Dogmeat Dad, SASS #48563L

Looks like the party is about to start and Man oh Man do I wish we could be there this year. Just too much on our plates at the moment and the next few months are slammed with personal tasks. Holli and I will be back, but sadly, it won't be this year. Y'all Enjoy The Party!

I was told when I got into this game that a '97 is just 100 Parts waiting to break! It's why I have always shot a double, well except for that period of insanity where I tried a 1887 Lever Shotgun. ( I will probably dust that off and try again someday, but I am currently happy with my double. It still hates me, but I have made peace with it... ) As Cemetery said, flush it out, then relube. It never hurts to do a complete tear-down and clean (looking for burrs on the metal work, pieces of grit, etc.) but start with the flush and relube.

What I tell folks is that Cowboy Action is a sport where you can be as Competitive, or as Un-Competitive, as you choose to be!

I was not trying to advocate for having it at State, Regional, or Above matches, although I could certainly see my post being interpreted that way. This was more about "Allowing It or Not at all" in the game we play. Monthly Matches, even club annuals, is where my thoughts were really headed. I have no problem if SASS were to say that it was specifically "Not Allowed" at ANY Sanctioned Match, but the person with whom I was discussing this thought it should be ended completely, and that was the basis for my post. I absolutely agree that if someone is willing to spend what it costs to attend Land Run, EOT, or any of the Regional Matches, then they should step up and play the game with the big guns. But I will also note that EOT and Land Run are about the only matches that are selling out. In the old days, if you didn't have your app into any State Level or above match within a couple weeks of the application being posted, you were not getting in. Today, with a few rare exceptions, those same matches are seeing attendance at about 50% of capacity, so folks know they can wait until the last minute to register, and a lot of them do. How can a match director possibly recruit Vendors or Sponsors for a match that may end up with 50 shooters, but site at 15 or 20 until 3 or 4 weeks before the match date. (Sorry for the thread derail, just more data on the pile...) For this sport to survive, we need new shooters because the older shooters are fading away, and that is happening faster and faster every day. If this gets them in the door, I see no reason not to keep it alive, at least at the local level. If they decide to stay, and upgrade their hardware, that is awesome, but if they are only going to go out an play Cowboy once a month, 8-9 times a year, let them shoot the .22s, learn the game, support the local clubs, and have some fun. Some of our Deuces Wild folks have never shot a cowboy match other than at our club in the 4 or 5 years they have been doing this. They aren't winning any awards that matter to anybody but them.

Resurrecting this thread yet again, it may have more lives than most Cats, because of a conversation I had with a shooter at today's monthly match which kind of took me by surprise. I was asked if I was planning to continue to offer the .22 Category in the future. I answered yes, and followed up later with the shooter asking why they asked that question. Did they not like the category itself or were they planning on shooting it but didn't want to buy something if it was going away. The answer was that they understood why it was put in place, but that they felt it had served it's purpose, and now that components were (mostly) readily available, the need for that Category had passed. To be honest, I had never really considered it an issue, and this was the first negative opinion about this that I have ever personally received, so this caught me off guard. They were not trying to change my opinion, just expressing theirs, and I thanked them for the honesty of their answer. I hope to continue that discussion with them in the future to flesh out my thinking on it a bit. Not sure my answer will change, but I like to have a well reasoned opinion and not just an off the cuff answer with no supporting data. A little background information... We started offering this category (Originally Plinkers, now we call it Deuces Wild) back in May 2021 at the height of the Primer/Powder shortage and we have continued it since then. In fact, at our monthly matches, it has become our biggest category, every month. At today's monthly match, we had 19 shooters, 4 of which were Deuces Wild. We have had it as an unofficial category at the State Match, with the understanding that they could not ever win Overall, not that it was ever even close to being an issue for us. The shooters tend to be older (Elder Statesman and up) with a few exceptions who are typically the grand child of one of the above group. Many of them shoot .22 revolvers and .38 rifles, but not all. Getting a 22 rifle that will reliably fire every time, and not be a total PITA to do a reload seems to be the ticket. We don't do sub categories, so it's Deuces Wild (Open or Ladies - although we have yet to have a lady Deuces Wild shooter) but any style is allowed. So I guess I could shoot FCGFDW (Frontier Cartridge Gunfighter Deuces Wild) in the Deuces Wild category if I had the patience to make the ammo and the ability not blow myself up in the process! Things I have noticed..... I have never seen a DW shooter finish higher than the middle of the pack, and even that is way down in the time stats. For the most part, they don't have any problems with the knock-downs. I've seen them go down with a .22 that a .38 bounced off of, shot placement is the key. And if they don't go down, they don't complain about it, they just do the makeup with the shotgun when allowed or take the miss. For the most part, if they have a misfire on the pistol or rifle, or jack one out, they just take the miss. One shooter seems to have mastered the reload on a Henry, but only because the number of misfires is a factor so he has had practice... Good Ammo Selection is critical to whatever success is possible in this category. Random Thoughts Against.... I certainly understand those folks who believe that this is "Not Cowboy" and, in fact, SASS has yet to official endorse a .22 category. Will it happen, maybe? I seem to recall reading something from SASS that they were investigating that as an option, but I don't recall the details, or whether a determination in the negative was the final answer. I do recall the whole Rattlesnake Wrangler issue from days long gone, so I do realize there is the possibility that the Match Champion might someday be a Deuces Wild shooter, but that would require an exceptional shooter and the seemingly extremely rare circumstance that all of their rounds when BANG on the first hit. I'm sure there are more, but I can't think of them at the moment. Random Thoughts In Favor.... If you are a new shooter, you can get into the game for about half the price of anything else, even compared to used stuff. A pair of Ruger Wranglers will set you back less than the cost of a single New Vaquero. The rifle is about half the cost of a beat up '92. That is a BIG factor for a lot of folks starting out. We want not only new shooters, but their kids also, to get into the game. Compare the cost of outfitting a family of 4, and then keeping them shooting, and it quickly becomes "Real Money"! Although reloading components are becoming readily available, they are still not "cheap". Primers are still $65/1K, or $130/2K, My GoTo Bullet is a 38 130gr RNFP Bullet from RimRock and they are $69.00/500 or $276.00/2K, and Tightgroup is $41/1lb container (which makes 2K bullets at 3.5gr). I have not added in any shipping or hazemat charges. So to make 2K rounds (assuming you already have the brass) is $130.00+276.00+41=$447.00 / 2K = $0.225 per round. CCI Quiet 42gr .22LR is $46.99/500 = $0.094 per round. Less than half the price, and you don't need a reloading press. New shooters, and those with limited time, don't typically have a reloading setup so they start out buying ammo, and for some, it's the only way they can shoot. Purchased Cowboy Ammo is running $175.00 for 250 rounds which is $0.70 per round, although I will admit that I purchased some for $400.00/1K or $0.40 per round not that long ago at a match because we don't load smokeless anymore and needed some for a trip. A lot of folks live in Multi-Dwelling Units (be it a TownHome, Condo, or Apartment) and there are specific exclusions in many areas about having reloading components in those structures. We certainly have it here in the Peoples Republic of Maryland.... General Comments.... I was told when I started this sport that I would be reloading before I knew it, but at the time way back in 2002, I could buy 1000 rounds of once fired brass, Cowboy Loads, for $99.99 shipped to my door, so even then it was $0.10 per round, but I just didn't have the time. When we started reloading it was about $0.05 per round using the 10K rounds of brass we (Me, my wife, and our two sons) accumulated in the first 4 years of our shooting using purchased ammo. Maybe we should stress that need to learn reloading to prospective shooters and run classes on reloading, but I suspect the Liability Lawyers would be lining up waiting for an "Incident"... In our area, the mid-Atlantic States, we are all suffering from falling attendance at our matches. Back I started, it was typical to have 80-90 shooters at our monthly matches. Now we seem to be stuck on that terrible number between 17 and 19, where it is really too big for one posse and just too small for two posse's. Prior to the conversation today, I hadn't given much though to it, other than it was bringing in new shooters and keeping others playing the game. Would they switch back to .38's if .22's were verboten? Probably, but I suspect I would see them less often, but that is just my opinion at the moment. Maybe the answer is to score them separately, but at the end of the day, anybody that can run Excel, could combine the scores into a single match score. Maybe we need to score the .22 shooters using Rank Points! At the end of the day, the bottom line question is, what will keep the most shooters possible attending our matches so that SASS and Cowboy Action Shooting doesn't die. I see signs of new life, new shooters, folks attending the New Shooters Clinics we offer, but they typically shoot for a while, then disappear, and I don't think it's due to not liking the sport or the people. I think it largely has to do with costs, specifically ammo, because by that point, they already have all the guns and gear. So, at least for now, I am in favor of keeping the UN-Official Deuces Wild category alive, but I am certainly willing to listen to dissenting opinions. Thanks, Dogmeat

Thank you for continuing to post your travels here! I love reading about the different clubs, and their matches, and about the surrounding battlefields and parks you visit. Holli and I just returned from the VA State BP Championship, Smoke on the Mattaponi, in West Point, VA. When we headed out of town, we went south through Yorktown and drove right past the Revolutionary War Museum in Yorktown, VA, and I immediately thought of you. I had no idea it was even there until I saw it. Next year, I think I will add a visit to that museum to the schedule! Keep safe on the road and hopefully we can catch up again at the VA State Championship!

Pretty clever. I got it in about a minute, but won't spoil it for others. Only hint is that the second set of numbers are fours not sevens.

Awesome! 10 Jedi's in one place at the same time... I can FEEL the force!

Thank you one and all. It has been a dream of mine to be included in this select group of individuals for a long, long, time, and to be honest, I never thought I would make it. I truly appreciate the induction into the Jedi's and will wear my pin with honor. I might have to add it to my Tag Line and show off a little bit! Thank you Double Tap Taylor, the Jedi Council, and all the other Jedi's for this incredible honor. Dogmeat Dad

Additional Comment... After shooting all of Day 1 clean and the first stage of Day 2 clean, and having run half the Posse through Stage 4, (our 8th stage of the match) I was feeling good. When called to the line, I had the scenario down, know which direction to start on left, shoot 10 Rifle, then shoot 5 Pistol, Move to Right, shoot 5 Pistol, grab Shotgun, shoot 2 shotgun, move left, shoot 2 shotgun, and Don't cock the hammer for that 6th shot until stopped at the left position. I thought I was golden. Get settled at the firing line, check my shotgun shells, state my line, Buzzer, grab my rifle, and........Blast the first three RIFLE rounds into the first PISTOL targets! About halfway through the 2nd shot I realized my error, but the old lizard brain didn't catch on until after the 3rd round was fired. At this point I believe I shouted "That Was Stupid" to the RO and swung my rifle up and finished the rifle Rounds on the RIFLE targets! First pistol went fine, had a miss with the second pistol (I think it was the first round at the new position) because my brain was still trying to figure out what had happened. What flashed through my mind was... Needless to say, much discussion ensued afterwards. Was it a P, a miss and a P, or just misses? I confirmed for the TO that the correct answer was 4 misses, 1 for the legitimate pistol miss and 3 misses for the rifle rounds placed perfectly on the pistol target. Now, had I restarted on the "First Rifle Target" instead of the 4th rifle target when I corrected the brain fart, then I would have also earned a P. That sure would have been an interesting discussion for sure! I did finish the match clean. Note to self...When staging the Rifle, point it at the first RIFLE target, not the first PISTOL target! P.S. I think we should petition the RO Committee to change the rules and give the Posse Leaders a mulligan allowing them to reshoot one stage... Just kidding, but dang it would have been nice at this match, however I probably would have dropped a gun and been Match DQ'd!

Barb, Harlot, and the entire El Posse Grande crew, THANK YOU FOR A GREAT MATCH! Holli and I had a great time at the match and enjoyed everyone on our Posse. Everyone seemed to have a good time, and although we were a bit short on numbers, everyone pitched in to keep us running. I want to give special mention to Dependable Dave suffered numerous rifle problems and although he decided to stop shooting, he came back on Day 2 to pitch in and do Posse Chores. Cowboy Spirit !00%! Great Time, great folks, and Good Lord willing, we hope to be back again next year. Dogmeat & Holli...

Man, that totally sucks, but I am really glad that the house didn't get smacked and no one was hurt. Things are repairable/replaceable, people not so much. Glad you and Kay are OK. Hopefully, they will be able to get the truck fixed quickly so you can get back on the road hauling that camper to your next SASS match!

Thanks. I was just about to post that I found that. The issue I was having was that for the very first match (Default named My First Match) it only allowed Hit Factor and it was unchangeable. When I created a brand new match, that gave me all of the other options, including SASS. I built Last Weeks match into the iPad, then added two of the shooters, and fumbled my way through entering the scores. Had a few issues with hitting Enter before checking the scores and struggled to delete them, and eventually figured out how to just delete the whole match. Important Note to those who are just starting out with this...When they let you put in a number for Strings, enter 1, not 24 for the number of shots.... I suspect I have a steep learning curve ahead of me for this software. It is definitely NOT structured for SASS, but it has most of what we need in there. I will keep playing with it in the off hours, but I suspect I am going to be forced to pay for at least a 1 month subscription to CAS Scoring just so I can get through the MD State Match next month without any NEW problems... Thanks for all the help!

That's what I thought I was doing but I will check again later. It's possible I need to establish an account first before all the options appear, something I have yet to do. It wasn't given any options that I saw, but this is my first rodeo with this software. Was that an Android phone or Apple phone you were using? Just curious... I will try it again this afternoon after my morning excursions. Thanks for the assistance.

So, this morning in a fit of insanity (or maybe an epiphany of clarity...) I downloaded Pratiscore2 onto my iPad. No issues there, got it started a running OK, and figured I would play around with it some and try to build a match, and possibly enter the scores manually for last weekends match just to see what would happen and what kind of reports I could generate. All good, until I had to select a Match Type. Maybe I did something wrong, but I can't get the software to let me select anything for Match Type other than the default Hit Factor. Is there a decent "Practiscore 2 For Dummies" out there anywhere?