Smoke 'em if you got 'em

[leverfan]

The SASS TG summit has made it official for black powder shooters.  Your loads should produce SMOKE.  In fact, they're supposed to smoke at least as much as 1 CC or 15 grains of Goex Cowboy black powder.  If somebody can't tell a bp shooter's loads apart from another cowboy shooting Unique and alox lubed bullets, there is a challenge system in place.  

The SASS Wire has a sticky listing the results of all the voting.

[ButlerFord45]

It's a real shame that it's coming to this.  I really believe that SASS is getting too big and is attracting competitors instead of cowboys.

[leverfan]

Butler, I'm new to the sport, so I haven't been to any big matches yet, but most of what I've seen so far is just folks having fun.  My limited view of the sport could just be the result of keeping my head up my @$$, though. :-D

For me, real competition just isn't going to happen.  No matter how fast I learn to shoot, I've got a screwed up leg, and I'm not about to hustle back and forth during a stage.  Strolling back and forth brings out plenty of good natured ribbing, mostly suggestions that the timer be swapped for an hourglass or even a calender.

That leaves me free to shoot purely for the fun of it.  For me, that means the caliber starts with the number 4, and the case is full of real black powder.  Along with the ribbing about my speed, I get plenty of folks cheering me on when the flames and smoke start rolling out of my guns.  Depending on the wind, there's usually some coughing, too.

Other folks in the sport have been trying to get me to download to increase my speed.  Some firmly believe that their 7 grains of substitute powder smokes as much as 15 grains of real black powder, and they'll probably stay with those lighter loads, if they can.  If that's their brand of fun, I'm fine with it.  I don't even tease them for shooting semi-smokey mouse farts.  It's enough for me that the folks loading what amount to smokeless loads will be effectively banned from the black powder classes.  

Of course, smoke isn't the only issue.  Many of the subs don't require special lube, or cause binding, or add any of the other challenges that real black powder does.  That was pretty well ignored by the TGs, and rightly so.  Not everyone has access to black powder everywhere that SASS matches occur.

It would be nice to find a large enough group of like-minded shooters in my area to support at least a quarterly "wholy black" shoot.  Divide them up into a sub-forty caliber posse and a forty and over caliber posse, set some grass on fire, and have some fun.

[ButlerFord45]

Leverfan, you're the type of person that I started shooting with.  The young guns that wanted to go fast had several categories that speed worked in.  Us old slow farts the wanted to relive the old Saturday afternoon matinee had a couple that suited us well, big guns, big bullets, big powder charges and really big booms and smoke.  Then the young'uns found out they weren't as good as they thought and that winning required work, practice and, unfortunately, expense that they were unwilling commit to.  They did, however, find that they could shoot with the old and slow with their pipsqueak loads and get their names in lights.  Anyone who would pervert a category in a grand old game that really does offer something for everyone, just so they might be able to win ocassionally will receive no respect from me.  I only tease people I do respect, so I don't make fun of them either, I just pity them for their lack of self respect.
You, sir, however, I'd be proud to possy with any day.

[leverfan]

You, sir, however, I'd be proud to possy with any day.

Likewise, Mr. Ford, and thank you, even if I am one of those dang young'uns.  My slowness is from the miles, not the years.  Having one of your legs held together with a steel plate and ten bolts will add time to anyone's score.

Credit for my attitude towards the game should probably also go to my dad, and how he raised me.  He was nicknamed "Duke" by his brothers, since he shares his name with  a certain famous western actor.  He'd let me stay up half the night watching western movie marathons with him, and he has over 100 books by Louis L'amour.  I read them all, along with some better, and some worse, western stories.  

It keeps me playing honest, though, and true to the spirit of the game as I see it.  Tricking out my guns and making loads that give up 15 foot pounds of energy to a cork gun just doesn't appeal.

No doubt, SASS will eventually collapse under its own success, and more and more splinter groups like W3G and NCOWS will form, so that people can team up with like-minded shooters.  The sheer numbers of new shooters in SASS will provide plenty of prospective members for new clubs to form.  If some group of darkside warthogs doesn't form in the next couple of years, I'll be surprised.