Hello Everyone,

                For those of you who haven’t gotten the straight skinny off the SASS Wire  :>) (I hope you do know that was a joke!) Here are the results from the Territorial Governor’s meeting, and the exact wording on our new “power factor.”

SASS Territorial Governor Summit 2007

Tally of Votes – Action Shooter Items

1.       Should we change the current Classic Cowboy category rules to require Chaps, Chinks or Botas and Spurs at all times and drop the other clothing requirements to three choices.

            For: 112 (40.58%)       Against: 160 (57.97%)            Abstain: 4 (1.45%)      FAIL

2.       As of now you may get as many Minor Safety penalties as you incur per stage. Should we change the rules to limit Minor Safety penalties to one per firearm per stage?

 

For: 124 (44.93%)       Against: 150 (54.35%)            Abstain: 2 (0.72%)      FAIL

 

3.      As of now you are not committed to the stage until the first round goes down range. Should we change the rule to read as follows: A shooter, if properly started, is committed to the stage once the timer sounds.

 

For: 84 (30.43%)         Against: 190 (68.84%)            Abstain: 2 (0.72%)      FAIL

 

4.       The largest maximum Shot size currently allowed is a #4. Should we change the maximum shot size to a #7 ½?

 

For: 72 (26.09%)         Against: 198 (71.74%)            Abstain: 6 (2.17%)      FAIL

 

      5.      Should we adopt the Proposed New Long Range Optical Category with rules as follows:

a.       No length or power limitation on the scope. Scope tube body to be ¾” or less in diameter and any ocular or objective lenses, adjusting or assembly rings to be less than 1” in diameter.

b.      No internal scope adjustments for windage or elevation.    

c.       Mounts are to be of a traditional style of the period and contain the windage and elevation adjustments for the scope in either, or both, the front or rear mounts. No click adjustments in the mount. Either dove tail mounting or scope block mounting is allowed.

d.      Original scope mounts of either the Cataract or Malcom style or variations thereof, or replicas or derivative conforms to the criteria of paragraph © above.

This rule matches exactly with the NRA Rifle Silhouette Rules of March 2005.

      For: 242 (90.30%)       Against: 26 (9.70%)    Abstain: 8 (2.90%)      PASSED

 

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SASS Minimum Ammunition Standards:

Ammunition standards for Cowboy Action Shooting were set in the early days to ensure all competitor’s loads were in a safe velocity range for shooting at the various types of targets used in Cowboy Action Shooting. Beginning ammunition standards were set at a maximum of 1000 fps for revolver ammunition and 1400 fps for rifle ammunition and a minimum of 650 fps for both rifle and revolver ammunition. During the Territorial Governor Summit of 1999, the minimum standard was deemed arbitrary and was set aside until testing could prove a better solution. After testing, input from various sources, and a study of current trends the Wild Bunch has determined the time has come to reestablish a new minimum standard for ammunition used in Cowboy Action Shooting.

Beginning at END OF TRAIL 2008, the minimum standard for ammunition used in State, Regional, National, International, and World Championship Competitions shall be not less than a minimum power factor of 60 and no velocity may be less than 400 fps.

Power Factors are simply calculated by multiplying the bullet weight times the velocity and then the resulting number is divided by 1000. Some examples are as follows:

Ø  100 gr bullet traveling at 600 fps has a power factor of 60: (100x600)/1000 = 60.00

Ø  77 gr bullet traveling at 800 fps has a power factor of 61.6 (77x800)/1000 = 61.60

Ø  200 gr bullet traveling at 400 fps has a power factor of 80 (200x80)/1000 = 80.00

Power factors are the simplest and easiest way to maintain a minimum ammunition standard and allow competitors to shoot the weight bullet or velocity they feel comfortable with.

The procedure to check power factors will be random and arbitrary. Only match officials can request to check competitor ammunition. All rules will be spelled out in the SASS RO II materials. If a competitor is checked they will be asked for five rounds, preferably from a revolver already loaded at the loading table. One round will have the bullet pulled and weighed. The other four rounds will be fired across a chronograph. The muzzle of the revolver should be raised to 80 degrees and then lowered each time prior to firing through the chronograph. If any one of the four rounds makes the power factor the competitor’s loads will be considered as legal. If none of the rounds make the power factor the competitor is given a 30 second “Spirit of the Game” penalty for each stage already shot. The competitor will also be assessed 30 seconds for all stages to be shot unl ess the competitor changes ammunition that meets the power standard.

(Not on SASS handout…but two 30 second “Spirit of the Game” penalties equals a Match D.Q.)

To assist clubs and matches checking power factors Dillon Precision has created a “Chronographing Kit” just for SASS Clubs. It consists of the CED Millenium 2 chronograph, a D-Terminator Digital Scale, and a kinetic bullet puller (stock #09998), the cost is $309.00, a 15% discount over ordering each item separately. A tripod can be included with a similar discount.