For "Col. Cornelius Gilliam," successful shooting is all about practice and mental preparation.

The colonel, whose real name is David Morris, said he's gone over in his head repeatedly the steps of shooting and the target sequences of every stage so that by the time it's his turn to "sling lead," the motions are automatic.

"When I'm drawing the pistol I'm not thinking about drawing the pistol," said Morris, who uses cartridges loaded with old-fashioned black powder in his guns. "There's very specific sequences on every stage. You prep yourself before the stage. Hopefully you've practiced everything."

Morris, 38, of Medford, who has a day job as a chemical engineer, is among 58 members of the Table Rock Rangers, a cowboy action shooting club that meets twice a month for competition with historical firearms, complete with Old West clothing and names.

Club President Tom Trouskie, whose alias is Guano, said he's been involved in the sport for about 10 years.

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"It's probably as close as any of us can get to the Old West," he said.

It's ruined watching old western films for him, though, he said, because he notices now that movie cowboys often use firearms that weren't yet invented for the time period depicted. He said the 1990 film "Quigley Down Under," starring Tom Selleck, nailed it pretty well. In fact, he purchased his own Sharps .45-110 rifle similar to the one Quigley's character uses.

He said he's always liked guns and history but has never been into hunting.

"I enjoy looking at wildlife rather than destroying it," said Trouskie, donning a western leather duster he made and woolly chaps. "This gives me the outlet."

The cowboy action event includes a series of timed shoots or "stages." Each stage is set up so the steel targets must be shot at in a certain order, and with a certain kind of gun — revolver, rifle or shotgun. The guns are loaded, so for safety reasons there's no quick draw or twirling. First, second and third place winners receive a certificate, but that's not the motivation, he said.

"It's more bragging rights than anything," said Trouskie, 58, of Medford, who sells merchandise including antiques and firearms on the Internet. He also built a frontier town at the Jackson County Sports Park to help set the tone for the club's events.

For 72-year-old John Atchison of Sams Valley, whose alias is J.D. Walker, it's all about fun.

"This is a ball doing this," said Atchison. "I don't take it serious. Sometimes I win, sometimes I lose. The main focus is safety. The second is to have fun and enjoy."

The Table Rock Rangers meet and shoot on the first Sunday of each month and the second Saturday of each month starting at 9 a.m. at the sports park, on Corey Road in White City. Divisions for the shoot include elder statesmen, gunfighter, female, juvenile and frontiersman. The shoots are open to the public. The cost to shoot is $13 for non-members and $10 for members.

The club shoots under the rules of the Single Action Shooting Society, and members wear period clothing and adopt aliases appropriate to late 19th century characters. The Single Action Shooting Society is an international organization created to preserve and promote the sport of cowboy action shooting.

Single-action revolvers, pistol-caliber lever-action rifles and old-time shotguns typical of those used in the Old West, are required. For more information call 535-2827.

Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail mlanders@mailtribune.com.