Spencer in SASS Main Match: Failure to Engage?! *** Photos Added ***

[panhead pete]

Hpwdy Pards,

Here's one for all of you outhouse lawyers.  I shot the 56-50 Spencer last Saturday at our local SASS match.  The first stage I shot only seven and "took" the three misses.  The Gent at the loading table and I were discussing whether or not this was a failure to engage (FTE).    The rest of the posse including one of our states top shooters thought 3 misses was fine.   NOW THE WAY I SEE IT.  If the stage calls for a reload and you refuse to reload to get an advantage, I would say that is a FTE.  Using a seven shot or a nine shot, I would think the choice should be on the shooter.   The next 4 stages I shot ten. and I gained a lot of speed reloading on the clock.  My whole intention was to get better handling the Spencer.  (Our club does not allow more than one round at a time in any rifle on our non SASS ranges.) Ultimately, I am glad we discussed it because I erred on the side of caution and reloaded.  And I did improve my ability to handle the carbine.

Happy trails,

Panhead     

[John Smith]

I've never been penalized with a failure to engage, isn't 15 seconds enough?  When I shoot my Spencer in a match, I handle the reloads 2 different ways.  Sometimes I carry 3 (or 4 or 5) extra rounds in my vest pocket and load singely, or I have loaded 3 at the loading table, and then load the remaining 7 from a Blakslee tube.

[panhead pete]

Good Day John Smith,

I have thought the 3 in and load from a Blakslee would be cool.  I have yet to get the Blakslee holder.  I was surprised how fast I actually reloaded once I got in the groove.  I used three and three in my shotgun belt in two separate loops. 

Thanks for posting!

Panhead Pete 

[Sagebrush Burns]

I have been shooting my Spencer as my main match rifle this summer and, as far as I am concerned, the reloading on the clock is part of the "Spencer challenge".  If you choose to take the misses, that's your call, but I think that is taking the (sl)easy way out.

[panhead pete]

Sagebrush,

You are very perceptive Sir!  I did feel a bit UN-easy shooting 7.  It was fun yelling "I'm out Boys"!  It was far more rewarding having the Timer tell me "You did a lot better loading three through the tube"!  I had to try it once.....

Yours respectfully,
Panhead

[US Scout]

I've always reloaded my Spencer as necessary to continue the entire course of fire, no matter how much time it took.  If the stage calls for more rounds than I have in the magazine, which is just about always, I just reload through the butt or in the chamber as necessary. 

The clubs I shoot with would have given you an FTE since you could have reloaded the additional rounds and continued shooting.  The only times I've not seen it applied is when the shooter has a malfunction or runs out of ready ammunition so can't reload on the line.  Refusing to shoot, even by taking the misses, would count as an RTE unless you had cleared it with the posse leader and/or timer in advance so they knew up front that you were only going to shoot a given number of rounds.  Even then we'd probably have you go through the motions of cocking the action and hammer.

But since your posse with fine with just giving you the three misses, then I don't see any problem with whether it is or is not an RTE - they decided it wasn't.

[panhead pete]

Howdy Scout,

Going through the motions of levering and cocking was one point that he mentioned.  A fellow shooter once suggested not reloading to get a better time.  For how and why I shoot CAS (and especially the Spencer), I don't know why I tried it on the one stage??  Also, I was thinking that perhaps it would keep things moving faster our posse if I did not reload?!  I don't know if the other posse members really cared how long I took, 94 seconds as opposed to their 30-50 seconds.....

Kind regards,

Panhead   

[Steel-eye Steve]

My Spencer is in .45 S&W, Though I only load it with seven. I carry a a copper tube, sealed up at one end with a cork, that will hold three rounds in a repro Dyer box. Works like a short Blakeslee tube. While not real fast it keeps things moving along and the posse usually finds it entertaining.




                                                    (Photos re-posted by Two Flints)

[panhead pete]

Hello Steel Eye,

Mighty fine setup you have there!  I did not consider making a smaller tube for the three.  Most of the time the posse finds it entertaining.  A most excellent hat and outfit bye the bye Sir!  I am going to Gettysburg this weekend and hope to procure another period hat. 

Thanks,

Panhead