So...Will NCOWS Ban the Marlin 98 Too?

[Lone Gunman]

So SASS is outlawing some guns that they have allowed to be used for years eh?

This reminds me very little of the time...

...NCOWS finally voted on the Ruger Bisley and shotshell slides and decided they weren't up to snuff authenticity wise. There was a great hue and cry from a very vocal minority about how patently unfair this was. (It's worth noting that NCOWS granted a grace period of almost a year and a half, I don't believe SASS is being quite that considerate) There were predictions that this marked the beginning of NCOWS' death spiral. (actual membership numbers have risen since then) A few actually left NCOWS because of those changes...will those same few now leave SASS to show their solidarity with the 'non-97 pump' shooters?      I'm guessing not.

In November NCOWS put short stroked rifles on the unapproved list; again we heard the hue and cry from a minority of members of how this would cause a great exodus of shooters. While I agree our decision would benefit from some quantifiable parameters, I'm proud that we were the first to address it. Will this recent ruling by SASS lead to our naysayers praising the 24th Territorial Congress as being forward thinking...cutting edge...proactive?      I'm guessing not.

I also notice that the 56-50 was specifically granted inclusion into their 'pistol caliber rifle' definition. Will that endorsement carry more weight with the 56-50 detractors than the actual ballistic evidence they dismissed? Hey, you have to hold onto your principles right?      So I'm guessing not.   

I guess I'd just like to see the same righteous indignation we endured heaped on the other guys for once. Will those few members and ex-members of NCOWS now reflect on their words and actions towards us from a different perspective?      I'm guessing not. 

[Lars]

I wonder how many more CAS groups that were once SASS-affiliated will drop their affiliation but still offer CAS shoots? I shoot now and then at one club that dropped their SASS-affiliation some years ago. My favorate CAS shoot is at a privately owned, open to paying public facility that is SASS-affiliated but has far better shooting than ANY other CAS group I have shot with. This facility makes it very clear that one does not have to be SASS member to shoot there.

At the present, the only CAS shoots locally that require SASS membership are the regionals, which I never shoot at again because of the cost and unappealing atmospheres.

Hopefully, SASS just tipped the playing field toward NCOWS and W3G.

Lars

[Black River Smith]

LG

Sorry I was making my own post about the 56-50 about the same time you made your comments here or I just missed it in your last posting.

When I  read through real fast, I decided not to mix/join the two topics.

Thanks for mentioning it though.

Black River Smith

[Prof. A. Wickwire]

Would be nice to have some dissenfranchised shooters up in New England to start an NCOWS club....

Major Lewis,

I heartily agree with you, an NCOWS club in the North East and/or New England area would be a wonderful thing.  We may have enough interest to start one now.  I will try to find more interested parties in my area; perhaps you could do the same.

With hard work and perseverance we can accomplish this noble goal.

Sincerely,

Prof. A. Wickwire

[Trap]

  Prof.  Good luck. Endeavor to persevere.   jt

[Major Matt Lewis]

Prof,

I LOVE that avatar....I do all my NCOWS pimping for the GAF or the KVC.  I grew up (meaning completed High School) in New Hampshire and since then have left.  I am now in Kansas City.

[Montana Slim]

IMO, SASS's planned banning of the Marlin Shotgun is part of an economic agreement with Marlin....sort of a favor to Marlin, one of the few U.S. Manufacturers of firearms..particularly of the most popular popular SASS competitor's lever action rifle. No-doubt Marlin spends some advertising $$ / support to SASS's CC and events, too. Banning the Marlin 98 from SASS matches in-effect ends use of this product that Marlin has desperately tried to separate itself from.

Just my thought....I could be wrong!
Slim

[Lou Graham]

It's an interesting thought Montana Slim........ could be.  Marlin does sponsor a number of events, gives us rifles to raffle, stuff like that.

Problem is --  especially in New England -- there's a LOT of Marlin owners.  Several clubs have already stated that they will continue to use "pre-ban" guns for monthly matches if the Covenants are passed as is.  They can be kept out of the big shoots, but 95% of the shooting is done at monthly matches.

We live in interesting times.