Los Vaqueros Rules for the "The Wild Bunch" Category

Firearm Requirements:

Handgun:

Any single stack, single action 1911 style semi-automatic pistol in .45 ACP caliber.  Pistol may not have barrel porting or compensators or any other recoil reducing device.  Sight may not be optical or fiber optic.  Inserts or dots are permitted on sights.  Magazine wells may not have extensions or be oversized -- they may be beveled within the grip frame.  Bull barrels are not allowed.  Grips must be of natural material (wood, bone, ivory, etc.) or service type checkered rubber or plastic.  Grips may not have thumb rests, finger grooves, or wrap around the grip frame.  Magazines must be standard length and may not hold more than eight rounds.  There can be no extended base pads or bumpers on magazines.

Rifle:

Any SASS legal main match rifle.

Shotgun:

Any SASS legal shotgun, or 1897 military style.

Ammunition:

Handgun: Lead only, no jacketed ammunition.  Minimum power factor of 150, maximum velocity of 1000 fps.  Rifle:  Lead bullets only, no jacketed projectiles.  Minimum power factor for rifles is also 150, with maximum velocity of 1400 fps.  Shotgun: Standard, low-base loads with #6 shot or smaller.

Categories/Styles:

Duelist Class:

Pistol must be shot one handed and unsupported.  Off hand may be used to load, rack the slide, and in the case of firearm malfunctions.

Traditional Class:

Pistol may be shot using a two handed grip.

Equipment:

Holsters and Magazine pouches must be made of traditional or military design and materials (canvas or leather).  Plastic, Nylon, or Kydex holsters are not permitted.  The holster must cover the entire length of the barrel and completely cover the ejection port.  No open front, or speed holsters are allowed.  If a holster has flap, or retention strap, they need not be closed during competition.  Shoulder and cross-draw holsters are not permitted.  Magazine pouches must be worn vertically on the opposite side of the body from the pistol.  At least two inches of the length of the magazine must be covered by the pouch.  Single or multiple magazine pouches are permitted.  All other SASS regulations with regard to firearms, holster, gun belts, and bandoliers shall apply.

Costuming:

Any SASS legal costuming is appropriate.  Period US military costuming from 1900 to 1916 is allowed.  Other costuming as depicted in the Wild Bunch motion picture is allowed.

Shooting procedures, Rules, & Penalties:

The 1911 pistol must be restaged safely at the end of each shooting string with the slide locked open, unless the 1911 is the final firearm used in the stage.  It may contain an empty magazine or no magazine when restaged.  (Failure to comply will result in a SDQ.  Staging will be considered complete upon engaging the next firearm).  Magazines shall be loaded with only 5 rounds (overloading magazine will result in a MSV).  Dropped, loaded or unloaded, magazines may not be picked up until the stage is completed.  When moving with the 1911 in hand, the slide must be locked open and the trigger finger must be outside the trigger guard.  (trigger finger violation results in MSV,  slide closed violation results in SDQ).  Changing magazines on the move is allowed as long as the slide remains locked open and the trigger finger remains out of the trigger guard until at leas one foot is planted at the new shooting position.  At the end of the stage, the 1911 must be cleared on the firing line.  Under the supervision of the RO, the magazine will be removed, the slide cycled if not locked open, and the chamber checked.  Then, the slide is closed to battery and the trigger is pulled with the pistol pointed safely downrange before holstering.  (Failure to comply results in a SDQ).

Shotguns:

1897 shotgun magazines may be loaded with up to the correct number of rounds for the target sequence.  Any additional rounds need for targets must be loaded from the body in regulation SASS fashion.  (Overloading shotgun results in a MSV).  Loaded pump shotguns shall be staged with the action closed, hammer down on an empty chamber.  (Failure to properly stage shotgun will result in a SDQ).  Side by Side and 1887 shotguns will be loaded on the line under the R/O's direction.  They may be loaded and staged at the firing line with the action open.   All other SASS rules pertaining to firearms are in effect.

Loading table operations and procedures:

Pistol shall be shown clear and then the slide will be closed to battery, hammer lowered on empty chamber.  A magazine containing 5 rounds shall be inserted into the pistol and the pistol will be holstered.  NO ROUND IN THE CHAMBER (Failure to comply will result in a SDQ).  Magazines for the 1911 may be loaded with ammunition at the shooter's gun cart, or the loading table.  Loaded magazines may be carried on the shooter's person at any time.  A loaded magazine SHALL NEVER BE INSERTED INTO THE PISTOL UNTIL THE SHOOTER IS AT THE LOADING TABLE, AND UNDER THE DIRECT SUPERVISION OF THE LOADING TABLE OFFICER.  The penalty for not adhering to this rule is a MATCH DISQUALIFICATION.  Rifle loaded according to normal SASS rules.  1897 pump action shotguns will have the action closed on an EMPTY chamber, and the magazine loaded with up to the number of shotgun rounds needed to complete the stage -- however, the shotgun will arrive at the loading table with the action open and will be stored on the gun cart open.  Side by Side shotguns will NOT be loaded at the loading table.  They will only be loaded and staged on the firing line at the direction of the R/O.

Unloading table operations/procedures:

Operations at the unloading table:  Pistol: The shooter will remove the 1911 from the holster, and show the unloading table officer the pistol with the slide locked back and no magazine in the gun.  On the approval of the unloading table officer, the slide shall be placed in battery, the hammer lowered, and the pistol re-holstered.  Any live ammunition remaining in magazines need not be unloaded.  Rifle: Cleared in the normal SASS designated fashion.  Shotgun: Side by Side shotguns will be checked according to standard SASS rules.  1897 pump action shotguns will be cleared in accordance with standard SASS rules.  Special care should be given to check the magazine tube for any live rounds.

SUMMARY OF FIREARM LOADING & UNLOADING:

Pistol Summary:

1. No magazine allowed in pistol when off the line.

2. Barrel shown clear at loading table, slide to battery, magazine (5 rd.) inserted.

3. Fired one (duelist) or two (traditional) handed.

4. Staged with slide open.

5. At line, with R/O, magazine removed, shown empty, slide to battery, hammer dropped.

6. Unloading table, locked open, shown empty, returned to holster.  No magazine.

Shotgun Summary:

1. 1897 Magazine loaded with number of rounds for stage.  Chamber empty.  Hammer down.

2. Double guns & 1887 Shotguns,  loaded only at the line, staged action open.

3. 1897  Shown empty at unloading table with particular attention to magazine.

Rifle Summary:

1. Normal SASS procedures apply.

2. Minimum power factor 150.

 These are "OUR" rules and may not/probably will not apply anywhere else.  Safety and inclusiveness were our goals in considering how we might experiment with this new side match.