ACWSA judges your expertise
with Civil War period weapons

How accurate are you with a Civil War firearm?

That’s something the American Civil War Shooting Association (ACWSA) can determine.

The Association, founded in 1999, is dedicated to preserving the history of the American Civil War through the sport of skirmishing. That’s the ACWSA’s name for competitive shooting.

Individuals join teams who represent specific Union and Confederate units, then compete in marksmanship competitions (skirmishes) while wearing replica uniforms.

The association was created out of teams located in Wisconsin and northern Illinois. The association doubled its membership in 2011 when several teams from Michigan joined.

The ACWSA is a nonprofit corporation formed under the laws of the State of Wisconsin and has 501(c)(3) status.

Skirmishes are competitions only using Civil War period weapons. It’s become a fast-paced hobby that’s fun and educational.

Skirmishers join together into teams representing specific regiments and wear replicas of the units’ uniforms while competing. Competitions are held for individuals and teams, using rifled muskets, smoothbore muskets, carbines, revolvers, breech-loading rifles and even mortars and cannons.  Team competitions use breakable or dropping targets and each event is timed. At the end of a team competition, all the event times are added together and the team with the least amount of elapsed time wins. Individual competitions use paper bulls-eye targets. At the end of competitions, awards are presented to the top individuals and teams in each category.

Marksmanship skirmishes are open to men and women. Ladies can dress in uniforms or wear feminine period attire. The ACWSA is open to younger folks as long as they have passed a hunter safety course.

A typical skirmish includes:

Individual Competition, using muskets, carbines and revolvers, shooting at paper bulls-eye targets at ranges from 25 to 100 yards.

Team Competition, using muskets, carbines, revolvers, mortars and cannons shooting breakable targets; teams are judged on speed and accuracy.

The objectives of the ACWSA are:

1. To promote and encourage safe sport shooting using original and authentic reproduction arms, equipment and clothing from the Civil War period.

2. To advance knowledge among ACWSA members, and the general public, of the Civil War, and, in particular, of the arms, ammunition and related equipment used during the war.

3. To conduct and regulate shooting competitions, called “skirmishes,” at which the use of Civil War arms (including shoulder arms, handguns, mortars and/or artillery) may be observed by the public.

4. To promote and encourage good fellowship and exchange of information among all persons interested in Civil War history, arms, equipment and clothing.

5. To recognize and commemorate courage and sacrifice of all kinds, on both sides, during the Civil War.