Ever Been Hassled About Shooting BP at a Match?

Bunk Stagnerg · January 25, 2015, 09:04:07 PM

When I hear shooters complain about the shortage of their supply of the smokes somewhat less heathen stuff I just laugh and tell them I have a easy and plentiful supply of powder.

Primers seem to becoming a bit more plentiful. A sporting goods store near here has a good assortment of both large and small rifle and pistol primers in stock at reasonable prices.

More smoke!!
More fun!!
Bunk

Sir Charles deMouton-Black · January 26, 2015, 11:03:17 AM

SMOKELESS IS A FAD!!

Good Troy · January 26, 2015, 02:31:44 PM

This thread has given me some options should I ever encounter a problem.

But, I have been fortunate in the acceptance and guidance I've received in transitioning to black powder. I have witnessed the coughs and hands over the ears from a few of the spotters, and I have to admit that it is tougher on them than me when I'm shooting! I've probably been given more flack by the BP shooters for the times I've used a sub instead of black powder (that will change now that I have a new supply of properly lubed bullets). It was all in good fun, and nothing at all unsportsmanlike.

hellgate · January 26, 2015, 04:03:21 PM

Smokeless is merely a BP substitute.

Frank Dalton · January 26, 2015, 04:40:20 PM

I've had to ask some of the spotters to please not stand so close when I've shot, especially when they called misses because they didn't "see" the target hit. The clang was just a coincidence. The match directions stated clearly that a miss was only a miss if you could physically tell it had missed. 1% doubt and it was supposed to be called a hit.

That's just another way the nitro guys discourage BP shooters.

Ike Kant · January 26, 2015, 09:07:08 PM

Quote from: Frank Dalton on January 26, 2015, 04:40:20 PM
I've had to ask some of the spotters to please not stand so close when I've shot, especially when they called misses because they didn't "see" the target hit. The clang was just a coincidence. The match directions stated clearly that a miss was only a miss if you could physically tell it had missed. 1% doubt and it was supposed to be called a hit.

That's just another way the nitro guys discourage BP shooters.

Just remind them that the shooter gets the benefit of the doubt. I will freely admit that I don't enjoy ROing BP shooters even though I have shot hundreds of matches with the stuff.

hellgate · January 26, 2015, 09:28:41 PM

Whenever I am a spotter for a fellow BP shooter I get way to the side so I can watch the target for movement or sound. Actually I have benefitted from shooting BP cause the spotters couldn't tell what was going on and gave me the benefit of the doubt: "If you think it's a miss, it's a hit".

Good Troy · January 27, 2015, 10:46:49 AM

Hellgate...never really thought of smokeless being a substitute...I guess that technically, it is!
Just not the same amount of smoke as 15 grains of 2Fg.

Mean Bob Mean · January 27, 2015, 11:13:32 AM

"Ever Been Hassled About Shooting BP at a Match?"

Not by a currently breathing human.

Good Troy · January 27, 2015, 11:51:37 AM

Hellgate....BTW....I like the quotes in your signature!

hellgate · January 27, 2015, 11:55:37 AM

Troy,
My other quote is "Converting money into smoke & loud noise for over 50 years."

jimbobborg · January 27, 2015, 01:56:11 PM

Quote from: hellgate on January 27, 2015, 11:55:37 AM
Troy,
My other quote is "Converting money into smoke & loud noise for over 50 years."

So you ride a Harley?

hellgate · January 27, 2015, 08:50:07 PM

No,
A '64 Impala in need of piston rings. ;>)

David Battersby · January 31, 2015, 10:09:01 AM

While I don't shoot CAS ( sorry ) I do shoot Lever Action Silhouette with black powder.
Many of the other shooters have gotten to "know me" and a couple serious competitors may ask to be stationed away from me.
Other than that, it has just been a lot of good natured harassment . Folks making loud choking noises, being certain I hear them. Threatening to sue me because of "black powder poisoning". New shooters are often surprised by the very load boom of the 44WCF and may ask "what the hell are you shooting, a Howitzer?"
On one occasion I elected to shoot a different rifle with smokeless loads. This was my choice as I knew no one would be able to see the targets that day. There was a heavy mist just hanging in the air with absolutely no breeze of any kind . I was sure of what that would look like. I just did not want to dirty a rifle and five pieces of brass to confirm it.

Good Troy · May 19, 2015, 10:51:16 AM

I had a good experience this weekend at the local gun club "fun shoot" that I would like to share. We were shooting steel plates at about 15 yds, timed, just for fun. I took my SAA and '73 Winchester Uberti copies, and shot BP loads. Every one else was shooting automatics, so I got a lot of attention...all good. Folks were curious and interested in the firearms, and ammo. I got video'd on several cell phones. I was asked to shoot gunfighter style on one run. My performance with one in each hand was terrible, as I've only done this at targets much closer, but the crowd was pleased.

When asked if I was going to shoot the SAA in the second run, a few folks were disappointed when I told them I was going to shoot my "assault" rifle. However, they were much pleased that my definition of an assault rifle was a Winchester '73!

Hopefully, I've planted a seed that could result in some matches for 'cowboy" guns at the local club, and/or generate some new SASS members....

Sir Charles deMouton-Black · May 19, 2015, 12:45:32 PM

Good Troy; Have you checked in with SHOTS? You get credit for propagating the Dark Arts if you get someone introduced to the True Gunpowder.

Coffinmaker · May 19, 2015, 03:35:21 PM

Woe is me. It's the end of an era.

This year, SASS has finally recognized Frontier Cartridge Gunfighter as an established category. Here, for years I was the "outlaw." Always registered for matches as FCGF whether it was actually being offered or not. Now, I've become legit. A real bummer.

Last couple of seasons though, I started shooting FCGF with Cap Guns. Really drove em nutz. Now, not only do I shoot Cap Guns, they are Snubbies. Pietta 1860 and 1851s with 3 inch barrels. Incredible fun. Plus!!! Wait for it ....... I use APP. I don't get the big ball of flame but ..... ha ha, my cloud of smoke is bigger than your cloud of smoke. Real damp days with no breeze are kind of a bummer though.

If ya don't like the BIG cloud of smoke, change yer posse ........ or GO HOME!! See, I'm a very understanding person. Very.

Coffinmaker

Dick Dastardly · May 19, 2015, 04:43:34 PM

From the git go FCGF is the only category I've ever shot. Now, it's legal. I swear Sundance, the whole world had blinders and I have 20-20 vision. . . . .

When I lift a sixgun from leather in each hand, I intend to deliver hellfire and violence to the steel varmints. Whether or not spotters can see what I'm hitting, or missing, matters not to me. I'm in a gunfight and don't have space to worry about someone watching my action.

This is one reason I enjoy Cowboy Action. I can hold forth and deal justice with true wrath and vindictiveness.

DD-MDA

Cuts Crooked · May 19, 2015, 05:56:06 PM

I've been known to shoot the first .45 dry and then pull the next one and just "dump" on the largest target.....the spotters end up totally baffled! They can hear the CLANG but cain't see nuffin! (not that I would take unfair advantage or anything like that.......

)

HolliferADollar · May 20, 2015, 09:16:54 AM

A couple of years ago at the FL state match, the humidity was high & wind was absent, so smoke was hanging over the whole range. During the stage brief one of the ROs (each stage had 2 ROs that stayed there the whole match) said "these black powder shooters need to pass out gas masks" so when I went up to shoot, I carried 2 paper towels with me. After staging my guns, I made a big ceremony of handing one to each RO & said "get ready, you are gonna need em!" One thought it was funny as hell, the other (who had made the comment) not so much.

Holler