Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971

If the OP is loading on a progressive reloader, a powder check die can eliminate squibs. Otherwise, one must view each charged case carefully to determine whether the case is properly charged. This is pretty easy with black powder or a fluffy powder like Trail Boss or Unique (both currently unavailable). With a high density, ball powder this is more work. There are usually squib rods on range at CAS matches. Unfortunately, they get frequent use.

I load in 38 Special cases for my wife's 1873 carbine. (It won't hold ten, .357 mag rounds.) I crimp at the very top of the lube groove and not in the crimp groove for an OAL of 1.55 inches. These feed well in her rifle. Many of us load in 38 Special cases. They can be bought inexpensively as once-fired brass on online auction sites. When some of these cases disappear at a match in the props or the weeds, I don't worry much about them as I bought them for the cost of a small pistol primer.

Got mine from Long Hunters Note: use these regularly to check the tightness of the keepers. They tend to back out, just like the screws on your other firearms.

And when cases split in an 1873 they lock up the action. You have to eat all the unfired rounds as misses or all the time it takes to get the split case out of the chamber. This won't necessarily put you in last place in the match. Someone might get a match DQ and finish dead last. Anyway, it doesn't make for a fun day.

Load data is allowed on this Wire. Just check any load offered against published information in reputable loading manuals or powder distributors. Scarlett is a quality East Coast bullet caster. Ask at a local club if there is someone who delivers to local matches. Shipping is a big part of the cost of cast bullets. Go ahead and shoot those SWC bullets in revolvers. 125 grain bullets are versatile for CAS. Loaded in 357 mag cases and crimped into the crimp groove will probably give a round that feeds well in your 1873. Some casters sell sample packs of their bullets, so you don't get stuck with a box of 500 bullets that don't work in your gun. Ask and we can tell you casters who sell sample packs. Also, before you ask, there is no perfect, favorite powder for target loads in your 1873. There is just many that work well and most of those are currently unavailable. Fortunately, there are a few available that meet the needs of CAS reloading. Check your loads for high primers and avoid loading nickel-plated cases.

The arsonist was arrested. He is out on bond! 😒🥶😒 Sorry Chief Prop, I'm not sleeping easier.

I use Practiscore to register for modern action handgun matches. My account is registered in my legal name. However, I edit my match registration to use my nickname. It is not difficult. If I used that account for a SASS match I would edit the name to my SASS alias. Practiscore is a complex application. There are tutorials on YouTube to get started.

Prayers were answered (always good to acknowledge them). See this article. Last night my neighborhood got two inches of rain (a near record amount) thoroughly dousing the remaining fire. God doesn't answer prayers halfway.

Do SASS rules allow for posthumous induction to the Hall of Fame? Hells Comin deserves to be inducted.

7/8 oz of shot is very close to the 24 grams of AA low recoil low noise "featherlites." Your shoulder won't feel the difference, but your wallet will. You can load 7/8 oz loads for about half the cost of featherlites.

The Battle of Adobe Walls annual match in Pampa hosted by Mernickle was better than ever. The range is much improved with berms heightened with cribbed walls. Much gravel has been spread in shooting areas and on roads where mud was once a problem. Side matches included some goofy, retro events like shooting arrows and snakes (garden hose segments). Visit YouTube and search for "Adobe Walls 2025" for several videos of the match. Here is a sample stage: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/iaXTXwM1d1s Scores are here.

I arrived home this afternoon from the Adobe Walls SASS Match in Pampa, TX to bad news from my neighbors. Our neighborhood is under "SET" status for evacuation for the arson-cause Cotton Fire. Neighborhoods a quarter mile south of mine are being evacuated. Fortunately, a huge, irrigated field between us and the fire may save us a second time this year. Prayers please for those affected including firefighters. Twelve have already been injured. We left our travel trailer hitched to our pickup. It may be needed soon.

The entire Mimbres Valley is being evacuated due to the Trout Fire. The Valley contains Fowler City - home of the Gila Rangers, Bang and Clang’s bullet foundry, two small towns, small ranches and several campgrounds. KOAT.com has a map of evacuation zones.

Load and shoot coated bullets. You will not be touching bare lead when loading or handling ammo. The bare lead base of bullets will not be exposed to hot gasses. An added benefit is that your loading dies will remain much cleaner.

Here is another article from Forbes. It mentions using buckshot. Ukrainians are buying inexpensive Turkish Escort BTS12 shotguns. Its bullpup design does not look ideal for wingshooting. They are choosing soldiers with hunting experience as their first choice for shotgun/drone duty.

In the states #12 shot is common for snake loads. I have some I used in a CAS turkey shoot but cannot use them in my yard as my village prohibits the discharge of firearms. My best method is of controlling snakes is to keep my property mowed. Then roadrunners can easily spot snakes and eat them. Snakes avoid areas where they can be easily seen.

According to this article from the Business Insider the Ukraine Army now arms squads with shotguns to down drones controlled with fiber optics. It's the most cost-effective means of downing these drones.

I have an RCBS Grand I load trap loads on. The press is out-of-production, has some fragile plastic parts and often fails to drop powder. I would not acquire another. I load my black powder shells for CAS on a MEC Jr. It's robust and 100% reliable.

You can use a wad designed for 7/8 oz or 3/4 of shot oz and get a load that is cheaper and more comfortable to shoot. I load with CB 0178-12 grey wads. Regarding hulls, Remington has a current rebate for STS shells. It's a good way to get a supply of quality hulls. You can pick up free once-fired Gun Club hulls at clays ranges. They reload pretty good too. BTW, you can load black powder shotgun shells on your Mec Jr too.

I make mine 1/2-inch square. They prevent shot from dribbling out of reloads in Gun Club hulls that don't always crimp perfectly. STS and Nitro hulls really don't need these as they crimp more reliably.

Since Stanley is unincorporated, I doubt they have a mayor. With a population of 31 everyone could have several municipal jobs.

I keep some D-Lead soap with me at ranges and use it after shooting. I offer it to fellow shooters at hand washing stations and they usually accept the offer. I keep some at a utility sink at home and use it after reloading ammo. I also use it after working on vehicles or lawn care equipment. It is great for removing grease and grime from hands. A gallon of D-Lead is a little more than $40 but lasts a few years.

In order to run a timer at a local, non-SASS club I had to become both an NRA Range Safety Officer and become qualified by USPSA to run a timer. This included individual coaching and testing while running a timer. I would welcome a SASS TO class. At Land Run I shoot a Marlin. Much of my rifle brass lands forward of the shooting line where pickers cannot easily reach it. It just stays there until the match is over. I accept that as just part of the cost just as I accept that my rifle brass in the EOT main match will not be returned. However, I get all my 45-70 brass back in the Plainsman. Because I scrounge for once-fired brass at concealed carry qualification ranges and have bought brass from Starline using their $50 Off gift certificates, my out-of-pocket cost for lost brass is minimal. I shoot junk brass for the warmup matches where a buckle is not on the line.

Here is an OSHA Fact Sheet for indoor firing ranges. Some of the information is relevant for our outdoor ranges. For example, eating, drinking and smoking while shooting.

Be sure to clean the extractor carefully. That's where I've got rust when shooting Pyrodex. I only shot Pyrodex in an old, rusty beater of a Stoeger I bought ago dirt cheap. I cleaned immediately upon returning home from a local match - same cleaning I would use for real black powder. BTW, unlike real black powder, Pyrodex is hydroscopic. It will slowly absorb moisture from the air, and you will eventually get squibby ammo. This happens even in the Desert Southwest where I shoot. Use your shells soon after loading.