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The first thing to do is go to the Single Action Shooting Society (SASS) website and read everything. You can get there from here! Go to where it says, “Welcome to the Shenango River Rats” and click on “Learn more about SASS.” Read the rule books, the forum, and the want ads and read the club directory for your state. Find a match that’s close to your location, look up the schedule of when they’re shooting and go to a match.
There are usually phone numbers listed on the website so be sure to call and ask if they allow spectators, ask if it’s muddy on the range, ask what you should wear, and be sure to bring adequate eye protection. The targets are steel and the bullets are lead and they sometimes splatter when they hit. If you wear a cowboy hat, wear ear plugs. If you wear a baseball cap, ear muffs are Ok.
When you get to the match, try to figure out what’s going on and don’t be afraid to ask questions, most people will be willing to help. If someone can’t help you, ask someone else. Sometimes folks are concentrating on what they’re doing and they may not acknowledge you or even notice you. Don’t let it bother you and don’t take it personal. Remember that people are wearing ear plugs and they can’t always hear you.
Don’t forget your manners and don’t touch people’s stuff. Not everyone is going to show you their guns if they don’t know you. Some folks are really funny about that for whatever reason so respect that.
It’s better to have people say, “He seems like a nice guy (or gal)” rather than think “I hope he doesn’t expect to hang around here!” So be respectful.
Don’t give up if things don’t go quite like you expected. Try going to another match at another club or try coming back again next month. Things may be different and there may be a different bunch of people there. Just hang in there.
Cowboy shooters are some of the nicest and most good-natured people you could ever meet. You have to have a good sense of humor to dress up like Matt Dillon on Saturday and send the bad guys to Boot Hill!