Growth of a Club

This last fall I had the privilege to shoot in the last circuit shoot of the year in Texas at the DFW Gunslingers' range. The Quicks, Brad, Pixie and Papa, sure have done well setting up their club and their range. I have recently noted that the DFW Gunslingers have started using a no x format which appears similar to the Arizona Bracket shoot.

All of the clubs in Arizona at their club matches shoot the Arizona Bracket shoot.  What the format is, is that you shoot no x as many rounds as the time will allow and then break the shooters into equal brackets based on x s and time out from a CFDA time out report. You then do a 1 x magnificent shoot off.  There are many advantages to this format.  All shooters remain in the contest to the end of the day.  All shooters gain experience of a magnificent shoot off.  All shoot together so the ladies get more competition by shooting with the men.  Even our tenderfoots are included. Last year we had one event won by Javelina Hunter, a tenderfoot shooting off the table, defeating Rodeo for the event win.  Powder Keg has always given credit to the Arizona Bracket Shoot for his National Championship.  You need to learn to compete with those shooters hitting 80%.

New clubs, try this format you will like it.  The River City Gunslingers of Omaha need to give it a try. We did one last spring when I helped with their first organized shoot.  They have a timer setup that displays the shot count behind the targets so they are really set up for it.  They need to get a little competition into their club practice shoots.

There will be two major jackpot shoots here in Arizona this spring shooting the Arizona Bracket Shoot, Winter Range, which is a big money shoot, and Tombstone.  If you have never experienced Winter Range you should come.  Nearly a 1,000 total shooters, shooting SASS, CFDA, and Mounted Shooting.  Many vendors, February 18 to 23 with Jackpot shoot being 23rd, two ranges, 6 brackets.  Tombstone is the weekend after Texas, March 23rd, and is held in one of the best venues there is. If nothing else it is worth seeing those AZ gals plying the streets of Tombstone between Big Nose Kate's and the Crystal Palace. They will be either drowning their sorrows or celebrating their dominance on the range with Fireball.  Don't know what that is but I am sure one of them will teach me this year, the Fireball that is.  Last year I was too embarrassed to stay, that California gal having sent me to Boothill in 3rd.

Getting back to the subject, the DFW Gunslingers ought to also give Arizona Five a try.  It is the best five shot option. (See my March 7, 2018, post on Fastdraw.blogspot.com.) We shoot it exclusively on Shady Mtn but don't keep score. (I don't think the proprietor can take the stress of losing those marbles.)  In Arizona Five you shoot five shots and the shooter with the most winning hits wins,  If score is 0-0 both get a lose, if score is 1-1 both get a lose, if the score is 2-2 both get a win.  Arizona Five sorts better than Nevada Five or Montana Five and takes 25% less time.  Less time means more rounds. More rounds means a better sort.  From what I see and hear the shooters at DFW need a format like Arizona Five. It puts pressure on you to hit and to hit right a way. The Quick (double meaning intended) need to learn that their quickness will not carry the day if they can't get on the target right away. Javelina Hunter does not give you any second chances.

Anyway, the DFW Gunslingers have a great range and a great club. They seem to be getting a little swagger professing to be the fastest club in Texas. Just remember a little swagger is okay until you trip on your spurs.

"Quick don't matter much, if you don't hit that which you are trying to be quick about."   Virgil Cole

Gunfight at Pioneer Vilalge, Arizona Territory

Well there was quite a fray at Pioneer Village. The weather broke clear and cold and 51 gunfighters fought it out on two ranges.  Putting up the second range was a lot of work but we had a good crew helping.

The 2018 club points were decided on the line. In the men's division, Shady Mike got the maximum 40 points, QC Carver got 35 points which moved them into 2nd and 3rd. Final Top Gun standings are Everett Hitch 1st, Shady Mike 2nd, and QC Carver 3rd.

In the men's Most Improved the standing were decided on the line.  Stagecoach got 29 points which kept him in first place for Most Improved.  There was a fierce battle for 2nd or 3rd, but Rodeo Romeo failed to appear which kept his 2nd place standing intact.  I would suggest he was afeared, but I know he was training new shooters at the Camp.  He earned his copper having the highest average placing of the men throughout the year. Great shooting Romeo! But even though Rodeo did not shoot, there still was quite a battle for the second spot. Rodeo had improvement of 6.777778 and Coyote Kid had improvement of 6.666667.  Coyote Kid got 27 points, had he got 28 points he would have caught Rodeo for 2nd.

In the shoot-offs Coyote Kid drew The Stud. There was much bantering going on and I almost called the Stud for being unsportsmanlike, but Coyote Kid, was giving as good as he was receiving, and you know the Stud, what can you do.  Any way The Stud eliminated Coyote Kid so the next time you see The Stud be sure to tell him "Way to go, you kept Rodeo in second!"

In the Ladies division the Top Gun standings are Holli Day 1st, Southwest KC 2nd and Hot Flash 3rd.  For Most Improved Shooter the standings are Sky Queen 1st, Troublemaker 2nd, and Prickly Pear 3rd.

Awards will be given out on January 26th and will be copper from the copper state.  Top Gun award winners are not considered for Most Improved Shooter awards. In the men's division none of the Top Guns were in the running for Most Improved.  In the Ladies the two top winners were excluded. 

Next year we are changing the rules a bit.  This year you had to have an average from 2017 to compete for Most Improved.  That effectively eliminated new shooters. For new shooters in 2019 they will start with their placing in their first event if they did not shoot in 2018.  Also for 2019, for Most Improved to be considered you must shoot in at least 4 events. 

Happy New Year and remember "80% is just average!"