Fastdraw and Westerners

Fastdraw and westerners

Fastdraw is quite a new hobby for me but i found it totally awsome to face your apponent gun in the holster primed and ready just like the hollywood filmstars,
We all meet at our local club to listen to a good band and dress the part guns 'n' all.
I was quite surpised when i first started going just how many grown men (and women) dress up and "play" cowboys, But its not all for nothing most groups do an awful lot for charity donating all the money raised from the re enactment of typical western themes and fastdraw competitions ect.
We use a veriety of guns which are all blank firing and not really able to kill anyone (unless you hit them on the head with it) using .22 blanks or 9mm blanks and some use .380 long reloads. When fired they give all the thrill and the noise of the real thing. Apart from the guns and the costumes we also have a great friendly bunch of people and of course some of the best music in my opinion (country music still has a lyrical side to it that is "understandable")
If you fancy having a look there are many venus all over the UK.

Our local club "THE DROVERS" is at the Cobridge Coronation club Mulgrave street Cobridge Stoke On Trent, every week on a Saturday night.

Gadgets and other bits we use

As i said above the main parts to fastdraw are of course a Blank firing handgun and a rig (holster) to put it in, And the usual clothing (not to be confused with line dance getup) ie Tatty jeans or trousers, cowboy boots, a western style shirt ie striped or just plain (again Garth Brooks printed logo's arn't the real macoy) A cowboy hat, And a few of your own bits and bobs from ideas you pick up along the way.
We use an Electronic box to tell who drew and fired first as sometimes your ears are just not fast enough, (made by yours truly) and a light on a stand that goes between the gunfighters so that both fighters can draw when the light comes on.
And thats about all there is to it. IF you want you can come on a thursday night between 8pm and 10.30pm for a practice night whare you can learn or just hone your skills.

Would YOU like to take part??

If you are the type of person who would like to take part all you have to do is contact a re enactment group like:- "COWBOYS ON WHEELS" which can be contacted by e-mailing isaac_c_parker@ntlworld.com Who will be happy to give you ideas(WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING TO EXPAND OUR MEMBERS). Or just simply go to a show thats local to you and ask around.
Whatever you do you will always find a willing helping hand along the way.
Try my links at the bottom they lead to many many more interesting links with the same type of content and of course country music :-)

I hope you enjoyed reading my little bit on the web and i hope it gives someone out there the urge to have a go. Hope to see you at a show somewhere...Ben Thompson aka Andy from Stoke.

My Hobby Links:

Cowboys On Wheels
country music festivals
British country music