[Let's talk rifle last & Power factors ----------------]

I'm only relating my experiences with "Rifle Last" stages.  Make of it what you will.

I shoot at a club that sometimes has rifle last stages.  These were all open, with no facades, no windows, no doors, nothing.

 

As a T.O. I was able to pick up all shots, and reliably pick up the last shot.  Calibers used by the shooters ranged from .32 to .45.  No problem.

 

However, I did have the opportunity to time a buckaroo at a recent State Match.   No matter how I tried, I could not pick up the shots fired with his .22 rifle.

Across 10 stages I tried angling the timer, getting it out as far as I could without impeding the shooter.  There were no enclosed stages.

These were "rifle not last" stages.   I could pick up the pistols and shotgun without problem, so all was good.   I'm considering now, what I would have had to do, if these had been "rifle last" stages...

[Stupid question time - has anyone ever used the single action Nagant revolvers?]

On 11/10/2024 at 9:59 PM, Dapper Dave said:

I saw it was approved by the handbook, (I have time at work, so I get to read the handbook every so often  ) and I was wondering if anyone ever did use them? Imagine being costumed up like an Imperial Russian officer for a match...the time periods are right.  

Just a random thought, thanks for reading. 

 

I shoot my Nagants now and then.  Just for something different.  I make a semblence of the ammo using 32-20 brass.  It doesn't give you the gas seal as real Nagant ammo, but it gets the job done.  They'll slow you down a good deal, but for once in a while it's something different.  Confounds the Loading Table officer, if your club used one.

[Factory ammo]

The MagTech is looking like the old Winchester rounds from the 1990's - early 2000s.  They had that deep cannelure.  I always wondered if brass (if used multiple times), would break off there.  

[Anyone done business with TACNATION-USA]

52 minutes ago, Outlaw Gambler said:

They sell 9mm speed loaders for rifle and pistol mags. Thinking of getting one or two but want to check to see if they are legit. They accept credit cards only, which I think is smart, but do not show location or address. I have added a link for you inspection. Thanks.

TACNATION MAG-LOADERS – TACNATION USA (trytacnation.com)

 

If you'd prefer, the ETS Mag Speed-Loader is sold on Amazon.  I found out that these multi-round speed loaders require significant force.

[Who does shotgun work on a savage/stevens?]

On 10/15/2024 at 3:35 PM, Roland Thunder said:

I gave doc noper a call, and he has gone to only working on SKB's. Does anyone have a suggestion on another scattering mechanic?

 

If you already have one that you want to use to get started....  I started out with a Stevens 311.  Oy!  After having it worked on, and then doing the "$7 fix" It was still a gun that I had to use my off hand to open wide enough instead of going for my shells.  The major mistake was having the barrels cut down.  The gun needs that forward weight to open the breech.   Then it has that big lug between the chambers that increases the fumble-factor while loading.   Anyway, here are some older instructions for working on it.   https://marauder.homestead.com/Stevens311.html

[SASS, The Early Days]

 

 

Cowboy Mounted Shooting at Winter Range 1996. CMSA founders. L to R: Bronc aka John Peel, William Bruce aka Jim Rodgers and Rawhide Rawlins aka Phil Spangenberger.

[Start lines]

Whatever you choose for a start line, even if it's just "Ready".  Please, say it loud enough to be heard, or nod your head.  Remember, T.O.s are wearing earplugs, too.

[What to do with a JM Marlin Cowboy with a replaced Remlin carrier?]

I followed Widder's exact instructions, measurements, and tweaks that he posted on Marauder's Old Irons site and made my Marlin into a Widdermatic. 

That little rifle is slick now.  The timing was off before I started as I did have an instance of the "Marlin Jam".   

 

If you do want someone else to work on it, since Widder retired, he taught Slater at Slater's In House Guns, in Louisville, TN, how to sweeten up sour Marlins.

In your neck o' the woods, Cowboy Carty, Carty Allaman, Western Gun Works, Monmouth, IL (309) 536-0163 is a wizard with Marlins.

 

 

[Load date for Clean Shot powder]

For loading with Cleanshot, I used Scarlett's data and settled on 3.0 grains with an overall cartridge length of 1.485  

I do recommend dropping down to 125gr bullets when you next buy or cast them.  No problem with knockdowns as the velocity is faster using the same amount of powder.  Anyway, 3.0 is a good starting point and if you want even more oomph to kill those pesky charging rhinoceri, you can tweak your load.

 

[45cal vs .357/38 Special]

On 9/22/2024 at 2:55 PM, Hot Iron Hill said:

Howdy all,

 

I just picked up a mint, like new pair of “old” model Vaqueros in 45cal… My question is, should I go all in on 45 cal or should I sell them and go with .357/38 Special? Is .357/38 Special that much better? 
 

Thank you 

 

 

 

A question to ask is, do you reload?  If yes then it's only a matter of the difference in the cost of components.  If no, then .38 special is far more economical than paying over $1 a round for .45 Colt...   120+ rounds per match x the number of matches you shoot per month.  That's not counting any practice you may wish to do.

[Semi-Smokeless?]

Those Peters cartridges were made with King's Semi-Smokeless Powder, which was an early form of BP substitute.  

The powder mill was located between Cincinnati, OH and Miamisburg, at a place called King's Mill.

It was where Kings Island Amusemant Park now stands.

 

[Wild Bunch Sign up]

6 hours ago, Eyesa Horg said:

Do you still have to research the answers to 4 secret questions to log in?! When I joined you needed to know where Winter Range was held, but it had moved and your answer would be wrong.

 

The question I was asked this morning was, (paraphrasing 'cause CRS), "What is the allowed barrel length of the 1911 used in Wild Bunch?"

[Marlin one piece firing pin sticks]

1 minute ago, Widder, SASS #59054 said:

 

Personally, I don't know.   I aint sure anyone has ever given me a pre 1900 model to check out.

 

..........Widder

 

 

I lucked into an 1899 44W about 2 years ago.  Really nice, but I haven't used it in a match yet.  So, far just target shooting.  Functions nice, but was considering lightening the mainspring, the lever plunger, the lever safety, and a one-piece.  I have 2 guns on the bench before that, so I'll get to it once't I find a round tuit.

[Marlin one piece firing pin sticks]

On 8/19/2024 at 11:38 AM, Widder, SASS #59054 said:

22 minutes ago, The Original Lumpy Gritz said:

 

 

 

Just for curiosity's sake, can a one-piece firing pin work in a pre-1900 Marlin 1894?   No, I haven't taken it apart yet.,  Just wanted to see if y'all had any experience with 'em. 

[SASS, The Early Days]

 

Thunderbolt Taylor, 1993 EoT

[SASS, The Early Days]

 

 

Kid Clayton, Doc Holliday, Bootlegger, Ringo, and the Hangman,  1998 Western Action Shooting Society, (New Zealand) - End of Trail

[Caliber question]

I solved the problem by having guns of just about every caliber, and shooting what I'm in the mood for that week! 

 

By the way, be careful how you store "Cowboy" guns.  They tend to spontaneously multiply while you're not looking.  

[Caliber question]

We did a poll on this a couple of years back:

.38 special is by far the most used caliber in SASS

followed by .45 Colt

then .44-40 a distant third.

 

After that, there is a wide range of other calibers in use .32H&R Magnum, .32-20, 38-40, .44sp, 44 Magnum, 9mm, .36 percussion, 44 percussion, 45acp, 7.62 Nagant, and many more...

[Pocket Pistol Repair]

21 hours ago, Sarge said:

Looking for someone willing to work on pocket pistols.  My local contact is leaving the business.  The Cowboy smiths I've talked to are not interested in working on them.  I'm located in Michigan, but willing to ship them.  

 

Tommy just got through repairing a couple of antique pin-fire revolvers.   He can help with yours pocket pistols.

Island Gunsmith - Tommy Bonnet (alias - El Q Jones) Amelia Island, FL (904) 557-4909

[SASS, The Early Days]

Los Pistoleros de Santa Margarita - the Santa Margarita Gun Club at Camp Pendleton monthly match.

 

The matches at Pendleton were unique among other cowboy matches, in that the Marine Corps rifle range offered the opportunity for some very challenging stages. The rifle targets for most stages were set out at 75-100 yds, with at least one stage with rifle targets at 200 yds. There was always a team event at the end of the match.

 

Because of the stages' tough, challenging, and slower nature, there was only time for 4 or 5 stages per match. Most stages were shot with only one or two guns.

 

[This will be a serious threat to CAS]

To address the increasing number of Condor and Eagle deaths caused by wind turbines, the government decided just to issue the wind farms permits to kill the birds.  (of course, large sums of money will change hands).  

https://www.audubon.org/news/government-proposes-first-take-permit-condor-deaths-wind-farm

 

In 2013  - "the idiots in the Obama administration said last week it will allow companies to kill or injure eagles without fear of prosecution for up to three decades."

https://back-doc.blogspot.com/2013/12/save-planet-mince-eagles-drive-people.html

 

 

 

[SASS, The Early Days]

 

 

Tex Boden, Duke Chisum (R.I.P.), Mayobard, Wyatt Earp SASS #1628, and Pat Riot

[C&B speedloaders]

Or, just go to the next charged cylinder...

[SASS, The Early Days]

 

Taipan, Colin Dangaard, at EoT 1999

 

[Reloading Supplies Question]

3 minutes ago, Garrison Joe, SASS #60708 said:

 

Each reloader probably has a different inventory level that they can justify and enjoy.    Lots of inventory in loaded rounds means lots of time (effort) and lots of money has to be invested. 

 

What makes sense to me is consider your life schedule and home and work duties other than reloading.  Then, make practical choices that fit your life.   I don't see that particular "life skill" balancing act needs to be covered in a reloading training session.     "Teach a man to fish" - but don't lecture him on how often he needs to fish.  He should be able to figure that out himself.

 

When I was working, I wanted to have loaded inventory to shoot at least a couple of months so that if there was a major effort needed at work, or with family or medical situations, that I could continue on with some of my shooting without having to jump on reloading.  Now that I am retired, my inventory levels are determined more by our social/manufacturing/supply chaos (inability to maintain a stable environment in all things).  Since I now have more "spare time.", some of that gets invested in bridging over times of chaos.

 

But, keeping life and shooting sports in balance really makes for a less pressure filled life.  Something most of us need.

 

good luck, GJ

 

Great explanation.   If I could go back in time I'd have reloaded fewer rounds to keep on the shelf.   Now during downtime, I only make a year's worth for my current calibers.

I do not regret stockpiling a lifetime's worth of powder and primers before this decade began.