New Rulebooks Released

As with any sport, there coms a need to make updates and changes to the rule books. This is both to cover new situations and technologies that have come up, as well as to clarify existing riles so they are easier to understand and to eliminate gray area. We have uploaded the latest edition of the rule books that were just released.

They can be found here:

2015 Rulebooks

Some of the clarifications include the following:

  • When shooting in a combined category, such as Senior Gunfighter, the rules affecting the dress, shooting style, etc of the costume or style category will apply first, and then the age category. This will ensure that they meet the requirements of the core category before clamining the age category.
  • Frontier Cartridge Gunfighter has been added as a category, which is a gunfighter style o shooting using black powder.
  • In Classic Cowboy/Cowgirl, the side by side must have manual external hammers, faux hammers are not allowed.
  • Ladies may wear dresses in B-Western category.
  • When finishing with a long gun, the shooter must clear the long gun. If the lever closes or the shotgun closes after being cleared, the shooter does not have to open it. However, at the end of the shooting string, the shooter will need to open it for the TO and if any rounds or cases are in the chambers, the appropriate penalties will apply. Only the shooter may open and show the long gun to the TO if it closes.
  • As stated in previous editions, shooting on the move is not allowed and will result in a SDQ.
  • The TO cannot override the spotters on misses, but he may question the location of hits.
  • Reminder that it is bad course design to end with the rifle.
  • Two SDQs will result in a match DQ. Due to questions, this has been clarified, and this includes two distinct actions on the same stage. For example, dropping an unloaded firearm on a stage is a SDQ. If they sweep someone on the way to the unloading table, that is a second distinct action on the ame stage that would earn a SDQ, and the net result would be a MDQ.
  • Just as a clarification: A gunfighter may utilize any shooting sequence that is available for any other category, as long as they do it one handed. They do not have to alternate pistols. This is often the fastest way, but they may shoot one pistol, and then the other.

Contact Your Territorial Governor

Well, it is that time of year again, and the territorial governors are getting ready to meet to discuss possible rule changes and other things affecting SASS. This is your organization as well, so it is very important that we all have our voices heard. The following are the items that are up for consideration, so lease take the time to look them over and let your territorial governor know how you feel about them. Just like the November elections, if you do not put in your voice, then you have nobody to blame but yourself if you do not like the results. Thank you all for being a part of this great sport.

January 2015 Territorial Governor’s Summit
AGENDA
___________________________________

ACTION ITEMS:

*Action Items require discussion and a vote for an official rule change/edit/clarification.

1) Should we institute the following standard for all style/costume categories when breaking them down by age?

The regulations for the base category will be applied first; THEN the age limits.

Reasons to do so:

“any legal revolver” is the criteria for the basic AGE-based categories …which doesn’t apply to FRONTIERSMAN (requires percussion ignition); CLASSIC (which has a caliber restriction), and GUNFIGHTER (which requires FIXED sights)…as does DUELIST

Other categories have restrictions regarding rifle model/caliber and additional equipment regulations.

…Senior Duelist currently being the only anomaly specifically listed as such (i.e. a “subcategory” of SENIOR instead of Duelist)

Example:

(Senior GF would be a Gunfighter 60+ years old, subject to Gunfighter category regulations)

2)Should we change Senior Duelist to comply with that standard?

Shooting STYLE = #1 determinant

Shooter’s AGE = #2 consideration

3) Should we officially acknowledge the shooting category “Frontier Cartridge gunfighter” as a SASS sanctioned/recognized category?

The category would follow the firearm and ammo guidelines of the current “Frontier Cartridge” category and follow the shooting style and holster requirements of the current “Gunfighter” Category.

The main reason to add FCGF to the list of “officially recognized” categories is that it brings the BP categories up to par with the smokeless ones in regard to available shooting styles.

Smokeless = Open/age-based (two-handed); Duelist/Senior Duelist/Classic (one-handed); Gunfighter/B-Western (both hands)

Black Powder = Frontier Ctg (two-handed); Frontiersman/Frontier Ctg Duelist (one-handed);

FCGF (both hands).

4) Should the MSV penalty for retrieving a dropped or ejected round be removed if done SAFELY? i.e.:

24. Ammunition dropped by a shooter in the course of loading or reloading any firearm during a stage or “ejected” from any firearm may be SAFELY recovered; or replaced from the shooter’s person or other area as required by stage description. If the round is not fired it is counted as a missed shot.

Keep in mind that current rules allow retrieval of dropped/ejected rounds after the shooter completes the stage…with NO RESTRICTIONS or PENALTY related to where the ammo may have landed or whether the shooter has firearms “in hand” or not.

5) Should conflicts on costume based shooting categories (“B”-Western Men’s & Ladies and Classic Cowboy/Cowgirl) Costuming requirement determinations be relegated to the Costume Contest personnel/judges? Where the competitors can battle it out in front of a panel of judges instead of bringing costume issues to the attention of Range Masters and Match Directors to decide if a shirt or boots are in compliance with the rules.

6) Should the Category of Grand Dame have the name changed to “Golden Girls”?

A petition was circulated with quite a number of signatures stating that the name of the category was too stuffy.

DISCUSSION ITEMS:

*Discussion Items are not on the ballot for action. Discussion & Clarification only at this time.

Discuss the increasing incidents of “Shooting on the move”, its implications, and safety concerns.
Discuss the possibility and any implications of the shooting category of B-Western/Ladies B-Western’s costuming allowances to be expanded to include silver-screen style type costuming. Example: Senoritas, Tonto-style, Dale Evans, John Wayne, The Lone Ranger, Miss Kitty, Cisco Kid, etc.

If so, would the category name then need to be changed to be inclusive: “B-Western & Silver Screen”

Continued clarification & proposed verbiage of Long Gun “closed” subject, present changes below to the June 2014 verbiage to assist in eliminating any remaining confusion on the subject for dissemination.

The following is proposed verbiage change to the Shooters Handbook and the RO Course Materials:

6. Long guns will be discarded open and empty with their barrels pointed safely down range. If the action of a long gun closes after being opened and emptied, the shooter will, at the conclusion of the stage, show it to be clear to the T/O or spotter. Appropriate additional penalties will be applied if it is not clear. Appropriate penalties will be applied if it is not clear, plus a 10 sec safety if the closing was caused by the shooter. No one other than the competitor may handle the gun in question.

SHB p.21 (Stage Conventions)

17. Long guns will have their actions left open and the actions/magazines/barrels empty at the conclusion of each shooting string. A 10 second minor safety penalty will be assessed if the firearm is not cleared or opened. This condition may be corrected prior to the next round being fired. If the long gun is the last firearm used, it must be cleared prior to it leaving the shooters hand(s) at the unloading table. This does not apply to guns shot out of sequence, made “safe” and then restaged.

If the action of a long gun closes after being discarded open and empty, the shooter will, at the conclusion of the stage, show it to be clear to the TO or a spotter. Appropriate penalties will be applied if it is not clear. No one other than the competitor may handle the gun in question. See RO1 for further clarification.

Long guns will have their actions left open and the action/magazine/barrels empty at the conclusion of each shooting string. A 10 second minor safety penalty will be assessed if the firearm is not clear and the action open after being dicarded. This condition may be corrected prior to the next round being fired. If the long gun is the last firearm used, it must be cleared prior to it leaving the shooters hand(s) at the unloading table. This does not apply to guns shot out of sequence, made “safe” and then re-staged. If the action of a long gun closes after being discarded open and empty, for any reason that is not caused by the shooter, it will be considered a No-Call. In such case the shooter will, at the conclusion of the stage, open the action and show it to the TO of a spotter. Appropriatedpenalties will be applied if it is not clear plus a 10 sec safety if the closing was caused by the shooter. No one other than the competitor may handle the gun in question.

SHB p.23

6. Long guns will be discarded open and empty with their barrels pointed safely down range. If the action of a long gun closes after being opened and emptied, the shooter will, at the conclusion of the stage, show it to be clear to the T/O or spotter. Appropriate additional penalties will be applied if it is not clear. Appropriate penalties will be applied if it is not clear, plus a 10 sec safety if the closing was caused by the shooter. No one other than the competitor may handle the gun in question.

RO1 p.13 (Stage Conventions)

RO1 Instructor Version p.12 (Stage Conventions)

17. Long guns will have their actions left open and the actions/magazines/barrels empty at the conclusion of each shooting string. A 10 second minor safety penalty will be assessed if the firearm is not cleared or opened. This condition may be corrected prior to the next round being fired. If the long gun is the last firearm used, it must be cleared prior to it leaving the shooters hand(s) at the unloading table. This does not apply to guns shot out of sequence, made “safe” and then restaged.

Long guns will have their actions left open and the action/magazine/barrels empty at the conclusion of each shooting string. A 10 second minor safety penalty will be assessed if the firearm is not clear and the action open after being dicarded. This condition may be corrected prior to the next round being fired. If the long gun is the last firearm used, it must be cleared prior to it leaving the shooters hand(s) at the unloading table. This does not apply to guns shot out of sequence, made “safe” and then re-staged. If the action of a long gun closes after being discarded open and empty, for any reason that is not caused by the shooter, it will be considered a No-Call. In such case the shooter will, at the conclusion of the stage, open the action and show it to the TO of a spotter. Appropriated penalties will be applied if it is not clear plus a 10 sec safety if the closing was caused by the shooter. No one other than the competitor may handle the gun in question.

Examples:

A. Shooter returns to the long gun and opens it before firing the next gun and there is no UNFIRED round in the chamber – NO CALL.

B. Shooter returns to the long gun and opens it at the end of the stage and an empty case/hull is ejected or found in the action or chamber – Minor Safety Violation. (for the empty round…in addition to the a MSV if the action closed due to shooter’ fault. for the action being closed; unless it is determined to have closed because of a “prop failure” or )

C. Shooter returns to the long gun and opens it, and a live/unfired round is ejected or in the chamber -Stage DQ for a long gun having left the shooter’s hand with the action closed, hammer cocked with a live round in the chamber. In this case there is no opportunity to return to open it if called back before being committed to the next firearm – the penalty applies the moment it left the shooter’s hand.

Should someone other than the competitor open the action of the gun, any penalties that would have been incurred will still be applied.

RO1 p.17

RO1 Instructor Version p.16

Minor Safety Penalties

* Not leaving a long gun action open at the end of the shooting string or before the next firearm is fired.

* Leaving empty or live rounds in magazine or carrier of the long gun in which it was loaded.

* Not returning revolvers to leather unless otherwise specified.

* Open, empty long guns that slip and fall but do not break 170° safety rule or sweep anyone.

* Retrieving a dropped “dead” round.

* Cocking a revolver before it reaches 45 degrees downrange.

RO1 p.24

RO1 Instructor Version p.23