evilroy

Only thing you will find out if you wear a hat without a full brim is that hot brass from your rifle will wreck your concentration when it goes down the inside your collar in the back. I practice in a ball hat most of the time and a loose collar can be painful. .45 brass gets very hot. A full brim hat is a real good idea. Same for Indian type headbands or no headgear. Hot brass between your glasses and face as well. If you can't stand cowboy action shooters and won't wear a cowboy hat think of it as a farmers hat. Most combat shooters that shoot with us don't have a problem. It is just a different game. Adapt.

We want it to grow past the side match stage it is in but I don't think 7 rounds matters one way or the other. I could care less myself. I just cannot imagine why someone would or would not shoot a match based on mag capacity. It makes no difference in any other sport. I don't like 28 round mags in a 1911 but it never entered my mind to not shoot a match because of that. Eight round mags are not original. Neither are 9 round allowed by some for 9mm. I think if folks are interested in shooting they will shoot. I can understand not wanting to dress up a like a B Western star as some think we have to do but I fully respect those that do. Frankly I think some of the rules in both IDPA and IPSC are silly to me but I still shoot the matches when I can because I like to shoot them. I refuse to wear shorts so they can refuse to wear fuzzy chaps. No big deal.

As an aside every type match I know of does not shoot 7 rounds in a mag. with 1911s. Every single discipline in which I have shot my 1911 in you could use 8 round mags. Many approve 20 plus in a mag. I don't think that keeps anyone from shooting IPSC or IDPA. Another issue that comes up once in awhile is the "we need to shoot the from cocked and locked" like they were intended to be. When I was a machine gunner in the service I carried one. They were never holstered cocked and locked. Never. I believe the original gun by Browning did not even have a frame mounted safety. I think it was required by the military. Not that it matters as chamber empty is the rule for the game but it is correct for the period if not for all general issue by the military. I know Special Ops guys do carry them cocked and locked but general line troops did not. If you can imagine a room or helicopter full of troops racking a round in the chamber and engaging the safety and re-holstering the 1911.......

Just for information we have interviewed clubs constantly from the start and feedback from those actually shooting the matches is 5 rounds works well and most like it. Most would not quit if it changed but again most had no problem with shooting 5. It is a good balance between mag changes and number of rounds fired. It also gives one more opportunity to move as we cannot move with a slide forward. It also needs to stay a 3 gun match and the tendency with more in the mag is to make the rifle less of a factor. The intend is not to make it not like SASS but a separate sport. We are not trying to be like IPSC or not like SASS. It is really a large caliber 3 gun match which can be shot on a 30 yard range with lead bullets with no crawling around on the ground which makes it easier for all to compete on an equal basis. If it were just a 1911 match you could just shoot IPSC or IDPA with lead bullets. All sports have their own rules and some are not liked. Indeed, the most difficult thing about changing shooting sports is getting enough experience with new rules and procedures. Pistol shooting is pistol shooting.

Don't worry too much about the costume thing unless it is really something that interests you. Just read the rulebook and comply. Kayne Robertson, Past President of the NRA, shot with us this year in a campaign hat, dark shirt and Wranglers. Don't remember what kind of boots. I just wore my cowboy hat, Wranglers, long sleeve shirt and Redwing work boots with smooth soles. I kinda hate these discussions as they always sound like I should add "with matching shoulder bag and gloves". Do remember that some do like to dress in clothes of the period, military of the period, or just wear the minimum to shoot all of which is good. Many CAS shooters just wear their CAS clothes. I know shooters from rural areas that wear their everyday working clothes. Important fact here is Wild Bunch first and foremost is a shooting contest with a real power factor, smaller further out targets, as well as some close burn down stages, and lots of mag changes. Many matches will be adding military boltgun, speed matches and other side matches including shotgun to add to the appeal. We are working on the definition of a Senor Category and will have it worked out soon. Pretty sure it will be 65 and above and Traditional and Modern classes will have to have enough for a class before the Senior is activated. Still discussing the minimum for a class now. At EOT, the World Championships, we had World Champions in Long Range Bolt gun, speed rifle, pistol and shotgun as well as wobble trap team. Come and shoot with us. We have lots of fun.

Without any exaggeration half the people in the cafe in Dublin are dressed legally for WB matches. Work shirt, cowboy boots, cowboy hat and jeans. You do not have to dress in fuzzy chaps to shoot WB or for CAS for that matter. My first CAS outfit cost $2.50, 20 years ago. I wore my old cowboy boots, jeans, work shirt and a hat I paid $1.50 for at the thrift shop and a vest I paid $1.00 for at the same place. Many enjoy dressing up in really fancy duds but many don't like to worry about it too much. I do not think it is asking to much to wear things to go with the period. We want lots of folks to shoot WB. Work clothes or an all out military outfit are fine as are Mexican clothes or anything seen in the time frame. Just look at the rule book to be sure it is ok but it is not too complicated. This sport is going to be very large so come and shoot old guns with us. It is the most fun shooting sport I have ever done.

I want to clarify the position of the Wild Bunch Committee on the ongoing costume subject. You are more than welcome to shoot any WB matches including the Nationals and World Championships with any legal clothing. You will not be thought less of if you wear the minimum allowed. If you have any questions just look up the rules. Our goal is to encourage as many to shoot WB as possible. We want to draw as many from outside SASS as possible while maintaining the tremendous support we have with present CAS shooters who also shoot WB matches. We are shooting a sport set in a specific period so you are encouraged to either go all out with military dress of the period or if that does not move you jeans, work boots(by SASS rules. Look it up) and a hat or headband or whatever. Again look it up. I will be shooting in jeans, my Redwing boots, black shirt and black hat this year to emphasize simple is ok. This is first and foremost a serious shooting contest with power factor and large caliber requirements. If you want to look like Zapata, Pike Lyle or just wear late 19th or early 20 Century ranch wear you will likely be fine. Again the rules. CAS gear is usually just fine as well. I usually just shoot in my regular CAS stuff. Pay attention to the boots. No lug soles or modern combat type boots. We want to have fun, shoot big calibers, shoot 1911s, rifles and shotguns, burn up lots of ammo and celebrate the transition period between the Old West and Modern times. Some things to ponder: This is 3 gun you can shoot with lead bullets at steel targets on pistol bays. It is much less expensive than AR ammo, slugs, buckshot, and jacketed pistol bullets. There is no shooting under cars, through low ports and 50 yard dashes involved. You have a chance of doing well even you are not 20 years old. We have added military bolt action rifles as a side shoot this year. Lots and lots of fun and very inexpensive to get started in. You can shoot mil spec 1911 one handed in the Traditional Class or modern 1911s in the Modern class. Just .45 and full size 5 inch pistols. We shoot both big and small targets. You cannot just wave the guns at targets and expect to do well in WB. Women and juniors can operate 1911s just fine. Wicked Felina is very small and thinks the 1911 is the easiest gun to shoot that she has. Come play.