AMERICAN COWBOY QUICK DRAW ASSOCIATION
Formed 6-1-2009
This association was formed to promote the fun sport of cowboy style shooting, using wax bullets over primers in a quick draw type format, and using 1800’s era weapons with modern timing equipment to measure your shot against your opponent to see who would win the shootout.
Our association is a sport for all ages and gender, with our simple rules and pay structure you will not be shooting for financial gain, you will be competing for your own betterment and satisfaction that a well placed and quick timed shot gets you the win.
CONDUCT
It will be up to the match director or host at any ACQDA event to control the conduct of shooters at a match. This association is all about the fun of the sport, bad manners, bad language, cheating will be zero tolerance and the person acting in such a manner will be asked to put up their guns and they are done for the match.
INSURANCE
Any club or sponsor of an ACQDA match, must have liability insurance in place to cover the event, and must carry the AMERICAN COWBOY QUICKDRAW ASSOCIATION as additional insured to protect the association membership from claims. The association does not provide insurance, this is up to the clubs or hosts to provide.
TARGETS
The targets in this sport will be made of steel and will be man sized silhouette targets with a light hole centered in the target at 50" high, targets can be moveable or stationary, but all targets will be the same silhouette, no exceptions will be allowed.
These targets will make the sport seem more like a real gun fight against your opponent, and the rules of shooting till you hit will also be more realistic. Silhouette style targets will be easier to shoot at and will be better for spectators and beginners. But you can miss.
Important: You are in a gunfight with your target, do not worry about the person you are shooting with, whether they miss or hit, shoot till you hit your target, then worry about the win.
Targets will be shot at a distance of 18 to 21 feet; will be up to match director for each match to decide and declare the distance to be shot.
MATCHES
Matches for the ACQDA may be conducted in 2 different ways, match director or host club we declare how the match will run before the match. Matches will be open to anyone; need not be a member to shoot our matches.
- Match can be set for length by the total number of rounds, everyone entered will shoot until all the rounds are finished, you do not x out, you paid to shoot, you paid to compete, you paid to get better, you can not do that sitting on the side line watching, x’s will be kept track of and at the end of the required rounds the contestant in each class with the least number of losses will be declared the winner, in the event of a tie it will be sudden victory in a single round first to get three winning shots on their opponent will be declared match winner.
- The other option for a match is a set time limit, at the end of the allotted time the final rounds must be completed so all contestants have been allowed the same number of chances, the winner will be chosen the same method as listed above.
- Shoot offs for placement will only be conducted in the case of a
tie, otherwise the number of x count determines your place, since
payout is only for 4 places, your position below that is not of a
large concern unless the match director or host club is going to
award prizes or certificates of placement for more places.
FIREARMS
Firearms will be period correct weapons. All firearms must be factory stock, no trick guns or race guns, tuning is allowed, they must be able to fire a wax bullet over a primer, for the regular class 45 caliber, barrel length 4 5/8 or longer.
All firearms will need to pass inspection safety and modifications.
Junior class firearms may be 38 caliber in the smaller frame guns to help with little hands.
CLASS
1. Men’s
2. Ladies
3. Juniors, can be mixed at this level depending on number entered or can be split to boys and girls, must shoot two hand method to compete in this division and must have parent or appointed adult to help the junior, no exceptions.
- Outlaw class will be any firearm that can shoot a wax bullet. Rifles and shotguns, mare’s legs, belly guns, derringers, bunt lines, and so forth. Rifles and shotguns will be held in front of the body in the strong hand surrender position with muzzle up and slightly down range, second hand to fire will be held in surrender position as well, gun may have on in chamber hammer in safety notch. Mares legs, buntlines, derringers, belly guns will be holstered for the draw, any one using cross draw with buntlines must stand sideways as to keep muzzle down range on the draw. Safety first, fun second in this class.
- Contests in the outlaw class will only be able to compete if enough contestants wish to shoot in this class.
SAFETY EQUIPMENT
Safety glasses or shooting glasses must be worn when on the line, hearing protection is advised but up to the shooter.
HOLSTERS
Western style holsters only, trick or cut down holsters will not be allowed. All holsters should be equipped with bullet deflector or have closed boot for safety. Hollywood style and Mexican drop loop will be allowed but the Match director at each contest will have final say so on all gear if there is any questions from contestants, this sport is for fun only, safety first fun second, and cheaters are out.
SAFETY RULES
The match director or safety officer will go over the rules for the match before each contest starts. The basic rules from all shooting sports will be enforce. Any safety violation will be handled by the line officer during the match. The hand rule Lawman Ready Position allowed but no finger in the trigger guard, no movement of the firearm after the set command. You will also unload and show clear before you may leave the firing line, you may have your opponent or the line judge clear you to holster your gun before you turn around and leave the firing line.
LOAD AND MAKE READY
All contestants will be responsible for loading their own weapons, after the load and make ready command has been given. We will not be using hand judges so there will be no one to hand you ammo. In a gunfight no one handed the shooters ammo. BUT if you anticipate a shot the contestant must call it on themselves, cowboy up and be honest, if we catch you cheating, there is no warning; you are out of the contest.
You will need to load more often in this sport, so when a contestant wishes to reload, tell the line officer you wish to reload and you will be given the time to reload.
SHOOTERS ON THE LINE
Contestants will be called to the line, Shooters on the line command will be given, then Shooters set command will be given and the lights on the targets will then activate at random times. You will be allowed to shoot till you hit, thumb shooting only, one hand only, there will be a winning time each time, first contestant to log three winning times on his opponent is declared the round winner.
No fanning will be allowed, unless you have a handicap certification from the match director or from the association, no cross draws allowed, all shots must come in front of the holster for safety reasons. Normal draws only, no side roll or other type draws.
Ladies matches: Ladies may cock and draw the first shot with one hand and then it is up to them to decide if they wish to use two hands to shoot and cock for the follow up shots as needed. This should help the ladies with small hands be able to compete. No fanning.
Youth will be shooting with two hands, for safety reasons.
CLOTHING FOR MATCHES
Clothing for a match must be period, no tennis shoes, shorts, baseball hats etc. allowed. For safety reasons, no practice shoots, jackpots, or club shoots, shall allow shooters to wear shorts or soft shoes in any competition, safety glasses must be worn at all times hearing protection up to the shooter.
LIABILITY RELEASE
All shooters will sign a release, to release the host from any liability when participating in this shooting sport and to release the Association from liability. If you do not sign a release you will not be allowed to participate. You the shooter must assume any risk involved with this sport as a participant and spectator, be aware at all times what is going on around you.
WINNERS
It seems that several of the other associations have gotten to the point of big money and big prizes and have lost track of the just plain fun of the competition. Many contestants will never be super fast and will probably never win a big match, but they do it for the love of the sport. Our association feels that their entry fees go to support the winners all the time.
Our association will limit the cash money paid out to the winners as follows:
We will be coming up with a percentage program that will pay back based on the number of shooters. But for now the following format will be in place.
The following is only suggestions on the maximum to pay out, it will be up to the host club to determine the number of places to pay and the amount based on the number of shooters.
First place will receive no more than 2 times the entry fee to the match back plus what ever prizes the host provides, buckles, trophies, goods etc.
Second place will receive no more than 1 ½ times the entire entry fee back plus what ever other prizes the host provides.
Third place will receive all of their entry fee back plus what ever other prizes the host provides.
Fourth place will receive ½ of their entry fee back plus what ever other prizes the host provides.
Certificates may be given out to as many places as the host desires along with any other prizes or gifts that the hosting body wishes to give.
MATCH FEES
Fees for all matches should be kept as low as possible, with any awards or certificates, buckles, trophies etc to be paid out of entry fees. Our suggestion is the fee for a match should be no more than $20 to $40 depending on the match and the host will not be furnishing the ammunition at this price.
AMMUNITION
Our matches will use wax over a shotgun primer to be provided by the contestant. If a hosting body wishes to provide ammunition for a match that will be allowed. They may also use blanks with up to 3.9 grains of Triple 7 powder with wax loads. Hosting body will announce type of ammo to be used at the match.
ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIPS
Memberships in the: AMERICAN COWBOY QUICK DRAW ASSOCIATION at this time is pending the final drafting of this association.
We will have life memberships for a one time fee of $150 this will cover the cost of your life membership belt buckle.
All life members will be the Association, important decisions will be open to all members by email or snail mail, majority will decide any new policy changes. In this Association if you do not respond to a vote or measure, you will not have the right to complain about any changes.
CLUB MEMBERSHIPS
Clubs that wish to become members of the Association may pay a one time registration fee of $150 to register the club. This registration fee will allow the president of your club a vote, same as if he or she was a life member. Registered clubs will have the right to hold State Title matches, if more than one club in a state registers, turns will be taken to host the State Title matches.
First club that registers will be able to hold the first State Title Match, and they will rotate as more clubs register.
Club members of a registered club do not have to join the Association, anyone that wants to shoot is welcome.
All registered clubs and contacts will be listed on a website when we get it done.
For now the website we will use for information will be
www.bulltown.usHeadquarters for the Association:
MBK Unlimited
230 Bender Road
Roundup, Montana 59072
Head of Association:
Michael B. Krueger (founder) Executive Director
All final decisions and changes will be up to the head of the association based on his findings from Life Members for any changes or updates.
The association will be the sanction body and approve State Matches as the Association grows, the World Match will be held each year at Bull Town and any club or members may sponsor or help with the event or may take turns hosting the match, the club that sponsors or hosts will be entitled to all profits, will a small percentage back to Bull Town for upkeep and improvements.
The association is not out to make any money, memberships will cover the cost of buckles any left over funds will be used to develop score sheets and cover office expense. We do not furnish score sheets at this time, or insurance, but will assist with whatever we can provide to any clubs that wish to use our system. Any club that uses the system and holds a match will be sure to list the association as additional insured to protect all members of the association.
If a club wants to put on a match, we can provide equipment providing the host club pays our expenses.
We are in the process of designing score sheets, sign up sheets and such and each member will be provided with a set that may be copied and used by them or a registered club.
This will be an ongoing process as we grow, problems will be addressed as they come up.
Thank You for joining, you will be in for an exciting ride and will have lots of fun.
Bulltown welcomes all shooters to come and have fun, we have 3 cabins if you are in the area and want to stay overnight, just give us a call.
There is also plenty of room for tents, camping trailers and motor homes if you are on vacation and want an out of the way place to relax for a day or so just give a call.
Mike Krueger and Elaine Krueger