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Hello everyone, This certainly isn't a post I want(ed) to make, but, alas- here we are. The situation surrounding Matt Black's 2025 EOT Overall title being rescinded was never intended to be put on blast to a jury of SASS member opinions. We shall not engage in the debate on this topic being staged on Facebook, but will post the facts here, on SASS' own forum. It is truly disheartening that it has come to this. For the record, Matt called the office once after receiving the official notification letter. He did not want to be transferred to my voicemail. I was out of the office at a match in Southern Indiana through that weekend. When I returned to the office, Ruby told me he had called. I called him back and left a voicemail. At that point, a week had past since he'd received the notification and I'd had no further attempt to reach me/SASS regarding this. No email, no follow up phone call. I felt I had done my due diligence. Prior to sending out the notification, I spent weeks losing sleep over it. I hated to do it. I had my accounting team triple check that there was no payment made. I checked his Dads account in case it was posted there in error- no record of him having renewed his membership. As you will see in the official notification, this was a recurrence. It had happened once before and I called him and let him renew immediately and retain his title... A second occurrence forced my hand. With tens of thousands of memberships to manage, we simply cannot be held accountable if a member does not renew. We have a multi-step renewal notice and reminder process in place for everyone. This is what we know. - Matt's renewal notice was mailed to him in December. - In January, he registered for EOT (through EOT/AZTCRR - NOT SASS) and paid his registration fee. EOT Registration Admin sent in the list of shooters for membership verification in January. He was on the list. He passed this membership check because his membership was active at the time it was run through the flag system. - On February 1st, he received the email reminder to renew his membership. In the screenshots of his engagement detail, we know he opened that email reminding him to renew at 11:06AM on Feb. 1. (and opened again on May 5 after receiving the official letter) -His membership expired on February 9, 2025. - END of TRAIL was held Feb. 24 - March 2, 2025. - On March 19, he was sent another email - "Oops - you forgot to renew!". He opened that email on March 21 at 7:31pm. He still did not renew his membership. - Late April arrives. Ruby Ruthless is writing the article for The Cowboy Chronicle on END of TRAIL 2025. She pulls up his membership to get his SASS # for the article and discovers his membership is inactive. She brings it to my attention and we immediately begin digging to try and find the renewal- to no avail. - I spend weeks wrecking myself over what to do. I'd given him a pass on this once before already. I consulted my advisory board. I didn't want to do this, it was not a vendetta. This is not about "haters". And then I imagined how I could look any other SASS member in the eye and hang anything on the validity of "SASS rules" (I was recreating the RO Courses at the time) if I made exceptions to the most basic of rules for play- not once, but twice. The ultimate responsibility is with the shooter- like all rules. The answer seemed clear to me- I couldn't make exceptions, play favorites, or look the other way. I had to do the unimaginable thing. So, I composed the letter and sent it to him, certified mail. It was delivered on May 5. Since Matt's "defense" on Facebook, I've re-enlisted our accounting team to search the last 4 # of the CC he claims to have used. We have no record of any payment - in any form. His SASS membership remains inactive today, May 27, 2025. No one at SASS HQ has heard from Matt directly. I've included the letter sent to him (PDF attachment), have pasted its contents below, and have attached other documentation supporting my facts above. I sincerely hope that we can all move on from this together. I've posted this thread locked for comment, we don't need to debate this publicly. If Matt has proof he paid SASS for his membership (not his EOT entry), I will gladly eat that plate full of crow. He knows where to reach me. *Note: We have reconfigured our shooter list flagging system that checks membership status prior to a sanctioned match to ensure this never happens again. Misty MoonshineMattBlackNotification2025.pdf ------------------------------------------------------------------ May 2, 2025 Dylan Holsey aka Matt Black, SASS #54580 Dear Mr. Holsey, Re: 2025 END of TRAIL Overall World Championship Title It is with regret that we must formally address an important matter concerning your participation in the 2025 END of TRAIL - the World Championship of Cowboy Action Shooting. As you are aware, eligibility to compete in END of TRAIL-and to hold any title awarded therein-requires an active membership in the Single Action Shooting Society (SASS) at the time of the event. At the time of the 2025 END of TRAIL match, your membership was not active, rendering you ineligible to participate under SASS rules. Our records show that you received multiple communications regarding the status of your membership and the need to renew it prior to, and during the event. Despite these notifications, your membership remained lapsed at the time of the competition and continues to be inactive as of today. This is not the first time such a situation has occurred. As you may recall, during a previous incident in which your membership had also lapsed, SASS leadership extended you the courtesy of a post-event renewal and allowed you to retain your title-a discretionary exception made in good faith. Unfortunately, the recurrence of this issue leaves the organization no choice but to act in accordance with its rules and responsibilities. Therefore, effective immediately, the 2025 END of TRAIL Overall World Championship title is hereby rescinded. You were not qualified to compete, and as such, cannot be recognized as the champion of this year's event. We understand that this decision is disappointing, but SASS must uphold the integrity of its rules and the fairness of competition for all participants. We encourage you to renew your membership should you wish to continue participating in SASS-sanctioned events in the future. If you have any questions regarding this matter or wish to discuss further, please feel free to contact us directly. Sincerely, Misty D. Ebersole aka Misty Moonshine, SASS #83232 Chief Executive Officer

I know! How about we all go back to taking care of our own business and let SASS headquarters and the individual involved work it out.

Cowboy stage writing brevity came into widespread use about 10 - 15 years ago. It started out with, "Stop writing stories - no one cares and it takes too long." And while I think the loss of this part of the game has diminished the experience - perhaps there was some credence to the criticism. But then it became, we already have stage conventions; we don't need to direct the shooter to do (or not do) certain things - it's understood. And today we find ourselves taking shortcuts, using shorthand and terms, "At the ready", "In hand(s)" that have zero meaning to a new or casual shooter and are meaningless to anyone outside our game. Online electrons are free and ink is cheap. How about a return to simply telling the shooter what we want them to do? Communication is a two way process that requires not only a conveyance of information; but a corresponding understanding by the recipient. When terms are so ambiguous that a group of experienced shooters cannot agree on their meaning - nothing is gained in brevity and there is an extreme likelihood of inconsistent application posse to posse. Stage writers are not saving any time writing incomplete and unclear stages that must be then explained and walked thru. The average American reads about 200 words a minute. Adding 20 words to the stage description to ensure clarity and CONSISTENCY shooter to shooter and posse to posse only adds SIX seconds to the stage read through; but provides a much better experience to your shooters. Here's a simple one. What does this sentence mean? "Shooter starts with Rifle, at the ready" A. SASS Default? Because no explicit hand, body or posture instruction was provided? B. Hovering over rifle on table? Because it's understood, in the absence of instruction otherwise, that we are not touching gun or ammo? C. Rifle shouldered and aimed? Because if I'm "at the ready" - Shouldn't I be ready? Bonus follow up - if the line is "Shooter starts with pistols, at the ready" Is your above answer the same? We had THREE very experienced, knowledgeable, long term club officers and match directors discussing this very thing - and we did NOT all agree. So you have to wonder what the OTHER posse settled on. But if the stage writer had written out their specific desire for the starting position - added perhaps, 10, 20 words (3-6 seconds of reading) - no questions - no debate. It is time for the pendulum to swing back a little - use your words, fully communicate your intentions and let your shooters know your expectations. It will make for a better, more consistent and ultimately a more enjoyable match. And it might actually make your posses flow faster as there will be less time spent on what ifs and legal wrangling. And if we can avoid all the debate - we might even decide there's opportunity for a story from time to time.

A very good mate made me a custom holster, took out Wild Bunch yesterday (I think I was lucky that none of the young guns turned up for the match )

1) turn on TV 2) open a beer 3) find a western show 4) drink beer & watch 5) convince myself I'm faster now

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4582615/ https://www.instagram.com/reel/DK2A10cRTUP/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== One of the comments:

Leave the instructions alone. That DQ had nothing to do with the instructions.

Bogus Deal is a pard to ride the river with. I was in need of an item and offered to purchase one via a WTB post in the classifieds. He stepped up and offered to send one to me to use, FREE OF CHARGE! all I had to do was return when I was through with it. Like I told him, it's stuff like this that makes America great! If any you parts know him personally, give him a big pat on the back for me.

I think lines are part of the fun of the game and this is supposed to be fun. That being said, whatever the shooter does to indicate ready is fine with me. Whenever someone asks what the line is, I always respond, "Seamus is my hero". I've had quite a few say it.

The Magnificent 7 competition was concluded in Tennessee over the weekend. This is a competition that encompasses seven state matches in the Southeast region. You must shoot at least 3 matches. For the Young Gun category it was Jace the Ace taking home another first place buckle. Congratulations to my "not-so-little-anymore" friend! And special mention to Jace's Chief Logistics Officer, Right Again Dad, who placed 4th in the Wrangler category at the Tennessee State Match! Not easy trying to keep everything running smoothly for everyone else AND try to shoot a good match for yourself. WTG Dad!

Out of the clear blue sky I got an email from an LGS that the Henry .327/.32 Mag was available. I had not seen any for quite a while. We have all read the opinions on the wire of the Henry for SASS competition so I decided what the heck I will see if they are true. I had just completed a complete tune-up on a new Ruger Marlin so I could do a direct comparison. Not enough space here or probably enough interest for a full Chronicle article so here is a BRIEF summary. The overall fit and finish is very good. It functioned OK stock but like all new untuned guns was very stiff and clunky and something I would not shoot in competition. I noticed there were at least two big differences from the older Henry's to the current production models. The firing pin (the old was two piece, the new one piece) and the extractor. The Henry also has a firing pin block and a transfer bar. The Marlin does not. The new Henry looks like a miniature Marlin 336. The trigger pull was odd. It broke at six pounds but felt much heavier. It was like pulling against a solid wall. The trigger did not cleanly break. Just after a while of pulling the trigger the hammer would unexpectedly fall. The trigger felt dead. I have boxes of springs and parts so I replaced or removed the following parts. (These are not great photos. I did not set up any lights and just shot them freehand.) I took an old Uberti firing pin extension and turned it down to the OD of the firing pin. Bored a hole in it and then cut off and pressed a section on the back of the firing pin to convert it from transfer bar (which is now gone) to direct impact by the hammer. As noted the trigger felt odd. When you pull the trigger it is pressing up on the sear. However on the other side of the trigger there is a link that is pushing up on the transfer bar. This makes the opposite end of the transfer bar rocker push down on the sear spring so you are pushing and pulling at the same time. Finding a replacement for this spring was somewhat of a challenge since it is curved in its movement and fits tightly on a stud on the sear to keep it in place. After a bit of searching I finally hit the proper combination of spring tension and ID. This trigger mechanism is completely different than the Marlin. After looking at it I decided to make no changes that would keep me from reinstalling the original parts and returning the gun to stock. Videos of disasembly and reassembly of the receiver show a simple process of simply shoving the hammer screw through the receiver. I do not know if they have changed between the older and newer versions but it was a PITA trying to get that scew back in place. A regular screw has the thread diamenter the same as the shank diameter as shown on the screw on the right. The screw in the gun is a shoulder screw like the one on the left. That shoulder kept hanging up on the transfer bar rocker. It took me quite a while to figure out how to reach a probe up into the receiver to align the rocker. (You can't use a slave pin because of the step in the shoulder screw.) One other big difference between the Marlin and the Henry is the trigger guard and trigger placement. With the Marlin I have impaled or bitten my finger a few times. I have had no contact with the Henry trigger. Henry on the bottom. Also notice the new style extractor. The older Henry .327s had a completely different extractor. OK so how does it work? Quite frankly I am astonished. The trigger pull is now down to three pounds with a clean break. It levers smoothly and lightly. I have fired ten matches with it and it has not had a jam and can be run as fast as the Marlin. The only bobbles I have had have been a couple of ejected live rounds. Shooter error as the gun levers different from the 73s I am use to. I am switching over to .32s as I am having a harder time with gun weight. These steel Henry's seem to be in short supply as they dried up locally shortly after I bought this one. There are brass framed ones still listed at different distributors. BUT, the steel frame weights 6 3/4 pounds. The brass model weighs two pounds MORE so that one is not a consideration. I only want to carry one type of ammo so I use the same ammo in the pistol and this rifle. I will see how its long term durability is but right now I am very satisfied with the rifle after the tune-up. There are parts I removed that I would not remove on a hunting rifle and I made sure I did not make any changes that cannot be reversed and the original parts reinstalled. Can YOU do this? I don't know.

Well Jack Spade turned me on to a gunbroker auction for a “SASS” ready 1887 the other day. It said it was “two drop ready”. I was a little worried about who had done the work. After receiving it and doing a little inspection and some research, I think I’ll be ok!!! I guess even a blind hog finds an acorn every once in awhile!!

Monthly shoots don't have walk throughs. So whomever reads the stage instruction is, by default, the Posse Marshal and in the absence of clarity, "may" put their own interpretation or beliefs into play. While the same thing is occuring on Posse 2 and Posse 3 - creating the potential that three posses shot three completely different matches (ever notice that sometimes a given posse will just be faster on a given stage? Sometimes, that's differing posse shooting differing opportunities) And yeah, it can be said, "it's just a monthly. No big deal." But for some - monthlies are all they get to shoot; they deserve the best experience we can provide. This is why I don't write stages the night or even week before a match - I write them as far in advance as possible; so I can return to them with a critical eye (get my wife to read them, get my daughter to read them) and find my errors, issues or omissions before anyone else does. Make sure they are a complete, consistent and clear roadmap to the actions allowed or expected. And even at a large match WITH Posse Marshal walk throughs and the like - the stage booklet is being provided to ALL your shooters. They should be able to read, understand and PLAN for their stage without a page of clarification by the Posse Marshal. I, for one, take stage booklets and dissect every stage the night before a match - I look at the movements, staging options, firearm orders and round sequence. My pages are covered with various notes, arrows and ideas for attacking the stage - I absolutely detest arriving at the stage and finding out all I did is for naught because the stage writer didn't mean to allow this or didn't think that anyone would consider doing that. In all my years of being a Match Director - I provided the Posse Marshals the stages via email well in advance of the shoot for their exam and input; took their input into consideration to further clarify or modify - at the match, gathered them together in a shaded place and we sat at picnic tables sipping waters and did our final walk through sitting down. The stage diagram drawings actually matched how the steel was setup. The stages were written to convey complete information; not to save ink or words. It embarrassed me; if my stages were unclear, confusing or required my Marshals to clarify my intent to the shooters.

By the time I got my stuff together, Sportsmans Warehouse was out of stock. They had the 30" version, but I couldn't see cutting off the barrel and losing the perfectly good choke tubes. Didn't want to do online order and pay shipping and pay an FFL transfer fee, so I waited patiently. Then, the most unlikely store in my area, Modern Warriors, (which deals in high end AR's and 1911's and such) had one, and only one, in stock. I went there and found it was still in the box, they never put it on display. now it's mine.

Picked up this little beauty at my LGS

From FB When Ken Curtis joined *Gunsmoke* in 1964 as Festus Haggen, he stepped into the shoes of a beloved legacy. The show had already been on air for nearly a decade, and Curtis knew he had big boots to fill, replacing Dennis Weaver’s Chester. Rather than imitate what came before, Curtis chose to shape Festus as a wholly original character—gruff, funny, and wise in a dusty, no-frills way. That risk paid off. Audiences connected instantly with Festus’s charm, and he quickly became one of the most iconic sidekicks in television Western history. Curtis’s unique background as a singer with the Sons of the Pioneers helped shape Festus’s voice—both literal and figurative. He brought a lyrical rhythm to the role, often saying Festus was “a poet in overalls.” Off-camera, Curtis poured himself into every detail of the character: misshaping his hat, scuffing his boots, and even rolling in the dirt before filming to capture the look of someone truly weathered by the West. His commitment went far beyond costume—he lived Festus from the inside out. His friendships behind the scenes added depth to his performance. While his relationship with James Arness (Marshal Matt Dillon) was respectful but distant due to Arness’s reserved nature, Curtis formed a close bond with Milburn Stone, who played Doc Adams. Their chemistry translated seamlessly on screen and off. Curtis would later recall moments of sneaking away to local diners in costume with Stone—just two old friends in the garb of Dodge City legends, grabbing a bite of pie between takes. Perhaps most touching was how deeply Curtis understood Festus’s impact. After receiving a heartfelt letter from a fan battling depression, he realized his work went beyond entertainment. It was about connection, comfort, and presence. Over the course of more than 300 episodes, Festus became more than a character—he became a companion to millions. For Curtis, that was the greatest reward of all. **#KenCurtis #FestusHaggen #Gunsmoke #WesternTV #ClassicTelevision #BehindTheScenes #TVHistory #SonsOfThePioneers #JamesArness #DocAdams #MilburnStone #WesternLegends #IconicCharacters #VintageTV**

I ain't sayin' where, but....

My daddy was Neanderthal my momma was Cro-Magnon Each one thought the other made a fine companion They were both a different species Which I learned from observation Mom tended the ‘lectric fire And Pop brought home the bacon Mom taught dad just how to chill And how not to grunt and such Dad taught her to laugh and joke From both I learned so much The science guys say this all happened Several eons ago When interbreeding started Twixt the Nean tribe and Cro So my genes have both a bit of grunt And laughter has a lure As far as interbreeding goes I’m quite a fan for sure

With the diagnosis of Former President Joseph Biden with prostate cancer, it brings up a tendency by some doctors to say you don't need a PSA test if you are over a certain age. Their reasoning is that even if you are diagnosed with that or something similar beyond a certain age (80 is often quoted) you'll probably die of something else. Similarly, women are sometimes told not to bother with certain tests for the same nonsense! In fact, I know of both men and women who are diagnosed with ailments in their 80's, who were successfully treated, when their problem was caught early, and lived into their 90's or beyond! Pards, get your PSA annually, no matter what age you are! Ladies get your GYN tests annually, as well as mammograms! If your doctor demurse...FIND ANOTHER DOCTOR!

@Tennessee williams Any truth this is where you learned how?

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFqYQWyOG2d/?igsh=MThpbml5bHVvbHUxOA==

That's one heckuva catch!

I agree with Tombstone and Seamus! If I’m running the timer, some sort of verbal acknowledgement of ready is needed so that spotters are aware that the shooter is about to begin. Like my grandma used to tell me when I nodded or shook my head, “I can’t hear your head rattling, even if it IS full of rocks!” I LIKE a starting line or some semblance of one! I will be the first to say that I will sing ‘em, shout ‘em, miss quote ‘em, or substitute a line of my own, particularly if it’ll help to keep the atmosphere a little lighter!!

I know (present and past) Cowboy shooters who took the Evil Roy class and most of them never reached close to being a top shooter........ BECAUSE they never practiced the techniques that Evil Roy tried to convey to them. Sure, they remembered what he told them. They remembered watching him give demonstrations and some personal 'hands on training'. But without hours and hours of correct practice, they never achieved their goals. I do think it is wise to seek out and try to get some personal help from a top shooter(s). But in all that, there will be techniques that you can adapt to quickly and some you can't. Evil Roy is considered a very good shotgun shooter. His technique works for him..... but not for me. Deuce Stevens is a first rate shotgun shooter and his 'over the top' works for him..... but not for me. Sante Fe River Stan is a first rate shotgun shooter and his '3 in one hand & 1 in the other' works for him..... but not for me. And MY technique works well for me but not for many others. Don't be discouraged during your learning and practice sessions. New skills take time and effort. For some.....more effort is required than for others. Especially for us older folks. Most clubs have some good, seasoned shooters that can help critique your style, shooting techniques, and equipment. As mentioned above, film yeowndangself and you will probably learn a lot. Best regards.....and good luck. ..........Widder

My wife is out of state visiting a friend. Saturday all by my lonesome with only the dogs staring at me. So I dug around in the supply closet to see what I have and found the makings for various reloads, all non cas. So, I jumped in. Managed to get 270 rounds of 38 special. 50 rounds of serious 44mag (265gr jacketed soft point) and 242 rounds of “fun” 44mag (240gr mostly plated berrys bullets but also the left overs from a few other boxes of cast bullets). Not bad for an afternoons work (no progressive presses for these calibers, this was all done “old school”). That is a whole lot of free ammo, this was all built from various dribs and drabs I bought so long ago I had forgot about them. I also found 800 or 900 bullets for 45LC I had forgot I had too. Will need to get some brass clean for those too. I really need to dig around in that closet more often.

Across the country this morning people turned out to place flags on Veteran's graves in preparation for Memorial Day. Fresno County’s Veterans Liberty Cemetery was established in 1896, and contains the remains of veterans from as early as the Civil War through more “modern” conflicts. It reached capacity in the early nineties, then was largely forgotten and became quite shabby. A few years ago a local group - "Heritage Fresno" - undertook a serious clean-up project, and made arrangements with the County for ongoing upkeep. This morning, I joined them and a bunch of local high school JROTC cadets to attack weeds and plant small flags. As these are only Veteran's and a few spouses, every one of the over three thousand grave got a flag - God bless 'em all!

I already had the usual skills, like basic gun handling, firearms safety, and I have been reloading my own ammo and casting my own bullets for years. I am practicing the transitions, how to pick up the guns off the tables, how to fast reload the shotgun, the things a shooter needs to know and practice to get anywhere, (many of which I am still somewhat ignorant, but learning), right? So, what was the one skill that caught me off guard? Ironing. Who knew Scully Range Wear and Frontier Classics didn't come in permanent press? The art form of ironing quietly disappeared in the 70s and 80s, "flattened" by permanent press and the horror known as polyester. Who has an iron or ironing board? All of you over 60, put your hands down. Yeah, you too. So, I found a tabletop ironing board, found a handheld steam iron that can do collar press too, and set to learning. What have I learned? I can now make a wrinkled shirt look like it was pounded flat between two flat rocks! OK, maybe a little better than that, but I at least want to be presentable! About 3/4 of you are looking at each other and wondering if I am mad as a hatter, worrying about ironing in a gun sport! Well, dagnabbit, doncha wanna look halfway decent? 🤠

Welcome to Cowboy Action where the men discuss period clothing and the Ladies discuss firearms. 😉

Good Morning: I just called Skinner Sights. They have indeed taken over Belt Mountain, and are just getting started making them. They are starting with the simpler pins first, and have just sent off their first batch of heat treated pins for final finishing. I was assured that ROA pins are on the list of future products, but they have not gotten to them yet. Stay tuned! Skinner Sights -- 406-745-4570 --Dawg

I have been fortunate to shoot with clubs that still like to have a little story to start / up the stage. I like it! Maybe I’m different than the average cowboy, but I come out “for the day”, not just for a couple of hours of rushing through the shooting. Maybe I’m just lucky……. Sam Sackett

.... for reGrettable Thugbutts Mediterranian yacht cruise and flight home ? I always thought that mandatory female uniform for yauchting in the Mediterranian was a small flimsy bikini; ...... ........ having seen pictures of her, I'm glad it's not .......

In my honest opinion SASS needs to advance with the times regarding RO training. I've been shooting CAS for 15 years now. In my neck of the woods RO courses are rarely offered, and when they are it's generally a 2 hour or more drive each way to attend. SASS needs to develop an online training module for RO1 & RO2 courses. Many other organizations have their training set up online these days, and I have taken many of them. You watch the module, take a quiz at the end, and if you meet the minimum score you pass and can print your certificate. SASS then has a record of you taking it. If SASS wants to get more people, and the younger generation, RO certified then I think they need this type of training set up. Just my opinion...

Well here it is in its new temporary home in Sedona. On June 9th the movers will take the top off and get it packed for its journey to Branson, Missouri. I filled the knots with deep pour epoxy and to keep it from leaking out the knotholes on the bottom I routed out pockets and glued in inlays. I inserted threaded inserts in the back of the top and also used 26 Z clips to hold the top on and allow for seasonal wood movement. I rubbed in 11 coats or polyurethane on the top and did a final polish with paraffin oil and pumice stone.