Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971

I'll let PWB have the final word of .32 S&W legality for the Plainsman. Since it is a traditional black powder revolver cartridge having been introduced in 1878 by S&W it seems to meet the standard stated on page 30 of The SASS Shooters Handbook. The problem comes with meeting the smoke standard. I don't know how you could get enough smoke out of a .32 S&W that would smoke as much as 1 cc of black powder. That said, I'd like you to be allowed to try anyway. The smoke standard does not affect single shot rifles much as smoke usually dissipates between shots anyway. I sometimes shoot a rolling block with .38 Specials and find that case too short for quick loading. I would not attempt shooting .32 S&Ws in a rolling block. Perhaps a Buckaroo with small hands could load quickly. Anyway, I'd like to see someone give it a try.

The Lyman Manual mentioned is worthwhile. There are YouTube videos demonstrating how to use shotshell presses. I load with Perfect Pattern, 7/8 oz birdshot (currently #8 1/2), Claybuster CB 0178-12 grey wads, and Cheddite 209 primers (the cheapest) in Remington hulls using Hodgdon’s minimum published loads. I avoid loading well below published powder charges as this can cause poor ignition in cold weather. Remington Gun Club hulls load OK but STS or Nitro hulls have nicer crimps.

Sent by PM. You need a light bullet and a reduced powder charge for the Plainsman so you don't dent or knock over targets. Expect many recipes from other shooters - many more accomplished than me.

I know what the Plainswoman Modern national champion Calamity Crow shot. She shot a Handi-rifle in 45-70 with auto ejectors she borrowed from me. I shot that rifle too. They are dandy rifles for Plainsman, but mine prefers nickle-plated cases.

I use Claybuster CB1138-12 red wads for my 1 1/8 oz loads. They are short leaving room for plenty of black powder. Hodgdon used to recommend them for shells loaded with Pyrodex or Triple Seven. I also used up an old bag of Pacific Verelite wads for the same load and they worked equally well. I load for 1 oz too but with Triple Seven so I won't bother mentioning the wad I use. I don't load black powder or the subs by weight. I just load volumes that give me a desired stack height. Use any 209 primer you have for APP. They all work. Don't expect a long life for your AAs loaded with APP. The crimps will get brittle quickly. I toss any plastic hull shot with real black powder or the subs after one use.

I used to dress as a railroad engineer in railroad stripe overalls. I understand this is really 20th century railroad garb and was not common in the 19th century. I wore them anyway because they looked right. Many shooters now wear blue jeans instead of the trousers sold for CAS. This makes sense. Blue jeans cost less, can be bought with the needed length and have a zipper instead of buttons. One won't winner a costume contest wearing blue jeans but they sure are functional.

I shoot mostly in the desert Southwest. Gusty winds on treeless ranges often blow set targets over just before and while a shooter is on the clock. We could not conduct a match if all targets had to be up. Popup shotgun targets are another matter. They need to be up and loaded with a target.

Congratulations to Bad Chad and Half a Hand Henri, men’s and ladies champions. The Fowler City Range was in good shape and even the roads were freshly graded. Weather was great. I shot the cowboy grouse side match and am glad I brought enough shells for a few runs. Congratulations to my wife Doc Barium on winning Ladies Frontier Cartridge, her third win at a state match this year. I surprised myself by shooting the Wild Bunch match clean. IMG_0698.mov

The Rossi may hold nine 38 Specials. However, you might experience feeding problems with them. Pioneer Gunworks in Oregon is very experienced in CAS guns. Consider them for your future needs. Your stiff 20-gauge shotgun will loosen with use. Don’t be concerned about starting with it.

That’s what a I use too. I have several of them, all dyed purple.

I use a #46 bushing for my BP clays loads. They pattern just like Gun Clubs and can break distant birds. However, these are stouter loads than needed for main match knockdown targets.

It may be something simple you can easily fix yourself. The firing pin retention nuts tend to back out on my Stoegers causing malfunctions. I had a barrel stop firing on one when a fragment of lead shot got in the action. Take the shotgun apart, clean it, tighten fasteners and remove any foreign material and see if it starts working.

The bullets you already have are suitable for loading with APP. It is a legal propellant in SASS matches. I shoot major matches across the US and find my fellow BP shooters mostly shoot APP. I don't but there is no criticism on range for those who choose APP.

I load my wife's BP shotshells in Remington hulls with a TGT12 replacement wad, 1 oz shot and Triple Seven through a MEC #36 bushing. This gives a nice column height. APP through that bushing should make a nice shell too. I use Triple Seven because it is finer grained than APP and meters reliably.

An alternative is to shoot them in your revolvers. Dab some shortening into the ends of the cylinders and fire away. Your guns will run fine but will get a fine coating of grease on them that can be wiped off at the unloading table. I did this once before I found a source of BP-lubed bullets.

KK, your stage times are respectable for a new shooter. Regarding the jammed rifle, Palo Verde make an unjamming tool for '73s that makes the removal of a bad round quick and easy. I used mine on a fellow shooter's jammed '73 Saturday. Bad ammo happens though I only load in once fired or virgin brass for major matches. This reduces the likelihood of bad ammo. R-P stamped brass is prone to bullets pushing back into the case, so I reserve them for handguns along with nickel-plated brass that is prone to splitting.

This is an understatement. He shot on my posse at Fire and Ice, won Buckaroo and beat all the adults on the posse. He shoots like he is five years older than he is. When he is old enough that he needs to shoot in the Cowboy category he's going to be a serious competitor for National and World Champion. He's just going to get better.

Where are you shopping that you can't find shotgun shells loaded with #8 or # 7 1/2 lead shot? These shot sizes are favored by clays shooters and dove hunters. I can easily buy them at my local Wal*Mart. If you live somewhere with poor retail availability of ammunition, go online and buy a case of Winchester AA low noise low recoil target shotgun shells. These are favored for CAS.

My Laser-Craft Reloading Handbook states 3.4 grains of Red Dot gave 879 fps out of a 6-inch barrel revolver. This is the starting load. (I do not shoot Red Dot and personally have no ballistic data.)

Are you looking for Allen Universal Trigger Locks?

Practiscore is backed by Sig Sauer. The application has advertising from vendors in the firearms industry. For example, the Practiscore home page currently shows an ad for self-defense insurance from USCCA. Persons visiting the Practiscore site are participants in recreational shooting sports. Ads placed on Practiscore are targeted to likely customers. More Practiscore users means more ad revenue.

My club uses this combination successfully for modern action handgun matches. When the TO shows the scorekeeper the timer display, the bluetooth connection is strong enough to sync. Our tablets are sensitive to heat. (For example, the operating range for iPads is freezing to 95-deg F.) They need to be kept in the shade to keep working. (Provide the scorekeeper a chair and shade.) South Carolina State (The Bushwack) used Bluetooth timers and tablets and was ready for an awards ceremony about an hour after the final stage was shot. Bordertown also uses electronic scoring.

I've shot this match several times and will return. The props are good (see the train below). Some stages had clays so brush up your clay busting before the match. Side matches include several long-range events. The onsite camping is very near the shooting. I stayed at a nearby (pricey) KOA the last time I shot this match. The range is just southwest of the SLC airport. There is a cluster of hotels just west of the airport that are reasonably close to the shooting range. This match would be a good choice for those who don't camp.

Hooks are handy to hang things like spent brass bags. Get a water-proof cover for it. You will eventually need one.

Since you will not be a serious competitor, you won't be able to coach your son on how to shoot faster. Have him view Long Hunter's videos on YouTube for needed tips. Search YouTube with "long hunter nssf" to find the videos. Be sure you son's shotgun fits him and has a good recoil pad. Buy him Winchester low noise recoil shotgun shells (part #AA12FL8). These are more comfortable for young shooters than the shells used for clays. CAS is not the only way for a youngster to learn how to shoot. Locally, several high schools have trap leagues. A local trap club lets them have exclusive use of some fields on practice and competition days. A nearby rifle and pistol club hosts 4-H shooting programs. Air rifle competition is their most popular sport. Several 4-H shooters go to the Jr Olympics each year. Some have been offered scholarships at four-year colleges. While SASS has a scholarship program, it is not as well-funded.