Quick Draw Pistol

Quick Draw Pistol (Fast Draw) is a sanctioned sport shooting discipline where competitors draw single-action .45 Long Colt-caliber revolvers from western holsters + fire wax bullets (safe) at reactive targets — either balloons or steel plates — with timing measured electronically to 0.001-second precision. Governed globally by Cowboy Fast Draw Association (CFDA, founded 2003, headquartered Sparks NV, USA) with 5,000+ members. Traditional single-action revolvers (Colt Peacemaker + Ruger Vaquero replicas) modified to fire cool-load wax bullets or blank primers; balloons pop reactively at ~2 yards, steel plates react at ~4-6 yards. Format: head-to-head shootouts in round-robin brackets → single-elimination. Best-of-5 or best-of-7 shots per match. Fastest confirmed draw + hit under 0.208 seconds (from buzzer to target reactive). Competitors dress in traditional western attire (hat, vest, chaps, boots) as part of cultural authenticity. Divisions: Men, Ladies, Junior, Senior 50+/60+/70+/80+. Modern events are big-money circuits — CFDA World Championship (Fallon, NV) + Winter Range, End of Trail, Bordertown. Related to (but distinct from) SASS Cowboy Action Shooting (CAS) which uses live ammunition + longer courses.

Fastest draw + confirmed hit (0.001s precision).

Win condition · Head-to-head: first to set number of wins in match.

• Single-action revolver (.45 LC replica)

  Colt Peacemaker or Ruger Vaquero replicas; modified for wax bullets.

• Western holster + gun belt

  Traditional cowboy holster + tooled belt.

• Wax bullets + primers

  Cool-load wax bullets; safe for close-range balloon/plate targets.

• Electronic timing system + reactive targets

  0.001s precision timer; balloon pops or steel reactive.

• Traditional western attire

  Hat, vest, chaps, boots — mandatory for CFDA competition.

• Shootist (Fast Draw shooter)

  ×1

  Sole competitor.

• Timekeeper (electronic)

  ×1

  Electronic timing operator.

• Range Officer

  ×1

  Safety officer supervising each shooter.

CFDA-sanctioned officials panel.

• Chief Range Officer
• Timekeeper
• Range Safety Officer
• Head Judge

• CFDA World Championship

  annual · Fallon, Nevada, USA · since 2003

• Winter Range CFDA

  annual · Phoenix, Arizona, USA · since 2005

• 🇺🇸🇦USA
• 🇨🇦🇳CAN
• 🇦🇺🇸AUS

• Cowboy Fast Draw Association (CFDA)

  Founded 2003 · Sparks, Nevada, USA

• SASS (Single Action Shooting Society, related discipline)

  Founded 1987 · New Mexico, USA

• Wikipedia — Fast draw— Wikipedia
• CFDA official— Cowboy Fast Draw Association