All Activity

My Ariats (which I bought because they have a spur ledge) are as sneaker based as they get. They are boot shaped objects, yet they look like traditionally constructed cowboy boots as much as anything. Packers are also legal in any category, and while conventionally constructed, they aren't "movie cowboy" boots by any stretch. And there are a ton of leather or faux leather sneakers that people wear all the time, just pick a color leather comes in. I had knee surgery a few years ago so I feel your pain.

WBAS SHB Pg 21 "All types of athletic shoes or combat boots, no matter the material from which they are constructed. Note: Period military boots with non-grip enhancing soles if appropriate for the costume are legal for Wild Bunch Action Shooting."

One challenge is that the line between an “athletic shoe” and a lace-up work boot/hiking boot is pretty blurry.

I saw that language. The way I read it, if boots are worn they must conform to the rule that lists prohibited items. George Baylor wrote an article about Wild Bunch costuming that includes a photo of an army issued leather “walking shoe”. Not a boot, but legal under the general costuming language “typical of the late 19th and early 20th century”. See also the next sentence about “Edwardian period fashion” which would not be limited to boots.

WBAS SHB Pg 5 "Boots must be SASS legal."

There are no wild bunch footwear requirements other than that "athletic shoes" and "combat boots" are not allowed.. There is no rule that boots are required. And in most of CAS, there are no footwear requirements other than these two stipulations, either. Many people wear sneaker based shoes and nobody says anything.

Better than that full bottles on our raffle prize table. The double oak is like 102 proof and smooth, very good.

Stages are not yet posted but check the website as the date approaches. www.beltonbushwhackers.com

Boots are not required in Wild Bunch. If you choose to wear boots they must be SASS legal. There are plenty of other types of footware that are appropriate. That’s before we consider allowances for medical reasons.

I run a 19 pound hammer spring as I have had light strikes with CCI primers with a 17, only with large pistol though. 17 pops everything in small pistol.

nice! samples at the match?

In 15 years of building Wild Bunch guns, anything less than 16# give trouble; not returning to battery, not enough force to fully chamber with a full magazine, broken firing pin springs(which lead to firing pin stops falling out), etc… 16-17# have never failed to cycle fully. Never seen a dip when the slide closed. And this is with a lot of one handed shooters of the weaker persuasion. Seen plenty of dip when some jerk the trigger. Poor videography but this is with a 230 gr at 720-725 with 17# recoil and hammer springs. IMG_0973.mov

Get a dr.s note. Exceptions are made.

There is a rule about boots being required. I wear a brace that helps prevent drop foot, but it only works with my shoes. Is this ok or am I forbidden to shoot Wild Bunch at big events?

My combinations are the choice of Single Stack and IPSC Classic division shooters in something like 60 countries. There were something like 230 shooters at the (all 1911) match I was at in Mesa the weekend before EoT, I would be willing to bet that not a single one of them had a 16 pound recoil spring in their gun. And the PF there is 165 for major (USPSA) and 170 in IPSC.

I just speak from experience and results. These combinations have won dozens of state, regional, national and world Wild Bunch championships. Your combinations? How did they do at EOT this year?

Both of those are much hotter than I will be loading. That's about where I am now with my current load, I run a 14 pound spring with that. Most everyone was running 12.5 and even 10 pound springs in .40 S&W limited guns 20+ years ago with 180s at 950+. My slide was lightened, many are not though. I have been running a 14 pound spring with 170+ PF ammo for 40,000 rounds through my .45 without breaking anything. Basically nobody in IPSC or USPSA is running a 16 pound spring, that is the spring for factory 195 pf ammo. Going down from a 14 to a 12.5 is a small jump for me. I run a 10 pound in a 9mm with 130 pf ammo, 12.5 is the next step up from there. A 16-17 pound spring is massive overkill for 150 PF ammo. Maybe not enough to cause the gun to short stroke (but maybe), but like most factory guns, massively oversprung. Literally the first thing I do when I get a 1911 is remove all the springs and replace them with lighter ones. A stiffer spring stores more energy in both directions, which goes right into your wrists in recoil and slams the front sight down when the slide closes.

And if you are foolish enough to go down to the 12 1/2# recoil spring, stock up on firing pin springs. You will start breaking them. Remember, if you speed up the slide in opening, you will slow its closing velocity. And vice versa. With a 230 at 725, a 16-17# spring combo is just about perfect.

From several thousands of rounds of testing, a 230 grain at 725 fps is faster shot to shot than a 200 grain at 800+. The gun stays down and is less snappy.

The benefit to a lighter weight bullet is to get more slide speed at the same power factor. 150 pf is pretty low for 45 Auto. I am going to try some 200 grain bullets this year for that same reason. I have had much better luck with round nose bullets in my 1911s, so if my 200 grain SWCs don't have the reliability I'm hoping for, I will be shooting a true 230 grain round nose bullet, which is historically what I've shot in Wild Bunch. I am going to be backing them down a bit as the ammunition I was shooting last year was loaded to ~170 pf. I had backed it down some from my typical load but I'm going to lighter springs and a significantly lighter load this year and dropping down to a 12.5 pound recoil spring. If you're shooting a stock 1911 with a 23 pound main and 16 pound recoil spring, you're going to want to load to a higher power factor, as the 1911 is designed for 195 power factor ammunition. I recommend the fastest powder you have in inventory, in this case, Titegroup, although many people say not to use it with coated bullets. I have not ever loaded Titegroup in anything so take this advice for what you paid for it. I was using Clays powder last year, I may continue to do that if I have enough left or switch to Clean Shot or WST.

Great advice above! I would also add, only load a few rounds, then test them in your gun. If all cycle well, THEN go back and mass produce. The last thing you want is 500+ rounds loaded and realize you have a problem in that particular 1911 and have to start pulling bullets. I have a new custom 1911 that simply won't cycle the ammo I use for my older 1911's. Totes

The Saginaw Showdown is proud to announce Winchester Bourbon as one of our sponsors for the 2026 Michigan Wild Bunch State Championship. I have personally been to the distillery and sampled both the original and doubled oak. The bottle itself is a great display piece. Bottles can be purchased and shipped directly. Visit www.winchesterbourbon.com for more info. Come shoot with us and try to win some from our prize table. Applications now available.

New sponsor alert: Winchester Bourbon located in Michigan is now a sponsor for SASS presents Saginaw Showdown 2026 Michigan Wild Bunch State Championship June 13-14th. Applications now available.

The blued barrel is new and the NM barrel is as new. It has been fired but it is like new. $100 each shipped. NM barrel is sold

Ok... if you're trying to load SPs into normal 45 Auto brass, I can see a looming issue. Staying within the recommended dosages, I can't foresee a problem with loosening primer pockets. Unlike Joe or Boggus, I don't think I've ever met a 45 Auto case I didn't like. Well... until it starts getting torn up by the extractor.