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Yes, chonographing the ammo seemed to have more importance "in the old days."

A few years back, this year's EoT Overall WB winner, German shooter HellHound, was DQd, after the factory ammo that he bought here in the states was found to be just under PF. Sigh. FJT

how many are signed up for the Wild Bunch State Match? What categories are going to be offered?

I would recommend your function check after any tuning/repair or every couple of years of use. On a safe outdoor range, load a mag with 1 round, a couple with 2 rounds, and several full mags. When time to test "proper disconnector" function, shoot them in that order. Be ready to control gun with two hands after the first mag. If you have any doubles (or worse), fix it better. There often is no place at a match to do this kind of test. Nor time to conduct it, nor time to fix it. Bring a working gun and working ammo to a Wild Bunch match! good luck, GJ

I was checking out a fancy Springfield for a friend about 20 years ago. Not always, but most of the time it would empty the mag! Told him not to buy it as I had no idea what the issue was. He bought it anyway as he thought that was pretty cool. Me, not so much!

Thankfully, I’ve never had it happen.

And boy can it empty a mag in a hurry!!

In the past I have done the testing and weighing of 1911's and chronographing of ammo at WR. kR

Credit 2001 D. Kamm m1911.org DISCONNECTOR TEST: Slide forward, hammer back, thumb safety OFF. Grip gun normally with firing hand, while pulling slide back 1/4" with support hand. Pull trigger. Hammer should not fall. Repeat test by pulling slide all the way back, then releasing it slowly, pulling trigger every 1/2" of slide movement. The hammer should NOT fall until the slide has returned to the full forward position. If it does then the disconnector is worn. DO NOT fire the pistol until it is repaired, or else it may possibly go into firing uncontrollable bursts or go completely "full-auto".

Because it would be real obvious…

Wondering why it has never been required to test functionality of this. Grip and Thumb have been the only required testing.

I have seen safety checks and ammo pulled and some tested. I don't have a problem with that being done...and it probably should be done...along with weighing pistols. I think that really at checkin...pistols should be weighed and the grip safety checked. During the match...random samples of ammo pulled and at least some of it checked.

Hi Rick! Sounds awesome, I wish we could make it. But we will be in Slovakia for D.O.T. Take care, CC

The disconnector is there for more than that. It prevents it from firing out of battery and from going full auto.

I check all the safeties every time my 1911's are put back together after cleaning. kR

The disconnector aka "John Wayne" safety, is a silly thing to test for Wild Bunch. There should never be an instance where pushing the muzzle against something hard, to keep it from firing, would ever be acceptable.

Every EOT WB held at Founders Ranch had random rifle and pistol ammo from "random" shooters pulled and tested for meeting the +150 PF level. I know from personal experience as I attended all of those matches. And usually there were weight checks and functioning safeties tested. Some of those I conducted or supervised. Even if no thumb safety application is practiced at any WB match I've been in. good luck, GJ

What was really bad was when SASS sold ammo that didn’t meet power factor when it was tested..

It's used when there is an appearance of PF failure. At the old WR, it was used every day, every year. Random shooter, one or two per posse, had to submit ammo in ziplocks to be tested. Happened the same way at the older 4 Corners Regionals. Happened, for cause, at a 4 corners regional as well. Shooter had to change ammo. PF was so low it wasn't cycling his 1911.

I guess I never really considered that to be an actual chronograph procedure because 1) it is not required at any level of match and 2) it doesn't really include any safeguards to ensure the equipment is reliable or even the testing is reliable. Which is probably why I have never seen a chrono at any SASS competition. An effective test procedure requires that scales and chronos be calibrated and usually multiple units are used to ensure accuracy. Nobody wants to ruin a major match for someone based on faulty information. I did pucker a little bit when my ammo only went 127 at my most recent match though. Chronoed 134 at home, and 133 out of another 9mm on Friday, only to barely make it on Saturday. I bet I won't do that again. That was with calibrated scales, two radar based chronographs, and a longer barrel!

A few years ago at the NV state match, it WAS done. I do not have statistics, but I would venture many (less than 1/2) ever done a safety test. Especially after a full cleaning. And I doubt many shooters know how to do a disconnector test.

WBAS Shb Pg 13 says "Thumb and grip safeties must function correctly" However, there is no procedure or requirement to check the safety for function. That would fall under Match Directors Discretion. I remember, years ago, at Winter Range, every shooter had to weigh their pistol, with and without mag, and show the safeties to be functional, on one stage. Haven't seen either of those in a long time.

The 2026 Illinois State WB Championship will be held as part of the 2026 Illinois State SASS Championship match to be held in Milan, IL from July 15 - 19, 2026. Match information and applications can be found here WB is 8 stages, 5 on Wednesday and 3 on Thursday with lunch and awards to follow. Hope to see you there! Cowboy Rick

No one ever has done official "function checks" in that detail at a WB match. While it may be critical to buying a gun, it's not IMO critical to shooting a match safely. We have a whole bay full of safety officers watching the shooter, and able to stop the action if they see a serious safety problem. The test of a working grip safety and thumb safety has been part of the rules compliance testing of 1911s (along with weight, parts and modifications falling within rules, etc). I was a TO at a major WB match several years ago and issued two Stage DQs on the same stage to a very careless shooter (second one after a Cease Fire had been put in place). Neither was a failure of 1911 function. I think the real safety concern at matches needs to remain "Is the shooter following good safe gun handling". Just like we do now. good luck, GJ

Who does a function check at matches? https://www.m1911.org/technic25.htm The disconnector test is REALLY critical.