New this year

dd

Posted on the SASS wire by Coyote Calhoun-<br />
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There were two other announcements made at the Territorial Governors Summit. One announcement concerned Power Factors and other concerned shotgun ammunition. Below are the official announcements. <br />
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Power Factor <br />
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Beginning at End of Trail 2008, the minimum standard for ammunition used in all smokeless categories at 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. The maximum velocity standard for revolvers will remain as 1000 fps. The maximum velocity standard for rifles will remain as 1400 fps. Buckaroo Category shooters choosing to use center-fire ammunition in handguns and/or rifles must also meet all power factor and velocity requirements. Pocket Pistols and Derringers are exempt from the Power Factor and velocity requirements.<br />
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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:<br />
100 gr bullet traveling at 600 fps has a power factor of 60: (100x600)/1000=60.00<br />
77 gr bullet traveling at 800 fps has a power factor of 61.6 (77x800)/1000=61.60<br />
200 gr bullet traveling at 400 fps has a power factor of 80 (200x400)/1000=80.00<br />
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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.<br />
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The procedure to check power factors will be random for suspect rounds. Any challenges to Power Factors will be administered using the process listed within the SASS ROII Materials under the Appeals, Challenges and Protest section. 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 using the competitors firearm. 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 meets or exceeds the calculated 60 power factor and velocity requirements, the competitors loads will be considered as legal. If all rounds fired through the chronograph measure less than the calculated 60 power factor and/or velocity requirements, the competitor will be given a 30 second Spirit of the Game penalty for the last stage completed. Any subsequent stage(s) shot with the same ammunition will result in the same penalty per stage. As listed in the SASS RO Materials, two Spirit of the Game penalties will result in a Match Disqualification.<br />
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Shotgun Rounds<br />
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It has come to our attention that practice of Coning or crimping shotgun shell to a smaller gauge (i.e. 12 gauge sized down to 16 or smaller is being practiced and these shells are being used at SASS matches. Limited testing of these loads by the technical staff at Hodgon Powder Company has been done using traditional load data and SAAMI standard testing equipment. The Coned load test results exceeded the recommended maximum SAAMI standards by as much as 7000 PSI. Therefore effective immediately, this process will not be allowed and the use of such ammunition will be considered as illegal ammunition. <br />
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The process of scoring shotgun shell hulls with a sharp blade is known as ringing and essentially makes the round a slug. Also effective immediately, this process will not be allowed and the use of such ammunition will be considered as illegal ammunition. The penalty for the use of illegal ammunition in any SASS match is a Match Disqualification.

dd

I thought this would stir up some discussion, but obviously not. As I read it, the requirements are only for State matches and above. So far as the Good Guys Posse matches go, this will not be a factor and we will NOT be chronographing loads.<br />
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<img src='http://www.goodguysposse.org/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/gunfighter.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':gunfighter:' /> <img src='http://www.goodguysposse.org/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/gunfighter.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':gunfighter:' /> <img src='http://www.goodguysposse.org/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/gunfighter.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':gunfighter:' /> <img src='http://www.goodguysposse.org/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/gunfighter.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':gunfighter:' /> <img src='http://www.goodguysposse.org/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/gunfighter.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':gunfighter:' />

Ugly

A few of us chronographed our loads because we travel all over the country and we found that we're all well within the limits; my .32 loads would be okay for IPSC, so, as long as my pistols hold together I'm all set for any testing that might have to be done. Also, the new regulations won't go into effect until Mule Camp and, you're right D.D., it's only for State and above matches and, only if someone challenges. That being said, all of those big matches have to have a chronograph available just in case someone wants to try to "shake" somebody up by having them get their loads tested. Still, a power factor minimum of 60 is next to nothing so its really much ado about nothing.<br />
Getting ready to leave for the Florida State Championship this coming Tuesday so we'll see how the rules are handled down there. <img src='http://www.goodguysposse.org/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/gunfighter.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':gunfighter:' />

dd

I don't anticipate much problem, not with those liberal restrictions. I've only seen one case of loads that probably would not be acceptable. And most of us can walk faster than 400 fps! My loads show 83+ power factor - just about what I suspected. Although once they get everything in place and everyone accustomed to it, I wouldn't be surprised to see those restrictions get tightened.<br />
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<img src='http://www.goodguysposse.org/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/gunfighter.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':gunfighter:' /> <img src='http://www.goodguysposse.org/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/gunfighter.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':gunfighter:' /> <img src='http://www.goodguysposse.org/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/gunfighter.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':gunfighter:' /> <img src='http://www.goodguysposse.org/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/gunfighter.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':gunfighter:' /> <img src='http://www.goodguysposse.org/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/gunfighter.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':gunfighter:' />

Ugly

The minimum bullet weight for major is 120 grns.<br />
The minimum power factor for major is 160.<br />
The minimum power factor for minor is 125.

Ugly

Yes, they lowered the major pf to 160; possibly on account of wear and tear? I can only assume the bullet weight was to prevent something like the .17 happening with pistol calibers for competition.

Muddy Gap Shootist

My only question is - what would the old west cowboys of the 1860-90's have been able to do? What would their load factors most likely have been? I think we should be shooting whatever they would have in "the spirit of the game." Interesting article in this month's "Cowboy Chronicle" that addresses this . . . <img src='http://www.goodguysposse.org/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/goodguy.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':goodguy:' />

Ugly

I won't see the CC for a while yet but, the way I heard it, there were an awful lot of .36, 32-20, & 38 & 38 short and Scolfields around during most of the later 1800s; mostly because that's what was available and most people couldn't afford the newer, larger calibers. I think things are going along just fine in that folks can shoot what they want as long as they abide by the rules set up by the Wild Bunch. <img src='http://www.goodguysposse.org/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/gunfighter.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':gunfighter:' />

Kidd Casey

'Ugly' wrote on &#39;Jan:

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I won't see the CC for a while yet but, the way I heard it, there were an awful lot of .36, 32-20, & 38 & 38 short and Scolfields around during most of the later 1800s; mostly because that's what was available and most people couldn't afford the newer, larger calibers. I think things are going along just fine in that folks can shoot what they want as long as they abide by the rules set up by the Wild Bunch. <img src='http://www.goodguysposse.org/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/gunfighter.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':gunfighter:' /><br />
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Thank you Ugly, I think your comment said it all. Shoot what you like,but abide by the rules. What more could be said.