Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933

Lots of good memories in those old Chronicles. I think I started writing for the Chronicle in 2008.

I could never find a source that just listed WR and EOT scores in one place. However, the Chronicle archives start in 2005 and if an issue is reporting on WR or EOT there would be a headline on the front page.

A few extra shots to add to those posted by Sixgun Seamus. Today was the last officially scheduled work party before EOT. Nice bright sunny day with a very mild breeze. The work was broken down into two main groups. One was doing some finish work on the props, building trees, dynamite plunger boxes, etc. The second group was working on the targets to make sure the right shape, height and type of target will go to each bay during set-up. Since I retired from the Board a couple of years ago I am no longer privy to the secret codes used to identy the targets. They told me they could tell me but then they would have to kill me. I will just wait until the match starts to see what the scenarios look like!

Paul in his younger days.

Will look for him there.

I have read it several times. It is very good.

I seldom reply to posts anymore but just finished tuning a pair of Uberti Runnin Iron short strokes for a future Chronicle article and experienced about a one in fifteen shot over rotation. These have the retracting firing pins. Some basic questions: You said you purchased these guns in 2019. That is five years ago. Have they always had this problem or did it just start recently? If the problem just started recently it is an entirely different inquiry. Either something has broken or is worn. Is this gun a short stroke or standard stroke? Is the set screw that holds in the hand spring installed? The Uberti hand spring is extremely short. Some people have recommended leaving the screw out. On my two guns this left virtually no pressure on the hand and it over rotated almost every time it was cocked. The screw needs to be in place unless the spring is replaced with a longer spring. Have you checked the bolt drop timing? On both of mine (which are about 300 numbers apart) the bolt timing was way off. (The bolt to notch fit was also not too good.) Get in some strong light with the gun oriented like in this photo and SLOWLY cock the gun until the bolt drops and look where it dropped. Do this several times to make sure you are getting a good indication of where the bolt is dropping. In this photo the bolt head is at 12 o'clock and the notch and 6 o'clock. The bolt head is actually overhanging the notch. The bolt is dropping LATE. I shot the gun as is and got about a one out fifteen instance of over rotation. I tried it in its stock setting as the short stroke parts are very hard to get and the geometry is quite different from a standard stroke and I did not want to risk ruining the short stroke parts. After a range session I figured the guns were unshootable so I decided to try and adjust the bolt drop. I slowly filed on the bolt with a fine diamond file and tried it in the guns numberous times until the bolt head dropped in the middle of the bolt lead. (I also made a simple jig to be able to see a side view of the hammer cam/bolt leg relationship.) Because of the lighting it looks like the bolt is hanging in the air above the bolt notch. It is actually sitting in the middle of the lead in front of the notch. For these guns this solved the over rotation problem. On a standard stroke gun adjusting the bolt to drop earlier is fairly easy. Basically a tiny amount of material is removed from D. On a short stroke I would take it to someone that KNOWS how to adjust Uberti short strokes.

In the mid-1970s Scottsdale, Arizona, had Bricklins. I remember when these were behind you at a stop light all you could see was the gumball machine in your rear view mirror.

Set-up starts the morning of Wednesday February 21, 2024. A goodly number of shooters usually show up to look at the stages, find out they are not set up yet and stay to lend a helping hand. If you are in the area stop by for a little companionship and lunch. The two local clubs both still have space in their EOT warm-up matches. The Arizona Cowboy Shooter's Association will be hosting a match at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility on February 16 - 18. Cowtown Cowboy Shooters will be hosting a match at Cowtown on February 24-25. Cowtown is just a few miles to the west of Ben Avery. Many shooters go directly from Cowtown on Sunday February 25 to Ben Avery to register for EOT. Registration opens at 11:00 am on the 25th.

A slight update on the preparations for EOT 2024. Last week the temps were in the 70s. Yesterday (January 21) it was drizzling and the temps only got into the low 50s. So several groups gathered under any available cover and spent the day gluing carpet to the shooter table tops. Not glamorous and downright nasty but something that could be done even in the rain under cover. At the last work party a front that is going to be used downrange was set up and the targets set to make sure they can be placed as planned. The match director continued to go over the stages to make sure the proper targets go to the proper stages. This is a two-step process as the Wild Bunch stages have to be set up first and then torn down and the CAS targets set up. Since resetting the targets has to be done Tuesday afternoon after WB finishes everything has to be placed and ready to set up for the start of the CAS match on Wednesday morning. Even though it was raining and work limited everyone still needed to be fed.

The illegal "feature". Grooves in the gripframe. Declared an illegal grip enhancement. Ruger removed the grooves shortly after the SASS TG vote many years ago.

They are the same casting. The difference in the finished product being the SBH has serrations (left) and the Montado checkering (right).

About the only gun this works on is the Ruger. If you look at the bottom of the Single Six hammer on the right and compare it to the Vaquero hammer (new or old) on the left they have the same geometry. You can install a Single Six hammer in a Vaquero and with some work it will function. Colt clone hammers used in Uberti's small frames are physically smaller on their bottom ends and won't interchange.

Preparations for EOT 2024 have been going on for months. Work parties are scheduled well in advance so people can mark it on their calendars and at each work party a list of tasks is laid out to make sure all planned work is completed on time. This past Saturday (January 6) the weather was sunny with no wind and a temp of 56 degrees. Under the direct rays of the sun that 56 actually felt a LOT warmer. This week there were two primary tasks. Building carpet covered tops for the loading and unloading tables so the tops can be removed at night to avoid them getting wet in case of any night time rains. Next up was to refurbish the mining tipple. New colors are selected and the parts removed from storage for reconditioning. EOT has six storage containers full of props. Here is what the tipple looked like the last time it was used. Looks like the Rough Riders have everything on schedule for a fantastic EOT 2024.

My daughter says that looks like me in the movies. I seldom make it all the way to the end.

Even the Gladiator has a soft heart for dogs.

Australian lifeguards circa 1930.

Can you ID the imposter?