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From: Al Spencer [mailto:Al@laser1040.com]

Sent: Monday, January 14, 2008 4:19 PM

To: Montana Territory Peacemakers,

Subject: Governor's Letter

We are well into the New Year and things are all ready happening. Backstrap Bill had a Journalism class last Saturday at the range which brought a few of you out of the house. I’m sure a many of us have received some CAS stuff for Christmas and are anxious to try it out. May be some of us will be exploring new ground with a change of class. I have been toying with the thought of black powder. I found a beautiful 1896 vintage L. C. Smith with Damascus barrels that would be a joy to shoot. Many of you are aware that our friend Etta Place has moved back to the area and we are looking forward to shooting with her this next season. She is always an asset to the club. One of the better shoots to attend in the fall is the shoot at St. George, Utah. The weather is usually pretty good and it isn’t too far to travel. It is in conjunction with the Huntsman Senior Games and is for shooters 50 years of age and older. Rawhide Riata and I have entered for the last 5 years and always have a great time. We even get a medal or two from time to time. Last fall Rawhide Riata earned two gold medals and yours truly one gold. The competition is stiff but they have a great club with lots of fun stages and side matches. You might want to put that on your calendar. Go to Huntsman Games on the net for more information. If you don’t have your own camp you want to get reservations early since 8,000 + old timers participate in the games.

The big news is the “power factor” which has been batted around for 9 years and finally made necessary by the increasing move to wimp loads by many of the would be top shooters. The official results are a factor of 60 which I explained last letter but to go over it again. Multiply the velocity in FPS by the bullet weight in grains and divide by 1000 the result must be 60 or greater. The minimum speed on main match ammo is still 400 FPS with a maximum of 1000 on revolver and 1400 on rifle. Black powder ammo is not affected by the power factor nor are derringers or pocket pistols. The penalty for too light of load is a 30 second Spirit of the Game penalty. The penalty for too hot a load or too hard of bullet is a lot worse. If you are shooting a large caliber and approaching maximum velocity please reduce your loads. It will improve your scores and be safer for you, other shooters and spectators, and the targets.

Another rule adopted is to accept NRA Rifle Silhouette rules for optics on the long range categories. This doesn’t mean much for our club but if enough interest takes place at the Cody Shoot in June we may have a scope class there. Again it takes 3 to make a class which will pay one place or 4 for 2 and 5 for 3. We probably will not have a Big Bore class at our match until we get bigger and have the staff. Our range does not lend itself to a very good Long Range Big Bore side match anyway.

I think we will soon see some more regulations on shot shells. Right now the only limitation on shot size is #4 but there is a movement afoot to limit shot size to 71/2. There are some other rules about magnum and high velocity shells being illegal but if you just use your heads and load them light even in the high base shells everything will be all right.

I would like to say a thing or two to the black powder shooters who think it is cool to load 90 or 100 grains of any granulation in competition shells. Keep in mind that you will be held responsible for injury to competitors, spectators and equipment. Why not load 60 or so grains and save our eyes and ears. Save the hot loads for hunting. Two and a half drams (68.5 grains) of FFg is a mighty fine load behind 1ounce of shot. If you compress your powder correctly and use the right wads it will knock down any target hit square or flyer. While we are on the subject of shotguns there has been a new ruling on the modification to 1887’s which allows you to drop in two shells. One of the modifications includes a screw on the outside of the action. Not legal.

Another thing of interest: If a shooter has a firearm malfunction he or she may not leave the stage until all firearms have been cleared. A malfunction sometimes cannot be cleared quickly and safely at the unloading table so a range officer will transport the damaged arm to the safe area where it will be made safe. The gun will be transported in a barrel up high position all the way to the safe area. If the shooter is not proficient at dismantling said arm someone who is needs to assist.

Shoot safe, Shoot straight, and Shoot fast,

Brother Van TG