Who's shooting EOT Wild Bunch -----------

[CC Moonshine]

Howdy all,

 

Just wondering who all is coming ! I'm looking forward to it! I even have Ruby Ruthless shooting it too! She just got her first 1911 and is all set! 

 

[El Chapo]

Wish I could, but I'll be at the Western States Single Stack the weekend before, and I didn't think I could swing both.  I will still be shooting a 1911 along with 300+ others!

[marshal stone]

I am. Shooting the old/new Classic Traditional Elder Statesman

I understand over half the shooters switched to Classic.  YEEEEEE  HAAAAAA !!!!!!!!

Others would have but didn't bring the larger caliber rifles when they snow birded.

Marshal Stone

 

[CC Moonshine]

16 minutes ago, marshal stone said:

I am. Shooting the old/new Classic Traditional Elder Statesman

I understand over half the shooters switched to Classic.  YEEEEEE  HAAAAAA !!!!!!!!

Others would have but didn't bring the larger caliber rifles when they snow birded.

Marshal Stone

 

Awesome!

Super glad folks are embracing the choices in categories with the addition of the classics! 

Look forward to seeing you there!

 

[Flying W Ramrod]

I am.

Classic Modern Elder Statesman.

I also heard, well, over half have switched to Classic.

 

[wyliefox]

CAS has a who's coming!!!

I cannot find the WBAS list???

[CC Moonshine]

I think it would be perfect if at all major matches that around half signed up for Classic categories.

This would the balance we all hoped for, with everyone picking what fits for them.

I'm very glad to hear that several have moved over to it.

See many of you in about 2 weeks!

 

 

[Frederick Jackson Turner]

ES Classic Modern here. Seems to me we're back where we started.  Bring on the steel!

Cheers!

 

FJT

[CC Moonshine]

Hi All,

I don't think we are back where we started in the least.

• 3 years ago there were less then 25 clubs holding official WB matches or offering organized WB programs
  • Now we have over 95 clubs
• 3 years ago we had a very small minority making the decisions for WB
  • Now we have over 95 WB-TG's bringing the voices of their clubs world wide to the table
• 3 years ago anyone wanting to try WB had to make a big investment in a 1911, a 40 cal or above rifle and a pump sg
  • Now everyone can play by simply adding a 1911
• 3 years ago it was offered to have a "open" class and was rejected 
  • Now we have approached it from the other direction and have the classic categories as a win win for everyone
• Now we have more people doing/ trying WB then ever in the history of WB
• This year, there will be more organized sanctioned WB championship matches then ever held in a year (State, and Territorial)

I would say we  are a long way from where we were and the future looks pretty bright for the sport.

In a week we will have a WB-TG meeting at EOT and we hope there are several more great ideas for WB brought to the table for discussions  to start for 2026!

Everyone have a super rest of the week,

CC

 

[El Chapo]

What is the median age of a Wild Bunch competitor in 2026 vs. a few years ago?  I think that's a more interesting data point than the stuff you're posting.

There were 235 shooters at the 1911 match I just came back from in Mesa.  Has any Wild Bunch match anywhere ever had 235 shooters?

[Flying W Ramrod]

2 hours ago, El Chapo said:

What is the median age of a Wild Bunch competitor in 2026 vs. a few years ago?  I think that's a more interesting data point than the stuff you're posting.

There were 235 shooters at the 1911 match I just came back from in Mesa.  Has any Wild Bunch match anywhere ever had 235 shooters?

WB is not tracked by age. It's broken into age range categories.

2026 EOT WB had over 160 shooters. But, you weren't one....why?

[Boggus Deal]

2 hours ago, Flying W Ramrod said:

WB is not tracked by age. It's broken into age range categories.

2026 EOT WB had over 160 shooters. But, you weren't one....why?

Because it’s not a shooting match. It was cowboy with a 1911 and who really wants to shoot that? When you can close your eyes, lean forward, bump the target with your muzzle and pull the trigger? What’s shooting about that?

[El Chapo]

2 hours ago, Flying W Ramrod said:

WB is not tracked by age. It's broken into age range categories.

2026 EOT WB had over 160 shooters. But, you weren't one....why?

For there to be real growth, there needs to be people under age 38 entering the sport in significant numbers.  38 is the age of the median American in 2026.  If we poached a few dozen more cowboy shooters to throw on their 1911 and shoot WB, that is not growth any more than a few more shooters at a side match is growth.  Wild Bunch isn't a side match.  Tracking how many people below the median age are coming to shoot with us is a big deal.

I was actually signed up for EoT but my wife's schedule changed in January, which allowed us to travel for 3 other matches (two of which I got to shoot WB) that we would have otherwise missed but I had to withdraw from EoT.  The intention was for her schedule to change after EoT, but somehow there was a miscommunication.  I had signed up in August and to say I was bummed at the time would be an understatement.

I don't really know anything about how the stages were constructed at EoT but there's no reason why WB should not be a dynamic run and gun.  In the match I just came from on Sunday, the total number of shots was 305 over 14 stages.  The winner did it in 227.34 seconds, which means he shot an average of 1.34 rounds per second he was on the clock.  We have a gun that can be easily reloaded and shot more, so why not take advantage of that?

[Flying W Ramrod]

1 hour ago, El Chapo said:

For there to be real growth, there needs to be people under age 38 entering the sport in significant numbers.  38 is the age of the median American in 2026.  If we poached a few dozen more cowboy shooters to throw on their 1911 and shoot WB, that is not growth any more than a few more shooters at a side match is growth.  Wild Bunch isn't a side match.  Tracking how many people below the median age are coming to shoot with us is a big deal.

I was actually signed up for EoT but my wife's schedule changed in January, which allowed us to travel for 3 other matches (two of which I got to shoot WB) that we would have otherwise missed but I had to withdraw from EoT.  The intention was for her schedule to change after EoT, but somehow there was a miscommunication.  I had signed up in August and to say I was bummed at the time would be an understatement.

I don't really know anything about how the stages were constructed at EoT but there's no reason why WB should not be a dynamic run and gun.  In the match I just came from on Sunday, the total number of shots was 305 over 14 stages.  The winner did it in 227.34 seconds, which means he shot an average of 1.34 rounds per second he was on the clock.  We have a gun that can be easily reloaded and shot more, so why not take advantage of that?

Now compare that match to a 3 gun match. Basically that's what WB is.

168 shooters.

It's been tried for decades to get other disciplines into WB. Since we don't do Condition 1 and run and gun, probably won't happen soon.

In a similar vein, Cowtown was told "if you allow condition 1 and movement, we'd shoot it". So Cowtown did and...... Those shooters said, "oh, we sold our guns years ago, we don't do that anymore, we just shoot cowboy".

Lots of talk, little or no action.

If you have any ideas or a template to get others in, let SASS know and, maybe, just maybe, it could happen.

[Flying W Ramrod]

2 hours ago, Boggus Deal said:

Because it’s not a shooting match. It was cowboy with a 1911 and who really wants to shoot that? When you can close your eyes, lean forward, bump the target with your muzzle and pull the trigger? What’s shooting about that?

Dude, you keep bitching and complaining but I don't see you putting any ideas up.

Stop it.