Buffalo Dick WB

I talked to Jack, the Sgt. York will be two stages with about 25 rifle and "seven mags" of pistol-I assume that's 49. There will be a Wild Bunch mini match and a BAMM side match as well. BAMM is still in the works but targets will range between 75 and 175 yards-no jacketed ammo.

If you are talking about the side match at Guns of August, it does involve a BAMM type rifle and 1911. Last year it involved 10-15 rifle rounds (memory fails me) and three mags in the 1911. The rifle ranges last year were from about 20 yards to maybe 45, so its more of an action type event. There is no shotgun. It was scored like a normal WB stage with 5 sec penalty for a miss, 10 for a P. I'll be talking to Blackjack Beeson in the next day or so and I'll see if I can get something more specific. I don't know if anyone else is shooting this type of event anywhere, all I know about is GOA.

I've only shot a couple of BAMM matches so far. In the midwest, it seems that we're going to be using only cast bullets at 1600 fps or less, which is fine by me. Most matches will probably be at not much more than 100yards. What are you seeing as far as the typical match for round count, target distances, sizes and scenario? At the Ohio state BAMM side match we shot sitting/rest although one could stand if he/she wanted. The three targets were at 75, 90 and 105 yards and appeared left to right with the 75 yard target on the left, 90 in the middle and 105 on the right. The shooter started with five in the magazine and bolt open. At the beep the shooter shot the targets 75-90-105-90-75 three times, reloading as necessary. The majority of the shooters who had their own rifles cleaned the 15 targets as did a few of the novices who used the loaner rifle and ammo available. Everyone was smiling. Just curious what other scenarios folks were using or seeing.

In the "official rules" post it reads: "It is scored by the most hits in the fastest time." I take that to mean that 15 hits always beats 14 hits even if the shooter with 14 hits was (for example) 20 seconds faster, correct? Time is just a tie-breaker? Or is it scored like many other shooting competitions (including CAS) where a miss adds a time penalty?

I've only shot one BAMM match and haven't even seen any others. I'd like to get something started around here (southwest Ohio) and need some ideas. The one match I did shoot was a side match at this year's Illinois State WB match and was their first effort at BAMM as far as I know. The course of fire was one stage with three targets at 85 yards, the range was partially flooded or it would have been 100 yards. The shooter shot from a bench using a supplied rest and shot three Indiana sweeps (1-2-3-2-1) starting on either end. The shooter started rifle empty although he could have a loaded stirpper clip in the slot in the receiver. Most of the shooters shot clean and fastest time won. What scenarios are you seeing? I assume distances and shooting positions will vary, any suggestions on distance, target size etc. would be appreciated. We'll probably start this as a side match at monthly matches with limited time available. BTW, I was one of the shooters who did not clean the targets in Illinois, missing 6 out of 15 :-[. I had not gotten my rifle zeroed and the distance marks on the sight in no way correlate when using cast bullets. Once someone told me where I was hitting (WAY low) I cleaned the remaining targets. I still had a blast.

I have four rifles suitable for BAMM competition. I just tried my hand at loading for these matches. I've been reading all the threads on the WB Wire and elsewhere and was a little discouraged at the reports of bullets going sideways, twelve foot groups, trying twenty different loads etc. I had also tried some borrowed non gas-checked loads with less than stellar results. For my Remington Model of 1917 in .30-06, I used the .310"170gr Hy Tek gas-checked bullets sold by Norm Purcella. I used the "universal load" of 16gr of 2400. I had some used Federal commercial brass that I trimmed and chamfered. My dies were Lee and I used the Lee expander die that is not highly regarded in the posts I've read. I also used a lowly Lee turret press that I keep around for low volume loading. I do intend to get the Lyman M die ultimately but I was trying to get my feet wet. My first (and only) three shot group at fifty yards was 7/8" about 1 1/2" high with the sight set at 600 yards. I had shot a BAMM match at Sparta and had tried some borrowed ammo, so I had learned about the sight setting. The light was failing and it was starting to rain so I didn't have time to fire any more groups or move to the 100 yard range. I had an improvised rest (ammo box) and was having trouble seeing so I'm sure the rifle will do better. Needless to say, I was delighted and excited! I have Norm's bullets for my Swedish Mauser, my Spanish 8mm Mauser and my No. 4, Mk2 Enfield and am looking forward to trying those as well.

Don't forget that in the movie the gang only wore their military garb in the opening scenes, for most of the movie they were dressed cowboy. I shoot every Wild Bunch match I can but, for now, I just wear cowboy clothes. I'll probably work up a military costume some day but that's a relatively low priority.

My Enfield was produced in 1954 and had been arsenal refurbished at some point. The front sight was wrapped with protective adhesive tape that was yellowed, dried out and cracked-I'm pretty sure it had never been out of the crate after the refurb. The vendor had crates of rifles of all kinds in vg-exc. condition. I hand-picked mine out of a crate of similar, all very nice Enfields. This was common back then. I also bought a crate of Brit .303 ammo in the "sardine cans." The ammo was Greek, non-corrosive boxer primed in stripper clips and bandoliers headstamped HXP. As I recall, the crate was 600 rounds and cost $80. I still have one of the two cans-unopened.

There was a BAMM side match at the Illinois state WB match. Due to rather lousy weather there were some WB cancellations and I think just under 30 shooters shot WB. I believe there were about 14 entrants in the BAMM match-a pretty good percentage. The match consisted of three 16" targets at 85 yards shot from a table with the shooter doing three Nevada sweeps starting with a stripper clip in the receiver but no rounds in the magazine. The target size and range were limited by what was available. The predominent rifle was the Springfield o3-a3 with a couple of 03's. I saw one Swedish Mauser model 96, an Enfield No.1,mkIII and I shot a Remington Model of 1917. Obviously, a majority of the shooters cleaned the run with the winner determined by time. My decision to try it was a last minute thing; I was using borrowed ammo that may not have been a good fit for my rifle and I really didn't get it sighted in. I think I missed six targets but after someone told me I was hitting low, I cleaned the remaining targets. It appears my rifle will be "on" at 100 yards, with BAMM loads, with a 600 yard(!) sight setting. I thought there was something wrong with my rifle or sights until I heard another shooter comment that his sights were set at 600 yards as well. I'm in the process of getting and testing components to load for this rifle. Everyone shooting the BAMM match seemed to have a great time. I'm shooting a local WB match this weekend. While I don't have any cast bullet loads yet, I might take some of my rifles to the match just for show and tell and to talk up BAMM.

Thinking back, I believe the bullets in the rounds I used may have been designed to accept gas checks but were not fitted with them. I had cleaned the copper from the barrel, it took the better part of three days, and 'Stuffer cleaned it with Remington 40x bore cleaner just to be sure. I'm certain there was no copper fouling left. I guess I'll try to find a vendor selling suitable bullets with gas checks. I'll probably cast my own once I settle on a bullet design and diameter. I'll probably try the .310 or .311" with gas check to see how they work before investing in moulds and sizing dies. I've started the process of removing copper fouling from my Enfield and my model 38 Swedish Mauser (Husqvarna 1942) as well. I also have a Spanish Mauser model 43 in 8mm that I'll get to sooner or later-life is good. All of my rifles were purchased about 20 years ago and have very good bores. The quality available back then was much better than most of what I see today and the prices were ridiculous, Enfield $89, Swede $119, Spanish Mauser $140 and 1917 $200. None are for sale! Thanks for the replies.

Tried one match at Illinois state and I'm hooked, I do have a couple of questions. I have a Remington Model of 1917 made July, 1918. My rifle has the five groove original barrel stamped 4-18. I can't slug and measure the five groove barrel, does any one shoot one of these who can suggest the best bullet diameter to use? I did try some ammo that Shell Stuffer had loaded using .310" bullets with gas checks. We were getting some leading initially (just under 1500 fps) but the next day after a thorough cleaning, I shot the fifteen shot match. I was still hitting the targets with the last shots and had very little leading when I cleaned the rifle later. I think a bit larger bullet might eliminate the leading but wanted to hear from anyone else who may be shooting a 1917. I also have an Enfield No. 4 mk II. The mkII's were introduced in the fifties although they differ only slightly from the mkI's used in WWII. The rules allow a "close copy" of a qualifying rifle in competition. Is my No.4 mkII a legal Bamm rifle?

An excellent match put on by some folks who are passionate about WBAS. I had a great weekend.

Well, Sunshine Kay notified me that I am the first one on the waiting list so I guess I am #134. I'm in if there is a cancellation or no-show. I'm going to come prepared and keep my fingers crossed. I'll be the one looking like a hurt puppy that morning if the current 133 all show.

That's me in the picture. I showed the gun was cleared and empty to the other shooters and it is actually angled forward away from the other shooters and not pointed at anyone. Hairless is a nice guy and I wouldn't want to shoot him! I've been in lots of posse pictures with people holding guns that have been cleared and which are not pointed at anyone-this is one of them.

I think we just need to have regular matches and work harder to promote the sport. I think the rules are fine and shouldn't be easily changed without compelling evidence that a rule change would have a significant change in participation without overly diluting the game. I've heard the complaint about not loading seven in the magazine, but I seriously doubt that changing that would result in a significant increase in participants. Same thing with the power factor, present legal loads are not what I would call stout and I would hate to see the race to the bottom that we've seen in CAS loads over the years. Most all WBAS shooters come from CAS and we often use target arrays set up for cowboy action, with stages written by people who write CAS stages. Five in a mag works well. Non-WBAS sports utilizing the 1911 usually permit tactical reloads as well-do we want to go there? One of the interesting things about CAS and, to a lessor degree, WBAS, is that for many shooters, this is their first shooting sport and they are not really "gun people." I would bet we would see a lot more penalties, both procedural and safety, if we went to seven rounds. We had a WB side match at the Ohio State match two weeks ago and had two full posses and everyone had a blast. Another shooter and I were even talking about how it is a bit more challenging to shoot a big bore rifle than a .38 and how we liked that. I suspect that there are a lot of big bore rifles sitting around that could be bought since a lot of shooters started with .45's and later went to the more competitive .38. In any event, assembling the equipment for WBAS is a lot cheaper than say, Classic Cowboy. WB isn't for everyone but I think a lot of shooters would like it if they tried it. I personally would prefer a smaller match with like minded shooters, than a larger watered down "WB Lite" shooting "whatever," but that's just me. Back 40, I had really hoped to make the Illinois state match at Sparta, but a local club was having a WB match that same weekend and I wanted to support the local club. Sorry, I missed it.