Any changes for 2026?

[Abe E.S. Corpus]

I saw that the stage convention affecting shotgun makeups did not pass.

Any changes coming?

[Flying W Ramrod]

41 minutes ago, Abe E.S. Corpus said:

I saw that the stage convention affecting shotgun makeups did not pass.

Any changes coming?

SASS® Wild Bunch Action Shooting™
Effective January 1, 2026

SASS Led (Business Policy) Changes
1. Maximum pistol weight for the 1911 will be changed to 43 ounces.
2. SxS/Double shotguns must be staged open and empty. The provision to load under TO supervision will be removed, eliminating any contradiction to SASS’ firearm handling and safety covenants.
3. Teddy Roosevelt and Doughboy will no longer be official WBAS Main match categories. They will be moved back to WBAS Side match status.
4. Lady & Junior WBAS categories will be protected. These categories will not be subject to minimum mandates and will be honored regardless of the number of entrants.
5. The age determination for the WBAS Senior category will be changed to 60+.
6. SASS will add Elder Statesman Wild Bunch and Grand Dame Wild Bunch as official categories- with the age determination of 70+.
7. SASS will add Classic Wild Bunch Categories.
a. Classic Wild Bunch Modern
b. Classic Wild Bunch Traditional
*These “Classic” categories will carry the reinstated parameters for Power Factor and Firearm requirements; 12-gauge SG (Model 12 or 97), 1911 and Rifle in 40 cal. or larger, 150 PF minimum. Classic WBAS and will also be broken out into Senior and Elder Statesman/Grande Dame (with minimum entry mandates in place).

2026 Clarifications/SHB Edits
1. 1887/1901 loading procedure: At the loading table, load as many rounds as the 87/01 will hold – up to 6 in the magazine and carrier. Close the action on empty chamber, hammer must fall unimpeded.
2. Tie down holsters are legal. Appropriate verbiage will be added communicating it.
3. Dotted sights – Appropriate verbiage stating darkening dotted sights as a 1911 pistol modification in the Traditional category, is legal.
4. Shotgun gauge clarifications: Aside from the new Classic category parameters of 12-gauge, new verbiages will be added to simplify and clarify the acceptable gauge range for shotguns in WBAS.
5. The average pistol rounds of a WBAS Stage is 28 rounds.

 

 

 

[El Chapo]

All of this seems like good news.

Maybe the next round we'll get loaded starts and movement.

[Boggus Deal]

On 1/21/2026 at 7:44 AM, El Chapo said:

All of this seems like good news.

Maybe the next round we'll get loaded starts and movement.

Ha! 

[Artemus]

On 1/21/2026 at 8:44 AM, El Chapo said:

All of this seems like good news.

Maybe the next round we'll get loaded starts and movement.

That's the dream

[El Chapo]

On 1/23/2026 at 1:44 PM, Boggus Deal said:

Ha! 

 

On 1/23/2026 at 9:10 PM, Artemus said:

That's the dream

Dream big.  Now that the guys who wanted 150 pf for rifles got their way, I'm dreaming big.  Loaded starts, loaded movement.  And after that, 8 round mags.

[Boggus Deal]

12 hours ago, El Chapo said:

 

Dream big.  Now that the guys who wanted 150 pf for rifles got their way, I'm dreaming big.  Loaded starts, loaded movement.  And after that, 8 round mags.

Won’t ever happen! Hell, there is a contingent that’s wants to go back to five in the mag. They can’t count higher I guess. 
150 PF is what worked for years. When the 60 pf didn’t, they had to go back. I’ve heard that 80% of the registered shooters at EOT switched to classic…

[El Chapo]

45 minutes ago, Boggus Deal said:

Won’t ever happen! Hell, there is a contingent that’s wants to go back to five in the mag. They can’t count higher I guess. 
150 PF is what worked for years. When the 60 pf didn’t, they had to go back. I’ve heard that 80% of the registered shooters at EOT switched to classic…

If it doesn't happen, I predict SASS pulling the plug on WB completely someday.  This either becomes a dynamic, athletic shooting sport of its own that can poach shooters from other disciplines and outside of the shadow of CAS, or it dies completely.  I see no other realistic way forward.

I predict also that stage times will be indistinguishable between Classic and whatever we're calling the "new" WB.  I don't have a big rifle so I'll be staying put.  Not against the Classic thing, just don't see the point of buying another rifle.  If I come across a used one, I may be very tempted, however.

Edited 22 hours ago by El Chapo

[Boggus Deal]

Wild Bunch was growing. All the big matches were filling up and selling out every year. Raise the cap and it would still sell out. After the “new” rules, none of them fill up…. Had to go back to the old rules.😏

New Wild Bunch shooters need to come from other disciplines. Cowboys coming over doesn’t bring in new member dollars. But it has to be appealing to other disciplines and advertised there. I’ve never Wild Bunch promoted anywhere outside the chronicle. 

1 hour ago, El Chapo said:

If it doesn't happen, I predict SASS pulling the plug on WB completely someday.  This either becomes a dynamic, athletic shooting sport of its own that can poach shooters from other disciplines and outside of the shadow of CAS, or it dies completely.  I see no other realistic way forward.

I predict also that stage times will be indistinguishable between Classic and whatever we're calling the "new" WB.  I don't have a big rifle so I'll be staying put.  Not against the Classic thing, just don't see the point of buying another rifle.  If I come across a used one, I may be very tempted, however.

 

[El Chapo]

10 hours ago, Boggus Deal said:

Wild Bunch was growing. All the big matches were filling up and selling out every year. Raise the cap and it would still sell out. After the “new” rules, none of them fill up…. Had to go back to the old rules.😏

New Wild Bunch shooters need to come from other disciplines. Cowboys coming over doesn’t bring in new member dollars. But it has to be appealing to other disciplines and advertised there. I’ve never Wild Bunch promoted anywhere outside the chronicle. 

I've repeatedly said that I am not on board with all the obsession with the 150 pf but I'm not against it either.  If they want me to shoot 200 power factor, I'll do it.  It will change nothing.  If they'd let me shoot 150 pf ammo out of my .357 rifle, I'd start casting heavier bullets and load the ammo tomorrow.  It does not matter.  The last time I was chronoed, I went 179.  The required PF was 165.  Any points I dropped were not from hotter ammo, they were on me.

Couldn't agree more that we need to poach from other disciplines.  In a way I selfishly hope we don't, because some of those guys are really good.  But before that has any chance of success, we need loaded starts and loaded movement.  Loading your gun on the clock isn't a sport.  I think it can even be dangerous.  It kept me away for my first 3 years in SASS.  Now I realize how much fun WB is and so I make the best of it.  But loading your gun on the clock has got to go.  There are precisely zero other shooting sports that start with an empty gun (at least commonly, there are unloaded starts occasionally, and they're universally disliked there, too).  I know long time shooters of WB may not like it or think I'm crazy because I keep bringing it up, but it isn't a trivial point.  Loading a gun is not a competition and shouldn't be made part of the scored part of any form of competition.

Edited 10 hours ago by El Chapo

[Kid Rich]

What guns are you talking about loading on the clock?

kR

[Boggus Deal]

25 minutes ago, Kid Rich said:

What guns are you talking about loading on the clock?

kR

He is referring to the 1911.