COWBOY LONG-RANGE SHOOTING

What is Cowboy long-range precision rifle shooting?

This is a competition where the emphasis is placed on precision shooting at long ranges, with time being a secondary scoring factor.  Scoring of these matches is determined by the number of hits, with either of two methods used to break ties.  At the match director’s option, either total time used to shoot the required number of shots or a shoot-off may be used to break ties.

There are four categories in Cowboy long range or precision rifle competition, plus one optional category:

• Lever action, revolver category.
• Lever action, rifle caliber.
• Single Shot.
• Buffalo Single Shot.

·    Open Category (may be used at the match director’s option, to include those firearms not covered by the four official long-range categories.)

Black-powder categories can be added to any or all of the basic categories at the option of the match director.  Each category is competed within itself.

Basic rules for the long-range competitions

Front barrel sight may vary from simple blade to period hooded wind gauge designs using interchangeable sight inserts and having a spirit level mounted integral with the sight or sight base.

Rear sight must either be open iron sights mounted on the barrel or original style tang or stock wrist mounted peep sight.  Long range rear barrel mounted sights of the flip-up ladder type may use a peephole drilled through the sliding sight leaf.  An example of this is the various ladder type sights used on the Springfield trapdoors.

Optical and receiver mounted sights are not allowed.

“Rifle Caliber” competition rifles must use traditional, period, rimmed cartridges.  Thus, .30-30 WCF, .38-55 Marlin & Ballard, .43 Spanish, or .45-70 Governments cartridges are legal, while .375 Winchester, .444 Marlin, .32-20 WCF, or .44-40 WCF are not legal.

Any propellant powder may be used (with the exception of smokeless powder, which is not allowed in the Buffalo Single Shot competition).

Regardless of category or caliber, bullets used in long-range and precision rifle matches must be made of pure led or lead alloy having a plain base, gas checked, or paper patched configuration.

A Lever-Action Rifle used in long-range matches, whether revolver or rifle calibers, must be originals or replicas of rifles manufactured during the period from approximately 1860 until 1899.  Lever- or slide-action, tubular-feed, exposed-hammer rifles or carbines are allowed, providing they are in safe working condition.

Single-Shot and Buffalo Single-Shot firearms must be originals or replicas of single- shot rifles manufactured during the period from approximately 1860 until 1899.  All rifles MUST have exposed hammers.  The caliber and cartridge rules for the “Rifle Caliber” firearms noted above under basic rules also apply to Single-Shot and Buffalo Single-Shot rifle, with the exception that Buffalo Single-Shot rifles must be .375” bore size or larger.

Buffalo Single-Shot competition has further restrictions requiring original or replica rifles to be designed by U.S. manufacturers.  Spring-loaded ejectors are also prohibited, except for Springfield Trapdoor Rifles.