[What's the Call]

Null, I posted a WTC on the Wild Bunch forum while back after we had a similar situation in a WBAS match. There we had static rifle targets and knockdown targets for the shotgun. A new shooter mistakenly engaged and dropped the KDs with the rifle (each shot being a miss under the flowchart) so that those targets were not available when the shooter transitioned to the shotgun. On the one hand, "shoot where it was" usually comes into play when the target is absent by no fault of the shooter. Here the shooter caused the problem by engaging the wrong targets. On the other hand, not allowing the competitor to "shoot where they were" results in two misses being assessed for each shot. The answer to my post was against penalizing the shooter twice.

[Aluminum vs Brass Casings for Reloading?]

I will toss in a couple of comments. Call Georgia Arms and ask about cowboy ammo even if the website says it is out of stock. Perhaps you can be first in line for the next run. They attend many of the Gun shows in this area and I've seen cowboy ammo at the shows when their website said they were out. Their ammo has worked well for new shooters here.

 

It is great to find a reloading mentor to show you the ropes. Finding someone who loads the type of ammo you plan to make (such as a fellow cowboy shooter) is great. I would not worry much whether that person has the same type of press.

[Standard Manufacturing single action revolver]

One of the new firearms announced at the 2017 SHOT Show is replica of the Colt SAA. You can see it on Gunblast.com's video of "Industry Day at the range". Standard Manufacturing says they are making them in Connecticut; another YouTube host reported that this will be a close replica of the Colt so no transfer bar.

 

If anyone has or gets more info about these revolvers please post a reply.

[1911]

I wonder what the rational behind the WB rifle requirement is....?

 

My understanding is that the 150 power factor and the requirement of the .40-plus caliber rifle (the 1911s have to be .45 ACP and the shotgun must be 12 gauge) was something of a reaction to the tendency in cowboy action shooting towards small calibers and light loads. Wild Bunch targets tend to be more challenging (in terms of size and distance) than CAS targets.

 

When my local club offered WBAS matches, we allowed any SASS-legal main match rifle because, as you said, many of our shooters were cowboy shooters who owned .38 caliber rifles. This seems to be the approach at most local clubs. I enjoy WBAS but I was reluctant to buy another expensive rifle for a game that only got to shoot four or five times a year.

 

My club's WBAS match director thought that the big bore rifle requirement was a barrier to growing the sport. His opinion was to leave the 150 power factor but let shooters use any caliber they wanted.

 

My local club eventually decided to replace Wild Bunch with modern Three Gun. There's lots of demand for those matches; they usually limit the match to about 70 shooters and when they open the online registration it fills up in a matter of minutes.

[New to SASS and need costume]

Welcome. I will add a word of caution about ordering clothing online. The sizing of Old West clothing, especially the pants, may be very different than modern clothing. For example, I usually wear a 34" waist size. In one brand of Old West pants, I have to buy a 36. In another brand I have to go up to a 38!

 

I am fortunate to have found two stores within a reasonable drive where I could try on clothing so I have not had to deal with ordering clothes and returning them.

 

I agree with the comments about visiting "vendor row" at state and regional matches; that's another good way to shop.

 

Keeping it simple at first is good, too. I found some good shirts at a thrift store, and a New but reasonably priced Henley shirt at a local workwear store.

[New six gun advice]

I believe both of the revolvers are Uberti 1873s with different features. Pretty sure the Runnin' Irons all have low wide hammers which would not match your USFA's hammer.

[Oh Ammo, Where Art Thou?]

I agree with Jefro that the Lee Classic Turret (the classic has an iron base as opposed to the other Lee Turret press that I think they now call the "value" press) is an excellent press for a beginner, given the volume of ammo you need to crank out for cowboy action. When I started shooting cowboy seven years ago I used my single stage press which required lots of time at the bench. The LCT is about as simple to use as a single stage but the timesaver is that you are not picking up and putting down the same case four or five times to produce a loaded cartridge.

 

The LCT is often paired with one of Lee's auto Disc powder measures. I recommend that you get the Lee Auto Drum Measure instead. Not much if any price difference. Kemph will have them.

 

If you are shooting .38 Special you will save money over factory ammo. The cases last a long time and you can often find once fired range brass at a good price. Ask other cowboy shooters for a good cast bullet source. If you buy locally you will save on shipping. If you want to order some I recommend www.clarksbullets.com.

 

You won't realize as much savings loading shotshells, in part because of the high cost of lead shot. I'd recommend buying game/target factory shells by the "flat" (ten boxes). I can catch sales and get factory shells for clayshooting in the $60 range which is $6.00 per box of 25, which will usually get you through a local match.

[9mm powder etc]

I bought some Titegroup specifically to load 9mm (plus Cabelas had it at a very attractive price) but the container is still sealed. I have found Titegroup to make for a "snappier" load in cowboy ammo. I have had good luck with Red Dot and Universal in 9mm but I agree with Widder that Clean Shot is an excellent choice. It meters well and performance has been very consistent.

 

I like the 124 grain bullets in 9mm, either cast bullets from Clark's Bullets or Berry's plated when I can find the latter on sale.

 

Scarlett carries Clean Shot and the other Shooters Wirld powders but I have seen them on the shelf at a local store as well.

[Starting out!]

Lots of good info already but I'd recommend not buying anything else. Reach out to the match director of your local club and let them know you are interested. Some clubs have clinics or practice days to orient new shooters. If not, I'd recommend attending a match or two to observe and ask questions. If you decide this is the game for you, come with whatever gear you already have (remember, no buying yet). Bring a few boxes of lead bullet ammo and a box or two of 12 gauge birdshot shells.

 

I had observed part of a match and decided I wanted to join in. The match director said "don't buy anything" so I showed up for my first match with ammo. No coboy guns, no leather, no cowboy clothes. The "don't buy anything" advice saved me money. I thought I knew which rifle to buy but I tried that brand of rifle at the match and didn't like it. I was able to make an informed choice because I was able to try several different rifles, revolvers and shotguns at my first match.

 

Just about every knew shooter assumes that they need to buy revolvers and a rifle in .45 Colt. Some of those folks end up selling and buying .38s down the road because the ammo is cheaper (and we shoot a lot of ammo) and the .38s are easier to shoot fast. If you end up choosing the .45, great, but again make that choice as an informed choice.

 

Oh, and welcome aboard!

[Palewolf Update 12/23 Good News]

Praying for healing and comfort. Palewolf has done so much for the people who enjoy this game.

[Prescription Shooting Glasses]

I agree with Boggus. Get as much protection as you can.

[.22 LR division]

Don't forget that our youngest shooters in the Buckaroo category can shoot .22 caliber.

 

So let's think this through. We create a category that lets adult shooters use .22 caliber, so they go out and buy two rimfire revolvers and a .22 lever action rifle. Later on when they feel comfortable moving up, they buy another pair of centerfire revolvers and another rifle?

 

A .32 or .38 revolver with light loads has little more recoil than a .22 and they can be fitted with lighter springs so they are easier to cock. A .22 round needs a hard slap for reliable ignition which means a harder cocking effort.

 

I am all for local clubs doing whatever they want to do for their shooters but I don't see any benefit to the creation of an official rimfire category beyond Buckaroo.

[What guns/gear would you buy if you had a $4500 budget?]

If you are not already loading your own ammo make room in that budget for a reloading press. You might not save much money loading .223 and 9mm for Three Gun but you will with cowboy ammo.