Wild Bunch Action Shooting

Crunchy Frog

Crunchy Frog

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A bit of background, Wild Bunch Action Shooting ("WBAS") is a multigun sport sanctioned by the Single Action Shooting Society ("SASS"); the same organization that sanctions Cowboy Action Shooting competitions. Some of the larger cowboy matches offered a "side match" featuring the 1911 pistol and over time those matches evolved into a separate shooting discipline with its own rules. The match is "inspired" by the 1969 film "The Wild Bunch" which was set in 1913.

I describe WBAS as "Three Gun, Circa 1913". Under the WBAS rules, shooters use a .45 ACP 1911 pistol, a big bore (.40 caliber or larger) pistol caliber lever action or slide action rifle, and a 12 gauge Winchester 1897 or Model 12 shotgun. Participants dress in clothing appropriate to the period, which means military garb (think of William Holden's gang in the opening scenes of the move, period Mexican uniforms or clothing (think "Pancho Villa") or cowboy type garb. That said, it's not a "historical re-enactment" deal, so jeans, work boots and a work shirt will suffice.

As in cowboy action matches, there's no paper punching. We shoot steel targets, with lots of reactive targets like plate racks, poppers, Texas Stars, and clay pigeon launchers. There is a minimum power factor of 150 and you'll need it to drop some of the reactive targets, which tend to be a little more challenging that the "big and close" targets that are popular with cowboy action shooters.

Because we shoot pistol caliber rifles, matches are typically held in pistol bays, and while there is some movement, you won't be running sprints, clambering over walls or going prone.

I am not aware of any clubs in the Carolinas holding monthly WBAS matches, but there are several of us who are "keeping the dream alive" by shooting matches when and where we can. For example, my friends in the Palmetto Posse in Columbia have been offering a WBAS "option" on alternative months; their matches are on the first Saturday of each month and WBAS will be offered at the February match. http://palmettoposse.com/

The Walnut Grove Rangers in Western NC will be holding a big match on April 29, 2017; for more information see their website. http://www.walnutgroverangers.com/

Other local clubs offer WBAS from time to time.

If you are interested in checking out a match, let me know.
 
That sounds really cool. I've been looking for an excuse to buy a wheel gun. How do you (as in those of you who put together competions like these) about old fashioned rifles that shoot 30-06? After all, that caliber was available in 1913. I don't have a rifle like that, but I've been looking for an excuse for getting one of those as well.

I'll also check out the other matches with the Palmetto Posse. I'm have no experience in shooting competitions (well, besides some turkey shoots as a teen, and I wasn't anything notable, at the time), but I'm all about learning, destroying targets and everyone being as safe as plausable.

Have yourself a fun one and God Bless!

very respectfully,
J.J.
 
medic.of.your.heart;n72451 said:
How do you (as in those of you who put together competions like these) about old fashioned rifles that shoot 30-06? After all, that caliber was available in 1913.
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If you are shooting in a pistol bay at a steel target, you do not want to use a .30-06 or any other rifle caliber. That has way too much velocity for the steel at close range. The steel target will be damaged and shrapnel will be flying everywhere. I wouldn't want to shoot steel with a .30-06 unless I was at 100 yards minimum.
 
I would like to engauge in some of this fun. But it's always too far away from me. I would love to get out and just shoot a match or 2 every few months or so.
 
Thanks, gentlemen, for the comments.

The rifle used in Wild Bunch matches is a pistol caliber rifle. The rules say .40 caliber or greater so most folks are using rifles in .45 Colt (yes, I know, there were no rifles in that chambering in the 19th Century), .44 Magnum or .44-40. A .38-40 is also a "legal" rifle since, despite its name, it uses a .40 caliber bullet.

Some clubs that hold Wild Bunch matches have offered "side matches" using "real" rifles from that era like the 30-06 Springfield or a 7mm Mauser. They call these "BAMM Matches" (Bolt Action Military Match). These would typically be longer range shooting on suitable targets; those rifles would make Swiss cheese of the mild steel targets we use in the main match.

J.J., if you like wheelguns (as I do), you might enjoy one of the cowboy action matches. We don't just use a wheelgun, we use a PAIR of them! Way back in the beginning of SASS matches one revolver was used but a single action revolver is very slow to reload and the game moved to two revolvers so that people could get more shooting for their money.
 
This is a "first person" video posted by a shooter from a Wild Bunch "side match" held at my home club in Greenville a couple of years ago. This gentleman shoots in the "Traditional" category which requires that he shoot the 1911 pistol with one hand. He is obviously a good shooter. This was a good example of a Wild Bunch match with a fair number of "reactive" targets.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7gVfByMbfY
 
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Man! That's cool.

I really, really need to find a job and find it the sooner the better. I need to keep telling myself, work (on my studies) now and I can play with some of the best toys (which I will own) at a later time. If you would have told me at the ages 16-19 that I'd choose college over fun stuff like firearms and cowboy hats, I'd have called you a liar.

Don't misunderstand me; I do have some fun stuff, but... I just don't get to play with them as often as I'd like to (That sounds like dirty talk. Haha!).

Okay. It's time for me to talk as the adult that I am. Just like a pair of revolvers, I need to keep the wheels a' spinnin'. It's time for some sleep. Have a nice day and God Bless, everyone.

very respectfully,
J.J.
 
Okay. I just watched the video and, now I might not be able to get right to sleep. I might be thinking about all of the fun times that can be had. Alright. I'll give sleeping a chance. Good night!
 
Buccaneer Gun Club near Wilmington has held Wild Bunch matches in the past and hopefully will start again soon. It is lots of fun and provides a lot of shooting. The club also hosts Cowboy Action Shooting and Cowboy Fast Draw matches on a monthly basis. We had a Fast Draw match today.

I might also add that we require the use of lead bullets for both rifles and handguns (wax for the Fast Draw), and the lead bullets shot through the 1911 pistols caused problems for several people until they learned how to load them.
 
Charlie, thanks for pointing that out. SASS rules for cowboy action and Wild Bunch require the use of lead bullets, no jacketed, plated or gaschecked bullets. Having a pistol and ammo combination that works reliably is very important. In preparation for next Saturday's match I spent about an hour today "plunk testing" my pistol ammo.
 
We had sixteen Wild Bunch shooters yesterday despite the cold. Pretty sure they will offer Wild Bunch again in April.
 
I am informed that the Palmetto Posse will not have a match in April (cowboy or Wild Bunch) because the club is hosting a big USPSA match on the usual match day.

I am going to see if they would offer Wild Bunch in May. Stay tuned.
 
The Walnut Grove Rangers in Ellenboro, NC hosted a Carolinas Shootout Wild Bunch match last Saturday. The venue is what I call a "dedicated cowboy club" with permanent stages which adds a bit of ambiance to the experience.

Here are a couple of videos from the match that I posted on my YouTube channel:





The second video features a shooter, "Pale Ale Rider" (love that name) who decided to use black powder cartridges in his rifle, shotgun and in his 1911 pistol. When he cut loose on the first stage I said "this is worth the price of admission". Fun.
 
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