Saturday, November 22, 2008

Magdalena gunslingers compete in Old West style action

Submitted to El Defensor Chieftain By Jack Shuster

It was clear and sunny with a slight chill in the air when a bunch of cowboys and cowgirls gathered in Magdalena to reach back in time for an afternoon of Cowboy Action Shooting with the Magdalena Trail Drivers on Saturday, Nov. 15.

There were 11 competitors on the range and they came from as far away as Albuquerque, Las Cruces and Truth or Consequences to recreate those old west days of yesteryear. Six-guns were holstered, rifles were ready and those stagecoach shotguns were all set to blast the bad guys.

Cowboy Action Shooting is a multifaceted amateur shooting sport in which contestants compete with firearms typical of those used in the taming of the Old West: single action revolvers; lever action rifles; and side by side double barreled, pre-1899 pump, or lever action shotguns.

The shooting competition is staged in a unique, characterized, Old West style.

Contestants shoot in several one-to-four gun stages in which they engage steel targets. Scoring is based on accuracy and speed.

Cowboy Action Shooting has requirements placed on authentic period or western screen dress. Each participant is required to adopt a shooting alias appropriate to a character or profession of the late 19th century, or a Hollywood western star, and develop a costume accordingly.

First place in Stage 1 was P.S. Cutter, followed by Slippery Steve and Brushy Bill. Also finishing Stage 1, in order, were Page B. Otero, Saddle Tramp, Buffalo Gabby, and Dusty Boots, as well as Tall Ted, Ma Cutter, Missouri Mule and Terrible Bear.

A clean stage, no misses, was shot by P.S. Cutter and Saddle Tramp.

First place in Stage 2 was taken by P.S. Cutter with Buffalo Gabby in second and Tall Ted in the third spot. Other shooters included Brushy Bill, Page B. Otero, Ma Cutter and Slippery Steve, along with Saddle Tramp, Dusty Boots, Missouri Mule and Terrible Bear. P.S. Cutter, Buffalo Gabby, Tall Ted, Page B.

Otero, Ma Cutter and Missouri Mule all shot a clean stage.

Top shooter in Stage 3 was Slippery Steve, trailed closely by Tall Ted with P.S. Cutter in third. Other finishers of that stage, in order, were Page B. Otero, Buffalo Gabby, Brushy Bill and Saddle Tramp, followed by Dusty Boots, Ma Cutter, Missouri Mule and Terrible Bear.

Slippery Steve, Tall Ted, Page B. Otero, Dusty Boots and Missouri Mule all had no misses.

Brushy Bill won the fourth stage, followed by P.S. Cutter and Slippery Steve. Also shooting up that stage, in order, were Saddle Tramp, Buffalo Gabby, Page B.

Otero and Tall Ted, with Ma Cutter, Dusty Boots, Missouri Mule and Terrible Bear. P. S. Cutter, Slippery Steve, Buffalo Gabby, and Missouri Mule finished that stage with no misses.

P.S. Cutter was Top Gun for the match.

The Magdalena Trail Drivers offer Cowboy Action Shooting on the first and third Saturday of each month. Set up begins at noon and the shooting starts at 1 p.m.

The next match is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 6. New shooters are welcome.

For information about the Magdalena Trail Drivers, contact Club President Grizzly Adams at radams@gilanet.com or find them on their Web site at www.magdalenatraildrivers.com

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