Cap & ball success

[PJ Hardtack]

Just returned from a 20th annual CAS event with 125 shooters from Saskatchewan, Alberta, Washington, Oregon and all over BC. That's big by Canadian standards. Location was the Hefley Creek range near Kamloops. It was good to be with guys from the 'old days', but we were saddened by the list of 'absent friends'.

For the first time, I shot in the 'Plainsman' category and I elected to shoot 'double duellist' with a brace of .44 Remington '58s. Two other guys from my club shot Colt clones in the same category. We placed 1st, 2nd (me) and third. Two others from our home club couldn't make the shoot, which would have given us six in the category had they made it.

I had a 'Plainsman' in my possee shooting a pair of Walkers 'double duellist'. That takes balls beyond the lead kind! He had all the problems associated with Colt 'wedgies' - dropping loading lever, jamming cap fragments, but he soldiered on. His rifle was a Ped 'Lightning' in .45 Colt and it shot consistently well. Interestingly, he doesn't use wads or lube over his chambers. Works for him and he sees no reason to change.

First day of the shoot, it rained every time I was up to shoot! I suffered one misfire which I attributed to lint from a pipe cleaner used prior to loading that morning. After that I used a steel vent pick to clear the nipples.

I had so much fun, I think I'll finish the season shooting 'Plainsman', finishing with our 2nd annual cap & ball only match in September.