Cowboy Shooting Store
League City, Texas
281.751.7024

This article will compile the shotgun items mentioned in the SASS Handbook, 13^th Edition. We have grouped relevant information by shotgun type for easy reference.

Shotgun targets are typically set at distances of 8 to 16 yards.

Side-By-Side Shotgun, Coach Gun, Single Shot Shotgun

• Must be of the period from approximately 1860 until 1899 without automatic ejectors.
• May be original or a replica.
• Side by side shotguns must be centerfire of at least 20 gauge and no larger than 10 gauge.
• Side by side centerfire shotguns in .410 gauge are allowed in the Buckaroo Category only.
• Modifying the firing, cocking, or chambering mechanisms in any way that changes the process from an entirely manual operation to any other style operation (i.e. blowback operation, gas operation or recoil operation) is expressly prohibited.
• Shotgun may have external or internal hammers.
• Shotgun may have single or double triggers.
• Shotgun barrels must be minimum 18 inches long. A longer barrel is allowed, but not shorter.
• Shotgun barrels may have internal choke tubes installed provided they do not extend beyond the muzzle.
• Shotgun trigger guards may be wrapped with leather or other natural material.
• Leather on a pump shotgun’s fore end or grip surface is not allowed.
• A permanently fitted, non-adjustable, lace on or slip on recoil pad is allowed on the buttstock of shotguns.
• Checkering, carving or laser engraving is allowed on fore-stocks and buttstocks.
• Bending the trigger guard on side by side shotguns so triggers are more exposed is not allowed.
• Contemporary rubber grips, modern target grips, grip tape and the like are not allowed.
• Front sights may be a bead or a simple post type sight.
• A light bead blasted finish may be applied to the exterior of a shotgun.
• Factory screws may be replaced with socket head cap or other type screw.
• Break action shotguns may add or modify internal mechanisms to guarantee side by sides to not close accidentally.
• The open angle for side by sides may be increased.
• May be used in following categories: Traditional, Modern, Duelist, Gunfighter, Frontiersman if loaded with blackpowder, Classic Cowboy/Cowgirl if it has external hammers, B-Western, Young Guns, Buckaroo, Women’s, Forty-Niner, Senior, Silver Senior, Elder Statesmen, Grand Dames, Plainsman Side Match

Lever Action Shotgun

·        Must be of the period from approximately 1860 until 1899 without automatic ejectors.

·        May be original or a replica.

·        Shotgun barrels must be minimum 18 inches long. A longer barrel is allowed, but not shorter.

·        Side by side shotguns must be centerfire of at least 20 gauge and no larger than 10 gauge.

·        Side by side centerfire shotguns in .410 gauge are allowed in the Buckaroo Category only.

·        Modifying the firing, cocking, or chambering mechanisms in any way that changes the process from an entirely manual operation to any other style operation (i.e. blowback operation, gas operation or recoil operation) is expressly prohibited.

·        Shotgun barrels may have internal choke tubes installed provided they do not extend beyond the muzzle.

·        Shotgun trigger guards may be wrapped with leather or other natural material.

·        A permanently fitted, non-adjustable, lace on or slip on recoil pad is allowed on the buttstock of shotguns.

·        Checkering, carving or laser engraving is allowed on fore-stocks and buttstocks.

·        Contemporary rubber grips, modern target grips, grip tape and the like are not allowed.

·        Front sights may be a bead or a simple post type sight.

·        A light bead blasted finish may be applied to the exterior of a shotgun.

·        Factory screws may be replaced with socket head cap or other type screw.

·        Levers may be wrapped or padded with leather or other natural material.

·        A “two-shot” drop type system may be added.

·        May be used in following categories: Traditional, Modern, Duelist, Gunfighter, Frontiersman if loaded with blackpowder, Classic Cowboy/Cowgirl, B-Western, Young Guns, Buckaroo, Women’s, Forty-Niner, Senior, Silver Senior, Elder Statesmen, Grand Dames, Plainsman Side Match

Slide Action Shotgun, Pump Shotgun

• Must be Model 1897 Winchester only. No other pump action shotgun is allowed.
• May be original or a replica.
• Shotgun barrels must be minimum 18 inches long. A longer barrel is allowed, but not shorter.
• Slide action shotguns must be centerfire of at least 16 gauge and no larger than 12 gauge.
• Modifying the firing, cocking, or chambering mechanisms in any way that changes the process from an entirely manual operation to any other style operation (i.e. blowback operation, gas operation or recoil operation) is expressly prohibited.
• Shotgun barrels may have internal choke tubes installed provided they do not extend beyond the muzzle.
• Shotgun trigger guards may be wrapped with leather or other natural material.
• Leather on a pump shotgun’s fore end or grip surface is not allowed.
• A permanently fitted, non-adjustable, lace on or slip on recoil pad is allowed on the buttstock of shotguns.
• Checkering, carving or laser engraving is allowed on fore-stocks and buttstocks.
• Contemporary rubber grips, modern target grips, grip tape and the like are not allowed.
• Leather on a pump shotgun fore end or grip surface is not allowed.
• Front sights may be a bead or a simple post type sight.
• A light bead blasted finish may be applied to the exterior of a shotgun.
• Factory screws may be replaced with socket head cap or other type screw.
• May load no more than two rounds at a time in main match stages unless specified in the stage description. In team events, shotguns may be loaded to maximum magazine capacity.

• Shotgun barrels must be minimum 18 inches long. A longer barrel is allowed, but not shorter.
• Shotgun barrels may have internal choke tubes installed provided they do not extend beyond the muzzle.
• Shotgun trigger guards may be wrapped with leather or other natural material.
• A slide on leather cover to protect the offhand from barrel heat is allowed on side by side shotguns.
• Leather on a pump shotgun’s fore end or grip surface is not allowed.
• A permanently fitted, non-adjustable, lace on or slip on recoil pad is allowed on the buttstock of shotguns.
• Checkering, carving or laser engraving is allowed on fore-stocks and buttstocks.
• Bending the trigger guard on side by side shotguns so triggers are more exposed is not allowed.
• Contemporary rubber grips, modern target grips, grip tape and the like are not allowed.
• Front sights may be a bead or a simple post type sight.

• A light bead blasted finish may be applied to the exterior of a shotgun.
• Factory screws may be replaced with socket head cap or other type screw.
• The dimensions of the ejection port on a slide action shotgun may not be altered.
• A “two-shot” drop type system for lever action shotguns may be added.
• Break action shotguns may add or modify internal mechanisms to guarantee side by sides to not close accidentally.
• The open angle for side by sides may be increased.
• Side by side, single shot, and lever action shotguns must be centerfire of at least 20 gauge and no larger than 10 gauge.
• Slide action shotguns must be centerfire of at least 16 gauge and no larger than 12 gauge.
• Side by side, single shot, and lever action centerfire shotguns in .410 gauge are allowed with the Buckaroo Category only.
• May be used in following categories: Traditional, Modern, Duelist, Gunfighter, B-Western, Young Guns, Buckaroo, Women’s, Forty-Niner, Senior, Silver Senior, Elder Statesmen, Grand Dames, Plainsman Side Match