A Glossary of Sweeps
by Frank Mad Dog Döge

For consistency, targets will be numbered from left to right. Multiple shots on a single target will be indicated by repeating that target’s number. Items in Bold Text have separate entries.
Common Terms
Single Tap: One single shot at designated target.
Double Tap: Two consecutive shots at designated target.
Triple Tap: Three consecutive shots at designated target.

Sweeps:               A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z
Abilene Sweep ( Progressive Nevada Sweep):
Named after Abilene (SASS#27489, TX), who posted it on the SASS Wire. Nine shots on five targets,
1-2-2-3-3-3-2-2-1.

Arizona Sweep (Progressive Sweep, Montana Sweep or Lawrence Welk Sweep) :
From Old Scout (SASS# 323, CA). „Progressively place one more round on each target.“ Ten shots on four plates, in the following order:
1-2-2- 3-3-3-4-4-4-4.

Arkansas Shuffle:
Attributed to West Creek Willie (SASS#33394, IL). Five shots on three targets, engaged as 1-1-2-3-3. Compare to the Idaho Shuffle.

Bad Jack Abernathy Sweep:
Described on the SASS Wire by A. D. Texaz (SASS#16339, TX). Nine shots on four targets, 1-1-4-2-2-4-3-3-4.

Badger Sweep:
Attributed to Badger, SASS#3361. Old Scout (SASS# 323, CA) describes it as „Successive sweeps, firing one less shot on each sweep.“ Ten shots on four targets, 1-2-3-4-1-2-3-1-2-1. Also called a Solitaire Sweep.

Brat Sweep:
Five shots on three targets: 1-3-2-3-1 or 3-1-2-1-3.

Boss Hayes Sweep (or Poverty Sweep) :
Ten shots on four targets: 1-2-3-4-2-3-4-3-4-4.

Cactus Buck Sweep:
Submitted to the SASS Wire by A. D. Texaz (SASS#16339, TX). Ten shots on four targets. 1-1-1-2-2-3-3-4-4-4. Same as the Palindrome Sweep.

Cajon Sweep:
From Old Scout (SASS# 323, CA). Five consecutive shots on a single target, 1-1-1-1-1. Cowboy action shooters in general have a lot of fun with this one, and it is humorously known by a variety of names in various parts of the country.

California Sweep:
From Old Scout (SASS# 323, CA). „Every other shot must be on the first target.“ His example suggested eight shots on five targets, 1-2-1-3-1-4- 1-5. See also Hermit Joe Sweep.

Camden Sweep:
Five shots on three targets: 3-2-1-2-3.
Seven shots on four targets: 4-3-2-1-2-3-4.
Nine shots on five targets: 5-4-3-2-1-2-3-4-5.
Same as Nevada Sweep except the action is shot from right-to-left-to-right.

Chimney Sweep:
From Piney Woods (SASS#29887, NH), who said, „Stack three targets one above the other (numbered 1-2-3 from top to bottom for ease of description) and shoot them 1-2-3-2-1-2-3-2-1… that’s right, up and down, up and down.“ Think of a Continuous Nevada Sweep with a vertical orientation. Continuous Nevada Sweep: Generally ten shots on four targets, 1-2-3-4-3-2-1-2- 3-4. Same as the Idaho Sweep and the Zig-Zag.

Delta Glen Sweep:
Authored by Delta Glen (SASS#39197, FL). Ten shots on three targets, 1-2-2-3-2-2-1-2-2-3, or 3-2-2-1-2-2-3-2-2-1. Similar to the Continuous Nevada Sweep, except you double-tap the center target on every pass.

Desperado Sweep:
Ten shots on five targets: 1-2-2-3-3-3-3-4-4-5.

Double B Sweep:
Ten shots on five targets: 1-2-3-2-1-5-4-3-4-5.
Ten shots on six targets: 1-2-3-2-1-6-5-4-5-6.
Think of it as a Nevada on the left and a Camden on the right. Good for rifle or two revolvers.

Double Tap Sweep:
As described by Hellgate (SASS#3302, OR) on the SASS Wire, „Sweep the targets but each is double tapped before going to the next target.“ For example, ten shots on five targets, 1-1-2-2-3-3-4-4-5-5.

Hermit Joe Sweep:
From Piney Woods (SASS#29887, NH), who said it was „… named after its creator.“ In his words, „Take six rifle targets and shoot them 1-2-1- 3-1-4-1-5-1-6 and you’ve done it.“ Compare to the California Sweep.

Hooten Sweep:
Cherokee Big Dog (SASS#17531, KY) said, „The Hooten Sweep ain’t a sweep a’tall. Set the number of targets equal to the number of shots and tell ‚em to engage ‚em once each, but don’t sweep ‚em.“ As an example, Cherokee Big Dog suggested a sequence of 1-2-3-5-4, indicating there are „dozens of other variations“ but the critical element is that the shooter „breaks up the ascending or descending sweep.“

Hoptoad Shuffle:
Brought to our attention by Jim Bowdrie (SASS#55924, IL). Five shots on three targets, 2-1-2-3-2 or 2-3-2-1-2. The odd numbered shots are all on the center target. Same as the Inside-Outside.

Idaho Sweep (Continuous Nevada Sweep, or Zig-Zag) :
Ten shots on four targets: 1-2-3-4-3-2-1-2-3-4.

Indiana Sweep:
Five shots on three targets, 2-2-1-2-3 or 2-2-3-2-1. Doc Molar (SASS#18470, IN) came up with this one, and said, „3 targets, you start by double tapping the center target and then sweep across all three targets from either direction, for 5 [rounds].“ He added that if you are „…doing this as a rifle sequence you just do it twice.“

Inside-Outside:
This name was provided by Ranger Buffa Lowe (SASS#39172, BC, Canada). Five shots on three targets: 2-1-2-3-2.

Jackrabbit Sweep:
Five shots on five targets: 1-3-5-4-2.
Seven shots on seven targets: 1-3-5-7-6-4-2.
Nine shots on nine targets: 1-3-5-7-9-8-6-4-2.
Shoot odd-numbered targets from left to right, then even numbered targets from right to left.

John Wayne Sweep:
From Fillmore Coffins (SASS#7884, CA), who submitted this on the SASS Wire. He described it as „Simple. Three targets, 10 rounds. The order is: 1, 2, 3, 3, 2, 1, 1, 2, 3, 3.“

Kansas City Sweep:
The source for this one was Grizzly Skinner (SASS#23242, RI). Essentially a Nevada Sweep done with double taps. Ten shots on three targets, 1-1-2-2-3-3-2-2-1-1

Lawrence Welk Sweep:
As suggested by Prof. Fuller Bullspit (SASS#57421, CA) and Ivory Jack McCloud (SASS#8534, CA). Requires ten shots on four targets, 1- 2-2-3-3-3-4-4-4-4. Same as the Arizona Sweep, or Progressive Sweep.

Lousiana Swing:
From the SASS Wire, submitted by Possum Skinner (SASS#60697, LA). Five targets are arranged in a „V“ shape with the apex of the „V“ (target #3) nearest the shooter, and the arms of the „V“ extending back and out to the left and right. Six shots on five plates, 3-4-5-3-2-1.

Missouri Sweep:
From Shoshone Slim (SASS# 31347, MO), who described it as „… all shots into one target.“ This appears to mean all shots for the entire stage, same as for the Amigo’s Sweep and the Texas Sweep.

Missouri Hillbilly Sweep:
Posted by Missouri Marshal (SASS#50682, VA). Ten shots on four targets, 1-1-2-3-4-4-3-2-1-1. Think of this as a Nevada Sweep, but with double taps on the end targets.

Mustang Sweep:
Ten shots on five targets: 1-1-1-2-1-3-1-4-1-5.
(Good sweep for Gunfighters, L-R-L-R-L-R-L-R-L-R.)

Nevada Sweep:
Originated by Beans (SASS#316, NV), and sometimes described as „the most common of cowboy sweeps.“ In a post on the SASS Wire, Beans said, „… it is always meant to be shot left to right unless the stage directions state [otherwise].“ The Nevada Sweep always requires an odd number of rounds, and involves sweeping from one end of the row of targets to the other and back without double-tapping. Five shots on three targets, 1-2-3-2-1. Seven shots on four targets, 1-2-3-4-3-2-1. Nine shots on five targets, 1-2-3-4-5-4-3-2-1.

Oklahoma Sweep:
Submitted by McCandless (SASS#25723). In a post on the SASS Wire, he said „… an Oklahoma Sweep was simply shooting four targets with eight rounds, sweep from the left (1-2-3-4) then return sweep from the right (4-3-2-1) double tapping the fourth target.“

Oregon Sweep:
From Wire Paladin (SASS#5954, OR). Nine rifle rounds on five targets, 1-1-1-2-3-4-5-5-5.

Ozark Sweep:
From Red River Ralph (SASS#49760, AR). Ten shots on five targets, first 1-5-2-4-3. (Outside in)

Palindrome Sweep:
Submitted by Palindrome (SASS#54445, WA), who credited the Black River Regulators for this sweep. Ten shots on four targets, 1-1-1-2-2-3- 3-4-4-4. Palindrome said, „Triple tap the first, double tap the second and third, triple tap the fourth. However, a palindrome is defined as „…a word or sentence which reads the same backward as it does forward“ (The Winston Dictionary, 1943), and a number of sweeps fit this description. Deadly Sharpshooter (SASS#35828, FL) wrote an entire stage comprised of „Palindrome Sweeps,“ which could be shot from either direction.

Progressive Nevada Sweep:
This interesting sweep was submitted to the SASS Wire by Abilene (SASS#27489, TX), who described a sequence of 1-2-2-3-3-3-2-2-1, but just called it „progressive from left.“ We took the liberty of calling it the „Progressive Nevada Sweep“ because it combines the increasing multiple taps of the Progressive Sweep with direction reversal as in the Nevada Sweep. However, the Abilene Sweep might be a better choice, in recognition of the individual who suggested it.

Progressive Sweep:
As suggested by Cliffhanger (SASS#3720, CA) and Grampaw Willie (SASS#26996, MI). Ten shots on four targets, 1-2-2-3-3-3-4-4-4- 4.

Rainbow Loop:
From Old Scout (SASS# 323, CA). Hard to describe without a picture, but this involves three targets arranged in a triangle. The point of the triangle is nearest the shooter (target #1), with the other two targets farther back and to the left (#2) and right (#3). Engage the front target first, then the left rear, then the right rear, then the front. Keep going around in this fashion for the specified number of rounds, ending up where you started. For example, seven rounds on three targets, 1-2-3-1-2-3-1.

Ruskin Sweep:
Nine shots on three targets: 1-2-3-3-2-1-1-2-3.
Sassie Sue Sweep: Submitted by Grampaw Willie (SASS#26996, MI), who described it as five shots on three targets, „middle, left, middle, right, middle,“ or 2-1-2-3-2.

Strider Sweep:
Ten shots on five targets: 3-2-1-2-3-3-4-5-4-3.
Think of it as a Camden on the left and a Nevada on the right, both beginning on the middle target. Works well for rifle or two revolvers. Watch out for that double tap on the center target!

Texas Sweep:
Submitted by Gold Canyon Kid (SASS#43974, AZ). He described it as „… all shots from every gun into one Texas size target.“

32/32 Sweep:
This name was suggested by Grampaw Willie (SASS#26996, MI), who attributed the sweep to Sassie Sue (SASS#15005, IN). Ten shots on four targets, 1-1-1-2-2-3-3-3-4-4. (triple, dbl, triple, dbl )

Triple Tap:
Three consecutive shots on one target.

Wyoming Sweep:
Brought to our attention by Piney Woods (SASS#29887, NH). His example used ten rounds on five targets, 1-2-3-4-5-5-4-3-2-1. Essentially the same as the Oklahoma Sweep. See also Pendulum Sweep.

Have fun and take you’re time!
Best regards, howdy

Frank Döge

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