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Why I love Cowboy Action Shooting
Posted by Junior Shooters
By: Grace Masa, my SASS alias is Raindrop Renegade.
The Raindrop Renegade’s first match as a shooter; she just turned 10.
I started shooting when I was 10 years old and have been competing ever since. The gun club that I shoot at is the Griffin Gun Club in Griffin, Georgia. My dad and my sister had been a part of the Single Action Shooting Society (SASS) since before I could talk. So ever since I can remember, cowboy shooting is just something that we did. I waited and waited for the day I was allowed to start competing with my dad and my sister. The gun club’s age requirement was 8… so why didn’t I start when I was 8?
Well, when my sister, Lily, started shooting we lived in California, and the age requirement was 10. My sister insisted that I wait the same amount of time that she had to. So, when I turned 10, that very next match, I came in guns a blazin’. Ok. That’s not exactly true…. I was very timid at first. But very soon I got my bearings and was able to compete to the best of my ability. Another thing about first starting, was that I was very, very slow. But to compensate I was also accurate. To this day, I have more clean shoots than my dad. But no matter how slow, no matter how shy I was, my fellow shooters were always so supportive. And that’s what I love about this sport.
Grace’s actual first match, The Plainfield Raid in Sacramento Ca. She was a few months old.
Everyone, including people that I just met are always willing to lend a helping hand. They always have your best interests at heart. If there is something that you’re doing that is remotely unsafe, they are going to let you know. That’s another thing. The value on safety is held above anything else. In this sport, we want to have fun while competing, but you must be safe. In cowboy action shooting, we’re safe while we shoot, and we look cool while we’re shooting. That’s one part of the sport I have always enjoyed. Every piece of clothing and accessory from head to toe looks completely authentic. Well, as close as you can get. Even our guns and leather look straight out of a John Wayne movie.
Another shot of G at the first shoot she actually shot. She had her 22s, but was using her sister’s holsters.
Speaking of guns and leather, I started out with two 22 pistols, a 22 Henry rifle, and a 410 single-shot shotgun (which slowed me down a good bit). And my leather was just an ordinary belt with two holsters to carry my 22s. But as I’m getting faster and starting to move up a category, I’m getting new guns and new leather. I am patiently waiting for a beautiful brand new pair of 38 Cimarron/Pietta pistols. And I have also received a whole rig from Mernickle Holsters.
The first Doc Holliday’s Immortals match she attended; she was 3.
Talking about Cimarron and Pietta, I was actually selected to be a Cimarron Young Gun for the year of 2017. I was super excited about this because, for one, I got to tell all of my friends. This is also a great way for me to help clear up some of the bad rep that guns and shooting get. In the news, all you hear is shooting this, and shooting that. I do my best to educate others about how firearms can be used for fun.
Like my dad always says, “Guns are tools, and like any tool, if you use it in the wrong way, you will end up hurting yourself or others. If you use it in the right way, it will serve its purpose.” In my case, its purpose is to be used as a tool for me to compete with.
Grace as the Givhans Ferry SASS Southeast Regional as the Buckarette Champion.
While I’m on the topic of competing, I would like to mention that I have competed at the South Eastern Regional, and placed first in my category. While I was there, I only knew one person on my posse coming in, but when I left I had made many friends. Like I said, people in this sport are always so friendly and helpful. Throughout the time that I have participated in this sport people have always supported me. The support of my friends, my fellow shooters, and my family are the reason I continue to shoot, besides loving what I do. My name is Grace Masa, my SASS alias is Raindrop Renegade, and I love Cowboy Action Shooting.
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