Author Topic: Friendly CAS shooters... (Read 800 times)

daddywpb · « **on:** January 30, 2005, 01:33:00 AM »

Went out to the local range with the wife and kids to watch a CAS match just to see what was going on. I thought it looked like a lot of fun. The match was in progress, so we walked up behind everyone to watch the action. We were promptly greeted by two guys dressed in the garb who told us that if we didn't have long sleeve shirts, shooting glasses and ear protection on we would have to leave the range. Nobody that I could see, except the shooters, including the two (censored word) that came to talk to us, had ear or eye protection on. So much for all of the "friendliest group of shooters anywhere" talk I've always heard. I'll pass.

Cheyenne Ranger · « **Reply #1 on:** January 30, 2005, 03:18:58 AM »

Sorry you ran into these types. Unfortunately every group has a few. If you ever get interested in CAS again check out some other clubs. Hate you have you judge us using these two as your gauge.

CR

ButlerFord45 · « **Reply #2 on:** January 30, 2005, 03:36:28 AM »

Sorry you had a bad experience with a Cowboy Club, I assure you that they are not all that way. There's even a good probability that most of the folks at the one where you had your encounter are not that way, and you had the misfortune of meeting two of the three jackasses that the club as a whole wishes would leave but are too easy going to ask.

Cowboy action an enormously FUN sport and therefore has attracted a lot of people of all different demeanors, unfortunately culling the jerks from the herd is a slow and sometimes impossible process. If you have an interest, try again maybe at another club or take some glasses, plugs an long sleeves and go back to the same one.

Throckmorton · « **Reply #3 on:** January 30, 2005, 07:36:30 PM »

Well,the IDIOTS manged to get 2 out of 3 right...long sleeves are only required to be worn by male cowboy shooters.sheesh.what a couple of maroons.!!
eyes and ears are required at all clubs,and it can be told to the ohnlookers way more politely than they did it.
99.9 percent of 'us' are waaaaaay more friendly than that.Please give us another chance to prove it.

Singing Bear · « **Reply #4 on:** January 31, 2005, 07:06:44 AM »

Yeh, the two were the exceptions. :? Like many of the CAS related boards, please don't judge CAS by the few trolls. Every sport has them.

It is a fun family activity. Been doing CAS for over 15 years and co-founded our club. You ever get out this way, drop on by. Heck, we'll even let y'all shoot some...even if y'all look like............... tourists. :shock: :wink: You know, matching aloha shirts, shorts, black kneehigh socks and sandals. :lol: We'll even provide the hearing protection so long as you keep your sunglasses on...and if you don't have glasses we have club loaners. No problemo. :grin: Oh, and if y'all do look like tourists, expect a lot of ribbing and don't be afraid to dish it back. Hacking on each other, good naturedly, is all part of the fun. :-)
It's probably the one time a month some of us can get away from the real world and allow ourselves to get goofy. :lol:

Big John Wyatt · « **Reply #5 on:** February 02, 2005, 02:13:03 PM »

I've been one of those a$$es you speak of. It was not an intentional thing.
There are a lot of behind the scenes responsibilities and liabilities you may not be aware of. Insurance demands, landowner,range owner demands, and club safety rules. Usually there is not one person designated to make sure that all visitors are safely attired. Spectators can walk up to our shoot from 3 entrances(we do have signs that say glasses and ear protection from this point), but it is hard for one person to monitor all our visitors. At our club safety meeting we tell everyone they are a safety officer. Meaning if they see any safety violation from visitors or members they should address it in a civil manner.
Possibly these gents didn't single you out of the crowd,they may have just not seen the other people that you are talking about.

Please come again, maybe to another club. Don't judge such a large group of people as cowboy shooters on such a small amount of time spent with us.

daddywpb · « **Reply #6 on:** February 02, 2005, 10:23:57 PM »

Oh, it was intentional all right. It was a small match, maybe twenty shooters. We weren't among a bunch of people milling around, we were the only visitors, and the only other people that were violating their safety rules were the shooters. Their biggest liability is their attitude. There is no other club around here that I know of within reasonable driving distance. I'm glad I went to visit before I bought anything.

pathfinder · « **Reply #7 on:** February 15, 2005, 04:07:04 AM »

I went to my first match this last weekend. I had not even stepped out of my truck before being warmly greeted by some of the participants. I was kindly advised that eye protection was required.

It was a fun day. LOTS of VERY friendly folk, shared tips and opinions. They were all encouraging and hospitable.

I took pictures (I asked permission first) and showed them too my wife. She was intrigued and has agreed to go with me next month. I think she'll be shootin by this summer.

My ONLY regrets are the realization that folks walking around in full cowboy garb look completely normal to me and the fact that I am startin from scratch means I have a heafty investment before I can look (and shoot) like them.

Happy Trails ahead.

Big Paulie · « **Reply #8 on:** February 17, 2005, 08:48:46 AM »

Well, I have been a hunter and shooter for 35 years, and I also recently dropped by to watch a very large cowboy shoot. I had on muffs and glasses because I knew that this was the range rule.

I had exactly the opposite experience. Everyone came up to be very friendly and greet me throughout the shoot. They explained rules, let me watch the reloading and unloading tables, showed me their guns etc., even though I didn't have a stitch of cowboy clothes on.

Our gun club is very large, and we keep 8 or 10 spare sets of muffs and shooting glasses, just for visitors to use. If things had been done properly, these "cow-studs" would have politely informed you and your family of the eye/ear rules for your own protection, and then driven you up to the club house to get you a sets.

Even if the club house didn't have spares, there is absolutely no question that in 5 minutes of looking, these guys could have found spare muffs and glasses among the cowboy shooters. Most serious shooters always have a spare set of this stuff in the back of the car.

These guys were absolute jerks, and the problem is that when people who are not shooters get this red-neck manly crud from these types, then they are generally converted on the spot into anti-gun Hillary fans.

Big Paulie

howdy doody · « **Reply #9 on:** February 18, 2005, 04:40:09 AM »

Howdy Daddy,
Jeepers, I hate to hear stuff like that. I have shot at a lot of shoots with a lot of folks and admittedly, only on the left coast, but have never heard of anything like that happening around a match in progress.
I always carry extra shooting glasses with me and so do many others. I wear custom ear plugs and carry foamyies too. BUT there is no sass rule on ear plugs, but eye protection is a definate. Long sleeves? Well, the costume rules do not say anything about rolling up sleeves, so what is with that one?
Those folks could have explained the eye protection and why to you. Shotguns on steel seem to be the main culprit, but even soft lead can get you.
Could they have been quoting some kind of range rules?
I can see why it was a small shoot. Who would want to shoot with the likes of what you experienced? Not me, and a small shoot in my parts is more like about 40 shooters and 99% of them are generous, friendly and a hoot to be around. We love to have visitors and can politely instruct them on what is going on, where to observe whats going on and lend them gear. Please try another club, that one seems to be one to avoid.

Holiday · « **Reply #10 on:** February 27, 2005, 11:37:00 PM »

Daddywbp, sorry ta hear about your experiance. If there were only twenty shooters, it probably is a new club, or their bad attitude has driven folks off. As sad as it is, it happens. Up here at the North Alabama Regulators, ya probably would have been told about the eye and ear protection, then promptly, and cheerfully, been given it! I keep extra with me just in case, and so do many others. And as to the long sleeves, that is total bull. If ya ain't a shootin' ya ain't gotta wear the costume! NOWHERE in the SASS rule does it require period costume for spectators.

In everything you do, in every sport, hobby or pastime there are SOME folks that let position or authority or their own ignorance go to their head. Just don't sink to their level and judge 60,000 shooters by two self important knot heads. Heck, WE even have a couple, but we try ta keep them away from decent folks. Usualy lock 'em up in the cabin! :-D :wink:

Holiday · « **Reply #11 on:** February 27, 2005, 11:39:47 PM »

Daddywbp, sorry ta hear about your experiance. If there were only twenty shooters, it probably is a new club, or their bad attitude has driven folks off. As sad as it is, it happens. Up here at the North Alabama Regulators, ya probably would have been told about the eye and ear protection, then promptly, and cheerfully, been given it! I keep extra with me just in case, and so do many others. And as to the long sleeves, that is total bull. If ya ain't a shootin' ya ain't gotta wear the costume! NOWHERE in the SASS rule does it require period costume for spectators.

In everything you do, in every sport, hobby or pastime there are SOME folks that let position or authority or their own ignorance go to their head. Just don't sink to their level and judge 60,000 shooters by two self important knot heads. Heck, WE even have a couple, but we try ta keep them away from decent folks. Usualy lock 'em up in the cabin! :-D :wink:

P.S.
At a suitible distance behind every permanant shooting stage we have a sign warning: NO ONE PAST THIS POINT WITHOUT EYE AND EAR PROTECTION. It usually helps.