Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971

Major matches often have a "side match day" before the main match. At the recent End of Trail match there were many long-range events. Even the Plainsman side match had some rifle targets set at ~50-yds. In a main match one needs to use their sights on plate racks. One needs to know how to bust clays too. The goofy stuff like roping steers or tossing tomahawks is fine so long as it is done before the timer starts.

Some were up and open before the Wild Bunch match though most set up later. I bought primers before the match started. Most took down their shops before the Sunday Awards ceremony. If you come just to shop, the main match days are your best bet. Bring cash as some vendors were unable to process credit card sales.

My wife and I ran the lollipop side match at the state match this year and got to see Miss B Haven shoot. She did so well that we placed her with the adult women where she placed 2nd. We look forward to this family at this year's state match.

I too use Cheddite 209s for most of my shotgun reloading. An exception are shells for my Citori O/U where the firing pin on the lower barrel pierces Cheddites and suffers erosion. I just bought more Cheddite 209s from Tell Sackett at EOT and have enough for a couple of years of shotgun reloading.

We tried displays at gun shows but got no new members. We also participated in the State Game and Fish Department's outdoor activity day at our home range. We got no new members but the youth who shot our .22 rifles went home happy. We get curious individuals walking into our matches and make sure we welcome them and explain the sport. We try to get them to shoot a stage and tell them we will supply guns and ammo if they return for a match. We tell them the match will be free and they will not be subject to SASS costuming requirements. However, our best recruitment tool is our website. Shooters searching for CAS opportunities find our website and come visit. A professional looking, up-to-date website is a good recruitment tool.

Brownells currently shows Winchester 209 shotgun primers in stock.

That’s about when Ben Avery opens reservations for camping. I make my camping reservations before match reservations as the campgrounds book quickly.

LLS was also a clean shooter. She is dedicated long range shooter and owns more rifles than most men in our local club.

We left just after the awards ceremony as we had to leave the Clays Target Center campground in the morning. We camped that evening in a nice campground in Pitchaco that had lots of traffic noise from I-10 and train noise from nearby tracks. Tonight we camp at Caballo Lake State Park and expect a better experience.

Shirttail Bess shooting a stage: IMG_0356.mov

Award Ceremony is over. My home club took home eight awards including two category wins. Weather was incredible. I finished 7th in my category and Doc finished 3rd in hers. The Chicken George family had a strong showing with two category wins and most placing.

Ladies of Posse 19

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We lost Mad Dog Too recently. EOT gave him a worthy memorial.

The railroad facades at EOT are my favorites. IMG_0358.mov

The shooting is over. Three on my posse had clean matches including me. Today there was some blowing dust. Shooters promptly covered their guns after a strong dust devil blew through. We are not cleaning our firearms tonight because we might trade powder fouling for sand and dirt. Shirttail Bess was one of the two lady black powder shooters on our posse and shot a good match. IMG_0356.mov

You know these two

I live in a desert-no moisture to trap. Pillow case is a good idea.

IMG_0346.mov

Me shooting yesterday IMG_4859.mov

There was music in the SASS town this morning. It’s been a long time since I’ve heard the theme music from Rawhide since I don’t watch reruns on the GRIT cable channel.

Large plastic bags serve well as press covers. Most Uniquetek products work as advertised. My favorite upgrades are spent primer catch accessories that reduce or eliminate spent primers landing on the floor.

This afternoon we made a return trip to Yasha’s for more Russian rye bread, Russian sausage and cookies just like the wife ate as a child. Next a stop at Bruno’s for a bag of reclaimed shot for the raffle at the annual club meeting. Finally I picked up my bullet order from Desperado Bullets. My little 38 Special Marlin just cycles these bullets flawlessly.

Posse 19 shot the 8 AM shift the morning. The first two stages had no wind but had large, close targets so I had acceptable stage times given the lack of wind. The final two stages were breezy and I had good stage times. Both my wife and I are clean for the first two days. Whispering Meadows makes delicious jams and jellies from fruit she grows. The half pint jars fit into our tiny TT frig.

Posse 19 shot the middle shift today with Reckon as Posse Marshall. There was a decent wind out of the east for the first two stages that changed to out of the South. I had little problems with smoke obscuring my targets and had stage times similar to smokeless shooters.