FAULT LINE SHOOTIST SOCIETY

TERRITORIAL GOVERNOR'S TRIP REPORT

Ok, Buckaroos and Buckeretts, I have finally got off my well-endowed mule and took pen to paper.  Yes paper, Querida types in that dang TV with a typewriter attached.

 So here we go.

 Five items were up for Territorial Governors approval, these were the results:

         1.         Changes in the Classic Cowboy category were defeated with only 40% in favor.

 2.         Changes in the number of minor safeties per gun was defeated with only 45% in favor.

 3.         Changes as to when you were committed to the stage was defeated with only 30% in favor.

 4.         Changes to the maximum size shot allowed was defeated with only 26% in favor.

 5.         Changes to the Long Range rules to allow Optic sights was approved with 79% in favor.

What do it mean?  Nothing has changed.  Whatever was in place before is still in place.  Except for allowing non-optic scopes for long range rifles.  The rules have not been completed but basically you can only use the new scopes against other people with scopes.  It also gives you a reason to go spend more money on a period correct scope and possibly a new gun to put the damn scope on.

The Wild Bunch finally waded into the fray of the “Wimp Load” issue.  They have put into place a power factor rule that governs all smokeless ammunition in the main match.  Since the BP ammunition already has its own standard, it does not fall under the power factor set for the smokeless ammunition.  Fact is, any BP round loaded to the BP standard will exceed the new minimum power factor required by the smokeless ammunition.  The new rule will require all smokeless ammunition to reach at least a PF of 60…determined by bullet weight times velocity/1000…and also states that a minimum velocity of 400 fps must be obtained.  The new rule will become effective at EOT 2008, and will be enforced by the same method as the BP smoke issue, in other words, through the chain of command.  The posse leader is the first contact point for a protest.  The shooter in question should NOT be made aware of any protest unless and until such time that it has been decided that his/her ammunition will be checked.  This power factor is very low and I don’t expect it to be of any concern to any of our shooters.  The penalty for use of ammunition below the minimum is a 30 second Spirit of the Game on the first incident, and a MDQ on the second.

In what I took to be another “Spit in your eye” to Coyote Cap, was the rejection of a modification to the drop two system on the 1887 shotguns.  An external screw added to the receiver to limit the travel of the lever has NOT been approved and is NOT SASS legal at this time.  It is anticipated that a request for approval will be applied for, but until such time that it has been approved it will not be allowed at SASS matches that enforce the rules.  All external mods not spelled out in the rulebook must be submitted to SASS for approval before they are put into play at a SASS match.

The Laramie revolver from Beretta, which is a very close copy of the Smith and Wesson #3, will only be allowed in categories that allow modern guns.  Why, because the rear sight can be adjusted.

Another issue, which was addressed by the Wild Bunch, was something that has been going on all over the South and Arizona for several years.  Necked-down shotgun shells are NOT SASS LEGAL and their use will result in a MDQ!  Yep, some folks will do anything to gain a perceived advantage!  Mike Daley, from Hodgdon Powder Company spoke to the group and gave a very scary report on the extremely high pressures that these shells produce.  They are nothing less than dangerous!  With that info, the Wild Bunch ran for cover and said No Mas, No Mas. 

Also scoring of shotgun shells in effect making them slugs was also outlawed.

Another change is a recommendation for local clubs which will be enforced at major matches is the way jammed guns are handled.  The practice of taking a malfunctioning firearm from the unloading table to another place, i.e. a gunsmith or other work area, with ammunition still in the firearm is illegal as of now.  If you have a jam or a broken gun, you must clear and show clear at the unloading table before removing that firearm for repair elsewhere.

Well there you are, that pretty well sums it up.

Your TG and Amigo

Tres

P.S. What follows is just a little non-essential drivel about our trip to Vegas.

Well it were around o’dark thirty, the buckboard was loaded up and we was both packen squaws.   The Kid can pack more shit than anyone I know.  The Kid said, chuckling, we would have more room if we were to leave them two, motioning to the two blurry eyed, half sleeping, grumpy ladies, otherwise known as our wives.  I said “The hell you say, the most you are likely to get is beat on the head with a skillet, where as I might get shot full of holes buy that there pistol packen gal of mine.  No Sir, I ain’t that brave, Kid.”  The Kid shrugged his shoulders and shoved one more time and slammed shut the lid, saying “Its Vegas or Bust!”

Time flew while we flew down the road.  Occasionally we were interrupted when the snoring from the back seat raised to such a crescendo as to sound like a 747 on take off or when “them two” would be yakking so loud that they disrupted the profound thoughts of two great minds, well maybe not two great minds, maybe one great mind and one somewhat pickled mind.  More on that point later.

Some of you may not know that the Kid and I never seem to run out of stuff to talk, about, ok, ok argue about.  You see, the Kid and I are on opposite ends of the political spectrum.  Which means I can ignore everything he says cause I know he is wrong.  Problem is for some unknown reason he thinks he is always right.  I just chalk it up to his mental illness.  Anyway it were not long before we had arrived in that fabled city of Lost Wages.  If you have not been to Lost Wages during the SASS Convention, you must put an end to that provided you are an aficionado of Western themes and lore.  Name it, it don’t matter, whatever it is, it can be had in a western motif.  The whole town seems to go cowboy crazy.  So there I was prepared to go to my first SASS Territorial Governors Summit Meeting, prepared to solve any and all problems in the world of Cowboy Action Shooting.  All those hours arguing, I mean discussing issues with the Kid left me nauseous but buffered to withstand even the best bullshitter.  I might add that my dedication to my Club knows no bounds.  The night before, I partook of too much nectar of the Gods, leaving me somewhat “borracho.”   But no matter, I was ready.  The room was full of TG’s from all over the Country.  I recognized several TG’s from other parts of the Golden State and I would meet TG’s from Canadia as well as the rest of the Country.  I even met some fellers from Texas.  I am prepared to argue that them boys are not Americans but rather an alien race from outer space.  Ask me some day to elaborate on this theory, but bring a bottle of Jack with you because I can go on for hours on this issue.

It took me all of 10 minutes to realize I was in for a long fruitless summit.  Man, there are some boys that sure do like the sound of their voice.  At the first break, I got to talkin with El Lazo and asked him if this was normal and El Lazo rolled his eyes and said, “Hell no, this is going smooth.  Ain’t nobody shot anyone nor has anybody threatened to.”  So I settled in for the long haul.  Yes Sir, I was there for the duration, all three days.  When it was all said and done, only one change was “voted on” and changed.  Check out the TG Summary for complete details.

So, there you are.  The Kid survived and believe it or not, he managed to pack everything we came with and everything, we bought back into the buckboard.  Many brain cells had been destroyed and taxes to the State of Nevada were paid.  So now dumber and poorer than when we started, we headed for home with smiles on our faces.