Creeker, SASS #43022

Do not misunderstand me - I fully understand the "fingernails on a chalkboard" cringe - when words or phrasing are tossed through the proverbial wood chipper. And I enjoy the mental image of the verbal speed bump, with our brains suspension and undercarriage being needlessly assaulted by an inappropriate speed limiter. But spoken language evolves and divests itself of outdated, outgrown words, phrasings and customs. These change of meaning verbal components occur quickly, even within single generations. The written word is much slower to react and adapt to new realities - and future generations will find our adherence to certain sentence structures and word phrasings/ meanings as odd as some find reading Olde English or Shakespeare today. Filled with "speed bumps" and word translation. Though, admittedly clip being used as a synonym for magazine still offends me.

I don't know - I wasn't around then. It varied between Hoover Dam and Boulder Dam during the Roosevelt administration - but after Roosevelt; it was named "Hoover Dam" by Congress. There have been numerous attempts to revert to the Boulder name since then - but the official name is the "Hoover" Dam

The sole purpose of a discourse; whether written or verbal is the communication and transfer of ideas/ their intent and their meanings. While I dislike errors, I do not get overly uncomfortable when verbalized speech is conveyed by misspelled but phonetically correct written speech. I tend to translate written word to speech within my head as I read; so whether vs weather or your vs. you're vs. even yore has little affect on my understanding of the writers intent. In a verbalized format, an interrogative, for example, is conveyed by the cadence of the speaker or the change in lilt at the completion of the question. To translate this same verbal cue to written form requires punctuation and sentence dressing, i.e. a question mark. Another example, the comma informs the reader of a pause, a break, a reflection or when being verbalized, a thought being considered or an inhalation between movements or words. The period informs of the completion of a thought; separation of past and future. It has a verbal equivalent of a long pause and potential change of subject. But a punctuation without associated verbal cue is unnecessary. And our friend, the apostrophe has zero correlation to any verbalized cue - its very minor purpose within written form is almost always satisfied contextually by the surrounding phrasing. I can be as pedantic as anyone; but if intent and information is conveyed then communication has been achieved. Judgement of a person's intelligence, on this matter, only serves to demonstrate misplaced ideas of superiority built upon a foundation of unimportant and swiftly sinking fluff.

Hoover Dam since 1947.

Pistols. Rugers are excellent pistols and the most commonly used ones within our game. They are durable and accessible. But ... "I" do not like the feel of a coil spring mainspring AND "I" (as a Gunfighter and Duelist before that) do not like the Rugers penchant for "Ring around the Ruger" if you happen to slip off the hammer during cocking - I prefer a Colt style action with half cock for that eventuality. I shoot Pietta Great Western II revolvers - which are Colt 2nd generation inspired (I say inspired because they have incorporated some improvements over the Colt, i.e. coil spring hand). But there are many pistols that, if tuned properly, will serve you well. Rifles - the most commonly used rifle within our game are the Italian 73 Winchester (clones); these have the greatest amount of aftermarket tuning and support available. (I am lumping 66 rifles in with the 73) There are numerous levels of tune and smithing available to make the gun exactly what you wish it to be. The Miroku Winchester 73 is a fine rifle but does not share the aftermarket parts of the Italian 73's The Marlin 94 used to be an extremely attractive option to the 73 and was the premier rifle in our game before the tuned short stoked 73's appeared. Over the last 15-20 years, quality declines and price increases have made the Marlins less common for new shooters. The 92 rifles, Winchester, Rossi, etc. can be tuned and can run fairly well - but they are a step down from the top tier of 73 and Marlin 94. G Force Arms has recently introduced a new line of 92 rifles at attractive pricing; but while I have handled a couple - I've not shot one or seen one in a competition environment. So caveat emptor. Henry Big Boy, Winchester 94 - just say no and trust us on this. Henry 1860 (Italian, American repro or original) - not common and not cheap. Some are very good with them; but is primarily a "style points" choice as there are better tools for our game. Shotguns. I do not shoot a SxS so I can simply parrot others and convey what I observe. We shoot the fewest rounds thru our shotguns of any gun in our game and yet - the trainwrecks and match destroying events are very commonly shotgun related. Do not skimp on your shotgun. I would ALWAYS recommend contacting a quality shotgun Smith and see if they have shotguns in stock that they have gone thru and can vouch for. I shoot a 1897 Winchester. I happen to shoot originals, but there are SOME reproduction versions that can be made to work well. I like a pump shotgun - it fits me and I'm fairly decent with one. But it is more complex than a SxS and you have to learn what fails and how to repair. 1887 shotguns - some run, some do not - the quantity of folks that can make them run in competition and can make them work on a bench are few. Keep that in mind if you choose to row against the tide.

I have been attending Bordertown off and on since it was still in Tucson. My first category win at a major shoot was at Bordertown nearly 20 years ago. Prior to moving to Gunfighter; somehow snuck in and stole the Duelist category. Bordertown is also the match that first guided my ideas about what a CAS match should be; and I leaned on those principles for all my years of running clubs and being a match director. Write matches that encourage success. Make your shooters giggle. There is NO better feeling than seeing a shooter come off a stage with a huge smile on their face - saying that's the fastest I have ever shot.

No worries - I miss enough when I'm actually using the sights. No chance I'm doing anything without them.

Usually we see the notices that Bordertown has filled up after 8 minutes and 46 seconds of applications being released. Is the match full? Painted Lady and myself have been staying pretty close to home for the last year; but we just sold one of our investments and figured we should celebrate. So if it's not full - I'll get our apps sent in and if it is - I'll get us on the waiting list.

Rio Salado; for some reason - I always call that the Chandler club - probably because that's where we stay when we shoot with them. It has been awhile tho.

Not fat, my brother - just well cushioned. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Is that the Chandler range? I haven't gotten over to your neck of the woods for a while - need to do so before it's too hot to play.

How fat is fat? That right there is fat... Oh, you weren't asking about fat? But fast? Ok, even some of the mid pack, fat guys, are kinda quick.

I have often misread a thread title - begin reading the post and thought to myself, "This has nothing to do with the "expected topic"; what is this idiot going on about?" Then I re-read the title and realize the idiot with the low comprehension skills is on my side of the screen - not the other. Unrelated to Alpos topic - but related to his reading; I recently had an Arisaka type 99 Paratrooper takedown model come into the shop WITH the dust cover intact (mum was hit with a grinder unfortunately). I'm admittedly not a huge Japanese Military arms guy - but I have sold dozens of them and I honestly don't recall if I have ever seen an Arisaka with the cover still in place before (was my first Paratrooper Arisaka as well).

All of your lever rifles have barrel bands. Remove them; clean and degrease them well. A few cans of hi temp engine spray paint in differing colors from the auto parts store or Home Depot, Lowes, Menards, etc. Each caliber has its own color - immediately obvious at a glance. Won't damage your bluing and is completely reversible. The rear sight assembly on your Smiths can be treated in the same manner. Mask off the blade and adjusting mechanism. Put up a little cheat sheet of paper on the wall or interior of the safe with the meaning of each color (round paper stickers work well for this type of thing) Also allows you to send someone else into your gun room to pick up something by simply telling them to "grab the one with the RED barrel band"

It shouldn't; but I just grabbed the stages that I wrote for the Nevada Rangers for the 2nd weekend in May and realized - "I" write the shotgun that way. And apparently have been doing so, for a long, long, long while. I guess, "until down" will get replaced with "with minimum X number of rounds" - since standing targets are a miss thru Stage Conventions and Comstock (re engaging KD targets) is also a Stage Convention - there is no need for the "targets MAY be re-engaged until down per shooters decision; any targets that remain standing are a miss" This has NEVER come up (for me) in 25 years of stage writing and match officialing (officialing - is that word? The squiggly red line says no; but it should be). But if we do not continue to learn and evolve - we die (or even worse, become irrelevant)

I didn't know I had run the timer for you before.🤪

This is a great attitude. This provides the practice and variety to your shooters without unduly penalizing shooters. Many shooters are already "deer in the headlights" scared when they encounter poppers or flyers - no need to make it worse.

The comparison between moving targets for pistol or rifle to moving targets for shotgun is immaterial. Agreed; moving targets for pistol/ rifle are not provided make ups (generally) - but we do not (generally) provide make up opportunity for any other "missed" pistol/ rifle shots - so this is a consistent application of procedure. But just as consistently; shotgun "misses" ARE (generally) afforded the opportunity for make up; just usually the "make up" is performed on the same target as target missed. Obviously with a sacrificial flying/ moving target; that option is unavailable - so a static make up is provided. Also of significant note; moving targets for pistol/ rifle are (generally) track based, consistent speed targets, with predictable and repeatable paths (movers, Texas Stars, etc.). Shotgun moving targets (flyers and poppers) are (generally) the only freely moving targets (in our game) that the wind can/ will introduce variance to the trajectory, speed, height and path of the target. i.e. making each flyer an inconsistent and differing difficulty target for each shooter. I am an excellent wing shooter - but this is a skill developed over many years shooting ATA trap. I do not expect most others (within our game) to share that skillset; nor do I believe that punishing them for not having it within a non wing shooting game is a reasonable choice. (many clubs are unable to use or include flying targets because of range restrictions - for them - a flyer is NOT a consistent and expected component of the game). Regardless of the Miss count on the scoresheet - there is almost always a penalty for having to utilize a make up target (time spent reloading, acquiring and firing upon the make up), how much of a penalty is dependent upon the shooters skillset performing such an action. (which IS a fair inclusion as these actions ARE a consistent and expected component of our game) Two last points - One. There is NO SUCH THING as a "bonus" target; it is simply reverse miss scoring and the only thing it does is introduce more scorekeeping potential error and variance into the match. If you want a shotgun miss to have effect as a miss or hit - then simply score it as a miss with corresponding penalty. Two. Our game is entertainment. First, Second and always. The ONLY persons this change would affect are the shooters that MISS flyers. If that person is YOU - why would you want this change? If that person is NOT you - be very careful lobbying for a change that might appear to benefit you versus your competitors. The persons missing flyers are often going to be your newer, lesser experienced or lesser skilled shooters - what is gained (entertainment wise or enjoyment wise) by punishing them further for a missed flyer?

Why? IF you don't feel there is an advantage - why would it bother you? And IF you feel there is an advantage - why wouldn't you utilize it? And lastly - as long as EVERYONE has access to this option; what difference does it make?

Dave - we are just ornery cowboys. We argue, debate, insult and act like fools. On the wire - there are some I adore and some I don't care one whit for. But the wire ain't real life - in the real world; I would stop for anyone of them and offer a ride, a bottle of water or help with a flat. Life is too short to worry about online back and forth bickering.

They're just a tool. When we are done with them - it's time to move on. And every scratch, ding, scuff and mark tells a story of a stage attacked with gusto.

Yup. My last Michigan vehicle was a 1990 YJ with the heretical square headlights. My parents owned a couple Jeep Grand Cherokees - every so often they would say something about their "Jeep" and I would ask, "I thought you had a Cherokee. When did you get a Jeep?"

That is just wrong on so many levels.

You said all you needed to - by referring to anything California says or claims. I grew up in Michigan - with many a member that worked in the automotive field. I spent many a year working in automotive parts retail. I currently own a custom auto shop. I stand by my definitions. Pedantic jerk that I am. 🥴 Your cat eye Chevy is a classic truck. Your new Ram is still a truck; albeit a luxury truck (I'm normally a GM guy but the new Rams are gorgeous inside.) If your Chevy was a Suburban - it would no longer be a truck. If your Ram was a Jeep Wagoneer - it would no longer be a truck.

Your Bronco is not a truck. It is a Utility vehicle. Possibly a Sport Utility Vehicle - but not a truck. ***WARNING PEDANTIC JERK ALERT*** 🤔 Trucks have limited or minimal passenger transport with the primary purpose being the transport of cargo within an attached open bed. A truck based vehicle with limited or minimal passenger transport with the primary purpose being the transport of cargo but with the attached open bed replaced by an attached enclosed structure would receive additional descriptors; i.e. BOX truck. A vehicle with limited or minimal passenger transport with the primary purpose being the transport of cargo but absent an attached bed or enclosed box would receive different descriptors; i.e. SEMI truck. If you take a truck based vehicle and re prioritize the vehicle from cargo first to passenger first - it is now a passenger vehicle with utilitarian function. Or an "Utility" vehicle. Properly classified; If said truck based vehicle is equipped with 4 wheel drive - it posseses off road capabilities or is "Sporting" - it is now a Sports Utility Vehicle. Tho some do not adhere to the 4wd requirements. If you take a car based vehicle and enlarge the cargo carrying capacity or "utility" - that vehicle is now a CUV or crossover utility vehicle. Properly a CUV would require all wheel drive to be termed a "Sports Crossover" - but again some do not adhere to this rule. Even if given an open bed - a car based vehicle is still a crossover utility vehicle with an open bed - it is never a truck. An El Camino was car based and so is a crossover utility vehicle with an open bed. A Ford Explorer is truck based (Ranger originally) and so is a Utility or Sports Utility vehicle. A Dodge Ram is a truck. A Chevy Tahoe is truck based (Silverado) and so is a Utility or Sports Utility Vehicle. A Hyundai Santa Cruz (even tho Tuscon based - the Tuscon was car based) and as so is a crossover with an open bed. A Ford Maverick (based off the Escape - which was never truck based) is a crossover with an open bed. A 1981 Ford Bronco is a truck based utility vehicle - or Sports Utility Vehicle. But not a truck. See I warned you. 😁

I appreciate that - I have read and studied many resources regarding the Platypus and amazingly have heard pretty much zero negative.