Buckshot Frank Posted December 19, 2011 Share Posted December 19, 2011 I shot my '73 in a Steel Challenge match on Saturday. There were a couple of other cowboys there, so we had our own little competition. I hate to use the P word, but it was fantastic practice. Smaller target (mostly 8" plates) at about 10-25 yards. For those who haven't shot in a steel match, there are 5 targets per stage, one being the stop plate. You can shoot them in any order (with the stop plate being last). You shoot each of the five stages five times, so you shoot more than double the rifle rounds of a standard CAS match. It was a fun way to practice. It is also a great way to expose other shooters to our game! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrimstoneJerome Posted December 19, 2011 Share Posted December 19, 2011 Very cool sir. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Fill 'Em 67797 Posted December 19, 2011 Share Posted December 19, 2011 How'd you do? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buckshot Frank Posted December 19, 2011 Author Share Posted December 19, 2011 How'd you do? Better than expected. I finished 2nd out of 3 in the "Cowboy Rifle" division. Overall, all three of us finished ahead of the majority of the pistol shooters. I also shot rimfire pistol, and again finished middle of the pack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Throckmorton,23149 Posted December 19, 2011 Share Posted December 19, 2011 I hear of this type of match across the river,in Portland,Or,. I plan to attend the next one,from what Pards tell me,it's a hoot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokin Gator SASS #29736 Posted December 19, 2011 Share Posted December 19, 2011 Do they have any other rifle categories? Steel Challenge is usually handguns only. Ruger Rimfire matches are similar to Steel Challenge stages with both .22 cal handguns and rifles being used. Smokin Gator Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Shapiro Posted December 19, 2011 Share Posted December 19, 2011 Steel Challenge is an outstanding set of stages to use for revolver practice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buckshot Frank Posted December 19, 2011 Author Share Posted December 19, 2011 Do they have any other rifle categories? Steel Challenge is usually handguns only. Ruger Rimfire matches are similar to Steel Challenge stages with both .22 cal handguns and rifles being used. Smokin Gator Only pistol caliber (or .22LR) carbine/rifles can be used. Other than us cowboys shooting the '73s, the only other rifles I saw being used were AR's chambered in .22LR. Doc S- I thought about shooting my revolvers also, but I didn't want to slow everybody down with the reloading time. I feel bad enough about reloading the '73. I didn't want to double up on slow-to-reload guns. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MayEyeRider Posted December 19, 2011 Share Posted December 19, 2011 Hey Buckshot Frank did you get beat by a girl????? :wub: :wub: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coffee Pot SASS#55659 Posted December 19, 2011 Share Posted December 19, 2011 This sounds fun. Is it at Antelope? And when is the next one? CP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abe E.S. Corpus SASS #87667 Posted December 20, 2011 Share Posted December 20, 2011 A local club recently started Steel Challenge and I shot the December match with a borrowed Buckmark in the rimfire iron sight match. I finished second in my category (a distant second to be sure). The host range is "pistols only" (not even rimfire rifles are allowed) but I was thinking it would be fun to shoot with the '73. I brought my cowboy revolvers and holsters thinking I would probably win the cowboy revolver class being the only person in it (I was right about being the only one). Most of the shooters were using autoloaders with five preloaded magazines and I was a little reluctant to slow down the squad loading and unloading my RNVs. Before I left I re-ran one stage with my Rugers. My solution to speed it up a little was to put a bucket at my feet to drop my empties into. I kept a full ammo box on the table to my left. If I do it again I might charge the chambers as I empty them. At the time though I just cleared all the chambers as if I were at the ULT. I like shooting small plates on occasion with my cowboy guns. Definitely a change of pace. The distance to targets was longer; one Steel Challenge stage had the stop plate at 35 yards (at least it was a large rectangular target). Steel Challenge rules allow loading six chambers. That means you get only one miss or you have to holster and draw the second gun. It reminded me that I need to "paper" my guns again and grind my front sights (they shoot a little low with my usual 105 grain bullets). Next month I might shoot a rimfire the first time out and then shoot a full second round with the cowboy guns. Entry fee for second gun is half price. It was interesting to see what people shoot. Kind of like seeing all the Western guns at my first cowboy match. One of the "top guns" seems to be 1911 frame topped with a Marvel Unit 1 conversion and a good quality optical sight. Easily costs as much as a short stroked '73. People were fairly friendly; as a mentioned I was shooting a borrowed gun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buckshot Frank Posted December 20, 2011 Author Share Posted December 20, 2011 Hey Buckshot Frank did you get beat by a girl????? :wub: :wub: Sure did. But I'm sure that you must have been cheating or something... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kougarok George Posted December 20, 2011 Share Posted December 20, 2011 We have one every other month. I shoot my ROA's with conversion clyinders dualist. Yes the 8" round target are a challenge. Anytime I can beat a two handed shooter I feel pretty good. I have thought about showing with my 73 as I would be the only one. I think I could give those semi auto pistol shooters a good go with my rifle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boggus Deal #64218 Posted December 20, 2011 Share Posted December 20, 2011 I've been shooting the Ruger Rimfire Challenge Cowboy catagory for a few years now and it is a blast! Very similar to Steel Challenge but strictly rimfire. Very good practice and lots of fun! Very inexpensive, also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swift Stoney 49735 Posted December 22, 2011 Share Posted December 22, 2011 I found Steel Challenge great practice for Cowboy shooting. It forces you to get on both the front and back sights, not just the front sights as most of us typically are guilty of doing. The other amazing thing is the lack of work involved. It takes little or not time to set up and tear down. Plus, during the match, the most you do is paint targets between shooters, time or record scores. Since I was the "new guy" nothing but painting targets fell my way. I felt almost lazy out there and was tempted to start picking up 22 hulls just for something to do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buckshot Frank Posted December 23, 2011 Author Share Posted December 23, 2011 I found Steel Challenge great practice for Cowboy shooting. It forces you to get on both the front and back sights, not just the front sights as most of us typically are guilty of doing. The other amazing thing is the lack of work involved. It takes little or not time to set up and tear down. Plus, during the match, the most you do is paint targets between shooters, time or record scores. Since I was the "new guy" nothing but painting targets fell my way. I felt almost lazy out there and was tempted to start picking up 22 hulls just for something to do. I know what you mean; I felt the same way. I accidently arrived about 1/2 hour early, so I set up two stages. It didn't take any time at all, and there wasn't much to do while not shooting during the match. Us cowboy shooters picked up each other's brass, but nobody else bothered to pick up their brass. I ended up staying after the match and filled my range bag with 9mm and .40 brass. Coffee Pot- It was at the Antelope Club. The matches are held on the 3rd Saturday of every month. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Shapiro Posted December 23, 2011 Share Posted December 23, 2011 FWIW, I've long advocated Steel Challenge stages for revolver practice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coffee Pot SASS#55659 Posted December 23, 2011 Share Posted December 23, 2011 Thanks Frank. I'll plan to attend so MayEye can beat up on me too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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