FASTEST GUN ALIVE...A Showcase of “True Grit.”

FASTEST GUN ALIVE...A Showcase of “True Grit.”

Since most of our minds reside in 1880's, it was exciting to step back to a bygone era and fight it out for the honor to be called the best gunfighter in the world.  As a rookie to cowboy fast draw the entire event at times appeared to be much like the Buffalo Bill Wild(er) West Show.

More often than not your final standing was determined by a “single shot/hit.”  If the fastest, you won!  The crowds would then cheer as the announcer stated your alias and home state.  You stood there trying to look like it did not make a difference but you were cheering wildly inside.  If not yours, you walk off with true cowboy pride.   No one was there without extreme courage and commitment.  For over 85% of the shooters all you win is a “X.” To take home a prize from this event is the exception.   Those who won definitely did so by overwhelming skill and very little luck.  All of the 200 plus shooters wanted to earn the Top Shooter belt buckle and it showed.

Stud expressed to me, in his funniest cowboy manner, how strange it was to shoot against an octogenarian who said he had a pacemaker and only one good eye.  They blasted away and once again that last shot got Stud an “X” on his score sheet.  Later in the day, this winning elder statesman took a nap and ended up with an “X” for missing a follow-on match.  True grit is really just that.  Every cowboy with a sidearm and name tag came to play.

My final “X”, during the main match, came from Hell on Wheels.  This cowboy was not limited at all by his wheelchair.  He could drive nails in with each shot.   Those nails were putting the finishing touches on my coffin.  My age related ailments seemed minor when compared to this cowboy's true grit to get here and then win. Just before shooting me out of the match, Hell on Wheels had won the Quick and the Dead match defeating three dozen standing cowboys capable of all types of body English.  Hell on Wheels will always be a role model for me.

I watched in amazement as the "youth-boys" shot on our range between one of our matches.  The young-ins was shooting in the .4s and .5s with some in the .3s. While other members their age sit around playing video games and tweeting these youngsters were learning the cowboy way of life.  In this old cowboy’s opinion, in the end they will be much better off.   One family had three generations of shooters in the contest.

In my case, I was given the opportunity to compete against the top shooters we see all the time named in the Gunslinger's Gazette.  It was ugly at times but I did manage to win a match each day keeping me alive for another round.  I am proud to say: “I am the 132nd Fastest Gun Alive!”

Noah Chance asked me at the Awards Reception if I had a “fun time.” His cowboy friendly attitude is directly responsible for getting me into the sport. I paused on my answer since I was exhausted and already pre-occupied on how to get back to the 21th century.  But then it hit me. I did have “fun” sharing in others’ successes.

Thirsty got an award as a top five shooter in the Shootist category.  He had just taken up shooting a long gun and was glowing with pride.  Miss Kitty was given a Top Hand Award for all her volunteer efforts with the AZ chapter.  This year only 46 people were recognized with this national award.  She too had that look of inner pride that comes from a job well done.

Rodeo Romeo and Dry Gulcher ran the charity auction raising thousands of dollars for the Shoot for the Stars Scholarship Program.  Here were two AZ cowboy brothers doing their part for the association in outstanding style.  I saw Yowee, late Saturday afternoon, running across an open field (clutching her six gun and holster to her hip) with the latest line up for the Resurrection Finals.  Then all of a sudden off she goes at a full gallop back to the scorekeeper’s booth.  Yowee was definitely showing her “grit” to keep everything running smoothly.  She is always a great source for assistance to our members.

All of the AZ Gunslingers and Rio Salado Vaqueros took a very active part in the event and made me proud to be a member of both groups.  Shady Mike, Thirsty, AZ Thumber and Muletrain definitely provided me with the encouragement and the training I needed to compete.  Except for that single shot, in three matches, I almost won a buckle.  I actually pushed several of the fastest in the world to a 2-2 tie.

To my extended cowboy family “Thank you!”  Your support is greatly appreciated by this super senior cowboy who simply wants to be a  gunfighter and not feel like life is passing him by.  Without friends like you all, I would be lost in an era ran by computers and not cowboy ethics.

Just remember, often times being a gunslinger has less to do with the gun and more to do with your grit to get things done in the cowboy way. So put those reins in your mouth and practice, practice, practice for next year.  Remember the Duke! His way should be your way! So Charge!

Boss T

Boss T 's report

IDAHO STATE Championship Matches
From the very moment that I got off my rental horse in Nampa, Idaho I knew that these cowboys really meant business.  Shooters were there in force from a half dozen states converting the parking lot of the Boise Gun Company into a cowboy town.  It took over 5 minutes to call roll.  The 7th Calvary did not have this many cowboys.  The cowboys shot on one range and the cowgirls shot on a second range.  There was a large cleaning area and plenty of practice area for dry firing. Ruger Firearms was there filming the event for a TV movie on cowboys of the modern west.
After a hardware and leather inspection shooting began right as the outhouses were delivered.  Offloading the outhouses from the high bed truck provided a great deal of entertainment with a loud applause after they finally hit the ground safely.
I got to meet the CFDA’s top hand, Quick Cal.  We took a selfie and he thanked me for coming to Idaho.   Cal invited me to his ranch in Nevada for lunch.  He seemed to know everyone and kept inviting cowpokes to lunch during the first week in October.  He must have a big bunk house near Fallon , NV.
It was my honor to shoot with fellow AZ Gunslinger, Old West.  He was in two categories and I was in the Cowboys from AARP category.  I made it to the Top 5 Match finals for my category and lasted one round.  Old West was in top form and earned the right to fight against the very best in the group.  I have not seen the results but I know he did well and stayed for the main match the next two days.    As a true cowboy, I meandered off for two days of fishing with my kin.

Boss T

Target Progession II

For those who do not want to use a chair, you can make a nice frame out of pvc 1 inch pipe for about $25.00.  What is needed is 3 10 ft 1 inch pvc pipes, 10 tees, and two 1/4 inch threaded rods with wing nuts.  It takes maybe an hour to cut the pieces with a hand saw.  I did not use any glue, may or may not be needed.

The bottom legs are 30 inches and the top target holding legs are 23 inches.  The spacers are 21 inches but could be longer if you want it wider, that is just what fit my ballistic backstop from my chair.  The spacers between front and back is just the distance that the tees on the bottom required.  There are two threaded rods with wing nuts between the front and back.  You need four 2 inch spacers for the bottom tees.  Bottom back legs are about 16 inches

Show with ballistic backstop and with the bucket to catch spent wax.  Note the cords on top to hold the cardboard.  I may or may not drill holds to fasten the cords at different heights.  Still a work in progress.

I have not used it yet but it should work well.  If the joints loosen up with use, I may have to glue them.  For those of you that spray wax more, maybe a little wider would be better, but for me this width works just fine.  I intend to get a light canvas that wax will penetrate for the front instead of cardboard and then stick 6 inch targets on it.

Anyway, no glue yet so it can be taken apart if it becomes an auction or gift item.

Someone sent me this:

Target Progression

I am not sure I want to do this since I don't need any more fast gunslingers to compete with, but after hearing Marshall Cooper share all of his knowledge, I decided I should share my progress  in trying to find the perfect practice target.  I start with the premise that windage does not matter, only elevation in developing your draw.  See my first post on elevation v. windage.

My first attempt was merely a board 6 feet in length and 4 inches wide.  The theory was if I just got my elevation right, I could adjust my windage before the set command.

The problem with this target was that hits destroyed the wax and it was hard to determine where the misses went.

My next attempt was a box constructed with a wood frame a cardboard front and a ballistic back.  The theory was the wax would enter and be caught for reuse.  It work reasonable well except the cardboard was hard to keep on and the frame broke after about 100 rounds.

I needed a better frame material.  This I found in 6 inch PVC pipe.  It withstood the hits without damage.  I attached ballistic to the back and shaped it to funnel the used wax into a bucket.  Set at the proper height at 6 feet it is the same as a 21 inch target at 21 feet.  At 5.2 feet it is the same as a 24 inch target at 21 feet.  There is two problem with this target, first a hit on the frame destroy the wax and second, misses were hard to see.

This is the target that was raffled off as the Shoot for the Stars 6 inch target.at one of our club shoots.

I was using this 6 inch target on the back of my chair upon which I had placed ballistic material.  I started by adding pvc supports to the frame of the chair.

I then added the ballistic material to the chair so I would have a ready made backstop that I could set up any where.  It is great at 6 feet.

I would hang my 6 inch pvc target at the correct height ( must be calculated for each shooter otherwise just practicing missing)  After running several hundred rounds through and into the bucket, I realized I could do better.  The better was to discard the 6 inch target and replace it with cardboard with a 6 inch circle drawn on it.  With the cardboard you can see where each round hits.  You would be amazed how through a 50 round set your groups will tighten into the 6 inch circle.  You can also recover every round and the used wax is better than new (yes we have tested it.) I normally shoot 50 and recover 50.

Now known as Coconino Competition Wax since it is made in the Coconino forest.  A side note, I have noted that if I do not clean my gun I will begin throwing flyers after 30-35 rounds.  A quick cleaning will restore accuracy.

Any way, there it is, just one gunslinger's attempt to find the best practice target.  If I get frustrated at not finding the target sometime don't be surprise if you see me shooting the back of my chair at a shoot.  I should have broken out the chair this last weekend when I lost my balance and began to sling everything high..

"Quick only matters, if you can hit that which you are trying to be quick about"  Everette Hitch.

Put Five in the Bucket

"I was lucky in the order, but then I have always been lucky when it comes to killing folks." William Munny, Unforgiven, 1992.

What appears to be chance or luck in our sport, may be mathematical certainty.  At Rio Saturday, the first place winner defeated six shooters on the way to first, five of whom had posted faster times than the 1st place shooter.  A shooter hitting 60% will normally defeat a shooter hitting less than 40% in a 3 out of 5 contest. In a 2 out of 3 contest the magic number is 66%.  Saturday the 1st place shooter was hitting better than 66% and therefore it was a certainty that he was going to win unless he met a faster shooter hitting better than 66% which he never did.

After a gunfight with hired gunslingers in which both men were wounded the following occurred:

Everett Hitch: That was quick.
Virgil Cole: Yeah, everybody could shoot.    Appaloosa (2008)

That is what we are striving for.  So people say of the Arizona Gunslingers, "They all can shoot."

Coming to a Jackpot Shoot near you.  The Arizona Gunslingers Shoot for the Stars 6 inch Target.  You start at 4 feet (equal to 27" target) and shoot until you can consistently put 5 in the bucket, then you move to 5 feet (equal to 24" target).  When you can consistently put five in the bucket at 5 feet you move to 6 feet which is equal to a 21 inch target.  When you put five in the bucket there you are ready for the shoot-offs and no will beat you until you meet someone that can do the same.

Aim Small, Miss Small!

"Remember boys, aim small, miss small!" Col. Benjamin Martin, The Patriot (2000)

In the Gazette, Kodiak says he spends a lot of time shooting at the 5 foot mark.  If he is shooting at a 24 inch target, that may help his times but does nothing for his accuracy.  A 24 inch target at 5 feet is the same as a 100 inch target at 21 feet.  Sometimes we just practice missing.

Think about using a 6 inch target at 6 feet.  That is the same as a 21 inch target at 21 feet.  If you can hit 60 or 80 % in a 6 inch target at 6 feet you should be able to hit consistently at 21 feet.

A 6 inch target at 5.2 feet is the same as a 24 inch target at 21 feet.

It is paramount that the target be set at the proper height.  For me I shoot from 42 inches.  So my shot must rise 8 inches to the center of the target or .38 inches per foot from the target.  Therefore for me at 6 foot my target height is 44.2 inches. (42 plus .38 times 6)  Otherwise, I would just be practicing missing.
 
Coming soon the Arizona Gunslingers' five inch target.  Will be made to catch wax at five feet and will be the same as a 21 inch target at 21 feet.  A raffle item for Shoot for the Stars!


 

The power of your own mind

It has been a while since we had a post on the blog. As I was thinking of a subject to write about I came across this: http://www.wordporm.com/mark-twains-top-9-tips-living-kick-ass-life/#.UzuMhTbn3j8.facebook

Since I couldn't have said it better myself, I'll just redirect you here. Hope it helps.
Press on,
Rodeo Romeo