Shooter Spotlight : Rooster Ray

by Moog on January 11, 2021

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Where do you live? (what state or country)

I currently reside in Gainesville, FL. I grew up in up state NY in the small town of Saugerties about 110 miles north of NYC.

When did you start shooting CAS and how did you or who got you into the sport?

I started shooting CAS in Nov 2014. I originally planned to start in Nov 2013 but I fell off my barn roof and busted everything up in my right shoulder. In Oct 2013 I went to the monthly match at Ft White Gun Club, FL with a friend, Johnnie Showchaps, a new shooter as well. At the match I ran into Roughneck Rod. I had known Rod years earlier when we worked together at the police department. I did not know he was a cowboy action shooter.

Who was your mentor, either known to them or not?

Roughneck Rod helped me get started. I also met several other shooters that day. They were Santa Fe River Stan, Delta Glen, Hawkeye Gin, Arcadia Outlaw, Christian Mortican, Wabash Valley Slim, Deadly Sharp Shooter, Rocky Creek Shooter, Cuban Crisis, and Major Mishap. I did not realize the impact they have on me regarding this sport.

How much do you practice, how many rounds a month do you send down range?

When I first started, I was sending 4 to 5 hundred rounds a month down range for practice and approximately 3 matches a month. My main focus was to run the guns smoothly. Something I am still working on. ( Darn the half cocks, jacked rounds and dropped shotgun shells.). I was not sure how I wanted to go regarding the shotgun, ‘97 or double. I made the commitment to the ‘97. I started with a draw 3 shells with left hand and 1 with the right. Then I met a shooter called Arcadia Outlaw. He pulled 4 with the left hand and made that ‘97 run. If he could do it so could I. After many train wrecks I may be getting the handle on it. Now I work on my transitions and movement, trying to do two things at the same time. I put a lot of time into front sight acquisition, reaction time, and re-acquiring the front sight after a shot.

Have you won any state, regional, national or world championships?

I have been fortunate to win the Florida State Championship Senior Division for three of the last 4 years. The last being this year. I have attended this match for the last 5 years.

Tell us about your most memorable match:

My most memorable match was the last Florida State match, 2020. I have been shooting for approximately 6 years and only recently had my first clean match. My motto is if you are shooting clean you are not shooting fast enough. Anyway, at this match after 2 days of shooting and 9 clean stages I arrived at our stage 10. JP Law was shooting right before me. I remember our brief conversation at the loading table. I watched JP get ready for his run. I was thinking the better shooters are doing it 17 to 18 seconds, do I slow down and run a conservative 19 or 20 to keep the clean match or do I shoot like I have been for the whole match. I decided to run strong and hard, I believe I ran an 18.02 and clean. I just ran a clean match at a state championship with just about everything I had. I was like on cloud nine. I knew I had a good match but I did not know how good. That night at the banquet I got the State Championship buckle Senior Division and first overall in Senior as well. I also finished 6th overall for the match. I was on cloud nine.

What is your favorite aspect of CAS?

This has been said many times. It is the people. I have participated in several shooting venues and the people are nice as well. However in the CAS venue they are really nice. Your gun is broke, hold on someone will most likely have a spare part. You say to them let me pay you for it. They say just order me another one and give it to me when you get it. I was looking for a second old Ruger Revolver blue in .38. Big Country (from GA) said he knew a guy in Washington State that had one. I called him, gave him my info/ FFL and agreed on a price. A couple of days went by and the gun showed up at the FFL. I called him back right away because I knew the payment had not gotten to him yet. He said no worries. That is what I mean about the people. Everyone will help.

Is there a story behind your alias, and what is that story?

When I chose “Rooster Ray” I was kind of leaning for the law enforcement angle because of my background and of course the movie. With that being said let me digress. I was in the Air Force from 1973 to 1981. During that time I was given the tag of Rooster. I will not tell why I got that tag, that is another story for another time. Anyway I guess it was in my subconscious. Funny how that worked out.

Do you have a travel/shooting buddy? (you know that friend that makes this game what it is)

Arcadia Outlaw has become a good shooting partner. We have gone to several out of state matches and state matches together. I drive and play old country music, Dr. Hook and Frank Sinatra. That seems to put him to sleep. Every once in a while I will brake suddenly or make a little swerve just to see if he is wake. He also is a very good instructor giving advice to help me shoot more consistently.

Where is your favorite place to shoot? (range or match past or present)

I really do not have a favorite range to shoot at. My home range/club is the Roughshod Raiders that runs their matches out of Shoot GTR (Gainesville Target Range). With that being said I like to shoot at clubs from Valdosta, GA to Tavares, FL. Being located near Gainesville, FL we really only need to travel 100 miles and can shoot every Saturday and Sunday of the month. With that many clubs near by we get many different styles of matches.

Have you tried other categories? What categories have you shot and how did that go?

I have not tried any other categories. It is something I would like to do but I have not been able to take the leap. I have a lot of friends who shoot Duelist and Gunfighter. You know what they say about that.

What is your posse job of choice?

I really do not have a favorite job or position on the posse. I have been finding myself running the timer more lately but I will do what ever has to be done. I am there to have fun and enjoy the event. I want other posse members to do the same that way they will continue to shoot.

What is the time of your fastest clean stage?

My best clean stage time is 15 and change. It was a three position stage with the standard transitions, pistols, rifle, shotgun.

What was the best advice you got from a fellow shooter, and who was it?

I was shooting at the SC state match in Columbia. Christian Mortican said slow down a little bit, you will hit more targets. Santa Fe River Stan has told me the same thing. I am still trying to work on that but sometimes I just cannot help myself.

What advice can you give to some of the shooters reading this?

Come out and enjoy the game. You do not need to have the hot rod guns to play. If you want to become competitive find the best shooters at your club, ask questions, see how they run their guns and what equipment they use. They will be more than happy to help. It will same you a ton of money.

What keeps you playing this game?

For me it is the competition and the people. Four the last 6 years I have been shooting with a group of shooters called “The Cracker Crew”. They are well know at the national and state matches for their commitment to the game, their fairness, their attitude and cowboy commitment among other things. Many of the people I mentioned above are part of this crew among others I have not mentioned. At the recent Florida State match Mid-West Hail, Firewater Bandit, and myself were invited into the crew. It was an honor to be asked to join the “Cracker Crew” and continue their commitment and representation to the game.