Bad Day at Black Rock!!

[EZWriter]

Well I've gone and done it; I "competed" in my first ever shoot.  I've heard folks say they were nervous on their first shoot, and I expected to have a few butterflies myself, but I was not prepared, nor was anyone else I was shooting with, for the nightmare of "things that can go wrong" scenario. To start with, the ammunition I was using (.45LC ) malfunctioned in both my '66 lever gun, and both of my Vaqueros. After totally screwing up my first time up, a couple of the old hands took a look at my '66 and told me it wasn't feeding properly. That, plus non-ignition on every third or forth round started to turn my confidence into jello. I used a Pard's lever gun for the rest of the match, and had to use borrowed ammunition as well. Normally, I'd be looking for a new sport to pursue, but because the folks I was shooting with were so willing to come to my aid, and urged me to finish the day shooting, I ended up, as I sometimes do, having one of the most memorable days of my life. I even got a real nice certificate at the end of the day proclaiming me as having come in "2nd" in the Traditional catagory! Of course the catch is, there were only two of us shooting that class.
To me, it's just proof of what having the "Cowboy Spirit" means. The pards I shot with today showed me what that's all about.
The way I look at it, I fell into a pool fulla poop, and pulled out a pearl today. 
Thanks to all you Cowboys and Cowgirls out there.
Lonesome Roads

[Big John Denny]

Congradulations pard on living through your first match. Please don't think you're the first one stuff like you described happened to. There are many who rode that trail before you, and many others will follow. With a little help from your friends you made it through fine. Your pards here on CAS City can help with suggesting the best fix for your ammo problem like help with proper reloading techniques, etc.

[Dakota Dan from OZ]

You have hit the nail right on the head, it's "The Cowboy Spirit" and the next shoot you will go to you will have worked out the problem with your ammo and that will probably have fixed the feeding on your 66.

And keep going back and it all will come natural to you.

D D

 

[Micheal Fortune]

Welcome aboard EZ!  Your life has changed forever, no going back now, you are an Offical Cowboy Action Shooter!

And all the little problems you have give you something to do before the next match!

[dangerranger]

In the words of a very noncowboy movie You are now Predisastered! all those bad things are already done and cant get you anymore!good shootin. DR.

[Camille Eonich]

Hey EZ, you did a great job hanging in there.  'Course once you get started cowboy shooting it's hard to get out of even a single stage.  These cowboys are a pushy bunch.  They push guns on you and ammo and even gun carts, rides to and from the range.  They just won't let you have an excuse not to shoot.   

[EZWriter]

Wow,thanks for all your good wishes and advice. I see by that, that my local cowboys ain't got the market cornered on the "Cowboy Spirit."
As it turns out, my Vaquero's were an easy fix ( by a Pard I met at my first shoot who is a gunsmith ) and my Yellowboy too.
I got a new batch of ammunition and am awaiting a new pair of mule-ear boots to arrive via UPS any day now. With any luck I'll be
jingle-janglin' my way through next Sunday's shoot and at least shootin' a "clean" match....maybe!
Thanks again for all the kind words; I didn't forget a one.

Lonesome Roads

[Four-Eyed Buck]

It's all part of a learning curve, we've all had our Black Rock's. Mine was a busted stock on a Marlin CB before a match. Cold day and the gun actually fell out of my cart! Broke right at the wrist. Only match I've ever shot with Winchester 94, my shop's owner's son let me share his 94 Legacy. Got through it...........Buck