Why Cowboy Shooting is Better than USPSA

September 2023

Here are a few reasons why Cowboy Action shooting is better that USPSA (United States Practical Shooting Association).

Cowboy target don't blow over

Not only do our targets not blow over, but our walls don't blow over, either. We shoot steel targets. Some are knockdowns but are designed that way and are easily re-set. USPSA targets are mostly flimsy, paper targets, designed to be blown and when they are, are almost impossible to re-set exactly as they were, thereby presenting a different shooting experience to other shooters, regardless of how minuscule the difference may be.

Scoring is easy

You either hit the target, or you miss it. Unlike USPSA where there are different scoring areas on targets, cowboy targets are either a hit or a miss. Also, we don't have to worry about the perfs (perforations which outline the different scoring areas on the target). Again, you either hit the target, or miss it. You can't hit two different targets (a target and a no-shoot target) with a single shot like you can in USPSA when you break the perf.

You don't need to tape targets

A real time saver, and cost saver, is that we don't waste time, or tape, covering up the previous shooter's hits.

We don't wear bright-colored clothing advertising some company where we bought our gun, or ammo, or bright-colored clothing

That's right, we dress like normal people from the 1880s.

You don't have to try to figure out the best way to shoot the stage

In cowboy shooting, each scenario describes the order in which the targets must be engaged. We don't have to worry about what's the fastest way to shoot a stage. And, we don't run around air-gunning a stage prior to shooting. In fact air-gunning is forbidden and you will be ridiculed to no end if you're seen doing it.

And finally, you get to shoot 4 guns

That's right, unlike USPSA where you only get one gun, we have four guns, and get to shoot them at each stage. We also out-do the 3-gun guys.

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