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Alas, I "know a thing or two because I've seen a thing or two," may apply, and not in a positive way like the Farmer's commercials imply. I've been subjected to EXTREME negativity for calling things according to the SHB that were let slide at monthly matches. My theory on rules is as follows. "Don't blame me for trying to see that the rules of the game are followed, as there is no honor in doing well when you did not follow the rules."

Well my two are going to start competing full time next year. Which is great. Then a friend from high school who isnt a shooter asked if I could help her kids too as their father has no interest. Not a problem. Happy to help. So fair warning, if you see me running around like a chicken with its head chopped off next year its because there will be 6 new sass shooters under 14 somewhere close by. Oh and my wife has decided to shoot gf now and wants help with that.... There will be no rest for me next year I'm thinking.

Absolutely. I always wanted 100% clean. But strived for 25-30% clean. In my opinion; clean shooters are not only indicative of big close target placements - but well written stages with reasonable activities and clear instructions. I cannot control a shooters trigger discipline or their eyesight or their concentration level... But I can ensure that everything I do as a match director is designed to facilitate that shooter being allowed to perform to the best of their ability. Match Directors that are... Adversarial to the shooter. Hoping to see the shooter fail or crash. Not 100% committed to the shooters success. Those match directors, in my opinion; have no business being a match director.

I guess I misinterpreted what "BBQ gun" meant in the opening question.

It isn't all bad (excluding the elected officials, illegals, and homeless) IMO. I love where we live. The scenery and people are wonderful. We are not in a liberal county. It saddens me that most of the comments here on the Wire and FB are derogatory. Please do not tell us how bad things are here without offering some constructive criticism. We know it is bad here for many reasons. Please consider those of us who are still here as people fighting the GOOD fight or unable to leave. Please stop rubbing salt in our wounds

Here is a positive post...

Some of my favorite feuds and WTC topics: Feuds: 1 Widder vs Red Knee 2 Phantom vs everybody 3 Everybody vs Dusty Devil Dale What's your favorite

Life and business are full of mistakes. My bad, your bad, both bad, and sometimes It just happens. When it does, you step back, evaluate, apologize, and look for resolution. There is no need to lock posts or delete posts explaining events. Yes, remove demeaning or derogatory individual posts. I know SASS has control of the site but in the end their actions should reflect the Cowboy way. There are other cowboy games but this is the one we chose to support. Not just with our money but literally with our blood, sweat, and sometimes tears. I have made new and lasting friends that are like family and want to make many more. Please SASS, Cowboy up and don't play Big Brother with us. Ringer 48552 Life On my way home from CaC

Not The Doctor. My surgeon. Final follow up after the surgery last month. Healing is going great. He gave me the okay to resume full activity. So I’m sipping some George Dickel 12 and watching the ball game. I’m pretty sure that’s what he meant.

I went through this once and came back. The competition part is fun, but not important. What's important are the relationships and friendships made.

At the banquet at the Southeastern Regional last night, we had a special toast to kick it all off. Some of our good friends were off traveling West and asked that I post it here. I assume that most of y’all are probably like me and have had plenty of folks ask you about Cowboy Action Shooting. Usually, at some point in the conversation, we end up talking about the differences between our regular, monthly matches and bigger, annual matches. To me, annual matches are a lot like family reunions where you see folks you might only see once or twice a year. From my home not too far from here, I can go to the Georgia State shoot and see friends from the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. I can go to the Tennessee State shoot and see friends from Kentucky, Georgia, and Indiana. I can go to the Mississippi State shoot and see friends from Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Texas. I can travel to the Illinois state shoot in Sparta and see friends from Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, and Kentucky. First, I would like to personally thank you all for traveling to my home and being a part of my family. I sincerely hope that you have enjoyed yourself over these past several days and hope that you have met at least one new person and met with members of your cowboy family you may not have seen in a while. Sadly, there is a member of my family that is not here tonight that I desperately wish could be. Many years ago, when I was just starting out in this game, I traveled to Georgia for my first ‘big match,’ Round up at River Bend, at the time the Georgia State Championship. There, I met a character larger than life, with a smile as big as his heart. He never met a stranger. When you met him for the first time, he made you feel that you knew each other your entire life. Folks who know me by my alias, call me Branchwater Jack. Folks who shoot with me regularly shorten it to Branchwater. But this cowboy, in his drawn out, distinctly southern accent just called me Jack. By his example, he taught me how to be a fierce competitor, humble in times of victory, congratulatory to others, and classy in defeat. He taught me things about putting on this match for y’all, the shooters, that I hope that I got right. He influenced me to keep shooting black powder and convinced me that I needed to shoot it gunfighter, even before Frontier Cartridge Gunfighter was a category. When his health began to fail him, he never lost that attitude. His performance began to suffer as his health did, but his competitiveness, his love for the game, and his love for his cowboy family never waned. He kept encouraging me, constantly telling me that his health was going to improve and that he was going to come back better than ever and put a whoopin’ on me, so I better keep practicing. For those of you who also knew Judge'm All Duncan @Judge'm All Duncan, SASS#67320, you know that his passing left a big hole in a lot of our hearts. I know of other folks, too many to mention them all, that, if I were to bet, I am sure that I can safely say that we have all lost a member of our cowboy family this past year. So, tonight, I ask that you join me and raise a glass. For our Cowboy family that we have known since we first started playing the game For those cowboys and cowgirls that we just met, but will now, forever be a part of our family For those cowboys and cowgirls that we have lost For those cowboys and cowgirls that have yet to meet as they join us in playing the game For your health, safety, and the hope to see you all back here next year. Salute.

Being outside shooting a match ... And being away from the phoney world of Social Media.

I tend to not post my bad news and complaints here, but I've had my share this summer. But I finally have some good news. I've been back into Kenpo for some time now, and I have been sparring successfully at with other black belts and a very accomplished 3rd Degree Brown Belt (As in has one grand championship at a well respected, well attended tournament, beating out noted black belts). I've demonstrated my ability to perform the necessary kicks, punches, blocks, checks and parries. I've written a thesis. Today I performed two empty hand katas and two weapon katas (Spear and sword). I demonstrated a kata I had created myself, then demonstrated the techniques within the kata, before performing it again. The net result: Shodan, or First Degree Black Belt.

Well for one thing, the servers, technicians and software that keeps the SASS Wire running. For another, the staff that handles all the day to day operations, keeps track of all the alias' so that there's no duplication, who get those SASS badges and Regulator badges made. The staff that publishes the many Handbooks, SHB, RO courses, WB HB, WB RO courses, Cowboy Clays, multiple translations, that the ROC works so diligently on throughout the year. The ones who represent SASS at many gun shows and gatherings across the country, the same ladies that haul steel so folks can shoot EoT. The staff that makes the Chronicle that everybody can see... it doesn't layout and publish itself. The staff that battles local politicians and disgruntled neighbors that want to close down Founders Ranch. The ones who work tirelessly behind the scenes keeping an organization going, without much thanks from it's members...

4 time Overall World Champion Matt Black smooth as glass.

One is enough IF the TO agrees. Three is not enough IF the TO doesn't agree.

Not without asking first and that applies to anywhere on the range not just the loading table.

I'm going to toss out an anecdote to support the recent exchange between Long Hunter and Creeker (both of whom I agree with). A bit over a year ago I took my son to an annual match for one of the local clubs. After he shot the last stage, he saw the MD starting to pack up while the other posse's were finishing up. He asked if he could go help, of course I said yes. Later they were finishing up during awards. When my son's name was called for his award, he didn't notice as he was putting away a heavy shotgun target. Everyone turned to look for/at him. When my son found out he won an award, he put the target away and hurried up to collect it. When we were on the way home, I asked him what the most important thing was. Of course, he said "winning my category". I responded with "will anyone remember that in 2 weeks?" He got quiet and said no. I asked him what they will remember. He said "that I was helping to pack up during awards." That was an important lesson.

I don't care which. Just STICK TO ONE!! https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/did-you-know/how-many-states-may-stay-on-daylight-saving-time-for-good/ar-AAHy6F3?li=BBnb7Kz

Battle Born Rangers in Reno Nevada does not completely follow the "normal" SASS shooting guidelines. We like to mix things up! We have Josey Wales shoots, underwear shoots, our annual match has a Tom Horn category that has big bore rifles for 12 stages. But this last weekend we did something I don't think has ever been done. Sling Shot forgiveness or bonus. After the last shot is fired the shooter, off the clock, can use a sling shot on any target to forgive misses, or if clean 1 shot at any target for a 5 second bonus, or two shots from the sling shot to forgive misses and get a bonus. Added some fun, its a monthly and no one refused to try it. We also had 2 stages with 4 shots from a belly gun at the beginning of the stage. Why be normal? Ike

MY NEW RIG!!! Built to my specs and it came out exactly as I envisioned!!! I'm a happy cowboy!!! D.a.d leather did the work.

Hit sixty-eight yesterday. Had my annual physical ~ all the numbers are between the goal posts. Looks like I'll be around a while. Best part, though, was gifts from the Kid - a darned good cee-gar, and he found and renovated a "new" ancient post vise for me! Been Jonesin' for one for years!! At 35 lbs, it's sorta petite, but just fine for the hobby 'smithing I do. Date stamped 1900 ~ only 119 years old, and prolly has more life left in it than I do!

Grammar Lesson: Is it "complete," "finished" or "Completely Finished” No English dictionary has been able to adequately explain the difference between these two words -"Complete" and "Finished. In a recent linguistic competition held in London and attended by, supposedly, the best in the world, one man was the clear winner with a standing ovation which lasted over 5 minutes. The final question was: “How do you explain the difference between COMPLETE and FINISHED in a way that is easy to understand? Here is his astute answer: "When you marry the right woman, you are COMPLETE. When you marry the wrong woman, you are FINISHED. And, when the right one catches you with the wrong one, you are COMPLETELY FINISHED!" He won a trip around the world and a case of 25-year old Scotch!

Or how about

Friday, 6/14 update: I saw Noz in the hospital today. He has improved. He is conscious and carrying on a conversation easily. It was a nasty bump. He asked me to thank everyone for their prayers and concerns.

We enjoy our freedoms because of fine folks like you. Thank You! --Dakota Skipper and the Dawg

Nice

I just found/bought 2 original model stainless consc serial # Ruger 4 3/4" vaqueros. But-----they are 32/20's with extra 32 H&R mags. Ruger only made 230 some of 'em with that barrel length and I now have 2 of 'em! Can't post a photo for awhile 'cause we've got a BS law in Wa state, says I've gotta wait for the local law to do the NIC check, when they get around to it. Keep going to them gunshows, never know what you might find!

A bit soon to consult a lawyer...

My first thought when I saw the title of this thread was "OmiGawd! A Ball! With a punch bowl and dancing??"

I wonder if Mrs. Lose would mind me fooling around with a non binary since they aren’t really female in their own minds? I know the answer to that one.

I was grumpily walking on the treadmill this afternoon and noticed that the walking belt was slightly off center. So I got out the manual and looked up how to correct it. Pretty simple. Start it up let it run at 1-1.5 mph and turn the left adjusting screw until the belt moves back to center. Got ‘r done. Then I noticed from the digital info panel that I had burnt several calories while on the floor adjusting the belt! It counts your calories whether you’re on it or not! My pulse was really low too according to the screen. This changes everything. Turn on the treadmill, sit down in a chair and watch those calories burn away. Win win exercise program the way I see it. Time for some pizza.

My gold Life badge after 20 years was no longer gold so I called SASS to order a replacement and they told me they have a life time warranty to contact Smith&Warren so I did, they asked for pics and I sent the pics after two hours they sent me a return authorization to refinish it . That's great service! Von Dutch

Watching the Weather Channel and one of their reporters is on Tybee Island, GA. People in the background are boarding up. She says, “I talked to a local businessman and asked if he’d like to say a few words on camera and he told me no and that he was really stressed out with the storm approaching and so on. But I told him it would only take a few seconds and eventually he agreed to to talk” Having had numerous contacts with reporters, both broadcast and print, over the years I can tell you that’s how they operate. She badgered the poor fella until he agreed to talk. Mostly so she’d go away. These people are trained in how to squeeze a statement from you. If you are ever put in that situation just ignore them. They specially like stressful or tragic situations because they know you will be vulnerable. They may seem sympathetic and will tell you how important it is for people to hear your story. Don’t believe them! They’re just trying to make a story and put their spin on it, and climb the corporate “news entertainment” ladder. Over a 30 Year career in law enforcement, I can count the reporters I dealt with who I considered fair, impartial and ethical on the fingers of one hand. About like politicians. I only wish I had been interviewed live on the air on my last day of work. I woulda gone out with a bang. Non weather related rant mode off.

***Edited to add: I do not want to hijack this thread for this topic- lots of great info here on EOT and WR!! (BTW- I vote for both equally!) I am happy to respond and discuss items like this directly, or in a separate thread. However- I did feel like a response here was appropriate. - Misty Palo Verde, Your post makes me realize that I need to issue an updated member report to all SASS members regarding the business structure and operations information... and our vision for the future and longevity of SASS. Yes, SASS (me, actually) did announce several years ago that the goal was to transition into a non-profit organization. That goal has yet to be reached. 30+ years of business structure has to be carefully unwoven before we can truly consider that as an option. Not only do I contend, but I guarantee you that not a single dime of EOT (Museum) funds are co-mingled with SASS funds/accounting. END of TRAIL is run through a separate company- the SASS Western Heritage Museum. SASS does do one thing- we donate all SASS employee labor costs to the event by not charging out out employee labor- only contract labor is paid directly out of the Museum/EOT. I am in the process of building an EOT SASS Member report for distribution that will outline the attendance information, the survey results, our action plan, and the financial picture. I think SASS members will be pleased to see such transparency. Stay tuned. No apology needed. I realize that for some, trust is a difficult thing to gain. I have been with SASS since 2009. (February 2019 was my 10 year SASS-anniversary!!) I cannot speak to anything stated in an article from 12 years ago. I can only speak to what I do know- and I absolutely know, without a doubt, that in all of my tenure here, not a single penny has ever been "skimmed" from the Scholarship fund for any reason. Quite the contrary actually- SASS covers all the administrative, banking, registrations, maintenance, etc. fees for the SASS Scholarship Foundation so that every penny donated goes to the kids. Proudly. Erasers aren't needed, but what is needed is a little distance and perspective. Trust me, I get it- I've spent the last 10 years rebuilding a lot of bridges. Lets start focusing on some of the good, the accomplishments, the changes, the evolution. It simply isn't right to crucify current staff/management for something that was the work of predecessors. It is the past and I (we) cant change it... but we certainly can learn from it! I have always been open and honest with my fellow SASS members. I say, lets build a "new" history of SASS- through open communication and transparency. Together. Respectfully, Misty

Habersham had surgery Friday to remove a tumor from his neck. We caught it early and it was just a small lump that only required seven stitches to close up the incision. He loves everyone at the Vet's office, and was so exubriant to be seeing his friends again that he was leaping up and kissing everyone. At one point he spun towards me and raked my face with his toenails (must trim them). I am going to blame the scars on Jeanie, but doubt that I will be believed. Dog of Steel that he is, he has shown no signs of discomfort and has not tried to scratch the incision. We hope to get them removed next Friday. Meanwhile, we await the lab report on the material removed. Habersham, who firmly believes that he is a person and is in charge of the household, is patiently awaiting the opening of hunting season. Those scented dummies are not the same as real birds.

Well said Creeker. There's not a thing you said I would disagree with. We all have our preferences but we're all individuals and there's nothing wrong with that. It would be a boring world if everyone agreed on everything. Like you, get a little tired of the people saying they're not competitive and then complain about those that are. I'll come out of the closet, I'm competitive and enjoy every minute of it. But that doesn't take away from my fun when someone else isn't. There are many examples over the years where the fun non-competitive shooters have made my match enjoyable and had me belly laughing at times. Love to shoot with those truly fun people. But they're very few people that way. Most just use the "I'm Not Competitive" phrase to make themselves feel better. The one thing I think most of these people miss, is no one really cares if they're good or not. Just have fun and be supportive of the other people you interact with on the posse. You'll be respected for your actions, not your stage times. No one really cares about stage times except for the people shooting them. :-)

Longcolt, If you start worrying about that Corvette passing you on the Interstate and honking the horn as it whizzes buy at 90mph, are you gonna allow this to stop you from traveling? Naw! Sometimes, it ain't the traveling part that becomes the adventure, but rather those memories you cherish when you get to your destination. No doubt, things change. Cowboy shooters use to be a bunch of crusty ole men telling stories of WWII and Korea and such. And I'm sure many of them enjoyed taking out their latest pocket knife and showing it off. And some were probably REAL Cowboys, depending upon their upbringing. But to grow and possibly survive, our game needed new blood. Fresh blood. It was a joy to get the ladies and kids involved and it was probably only natural for some changes to occur. WE change also. I use to truly love Varmint hunting. But, when I got involved in CAS, my Varmint hunting dwindled to nothing. And now that I been involved in CAS for about 14 years, I find myself enjoying rimfire shooting and setting up rimfire pistols and rifles. I still love CAS and try to make all the local matches. But some health issues hinder me from being excited about traveling great distances. And because WE all change, I find my joy of shooting is expanding into the rimfire area. Go ahead, buy a new fishing pole and enjoy life. But try not to allow the guys in the expensive bass boats keep you from enjoying a day of fishing on the bank of a good lake, if you know what I mean. Hopefully, we'll see each other on the trail someday, posse up together and 'cast a line'. ..........Widder

I am a 97 gunsmith. It is the only gun I sell or work on. I get calls and emails regarding my sales and services. Point One: After some discussion with my potential customer I instruct them to go to the SASS wire and check my references. Some do and some probably do not. This forum is a good starting place to determine with who to send, purchase, barter, or whatever. Recommendations can be sent to person asking by P.M. or by not "piling on" on the forum request. Unfavorable recommendations can and should be made by P.M. Point Two: For service work the question is usually how long before I get it back. The answer is difficult. I look at my repair rack and see the 97's there, maybe there are 6 of them and I estimate 2-5 days on each. When wood is refinished it goes to the 5th day easy. So I am looking at 12-30 days. I tell the customer if your gun arrived today it would be about 30 to 40 days before I can get to it. I also tell them that when the gun arrives it goes to the back of the rack and will be worked on in the order it was received. Sometimes I can get lucky and some of those 6 guns are not as time consuming to repair as estimated and I can get to the next gun(s) earlier than estimated. On the other hand some of those guns take longer and I have to notify my customer of the delay. As said in the above replies, communication is key. Point Three: Regardless of what it takes, and sometimes at a loss of revenue on my end, I will protect my reputation as a gunsmith and member of the CAS family. I don't mean to sound like a prima dona but this method of dealing with my customers is a simple straight forward way to do business. It has served me well for 20 years and has kept me in the good graces with the CAS members, and hope it does for another 20. Hmm I guess that's dreaming.

Gun Control is the theory that a woman found dead in an alley, raped and strangled with her own pantyhose, is somehow morally superior to a woman explaining to the police how her attacker got that fatal gunshot wound. Cat Brules

Another thread started by Cheyenne Culpepper asked about an easier way to separate steel pins from the polished brass. Well I rarely use the steel pins or ceramic media anymore because I don’t think you really need it. For about the last four years I’ve been using a tablespoon of Dawn dishwashing detergent, 1/4 teaspoon Lemishine and 1 teaspoon Strato Sheen. Fill tumbler with cold water to about 1” below full. Close it up and tumble for 90 minutes and here’s what you get. I decapped these .45 Scofield cases just to see how clean the primer cups will get and, IMHO, they get plenty clean for our game. These cases have been cleaned about 8 times and this was the first time they were decapped before cleaning. I really don’t see a need to take the time and effort to decap as a separate operation but some do and that’s okay, I’d rather do other things. The inside of the case could probably be cleaner using the steel pins or ceramic media but IMO separating the pins or ceramic media out is just another task I’d rather not do. I have a couple of separators but I just don’t like doing it.

I shoot them for fun and it ends up being both to at least some degree.

Heard a commercial on the radio the morning from one of those “debt reducing” companies. They said, “Don’t let the credit card companies trick you into thinking you have to pay off your debt” ”Trick You”. Seriously? What’s this country coming to? Complete lack of responsibility.

Interesting statistics. This jibes with the research of Prof. Lott at the University of Chicago, who is a noted expert on gun laws and stats. Here are some facts. There are 30,000 gun related death s per year by firearms, and this number is not disputed. The U.S. population is 324,059,091 as of June 22, 2016. Do the math: 0.00925% of the population dies from gun related actions each year. Statistically speaking, this is insignificant! What is never told, however, is a breakdown of those 30,000 deaths, to put them in perspective as compared to other causes of death: 65% of those deaths are by suicide, which would never be prevented by gun laws. 15% are by law enforcement in the line of duty and justified. 17% are through criminal activity, gang and drug related or mentally ill persons – better known as gun violence. 3% are accidental discharge deaths. So technically, "gun violence" is not 30,000 annually, but drops to 5,100. Still too many? Now let’s look at how those deaths spanned across the nation. 480 homicides (9.4%) were in Chicago 344 homicides (6.7%) were in Baltimore 333 homicides (6.5%) were in Detroit 119 homicides (2.3%) were in Washington D.C. (a 54% increase over prior years) So basically, 25% of all gun crime happens in just 4 cities. All 4 of those cities have strict gun laws, so it is not the lack of law that is the root cause. This basically leaves 3,825 for the entire rest of the nation, or about 75 deaths per state. That is an average because some States have much higher rates than others. For example, California had 1,169 and Alabama had 1. Now, who has the strictest gun laws by far? California, of course, but understand, it is not guns causing this. It is a crime rate spawned by the number of criminal persons residing in those cities and states. So, if all cities and states are not created equal, then there must be something other than the tool causing the gun deaths. Are 5,100 deaths per year horrific? How about in comparison to other deaths? All death is sad and especially so when it is in the commission of a crime but that is the nature of crime. Robbery, death, rape, assaults are all done by criminals. It is ludicrous to think that criminals will obey laws. That is why they are called criminals. But what about other deaths each year? 40,000+ die from a drug overdose–THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR THAT! 36,000 people die per year from the flu, far exceeding the criminal gun deaths. 34,000 people die per year in traffic fatalities(exceeding gun deaths even if you include suicide). Now it gets good: 200,000+ people die each year (and growing) from preventable medical errors. You are safer walking in the worst areas of Chicago than you are when you are in a hospital! 710,000 people die per year from heart disease. It's time to stop the double cheeseburgers! So, what is the point? If the liberal loons and the anti-gun movement focused their attention on heart disease, even a 10% decrease in cardiac deaths would save twice the number of lives annually of all gun-related deaths (including suicide, law enforcement, etc.). A 10% reduction in medical errors would be 66% of the total number of gun deaths or 4 times the number of criminal homicides ................ Simple, easily preventable 10% reductions! So, you have to ask yourself, in the grand scheme of things, why the focus on guns? It's pretty simple: Taking away guns gives control to governments. The founders of this nation knew that regardless of the form of government, those in power may become corrupt and seek to rule as the British did by trying to disarm the populace of the colonies. It is not difficult to understand that a disarmed populace is a controlled populace. Thus, the second amendment was proudly and boldly included in the U.S. Constitution. It must be preserved at all costs . So, the next time someone tries to tell you that gun control is about saving lives, look at these facts and remember these words from Noah Webster: "Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed."

Yes there is… 1 Shoot down range only.. 2 Do not break 170 degree rule.. 3 Be safe and have fun… I think that about covers it… Texas Lizard Update….Use black powder only so that can’t see what did wrong…