Garrison Joe

I can tell you what we just shot at 2019 EOT. Because I organized this on short notice while at the match. We had three heavy AR500 targets that are angled at 45 degrees from vertical, and several competitors had brought jacketed ammo, so we once again shot BAMM on one of the cowboy bays. Three 16" diameter targets were set at 70-75 yards, with about five feet separating them. Either jacketed (including FMJ) or lead bullets were allowed. The stage was shot as follows: A timed bench rest or shooting sticks pass with five rounds. Followed by an "unsupported" position pass with five rounds. Positions permitted were standing, sitting or kneeling, with use of a military sling allowed if desired. Each pass was timed separately, then the raw times, misses, penalties from both passes were added to give a total time. Pass 1: Benchrest from sandbags, or from a range-provided simple benchrest stand, or using elbow support from bench, or from shooter-provided shooting sticks. Action open, 5 rounds loaded in magazine, and on beep, fire a Nevada sweep starting from an end target for five rounds. Pass 2: Commercial rifle shooting mat provided for shooters to use during this pass. Shooter allowed to assume their desired shooting position with rifle held in hands, action open, NO rounds loaded in magazine. On beep, load rifle magazine and shoot the two outside targets of the array, alternating between them for five rounds. Only one shooter asked about shooting from prone position. That was not allowed because a large fraction of our competitor group would have a hard time using that position. This changed up a little the previous scenario used at EOT, which has usually been 10 rounds all from a rest. Had 19 competitors, and we awarded the first, second and third place finishers among men and among women. Finished in about an hour and a half.

Confirmed - NO ONE shot Wild Bunch at EOT clean. The standing joke of reading the "clean shooters" list first - which consists of a short silence, was repeated once again at Founders this June, too.

Good question! This mistake is called "Overloaded Rounds That Are Fired" rather than illegally acquired ammo. Page 26 of the Shooter's Handbook lays the penalty out pretty clearly: So, IMHO, the call (by the rule book) should have been P plus two extra rounds that hit target #4 (2 five-second penalties) is P plus 10 seconds. Even though the #4 target had been hit already four times with appropriate shots. Now, this does seem rather overly-penalized, I agree. If shooter had MISSED #4 target with two shots at the end of the string, having already hit #4 four times, rules would call for NO penalty "overloaded ammo hit target" penalty seconds, just the Procedural penalty. Good luck, GJ

You have to know your sight settings to hit 16" targets (or larger) from 80 to 280 yards. That will cover all the available shooting ranges at EOT. I thought I remembered just shooting BAMM on Bay 16 last year, at about 90 yards. Good luck, GJ

Do you mean that the bolt went forward, and the shell was not raised high enough by the carrier for the bolt to catch the rim of the shell and shove it into the chamber? Or do you mean the cartridge jams into the back of barrel and stops the bolt from going forward? If shell was properly on carrier, then carrier is not rising far enough to get the shell ready to chamber. If shell was not fully on carrier (nose still in mag tube), then it's hanging up in the magazine tube/cartridge cutoff. Is the failure to feed more common when tilting the 12 to the right? If so, tilt it to the left, because you either don't have a flag or the flag is not operating well. Good luck, GJ

One of the best general gunsmith shops for the Model 12 is NuLine Guns, of Rhineland, MO. They may not know exactly what Wild Bunch is, but they certainly know how a Model 12 works. Have used them to rebuild a very worn Model 12. http://www.nulineguns.com Good luck, GJ

I've fixed all my Chinese 97s simply by cutting the magazine spring so that it's uncompressed length is about 3 inches longer than the magazine tube. Haven't had to swap followers or use any of the 6-shell kits. If you want to cut a spring that is not the factory provided one, get a mag spring for a Remington 870 in 12 gauge. Pretty cheap item. Good luck, GJ

Win Super Target. WST

Have seen several guns dropped or handled without a lot of care after being cleared at Winter Range and even EOT. NONE were ever made a penalty call. If there was careless gun handling involved (not just a dropped gun or a fallen cart), then usually the shooter was sternly warned to be more careful with gun handling, and if they repeated the careless handling, an "Unsafe gun handling" SDQ would be issued. I don't find any of the WB (or even Cowboy) rules that penalize a sweep of another person with an unloaded gun while off the firing line to allow any other penalty than Unsafe Gun Handling. Good luck, GJ

Well, Pioneer folks are usually very willing to discuss the legality of their kits - you can call them. Both of their kits I am familiar with are legal length of stroke. You need to seek out pards who are quite a bit more knowledgeable of WB rules. A short stroke for rifle follows same restrictions as on the Cowboy side. Yes, I have the Pioneer standard short stoke kit in one of my 73s. Quite legal and nicely built. Good luck, GJ

On par with Rock Island - yes All the others you listed - no. Good luck, GJ

WB Minor Safeties and Procedurals are time adjustments, having same value as in Cowboy scoring: MSV = 10 seconds added to raw time for each one called on stage Procedural = 10 seconds added to raw time for the first one on a stage Raw time + Miss penalty time + (MSV and Procedural) penalty time => Total time BTW If we are taking a vote, I too would suggest that published scores at WB matches always have a "detailed score" version made easily available. My other vote is that I generally like stage point scoring, as on every stage you are scored against the "fastest shooter" on that stage. Good luck, GJ

When the first 1897 shotguns were made, they WERE CHAMBERED for a shorter shell. 2 9/16." A short shotgun shell is an historically correct way to shoot Wild Bunch!

Generally, short shells are legal. The 2.5" shells from B&P are often used to let unmodified shotguns start with six rounds loaded, because that is a common stage description maximum limit, and that gets shooters "even" with folks who have modified the mag springs or followers to let them load six. Generally, it's best if stage instructions are clear and are written as if a shooter might be using shorter shells. So, don't say load to "initial target sequence" if that would give some shooters an advantage. Make the description support the concept of a level playing field, with all shooters starting with same number of shells. Say, "may load up to six shells." Good luck, GJ

Load your RN (or RNFP) bullet correctly so you don't leave part of the driving band sticking out above the mouth of the case. Only the rounded (ogive) section of the bullet nose should be above the case mouth. Then taper crimp to a finished OD of about 0.472" right at the case mouth. Then GAUGE in a loaded ammo gauge (or in a pinch, in your barrel taken out of gun) so every round fits in the chamber. If you have any that don't, correct your die settings (and components) until you have perfect feeding and chambering ammo. Chrono your loads before going to any major match, too, so you (she) won't get a surprise with a load that fails to make 150 PF as an absolute minimum. Best to load for about 162 PF as a safety margin. Since our ammo power factors are lower than what the factories usually spring the 1911 for, this does give you the opportunity to make the 1911 easier to rack the slide, if your wife would like that. For our 160 PF loads, the mainspring (inside the mainspring housing at back side of lower grip frame) can be lightened to about 17 or 19 pounds (from the factory 23 pounds), the recoil spring can be lightened to 15 (or even 14) pounds, and the firing pin stop can be rounded on the bottom edge (or a replacement purchased with a rounded bottom edge), all of which make the 1911 less challenging for some women to rack the slide, which we have to do at least twice a stage. If that pistol is still going to carried for "serious purposes" and practice fired a lot with factory loads, though, you may just wish to leave the factory springs in it. As for a powder that is temperature stable, I'd recommend Clay Dot from Alliant. WST is pretty good at being temperature stable, too, but it is slightly weaker when HOT weather sets in - the reverse profile for temperature sensitivity from most other powders, which are cold-weak. If you are running loads that are Wild Bunch compliant, you WILL NOT have anywhere as much problem with cold weather as much weaker SASS cowboy loads often do. Good luck, GJ

OK, you've described the action of the cutoff as if gun is upside down. Directions on a firearm should be written as if gun is upright and held ready to fire. The cutoff only is active during the part of the cycle where the lifter is raising the first shell up to the chamber. While lifter is doing that, the cutoff tip RISES so it sticks out onto the base of the (second) shell in the mag. Otherwise, during the rest of the firing cycle, the tip of the lifter holds shells (mostly) inside the mag tube. The amount of movement of the cutoff tip on a fairly new (1950s) M12 of mine from fully down (with action closed) to fully up (blocking the shell) is 0.120" If you don't get half that much movement, the engagement nub on the bottom side of the cutoff where cutoff is pushed down by action slide lock arm opening is worn or damaged, or the nub on the back end of the cutoff is worn, thus preventing enough force being applied to pivot the cutoff. Find a buddy with a M12, compare how the tip of the cutoff is shaped, to your part. If sufficiently worn or bent, a cutoff fails to hold shells in mag tube, intermittently. If the tip looks good, then check the back-end nub of the cutoff that pivots the cutoff - that area may be bent or worn. Installing a new cutoff may be fastest way to check this. Nu-Line Guns in Missouri has cutoff's for M12 12 gauge: http://www.nulineguns.com/part_part_70_3_31_42.php As does Midwest Gun Works https://www.midwestgunworks.com/winchester-model-12/parts.html Both are $40. Good luck, GJ

IMR 4895 and H4895 do not load to exact same weight. But for cast bullet use, weights for same velocity will be fairly close, and certainly safe to interchange. I get better results with a slightly faster powder, like Reloder 7, in 30 cal cast bullet loads. Most folks can't get target accuracy throwing powder with measures. That's what tricklers are for. I use a measure, then dribble a few grains while on a good scale. Good luck, GJ

Yep, look for gunk in the trigger group or where the hook for slide lock fits up into the rest of the action. If it was working fine, and started locking tight, dirty gun is first and cheap thing to look for. Worn parts - next. Burrs - unless the fitting of parts at factory was horrible, it's not common they interfere after years of the gun working well. Good luck, GJ

You need to provide more info for us to be able to guess (remotely, without looking) what 2 gunsmiths couldn't determine when they had the gun in hands! Yes, recoil of firing a shell should unlock action - without needing any manual forward push by you. Let's start with the age of your Model 12. Do you know how old it is, roughly? Does it have a 2 3/4" or a 3" (heavy duck gun) chamber? Have you tried brass base hulls like Winchester AA or Remington STS or Federal target loads? Or only the steel base hulls (anything cheap or foreign is often steel base). Does the action open (after firing a shell) when you use the slide release button behind the trigger guard? If it won't open with slide release, you can be sure the action slide lock is not working. The slide lock mechanism is part of the trigger group. Disassembly of the trigger group is not advised for someone without training on it! But you can take the trigger group out and hose it down with a good solvent and air pressure. Very lightly relube with spray gun oil and reinstall and see if that clears up the lock releasing. Good luck, GJ

"7th round jam" is one of the few problems that some Garands have. Real early production has too much machining work done in the action, but arsenals fixed most of those early receivers. One thing to check is that you have lubed it sufficiently. Here's a tip directly from CMP: http://www.civilianmarksmanship.com/assemblyhtml/reassemblefeed2.html And suggestions for good grease here: http://www.garandgear.com/m1-garand-grease Good luck, I have one that I am fighting the same problem right now. GJ

In another thread this month, Goatneck Clem provided general information about his Garand load with 170 grain bullets. That would make a great starting point to work up a good load, or perhaps contact him with a message and ask for the powder charge he uses. https://www.sassnet.com/wildbunch/forum/index.php?topic=2605.0 A copy of the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook will be real useful as you start working on your loads! As will a chronograph. A recent month of Handloader magazine has a good article on loading jacketed ammo for the Garand. By John Barsness. October 2018 issue. https://www.riflemagazine.com/magazine/PDF/HL316%20Partial.pdf A city library MIGHT have a copy. Or just flip through the Garand article at the link above. I've loaded some cast bullets for my 1903 and A3 rifles with cast bullets and got good results at 1800 FPS with either 5744 or Reloder 7 powders. Same general results as what the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook says about cast bullet loads in .30-06. You wrote: "4795" as a powder You are thinking about the several-years-discontinued IMR 4759. Several other powders are almost as accurate and will work fine! With lead bullet loads, folks have good luck loading for the Garand with cast bullets ranging from 150 to 200 grains. A 170 grain CAST bullet is a good "middle of road" slug. The balancing act loading for the M1 rifle is to get enough gas energy to work the action, not so much that you damage the operating rod, produce good accuracy and generate little to no leading. Powders in the burning range of Alliant 2400 to IMR 4198 through 3031 are often used with cast bullets, although sticking with either the Alliant or IMR powders is not required. Good luck, GJ

Don't get anxious and shoot normal .30-06 factory ammo through your Garand. Find the lower velocity "M2" type ammo that makes about 45,000 psi and launches a 150 (or up to 168 grain jacketed bullet) at about 2720 FPS (more like 2600 for the heavier bullet there). Federal produces a nice Garand level load, as does Priv Partisan and Creedmoor Ammo (available through CMP web site shipped right to your door). http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2009/05/federal-introduces-affordable-m1-garand-ammo/ Shooting full current power level factory ammo (without having the gas capture system modified) will quickly bend the operating rod. But, you have a good range of lead bullet loads that will be safe in your new gun! Good luck, GJ

I can answer what we've done for last 3 years or so for BAMM at Winter Range. Shooter was allowed to use any support they wanted. A solid shooting table and sand bags were available, a few shot from crossed sticks, one or two shot prone. The range is consolidated sand and light gravel. Would be very easy to use spiked tip shooting sticks if you so desired. This year - could very well be exactly the same. Know your sight settings from 75 to 200 yards before you get there (no sight in area offered by WR) Good luck, GJ

I find a gas check usually improves any lead bullet rifle load at least a little, and sometimes a lot. I've tried the cheap stamped-from-aluminum-can gas checks, I find them worse than a bare base. So, I only use the commercial gilding metal GCs from Hornady, Lyman, etc. Which 170 grain design do you like? I could provide you a hundred or two of any of these three six that I have on my shelf: Lyman # 311466 Loverin semi-spitzer with lots of lube grooves, about 165 grains Lyman # 311291 Round Nose, about 170 grains Lyman # 311467 Loverin semi-spitzer, about 175 grains. Accurate 31-170-FT 170 grain flat nose copy of Loverin style RCBS 165 grain silhouette design with flattened spitzer nose NOE # 311-170-FN 170 flattened spitzer nose Normally I lube with White Label 2500 or Carnuba Red lube, but have a couple of others I can slap on instead..... Norm Purcella can be reached at: 575 625-2825. per: https://www.sassnet.com/wildbunch/forum/index.php?topic=2232.0 Good luck, GJ

There were a couple of stages at 2018 EOT with pistol targets set as far as 25 yards. Yep, folks (including me) missed several of those buggers. None in the main match are ever far enough that you have to start worrying about trajectory and sight adjustment on the fly. Now, the long range pistol side match, when held, is typically a target at 50 yards. You may want to practice that a little bit ;) Good luck, GJ