The Long Island Sportsmen’s Courier Community Newspaper

A Behind the Scenes Look at “Cowboy Action Shooting” with the East End Regulators

by Tony Giammarino

 

 

As the fastest growing shooting sport, most people have read about, witnessed or experienced the fascinating sport of "Cowboy Action Shooting."  This multi-dimensional sport captures many with period clothes and firearms and impressive shooting stages.  Each stage has period props and reactionary targets designed to accommodate: two six shooters, a lever action rifle and a shotgun (all pre-1900).  Cowboy Action Shooting was created, and is governed by, the "Single Action Shooting Society" (SASS), which was started in 1986 and is based in California.  Today hundreds of affiliated clubs exist in the United States and throughout the world, giving SASS a membership well over 85,000.  Throughout this article you will find that participants are referred to by both their surname and their “cowboy” alias name as required by SASS.

       By all accounts, Mr. George Marks was the first to bring Cowboy Action Shooting to Long Island in the early 1990s.  It was later kept alive by Frank Felini of the Pine Barrens Range and later by the first official club called the "Hole in the Wall Gang", which is still active today.  In fact, Long Island is fortunate to presently have three active Cowboy Action Shooting clubs: The East End Regulators (EER), The Hole in the Wall Gang and The Shadow Riders.  Although this article will feature the East End Regulators, each club has very special leadership and members that make this exciting sport come alive each month at their respective shoots.

     As with most things, we see the finished product and we don't have a real feel for what goes on behind the scenes.  Attending a cowboy shoot, one would see five finished shooting stages.  Upon registering, participants are divided into shooting groups and assigned to a posse. Each stage would have impressive props depicting the old west and a series of reactionary targets, all freshly painted and strategically placed.  From beginning to end, one would see an orderly, safety conscious event unfold.  Both club members and participants work as: range officers that time each shooter and act as an official for each posse; spotters to observe and determine the number of hits/misses for correct scoring; score keepers, brass collectors and target re-setters.   In addition, individuals are assigned to man a loading table and an unloading table at which strict SASS safety rules are enforced.  Just prior to shooting at each stage, the range officer reads an "old west" scenario followed by specific instructions for target engagement, all created and written by members of the club.   Finally, each member of the posse (at each respective stage), dressed in period clothing, runs through the scenario blazing away with their six shooters, lever-action rifle and shotgun.

     

How It All Comes Together

 

      I had the pleasure of spending time with the leaders and members of the East End Regulators (based at the Pine Barrens Range), which gave me the opportunity to take a better look at just what is required to start a Cowboy Action Shooting Club and bring their monthly “shoots” to life.  Before explaining the magic created each month by the present-day EER, let's take a look at what is involved in starting a SASS affiliated "Cowboy Action Shooting" club. The East End Regulators had its beginning back in 1998.  In speaking with the clubs first president, or in the lingo of the old west, their first mayor, Mr. Dennis Hanna, we were able to get a feel for just what goes into starting such a club.   Mr. Hanna explained, "we started our club in the mid 1990s.  In organizing our club we started ‘slow’.  It was so involved that slow was the only way to go.  We needed to: rally interested parties that were willing to put in the effort; establish a name; become a SASS affiliate; get insurance; targets; build props and find a place to store them and fortunately, thanks to Frank Felini of the Pine Barrens Range, we had a place to shoot.   I must say that SASS, the governing body of Cowboy Action Shooting, was very helpful in guiding us through the process. We purchased our first targets from George Marks, who originally brought the sport to Long Island and was given a steady shooting schedule and storage by the Pine Barrens Range.  We naturally had to raise the funds to acquire the targets and to pay the rental for the range for each month’s shoot.  We started with very simple shooting stages because at first it was a matter of transporting the targets for each shoot and setting them up.  As we grew in membership and participants our shooting stages became more impressive and complete.”  Dennis is still a member of the East End Regulators and expressed a great admiration for the present leadership of the club stating, “They have kept the spirit and original intent of the founders of the club alive and I am proud to be a member.”

       Before introducing today's leaders of the East End Regulators, in an effort to avoid confusion,  I should explain that for one to shoot in  an official Cowboy Action Shooting event, they must be a member of the Single Action Shooting Society (SASS) and, as a member, must choose and shoot under an alias name.

 

Today the East End Regulators are under the leadership of:

Mayor/President Sheriff AB Dupree, aka Jim Passarella;

Deputy Mayor/VP Diamond Rio, aka Andy Laudano;

Banker/Treasurer New England Pete, aka Pete Trifoli;

Town Clerk/Secretary Six Gun Kid, aka Keith Maciejewski

Sergeant At Arms Sam Sackett, aka Sal Wyszomierski

Town Council Member J. Dalton Younger, aka Ed Bochan

 

      Mayor Jim Passarella and Deputy Mayor Andy Laudano became members just four months after the EER was officially started.  Presently, they, along with aforementioned officials of the club, retain an atmosphere that is friendly, fun and socially rewarding for members. 

       In additional to maintaining all the logistics of the club: insurance, memberships, equipment, special events, holiday parties, summer picnics and luncheons and dinners there is the monthly shoot of the club.  The “monthly shoot” is where we have  set our focus for this article, as our tribute to the people who keep this sport alive.  

       The monthly shoot starts in the imagination of those members that write the scenarios for each of the five stages.  Most of the time their concept is based on one of their favorite movies, characters or legends of the old west and actual history.  In addition to the story line, they must create a list of necessary props, targets, a diagram of how the targets will be laid out and addressed and deal with any safety issues, all based on the SASS guidelines for a shoot.  Their scenario is brought to a special monthly meeting at which each in attendance has brought their written concept for analysis and approval.  As each author reads their story line and shooting instructions all safety issues, needed props, targets and any special thoughts are offered, including concerns for the participants in the many different shooting categories.  Diagrams are submitted and the concept is discussed openly.  After meeting all the safety rules and guidelines, it is decided which one of the five shooting pits is proper for the story line and required layout. They also consider which and how many targets are needed and in what order the targets will be addressed.  In speaking with J. Dalton Younger, aka Ed Bochan, he stated, "our story lines are often based on western movies and the featured characters.  We try to be imaginative, often borrowing from history, adding humor and always trying to keep it interesting for participants."   Each member of the “scenario creation committee” admitted being inspired by watching all the popular weekly cowboy programs as children.  I often heard them refer to "The Cowboy Way", which I believe is a set of principles  they practice, taken from the ‘good guys’ of the old "Hollywood" western characters that were great role models of the time.  They, admittedly, were part of a generation that grew up playing “Cowboys and Indians”. 

       Next, the authors meet with a crew of hard working volunteers to make each written scenario a reality.  Stored on range grounds the targets and props are removed from storage and brought to the proper shooting pit.  Much like a Hollywood stage crew, from 9 AM to high noon, the team works, building walls of towns, assembling props, carrying targets and stands out to specifically measured distances, repainting each target, setting post into the ground and of course assembling their 50 gallon drum horse with hitching post.  In spite of the hard work, all crew members stay focused under the supervision of either Mayor Dupree or Deputy Mayor Diamond Rio and, of course, the guidance of the scenario authors.  In spite of the heat, totin' heavy targets and stands, painting and building for hours, they all remained good spirited, while enjoying a sense of accomplishment as a group.  This process is all done on the day before each club shoot.  It is hoped by all that the weather will cooperate and make all the hard work  worthwhile.  The old-fashioned western props that are seen as part of each shooting stage are designed and built in the home workshop of Six Gun Kid, aka Keith Maciejewski.  Stage building meetings are a common gathering place for members that contribute their skills to the project.

       The day of the shoot the work continues with: registration, logistics, food and water for participants and, after all the fun is had, breaking down all five scenarios and storing the equipment. 

       In addition to organizing the shoot, members that run the event also participate in the event.  They do, however, receive some help from those that come to shoot.  Each participant is required to serve in some official capacity as part of a posse.  This contributes to the smooth running of each shoot.

       During registration two EER members have each participant sign a posse and a score sheet.  Each posse is divided in two, allowing for a work crew and shooters.  Other members and/or their loving family members volunteer to prepare large pots of coffee and donuts for early arriving shooters and later in the day lunch.

       In the early morning “side-matches” are conducted for long range rifle, shotgun and pocket-pistol. Just prior to the start of the 5 stage match, range officers are chosen for each posse and taken on a "walk through" to explain each shooting stage and any additional safety precautions.  Range officers are usually a member of the EER or participants that are range officer qualified.  Each posse is sent to their respective starting stage and the RO’s job begins.  They must first divide the posse into two groups, one to work while the other shoots.  A list is created for the shooting order to accommodate the work parties that include: 1 person at the loading table and 1 at the unloading table; a score keeper; spotters to count hits, misses and procedurals (to see that targets are engaged as directed); brass retrievers and target re-setters.  During each shooter’s run, the range officer must time-the-run, count the number of shots fired and make sure that the shooter follows all safety rules. 

       While shooters are having fun, volunteers are preparing hot dogs for lunch.  A short break is given to allow participants to rest and refuel and it’s back to complete the remaining stages.  After several hours of working, shooting and, of course, managing the event, the EER work crew disassembles, transports and stores all targets and props.  

Editor’s Note: The degree of dedication, camaraderie, creativity and blood, sweat and ‘cheers’ that go into creating a Cowboy Action Shoot, or any other shooting discipline, requires a great love for the sport and some very special people. The Sportsmen’s Courier will continue to pay tribute to all the hard workers that make the sport of shooting possible on Long Island.  We consistently have observed that the club officials, members and participants are the most patriotic, law-abiding individuals one will ever find.  It is individual character and spirit like theirs that make our country a great place to live & play!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scenario Planning Session


Each shooting scenario begins in the mind of a group of very creative club members.  Shown above (l. to r.) are: Ed Bochan, (Banker/Treasurer) aka J. Dalton Younger; Andrew Laudano, (Deputy Mayor) aka Diamond Rio; Salvatore Wyszomierski, (Sergeant at Arms) aka Sam Sackett; Emilio Albanese, aka Rig A Mortis; Keith J. Maciejewshi, (Town Clerk) aka The Six Gun Kid.  These dedicated club members write, work out the logistics and direct the building for each shooting stage.  They, along with other club members, repeat this process monthly for their East End Regulators’ “Cowboy Action Shoots.”  This is just one of the many essential steps required to make their monthly club shoot a reality.

 

Officers of the East End Regulators

They meet monthly to plan all the demanding logistics of the club.  This includes all the many social events and trips sponsored by the “Regulators”. 

 


Shown Above (l. to r.): Deputy Mayor/VP Diamond Rio, aka Andy Laudano; Banker/Treasurer New England Pete, aka Pete Trifoli; Mayor/President Sheriff AB Dupree, aka Jim Passarella; Town Clerk/Secretary Six Gun Kid, aka Keith Maciejewski.

 

The Work Crew 

Ready to Build 5 Exciting Shooting Scenarios (see photo gallery)


Shown above:  Each month five stages are built to the specification of scenario authors.  The work crew: builds old-western town facades; dig holes for hitching post; builds and assemble period props; carry, assemble and set-up an average of 20 metal reactionary targets on each stage and freshly paint each target.  At the Sunday shoot they serve as officials throughout the shoot and, finally, after each shoot they disassemble and store everything.  The Saturday work crew shown (l. to r., please note each name is listed with their “Single Action Shooting Society” alias) are:

-Keith J. Maciejewshi, aka The Six Gun Kid;

-Emilio Albanese, aka Rig A Mortis;

-Owen Smith, aka Texas ‘O’;

-Salvatore Wyszomierski, (Sergeant at Arms) aka Sam Sackett;

-Ed Bochan, aka J. Dalton Younger;

-Pete Trifoli, aka New England Pete;

-Andrew Laudano, (Deputy Mayor) aka Diamond Rio

-Greg Wasarhaley, aka Full House;

-Ron Richicihi, aka Tombstone Bones;

-Jerry Pisapia, aka Sierra Jerry and

-Frank Ramunto aka Frank the Fixer.

*They haven’t named the horse.

 

 The Day of The Shoot

The work crew mores back in time all ready to do some shooting – 1800’s style.


Thanks to the dedication and hard work of the East End Regulators, all shooting stages are set and ready to go.  Shown above: With a slight change in staff, Saturday’s work crew becomes Sunday’s shooting cowboys dressed in period clothing and ready to do some shootin’.

 

 

Click here for “Photo Gallery”  Work Crew. Members of the “East End Regulators” building five exciting scenarios.

 

 

 

Click here for some scenes of the day of the “shoot”.

 

 

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