Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933 Posted October 22, 2017 Share Posted October 22, 2017 After months of planning and with the temperatures finally dropping out of the 100s the construction season of Winter Range 2018 begins. Registrations are about 10% ahead of last year at this time so everyone is excited about the construction that will take place over the next several months. This year's theme is the movies of John Wayne. Several new props are being built and old ones repurposed. The first thing that has to be done is unload materials for the beginnings of the new props. A pair of new wagon wheels is also unloaded. The wheels will be part of the Stagecoach prop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933 Posted October 22, 2017 Author Share Posted October 22, 2017 One group starts going over the plans for a full size stagecoach, from the movie Stagecoach. Another group begins what will be a train station to go with the WR train for the movie The Train Robbers. Others are working on additons to the jail and building new props to be used as expediter postions. (The photos should be in order.) A new courthouse from True Grit is being built off-site and will be brought to the range in a few weeks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933 Posted October 22, 2017 Author Share Posted October 22, 2017 Colors are selected for the new props. The Ben Avery Shooting Facility does not like hay bales so additional fencing is being built so that fewer bales will be placed on the range. The work both on the range and at WR board members homes will continue right up until the match begins. Plans and schedules were drawn up months ago and even though this past weekend was in the high 90s and work knocked off a few hours early, everything will be ready for the beginning of the match on February 19, 2018. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mean gun mark Posted October 22, 2017 Share Posted October 22, 2017 winter aint even here yet...but I am already looking forward to winter break in sunny ariz. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheyenne Culpepper 32827 Posted October 23, 2017 Share Posted October 23, 2017 thanks to all for all of your hard work!! it is appreciated x 100000000000000000000000000 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twelve mile REB Posted October 23, 2017 Share Posted October 23, 2017 Yes indeed. Thank You for all you do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rancho Roy Posted October 23, 2017 Share Posted October 23, 2017 Simply amazed at the work that goes into putting on one of these matches. Thank You! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Palo Verde, SASS # 56522 Posted October 23, 2017 Share Posted October 23, 2017 All these people, and all their ideas and work is why Winter Range is the largest cowboy action shooting match in the World! You ain't seen the elephant or heard the owl until you've shot Winter Range Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oklahoma Dee Posted October 23, 2017 Share Posted October 23, 2017 Incredible. Every Year it is something new, different and grandier. Many thanks to the minds and hands that create this match. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLACKFOOT SASS #11947 Posted October 23, 2017 Share Posted October 23, 2017 9 hours ago, Palo Verde, SASS # 56522 said: All these people, and all their ideas and work is why Winter Range is the largest cowboy action shooting match in the World! You ain't seen the elephant or heard the owl until you've shot Winter Range 1 hour ago, Oklahoma Dee said: Incredible. Every Year it is something new, different and grandier. Many thanks to the minds and hands that create this match. These shooters speak the truth! I have seen the elephant and heard the owl, am planning to go in '18 for my 13th consecutive year. Blackfoot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shooting Bull Posted October 23, 2017 Share Posted October 23, 2017 Filling out my application right now. I've been practicing REAL hard on not falling down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933 Posted October 23, 2017 Author Share Posted October 23, 2017 5 hours ago, Shooting Bull said: Filling out my application right now. I've been practicing REAL hard on not falling down. We now have actual paramedics on-site rather than the EMT's the Sheriff's Office use to provide. So we are ready for you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuckaroo #13080 Regulator Posted October 23, 2017 Share Posted October 23, 2017 Simply an awesome, I mean really awesome, operation and event with an incredible group of workers!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirt Slider Posted October 24, 2017 Share Posted October 24, 2017 Thanks Larson for the updates. Exciting! Can't wait. Looking forward to our eighth year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad Dog Jack, SASS #77862 Posted October 24, 2017 Share Posted October 24, 2017 Man-o-man, it is truly impressive the amount of work that is put into that match! Year after year, always a great match, always a great time. Wish I could get there again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackaroo, # 29989 Posted October 24, 2017 Share Posted October 24, 2017 We have to spend some time out of the country for visa requirements so we won't make it this year......unless our visa change status is through in time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nasty Nels Posted November 20, 2017 Share Posted November 20, 2017 Larsen: How is the progress on WR 2018? Inquiring minds want to know. NN Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snakebite Posted November 20, 2017 Share Posted November 20, 2017 On 10/23/2017 at 8:48 PM, Mad Dog Jack, SASS #77862 said: Man-o-man, it is truly impressive the amount of work that is put into that match! Year after year, always a great match, always a great time. Wish I could get there again! Steve, I wish you could get there again too. No doubt that it is one of, if not the best CAS matches in the Game. I shall miss not being there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheyenne Culpepper 32827 Posted November 21, 2017 Share Posted November 21, 2017 to me,,, this is THE championship match!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rattlesnake Slim Posted November 21, 2017 Share Posted November 21, 2017 3 hours ago, Nasty Nels said: Larsen: How is the progress on WR 2018? Inquiring minds want to know. NN Larsen was out at the WR work party on Sunday. He was taking lots of pictures for you all. I'm sure he'll be posting an update soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragon Hill Dave #59561 Posted November 21, 2017 Share Posted November 21, 2017 Looks great. If the theme is John Wayne, please let us say some famous lines to start the stage. Nothing gets you ready like a "Fill your hand, you SOB!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Augustus Goodnight Posted November 21, 2017 Share Posted November 21, 2017 2 hours ago, Dragon Hill Dave #59561 said: Looks great. If the theme is John Wayne, please let us say some famous lines to start the stage. Nothing gets you ready like a "Fill your hand, you SOB!" OR "Snakes like you usually die of their own poison." OR "Don’t say it's a fine morning or I'll shoot ya." OR "I've got a touch of hangover, bureaucrat. Don't push me." Oh, I could go on all day...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LostVaquero Posted November 22, 2017 Share Posted November 22, 2017 Always a BIG THANK YOU to volunteers that put these events on. Winter Range is on my radar but need to get a few state ones in the notches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933 Posted November 22, 2017 Author Share Posted November 22, 2017 OK, after a couple of weeks of convalescing it's time to start posting some updates with a few shots of this past weekend's work party. Winter Range builds several new props each year to keep things interesting for the shooters and we have bascially filled up a large storage yard. So, several fronts had to be moved to make room for new construction and to get access to other props and fronts. The first photo is a trailer moving some fronts so access could be gained to fronts futher back in the storage containers. The fronts on this trailer are the SASS HQ and part of the main tent facade. The next photo is looking over part of the "Lago" town that was set up for WR 2017. This covered four stages with everything painted red. Some of these were new props that were planned to be reused for 2018 so the first thing to be done for this year is to begin changing the colors. (Third photo.) There are hundreds of small "ambiance props" that decorate the range. Every year many are given facelifts to keep them looking fresh. (Photo four.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933 Posted November 22, 2017 Author Share Posted November 22, 2017 This year's theme is the movies of John Wayne and the movie that launched his career as an "A" lister was Stagecoach. A full size stage coach is being built that should be quite entertaining for the shooters to shoot out of. (How this will be done will become clear as construction progresses.) Photo one shows the basic chasis being started. Photo two has one of the irons that will hold the leather straps that will support the coach body. In the good old days the leather straps allowed the coach body to move and absorb some of the shock from the trail. Photo three shows the beginning of the construction of the coach body by another group. Every stage coach has to have a strong box so one is being built. Photo four. Ultimately it will have iron reinforcements like the originals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933 Posted November 22, 2017 Author Share Posted November 22, 2017 The primary ingredient in any shooting competition is targets. Winter Range cycles new steel into the mix every year so that cratered, bent, or damaged reactive targets are not used. This year all the plates on the various plate racks are being replaced. (Photo one.) Lots of new shotgun targets are being purchased and many new CAS and WB targets are being acquired. Looks like they will be needed as things are progressing faster this year than last year. The shooter numbers are approaching 600 and registrations are about 70 ahead of this same time last year. The WB match has almost 100 shooters thus far. The CAS match typically sells out by mid-December and WR tries to keep the number between 750 and 800. Anything more makes the posses to big. (12 stages times three waves is 36 posses. 36 posses times 20 shooters on each posse equals 720. Each additional posse member adds 36 to the total number of shooters. So, e.g., 21 posse members equals 756 shooters.) The WB match typically has about 125 shooters. The stages are done and the shooter handbook is being set up for printing. One large prop is being built off-site by Swiss Kid. He is the master craftsman that has built, for example, the Riverboat and the Grand Hotel. This year he is working on a Court House. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Eye Jim Posted November 22, 2017 Share Posted November 22, 2017 I wish I could make it this year. It looks exciting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MizPete Posted November 22, 2017 Share Posted November 22, 2017 Just once, 'fore I die, lemme go to Winter Range. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boothill Bandit, SASS# 48598 Posted November 22, 2017 Share Posted November 22, 2017 Larsen, You guys are amazing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBFields Posted November 23, 2017 Share Posted November 23, 2017 Blackjak, lookin good! Nice work guys, hopefully will be able to join the fun when get there in January! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nasty Nels Posted November 23, 2017 Share Posted November 23, 2017 Larsen. Thanks for the update. I know there will be no one who isn't impressed with the stages, props and match. Cant wait for February to get here. NN Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nine Toe Joe #25190 Posted December 5, 2017 Share Posted December 5, 2017 Hat's off to the AZ Territorial Rangers, the folks that help make it all happen. This is an extremely dedicated group of fine individuals that have chosen to give back extra to our sport and shooting friends. We are blessed to have them all, any match would be blessed to have just one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shamrock Sadie Posted December 6, 2017 Share Posted December 6, 2017 Looking forward to seeing all of these Winter Range updates, Larsen! Definitely lots of work and coordination going into this match. The match is really just around the corner and will be here before we know it. Yes haw! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nine Toe Joe #25190 Posted December 6, 2017 Share Posted December 6, 2017 Will be here before we know...A trurer statement could not be said, lots left to do! Isn't Larsen AWESOME in how he keeps everybody informed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933 Posted December 20, 2017 Author Share Posted December 20, 2017 Been out of the country for the past two weeks. Landed on Sunday and drove directly out to the range so I could snap some photos and provide some updates. First up is the full size stagecoach prop. The first photo shows the frame with the straps that will support the coach body. The originals were leather. These are nylon but will be died brown once the final dimensions are established. The second photo shows the coach body starting to take shape. The third photo is a shot of the door being tested for fit. Finally, the coach wheels are getting some paint to match the color scheme on the coach. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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