I became interested in Cowboy Action Shooting (CAS) early in 1999. In July my wife gave me a Single Action handgun, a nickel United States Fire Arms in 45 Colt, for my birthday.   Little did she know what that gift was going to lead to. My list of CAS firearms now includes:

USFA Nickel plated 45 Colt (the one my wife bought me)
USFA Blue/Case Hardened 45 Colt
USFA Henry Nettleton Blue/Case Hardened 45 Colt
Cimarron '73 Deluxe Rifle in 45 Colt (main rifle)
Uberti '73 Rifle in 45 Colt (backup rifle)
Winchester Legacy Rifle in 45 Colt (backup rifle)
Norinco Coyote Cap '97 Pump Shotgun (main shotgun)
Winchester '97 Pump Shotgun (backup shotgun)
Rossi Overland Double Barreled Hammer Shotgun
Stoeger Double Barreled Shotgun
American Derringer in 357 Magnum
Kimber 1911 45ACP (for Wild Bunch Side Matches)
Shiloh Sharps 1874 Sharps in 45/70 (for long range single shot side matches)
Marlin 1895 Cowboy in 45/70 (for long range lever action side matches)
Taurus Pump Rifle in 22cal. (for long range 22 side matches)

What with guns, cowboy clothes, gun leather, club memberships and what seems like an endless list of other necessities, I don't think she realized how big a fire she had started, but she is as enthusiastic as I have become. She has always been somewhat of a Cowgirl, what with having horses and competing in barrel racing long before we were married.  I, on the other hand, have never been much of a Cowboy. I have been active in hunting, target shooting, and reloading for over 25 years, but never owned a Cowboy hat until now.  In August of 1999, I joined the Single Action Shooting Society (SASS) and a local SASS affiliated Cowboy Action Shooting club, The Stateline Ridgerunners (this club closed in June of 2003 when we lost our range) and then in January of 2000 I joined another SASS affiliated club, The Free State Rangers in Parker, KS.    I am also a member of The Bone Creek Sport & Gun Club in Pittsburg, Kansas.  Though not a cowboy club, they have an excellent range facility and are a bunch of great guys and gals.  I have also been a member of the NRA for several years and am a staunch supporter of the Second Amendment.  As of January 2001, I changed my SASS alias to Coal Valley Hoss and became a life member of SASS and the NRA.  If your looking for just about the most fun you'll ever have in the shooting sports, I suggest you visit a CAS match. Be careful, though, as it is highly addictive and before you know it, you'll join up and start shooting. Then you'll have to explain to everyone why you've got that big grin on your face that just won't go away.