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Showing results for tags 'tools of the trade'.
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Lots of THREADS on the SASS WIRE discussing firearms, stages and WTC issues; however, thought I would re-direct to the actual operation of a match, in particular, the duties of the Posse. This first one is near and dear to my heart , as it was the first Posse duty I ever performed, and did so, long before I acquired my firearms and started shooting with the Pistoleros. (See Note below) BRASS PICK-UP. As everyone knows, this is a difficult and tricky task. It requires speed, cunning, agility, and a keen eye. (Most of these qualities were not on my Resume) The primary purpose for picking up brass, is to collect the brass and shotgun shells from the current shooter and deposit them at the Unloading Table (ULT), where, as the shooter has their firearms checked, they can (if they wish) collect their brass and shotgun shells for re-loading. What I want to discover are the methods by which your Posse collects brass and shotgun shells. The typical tool of the trade that our Club uses are these long handled tongs such as the one shown below. These are used in conjunction with a small basket at the end of a pole, whereby the brass/shells are deposited until taken to the ULT. Using this tool takes a lot of hand and eye coordination, and must be done in an expeditious manner. Searching for shells is a breeze; however, the elusive brass can be hard to find, especially if there are a lot of leaves and other brass left from previous shooters using the same range. A more expensive option is the brass retriever with roll cage separator shown below. These cost in the $40 - $60 range and appear on the surface as being a much better tool to use; however, no one in our club has one. The third option; which would require some pre-staging preparation, would be to use a rake to clear out the shooting areas on each of the stages. This would eliminate the leaves, debris and most of the prior brass and leave a fairly clean area for the Posse member to see where the current brass is located. In conclusion, I’d like to find out what your Club members use or do to make brass pick-up a more enjoyable task for those offering to assist in this task. Pole grabber tongs with Basket; Brass retriever with roll cage separator; Raking area prior to Match; Other suggestions. NOTE: For those New Members, who have not yet acquired their firearms, volunteering to pick up brass at local matches will allow the actual shooters to concentrate on their task, plus give you a birds-eye, front line view of the shooters, their firearms in action, and their style. After picking up brass/shells and taking same to the ULT you have the opportunity to be one-on-one with the shooter, should you have any questions. (Be sure not to interrupt them while they are having their firearms checked). This is how I learned a lot about CAS long before I actually became a shooter. Believe me, your Club will appreciate your efforts to assist. I know mine did.