From the Pards ...

I have been asked by Marshall Peas to put to paper, as it were, some personal thoughts about my time shooting Cowboy Action as a member of The Congress of Rough Riders of  CT. So, here goes.

At my very first monthly meeting after joining High Rock Shooting Association in 2006, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that our club participated in this vaguely known shooting sport. That revelation came by way of Snake Eyes Frank Tanner (aka Frank Wargo), founder and president of CORR, when he gave his monthly participation report to the club members.

As a lifelong student and practicing aficionado of firearms, I was somewhat aware of the sport, but had no idea that it was so widespread as to reach the mostly tamed territories of the Northeast.

Even though I had grown up religiously watching every Wild West show available on our black and white TV in New York City from the 50s on, I wasn’t quite sure what to make of this sport. My first impression was that the western garb and alias requirements seemed silly. However, part of Snake Eyes’ monthly club report included an open invitation to come and try, with all the guns, ammo and leather supplied free of charge so, I couldn’t pass the opportunity to boast that I had at least given it a try.

Now I have owned and regularly shot a NM Ruger Blackhawk since 1974, and had owned and sold a number of Winchester and Marlin lever guns, and a double barrel 12 ga over the decades, so I was quite sure that I would be able to figure it out with a bit of coaching.

Well, after watching the posses go through a couple stages, I was awestruck. In fact, I was already dreading strapping on the gear, because I knew that I would likely step onto the path of no return. Fourteen years, tons of lead and many dollars later, I am still goin’ at it.

Of all the shooting sports that I have tried since I hit 18, this is the one that has held me glued the longest. It offers everyone, young & old a chance to enjoy it to whatever level they desire. From simple recreation to world class competition, it has everything you could want in a safe shooting sport.

I hope that everyone reading these lines has had a similar experience from the time they became curious about our beloved sport.

Porta Reekin’ Mike (aka Mike Iñigo)