When and Where do you WB ?==== Informal survey =========

[CC Moonshine]

Hi everyone,

I'm personally curios as to where you shoot WB ( local club, or long distance or only big events)?

How far do you have to travel for a one day shoot or a state match or bigger?

How many clubs are within a reasonable distance for you to drive for a one day shoot? (both CAS and WB)

How many shoots per year you attend and how many would you realistically attend if you had more choices in your driving range ?

Any other helpful information on clubs that do or don't offer WB (they can remain nameless, not looking for to much info. on a specific club).

Thanks in advance and have a super weekend !

CC

 

[Ranger Dan]

I shoot at Wartrace Regulators TN. 1 hour south of Nashville. I live 1 hour north of Nashville, so it's a 2 hour drive down and back through Nashville. Wartrace hosts a monthly CAS 5 stage match the 1st Saturday every month and a CAS/WB 5 stage match every 3rd Saturday every month. I shoot CAS the 1st Saturday and WB the 3rd Saturday. I also attend the TN state as well as the Alabama state CAS, and always shoot the WB 4 stage side matches. No clubs I know of holds a WB annual main match in the southeast region. Would be worth going if there was. I have also shot the Mississippi state and Black Gold, and shot their 4 stage WB side matches.

[Ranger Dan]

The 3 big matches I attend every year are TN state, AL state, and Southeast Regional. Always shoot the WB side matches. These WB side matches usually draw 30-50 shooters, and I know several more who would shoot the WB if they were not at the same time as all the other side matches (BP, Warmup, Long Range etc.) I believe we could draw 100+ to a WB annual Championship match if a club were to hold one in the southeast region.

[Frederick Jackson Turner]

California State SASS championship includes a mini WB match; Tully Mars' matches up in northern California are absolutely outstanding but too distant for more than once a year, and both Canyon Oaks Shootists and Panorama's Northfield Raiders will allow WB to be shot at their cowboy matches.  Canyon Oaks is an old-timey SASS match, so the target distances are about right for WB, while Northfield tolerates us with a smile, without WB being scored with the rest of the shooters.

Going to Try Chorro Valley's 5 stage monthly this weekend.  It's a drive, but the pickings are a bit slim, so I'll give it a go!

Shout out if there are others!

Cheers,

FJT

 

P.S. As detailed in the April Chronicle, The German  SASS shooters put on an absolutely terrific annual WB match, if you happen to be in the area...

Edited August 19 by Frederick Jackson Turner

[Abe E.S. Corpus]

No club in South Carolina offers a monthly WB match.  We ran a match in Greenville on 5th Sundays until we lost the date to a larger number of host club members who wanted to shoot Three Gun.

A couple of years ago the Belton Bushwhackers started holding WB matches on 5th Saturdays.  That’s about 30 minutes from me so I shoot that match unless I have a conflict.

We have a four stage WB mini-match at the SC State SASS match.  Belton has hosted that match for the last several years.

There is an annual Carolinas Wild Bunch Shootout that the Gunpowder Creek Regulators in Lenoir, SC have hosted for the last few years.  It’s a “must”.

[Old Man Graybeard]

Anywhere I can...usually. Everything...cowboy or wild bunch is at least a 100 miles from me.

[Injun Ryder]

WB was started relatively recently at two clubs near Prescott AZ.

Granite Mountain Outlaws - about 15 miles away from me.

Whiskey Row Gunslingers - about 30 miles away from me.

I make each about 10 times / year.

At present, with two SASS matches at these clubs and the WB matches, I am not very likely to add more.

Edited August 20 by Injun Ryder

[BradyT88]

My local cowboy club in Idaho Falls holds WB matches the 2nd Tuesday evening of each month in the summer. 

I'm trying to convince the MD to fight the club for another Saturday to shoot them on so we can do it year round. Worst case we might steal a Saturday in the winter when the IDPA and USPSA shut down for the winter. Then go back to Tuesdays in the summer. 

The Idaho State WB match was only 2 hours from me this year and was held with the NW Regional CAS match but I wasn't able to make both. 

I think there is only one other within 3 hours of me that holds WB matches but I haven't been there. Meanwhile there are around 7 CAS clubs holding monthly matches within 3 hours of me. 

This year I've attended 3 WB matches and about 13 CAS matches between my 2 local clubs (30 minutes away and 60 minutes away).

[Crisco]

Our local club shoots a 4 stage Wild Bunch along with the state match, and holds a 6 stage WB match whenever there is a 5th Saturday.

Other than that, I only get to shoot WB when attending annual matches that are all at least 4 hours away (2-3 in WA, 1 in MT, 1 in ID, and EOT).

[Frederick Jackson Turner]

On 8/19/2024 at 3:55 PM, Frederick Jackson Turner said:

 

Going to Try Chorro Valley's 5 stage monthly this weekend.  It's a drive, but the pickings are a bit slim, so I'll give it a go!

 

Hey, folks;

I just wanted to share the results of my trip up to the Rough Riders Wild Bunch match, at the Chorro Valley shooting facility.  Ambs Aces put on a terrific match; some targets were new WBup close, with numerous targets at SASS rifle distance, so you had to mind your sights.  Long and short, I had a good time, with a great bunch of folks, and recommend it to anyone near the Central California coast.  As a plus, they start at 11:00 a.m. (YES!!!!) and the weather, as it usually is, was perfect. I will be going back.

Cheers!

FJT

[Boomstick Bruce]

I shoot at Cass in wv only. We shoot once a month starting in April on the 3rd Sunday ending in October. I shoot traditional. We host the wv state wb championship and I've won traditional the last 2 years we've hosted it. However, with the mouse fart 38s now infiltrating traditional class, this is likely my last year shooting wb... I got into wb because with the heavy hitting 45s, shooter ability was more important than who can run the lever the fastest, unlike cas where 60pf 38 powder puff loads that the timers cant even hear dominate...

[CC Moonshine]

On 9/1/2024 at 10:31 PM, Boomstick Bruce said:

I shoot at Cass in wv only. We shoot once a month starting in April on the 3rd Sunday ending in October. I shoot traditional. We host the wv state wb championship and I've won traditional the last 2 years we've hosted it. However, with the mouse fart 38s now infiltrating traditional class, this is likely my last year shooting wb... I got into wb because with the heavy hitting 45s, shooter ability was more important than who can run the lever the fastest, unlike cas where 60pf 38 powder puff loads that the timers cant even hear dominate...

Thanks for the info Bruce,

Remember, the current rules allowing CAS long guns does not effect the way you play the game ! continue shooting your 45 rifle !!!

Ethen Callahan just won the Michigan WB championship with 45 rifle and the next 3 guys behind him were shooting 38's.

That's the best part of the latest rule changes is that you can still play the way you want.

Take care and thanks,

CC 

[Cayuse Jack]

23 minutes ago, CC Moonshine said:Ethen Callahan just won the Michigan WB championship with 45 rifle and the next 3 guys behind him were shooting 38's.

Ethan is a great shooter but I believe the MI Wild Bunch State championship is held in October.

[CC Moonshine]

4 minutes ago, Cayuse Jack said:

Ethan is a great shooter but I believe the MI Wild Bunch State championship is held in October.

Oh ok maybe you are correct. This was at the Michigan CAS state Championship. I guess I assumed it was one in the same. 

Thanks,

CC

[Sedalia Dave]

Closest Monthly WB match for me is the Oakwood Outlaws which are about a 2.5 hour drive. I don't get to shoot it as it's held on Mondays and I still have a Day job.  When I retire in a couple years I intend to attend it several times a year.  They also offer Dough Boy, Teddy Roosevelt, BAMM, and GAMM 

As a rule I will shoot WB when offered at multi day matches when offered.  Haven't been to a match that offers BAMM, GAMM as a side match.

For WB I still shoot my 44WCF. Since making the 87 legal I switch from a 97 to it.

 

[denton Dancer]

Oakwood plans to offer Wild Bunch in some fashion on Sunday of there cowboy  matches.

[Blastin Brad]

I shoot at every big match that offers it that I attend.  OH State, IN State, MI State, KY State, TN State, Land Run.  I'll shoot at local matches when available at Piqua, Gibsonburg and Firelands in Ohio.  Local matches are within 2.5 hrs of home.

[Doc Holloman]

I have three CAS clubs within one hour, two more within an hour and a half and one more at two hours.  All shoot Cowboy on a monthly basis (one shoots 10 months a year -- not during deer season).  None shoot WB on a monthly basis.  One had a monthly WB match but abandoned it 3 years ago.  They now shoot it 3 times a year, plus at the Annual Match.  A second club tried a Monthly match  for a year, but could not get sufficient attendance  to justify it  (too much competition with Cowboy matches)  and abandoned it recently (will still have it at the Annual match).  The club two hours away shoots WB 4 times a year and currently sponsors the State Match. 

The feeling among the potential WB shooters is that they are Cowboy shooters first and they won't shoot WB if there is a Cowboy match at the same time.  There is a "loc

al" cowboy match every Saturday.   A lot of shooters wont shoot on Sunday.  And I have noticed a number of shooters have found WB, with greater movement and vision

demands than Cowboy, to be less fun as they have gotten older ("ya gotta be able to see the front sight").

[CC Moonshine]

38 minutes ago, Doc Holloman said:

I have three CAS clubs within one hour, two more within an hour and a half and one more at two hours.  All shoot Cowboy on a monthly basis (one shoots 10 months a year -- not during deer season).  None shoot WB on a monthly basis.  One had a monthly WB match but abandoned it 3 years ago.  They now shoot it 3 times a year, plus at the Annual Match.  A second club tried a Monthly match  for a year, but could not get sufficient attendance  to justify it  (too much competition with Cowboy matches)  and abandoned it recently (will still have it at the Annual match).  The club two hours away shoots WB 4 times a year and currently sponsors the State Match. 

The feeling among the potential WB shooters is that they are Cowboy shooters first and they won't shoot WB if there is a Cowboy match at the same time.  There is a "loc

al" cowboy match every Saturday.   A lot of shooters wont shoot on Sunday.  And I have noticed a number of shooters have found WB, with greater movement and vision

demands than Cowboy, to be less fun as they have gotten older ("ya gotta be able to see the front sight").

Hi Doc,

Thanks for the insight. Something to suggest to any of these clubs is what us and several other clubs around are trying.

We shoot CAS once a month at PPR then right after the CAS match we have lunch (from our on site vendor) then start a 3 or 4 stage WB match.

It's been well received and is averaging a dozen plus.

Next spring I think we will try a once a month stand alone WB match.

Some clubs as a starter are offering WB s a side match prior to the CAS match as just a stage event like .22 combo.

The general conversations I had at Landrun were very encouraging at the number of clubs trying to get it started in some fashion.

Good luck and thanks,

CC  

[Whitey James]

On 8/19/2024 at 10:22 AM, Ranger Dan said:

I shoot at Wartrace Regulators TN. 1 hour south of Nashville. I live 1 hour north of Nashville, so it's a 2 hour drive down and back through Nashville. Wartrace hosts a monthly CAS 5 stage match the 1st Saturday every month and a CAS/WB 5 stage match every 3rd Saturday every month. I shoot CAS the 1st Saturday and WB the 3rd Saturday. I also attend the TN state as well as the Alabama state CAS, and always shoot the WB 4 stage side matches. No clubs I know of holds a WB annual main match in the southeast region. Would be worth going if there was. I have also shot the Mississippi state and Black Gold, and shot their 4 stage WB side matches.

Hey Dan!

Not sure if you are aware but Oak Ridge is now doing WB. I shot my first WB match there and plan on shooting WB at Wartrace this Saturday.

~Whitey James

[Doc Holloman]

1 hour ago, CC Moonshine said:

Hi Doc,

Thanks for the insight. Something to suggest to any of these clubs is what us and several other clubs around are trying.

We shoot CAS once a month at PPR then right after the CAS match we have lunch (from our on site vendor) then start a 3 or 4 stage WB match.

It's been well received and is averaging a dozen plus.

Next spring I think we will try a once a month stand alone WB match.

Some clubs as a starter are offering WB s a side match prior to the CAS match as just a stage event like .22 combo.

The general conversations I had at Landrun were very encouraging at the number of clubs trying to get it started in some fashion.

Good luck and thanks,

CC  

Afternoon matches in Central Texas are a non-starter.  One of the clubs shoots shorter matches in the summer months because of the heat. Our first posse done is usually packed up and on the road  before the last posse finishes.   Even in October we sometimes still have days in the 90s in the afternoons.   

[Eyesa]

This summer we started allowing folks to shoot our CAS match WB, allowing 5 in the mag for the 1911 and stoking the 97 for the usual 2-4 SG. Only a few do it, but seems to be well received so far.

[Doc Holloman]

1 hour ago, Eyesa said:

This summer we started allowing folks to shoot our CAS match WB, allowing 5 in the mag for the 1911 and stoking the 97 for the usual 2-4 SG. Only a few do it, but seems to be well received so far.

A couple of our local clubs do allow "Cowboy 1911" ( 5 round mags).  One allows shooting half of the Cowboy rifle targets with the pistol to increase the difficulty.  The other doesn't and doesn't allow stoking the shotgun.  It captures some of the elements of Wild Bunch but the large spitting distance pistol targets are less of a challenge.  And at least in the local clubs, movement with the pistol or shotgun in cowboy matches are rare.

[El Diablo Gringo]

I shoot the WB monthly with the Jackson Hole Gang in NJ.  It’s a 2 hr ride, sometimes longer with the NJ traffic.  
My pards and I shoot the Muster at Fort Misery- NY State WB championship every year.  It’s a fantastic 2 day match that attracts over 100 shooters.  It’s a good mix of target size like lolly pops to standard plates, movement and target distances.  Takes me 3 hours to get up to Balston Spa NY.  
 

Gringo