re made of. Expect soft metal targets to dent or cave in the center even after several usage. To get more mileage out of them, try reversing the sides from training to training.

 2. Target Shooting Material

There’s a wide range of good target materials from softer steel to armored grade. Some target materials can be expensive so you must consider the amount of cash you can afford. To get longer life and more bang for your buck, we recommend you choose steel shooting targets as their durability is usually proportioned for their price.

If possible, don’t practice on paper targets, clay shotgun targets, or any of those disposable target types. While they are fun to use at matches, we discourage them for practice to eliminate frequent replacing and cut down on expenses. Metal shooting targets are durable and more practical in the long run.

Not sure which targets are best for training? Browse for metal shooting targets here.

 3. Target Stands

In all practice sessions use target stands or hangers that make the bottom of the targets hang vertically, or with the bottom angled towards the ground. This makes the bullet to hit the ground nearer to the stand’s or hanger’s base.

Some targets need to be bolted to the stand. Bullets hitting the bolt head can ricochet or splatter. Some stands use springs or spacers on the bolt as impact absorber between target and stand. This helps the stand to take in constant bullet impact and send lead splatter to the ground. Consider using stands that can effectively handle constant punishments without falling down or tilting to a dangerous angle.

To help you decide, browse our recommended target stands here.

4. Target Angles

Watch the way you angle your targets, again because of ricochet or lead splatter. Lead have the tendency to splatter and break apart parallel to the target’s surface, especially when it’s straight and clean. See to it the target isn’t angled towards onlookers, parked vehicles or anything that can be damaged. Targets should directly face you and your line of fire.

Try to comply with these Single Action Shooting Society (SASS) tips on target shooting as closely as possible. Don’t modify or complicate your target sequences. Don’t be tempted to use complex target engagement sequences. Instead, use the prescribed left to right sweeps, Nevada sweeps, or single, double, or triple taps.

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