Jesse James Wannabes Take to Idaho Range

B O I S E, Idaho, Dec. 2, 2003 -- A blur of fire-spitting six-guns, rifles andshotguns transforms the quiet desert plinking ground at BlacksCreek Public Rifle Range twice a month.

The dusty sagebrush desert makes a perfect backdrop for the morethan 75 participants who get gussied up in 19th-century costume tosocialize and compete in Cowboy Action Shooting, a fantasy sportthat combines a heap of historical flavor with rapid-fire targetshooting.

For a few hours a month, ordinary people become steely eyedlawmen or bad-news drifters. At least in their own minds, theybecome Jesse James or Wyatt Earp, or Annie Oakley or Belle Star.

"This is a chance to do what I was doing when I was 10 or 11years old out in my backyard — only now I can do it with realguns," said Ray Walters, a 55-year-old former firefighter who nowwrites for the Boise-based SHOOT! magazine.

The competition, governed by the Single Action Shooting Society,has existed since the early 1980s. There are numerous styles ofmatch competition, from mounted pistol shooting to short-rangederringer competitions to long-range rifle shoots. Most common aremedium-range pistol, rifle and shotgunning games.

Take an Alias

Matches are divided into eight or 10 scenarios, called"stages." Shooters fire through a doorway, around a corner or outof a window at steel squares, circles or small cowboy silhouettesfrom 5 to 15 yards away. They use multiple combinations of pistols,rifles and shotguns. Sometimes an extra element is added, such asthrowing a knife or hatchet into a target.

A timer keeps electronic track of how long it takes a competitorto shoot through the stage — which usually lasts less than aminute. Official observers watch for safety violations, gunhandling problems and target misses, which can add time to theoverall score.

Cowboy shooters are assigned aliases, which they prefer to theirreal names during competitions. Walters is "Smith n' Jones."Deana Daniels is "Missy Marble." "Yeah, but they call me `Hagatha' when I miss," a frustratedDaniels said after hitting 10 pistol shots, 10 rifle shots butmissing one of five shotgun blasts — all in 38.9 seconds.

Competition is friendly because there's no prize or cash awardwinners — just bragging rights and belt buckles. But even at that,devoted shooters practice hours a day.

"There's no pressure in cowboy action, you compete againstyourself," Graham said.

Nurse Becomes Dashing Desperado

Dan Lopez is a 37-year-old nurse from Adrian, Ore. When hestraps on his belt and guns, he becomes Sancho Ponza, a dashingdesperado with a red sash, a black goatee and a long cigar.

Lopez is good. Real good, for just his third year in the game.His compadres say he's got the quickest gun and steadiest hand ofall in the Oregon Trails chapter. He travels a few times a year toregional competitions and has his sights set on the nationals.

His performance secrets include good health, lean muscles andhundreds of hours of practice. It's not uncommon for serious cowboyshooters to fire 700 to 800 bullets a week.

"You've got to be comfortable with what you are doing. Plus, wehave a lot of friends and we all learn from each other," he said.

Just like in the Old West, women are toting guns at the matchesalong with the menfolk. Sharon Wright, who shoots as "Six-gunSam," has won two state championships. Before she got involvedfour years ago, she had never fired a gun.

Spotting Greenhorns

Participation by women "makes for a lot more harmony to get thewife or girlfriend out," Wright said. You can spot a greenhorn in this sport a mile away. Beginnerswear a stiff cowboy hat and gun belt over jeans and sneakers.Old-timers who have spent some cash over the years have invested inchaps, scarfs, fancy satin vests, pocket watches, spurs, andleather cuffs.

Women sometimes make their own Victorian-era dresses.

"When I first started, I was not wild about the outfits," saidBrian D. Graham, a.k.a. "Doc Graham, the Oregon Trail chapterpresident. "Once you get into it, you find yourself always tryingto find just the right cowboy hat and just the right cowboy bootsthat make you feel good."

The sport can get expensive. Ada County Sheriff's Deputy BrendaGlenn, who goes by "Dakota Star," sports a custom-made gun beltand holsters that cost $1,500, including engraved American Indianartwork.

Some participants really aren't in it for the competition or theprecise historic dress. They just want to have fun.

And that's why Ryan Groves, an electronics professor at theCollege of Southern Idaho, showed up to one shooting match with ablack mortar board on his head and sporting a full academic robeusually only worn by professors at graduation ceremonies.

Groves goes by the cowboy handle, "Irving, the 142nd FastestGun in the West." He gleefully blasted away with his huge original1887 black powder 10-gauge through the day's stages.

"You get a lot of bang and boom and smoke," Groves said, hiseyes twinkling from his performance.

The entire field stopped briefly and chuckled at Grove'sthundercloud.

"He should get points just for the percussion value," one ofthe officials commented. "Next shooter up." If You Go…

BLACKS CREEK PUBLIC RIFLE RANGE: 2420 E. Kuna-Mora Road, Kuna,Idaho. Phone (208) 342-9614. Visitors are welcome at demonstrationshootings; participants will share their gear with newcomers.Regular attendees typically spend between $1,500 and $2,000 to beproperly outfitted, including a rifle, shotgun, two pistols,ammunition, gun belt, hat, boots and clothes. FOR MORE INFORMATION: Visit www.shootmagazine.com orwww.cowboyactionshooting.com.