hopalong

Congratulations Dave, and Nils !!!! Hopefully one of these days I can achieve somewhat mediocrity, until then I'll just be the dummy that shoots. SAM Edit to add: I just checked the "top 20" and I actually went down! Hell even Pat has jumped above me.........and he hasn't shot since last years Nationals!!! Sheesh.......If I keep this up I'll be in "D" class before you know it.

You also may want to try the Precision Delta 180 grn bullets. they do have a flat nose, but a very small flat at that. I use them in my 646 with no problems. Also a very accurate bullet in all my .40 caliber guns........6 shooter and others. SAM

Looks like 8 wheelgunners on squad 9!!!! Matt and I are on squad 3........that makes for 10 signed up and Johnny said yesterday that he is cutting corn as we were talking, and it looks like better than 50% chance of him showing up. Glad to have a crowd. can't wait to assess Cliff with all kinds of penalties, procedurals and what ever else I can get away with !!!! See anyone else, there is still room for a few more....... See you in 2 weeks. SAM

Just a wet behind the ears punk kid!!!!!!! With time and other influences he will eventually get rid of the Tupperware. Hope you have many more, and the day was a good one. SAM

Allison, Congratulations!!!! You overcame some very talented Revolver shooters. Way back at the beginning of the year I had wanted to attend, but the TN section match (that I can't get out of RO'ing) and the USPSA Nationals are/were a little too close to allow me to attend. Again, Congrats on the BIG win!!!!! SAM

Scott, I guess if James isn't going to swap, I'll have to pass........will go to the Single stack match in Nashville instead.......2 hrs driving vs. 11 or so. You are now off the hook, but why not shoot the 610 anyway? SAM

I'll be shooting the Heavy Man catagory !!!! I have 3 others from TN "supposed" to make the trip too.......but they are using their Poodle shooters. Have M1a somewhat cleaned, but ready to go.........Need to load some "special" Kentucky windage rounds for it though 870 still being tested, doing pretty good......but it forgets to load itself on a regular basis. 625, as always................ready to play!!!! See you "Wildkittens" there!!!! SAM

Scooter, Ray, If you guys can talk ole Smiley(James) into shooting the thing with a wheelgun, I'll see what I can do......and also try to talk Johnny into it too. Start working on him. SAM

having a hard time trying to talk myself into this one. since it is Level II, and I had just shot with more wheelgunners at a USPSA match in HISTORY!!!!(Nationals) and...I am going to the A-6 3-gun match the next weekend.... SCOOTER, tell me something that might help me sway your way............ SAM

Hey I just noticed something...... For some stupid reason I thought Steph would be shooting her CZ....... She is signed up for REVO !!!!!!! Only problem, last time we shot at the same match I somehow managed to come out very little ahead...........now I know she wants her revenge. With work keeping me so busy and getting such a late start on the wheel, all you guys/gals are going to make me so sorry I switched back from the "Benny Blaster" I do have some good and bad news though. Pat (B'wana 6-gun) had to pull out from the match (bad news) due to his father having some heart troubles...........(good news) Father is doing much better. Glad he's doing better Pat, see you at Pearl sometime this fall for an ICORE match. SAM

Da#m!!!! That is not very good to hear. I have always enjoyed Rudi's company........and he can shoot too!!! Will miss having him there. SAM

NEED MORE WHEELGUNNERS !!!!!! Have 10..................need many more. SAM

Looking forward to this one, been a while since I got to shoot a 3-gun match.....hope to be somewhat ready. Sam

Steph, Glad you and Mike are making the trip! It's gonna be great....(and HOT) Can't hardly wait myself. Waltermitty, He thinks the beers would be a bribe for him, I think I'll get you all some for having to put up with him. SAM

Dennis, I have shot 3.......all 3 at PASA park. The first was the Factory gun in 2003.....it was 18 stages and around 380 rounds.(i shot L-10) The second was the all gun in 2004.....it was 24 stages and was seems like 410 rounds. This was my first time with a wheel......and there were shoot offs like in 2003 (yes I got to watch. ) Last year was the split nationals again, and it was 18 stages with around 360 rounds but no shoot offs. Personally I think Nationals should be no less than 20 stages but that gets down to range space...and in 2004 they used just about everything they could and got it done. Having said that................. The Nationals are an experiance that is like no other I have shot. It is not only the shooting of that many stages, but the people you meet and shoot with. in 2004 I was squadded with Smitty FL and a few of his buddies that I have now become good friends with(except Cliff ) You will get to bump elbows with the best in the World, and yes they are mere people, and they do not mind talking to the "regular Joe's". It is also the place where you get to find out where you stand against the "Cream of the Crop" in your chosen division as most anybody who is anybody will be there. The shooting itself is not as hard as some Area matches I have shot, but the course designers do a good job of testing all skills needed and then some. If I had to save my $$$$ and attend one major match only a year, I would make sure I went to the Nationals(unless it is somewhere I just can't get to)......It is not just the shooting, it is the EXPERIANCE! See you there. SAM

Got a note from the Luttrells.............they are planning on coming over from ARK. That would be 10............about 6 more than last year. SAM

Done, Thanks Kevin.

I LOVE 3-gun shooting!!!! Having said that........... The USPSA Multi-gun Nationals for 2006 will go down as a near miss to a whole bunch of folks.......... I will not take anything away from the winners, and all who competed my congratulations to them, as for in 2006 they are the BEST !!!!! BUT.......... Many of the best names in 3-gun/ Multi-gun shooting are missing..........for many reasons, but most I have heard was because of Location!!!!!! THESE are the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS........things need to be done to keep this from happening again, I know it is hard to find venues to host matches..........especially 3-gun/multigun but it is too popular and there are too many people who know people ect for Location to be a factor in turnout to the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS. Maybe once TOM FEE gets the USSA up and running it can be moved there, Clarks range in Louisiana has been the sight of one of the first 3-gun Nationals, and I'm sure there are others out there that are perfectly capable of handling a match of this IMPORTANCE and magnatude to make it where Location is not a major factor of participation. I already hear you guys out on the Western side of the US saying........"We always have to travel".......and again it all boils down to a place to host it........Maybe we need to sell our swamp land in Oregon/Washington where ever it is and buy some in Oklahoma, Kansas, or somewhere else Centraly located and build our own range to use as a place to host "Nataionals" type events and other "big" matches, or even small matches......rent it out and make it work for us?????? Sorry for the long post,(Mods) if this needs to be moved to the Hate rants please do so but I did not mean for it to be one......just something to get some thinking started (and not Political either). SAM

Thanks Coog. I have changed it. Steve, I appreciate all the neat tag line/sig lines...... Sam

Bout time you worked for a living!!! How is it out on the Left coast any way????? found any FROOTLOOPS yet? Aaah Hmmm I meant you seen Dan yet?? Ha, Ha, Ha, I kill myself sometimes !!!! Sam

Ole Tom Mainus,and Gary C didn't just let him have it..... But Congratulations go out to Dennis Smith............ 2006 Targeting Education Revolver Champion!!!!! Looking at the results...........Man what a show of wheelgun prowess!!!!! good shooting guys/gals. Keep up the good work. SAM

UPDATE: 1 Hopalong... aka...Hilljack...aka...Porchpuppy. ....2 Cheetahs 3 Lefty 45............................................................ 4 Double Action 5 Barretone..........................................................6 Smithy 45 7 John Baqakis......................................................8 Bill Nesbitt 9 Slflr...................................................................10 R112 Mercer 11 El Conquistador.................................................12 Waltermitty 13 Tom Mainus......................................................14 Dennis 15 Carmoney II.....................................................16 Carmoney 17 Pat Sweeney.....................................................18 Jerry Miculek 19 Keith.................................................................20 Revoman 21 D. Carden...aka...Glockboy...aka...Danbagger ..22 Aerosigns 23 Marmot 452........................................................24 Redmist10 25 Rudi (from what I hear).......................................26 Tom Kettells 27 Gary Catalan......................................................28 John Burkolder? 29 Elliot Eysen?.......................................................30 High Plains Drifter Now according to Carmoney, Kim said there were 34 signed up......anybody know someone that is not listed that is coming? if so let me know and I'll edit to add..... What about some of our Western Wheelgunners??? Bud Bond, Randy Lee, Vic Pickett, Lisa Farrell, Dillion, and others???? SAM Edit to add #30

For what it is worth............ Since I reload most of the time similar to Mr. Miculek I try to keep all my holders up front and as far right as possible. I have used the California Comp for the last 2 years, recently I switched to the Blade-tec double holders as I can have 8 from pretty much the center of my body to the right, thus allowing me to not have to reach as far around to get the later reloads in a stage. I do on occasion reload with my weak hand (like Spook, D.carden, and Carmoney) so I have a couple of Cali comps still on the left side (just in case). It really doesn't matter, all are fast enough......pick one and go with it that is the key. SAM

Paradox, with the experience that Kay and Jerry have and the ease at which they can explain things, you can't go wrong with them. They are World Champs and all............. Good luck, those two are a pair of great persons, along with being able to shoot good. Sam

Dan, Sorry you couldn't make it. But man do I understand. El Conquistador has signed up, but is afraid to shoot with the other revolver shooters in the revolver squad...I did not see Luke Fay's name though. Johnny said he is doing all he can do be there and I expect to see his smiling face. I heard from the Luttrells, they are still trying to get arrangements made to make the trip. Have not heard from Bubber though...........?????????? Airedale and Mrs. Airedale, and Zookeeper are not making the trip, too bad for them as it's goona be great. 9 wheelgunners if Johnny makes it........11 if the Luttrells make it........HMMMM.....Not bad for a measley ole sectional.......with 11 stages. 138 signed up, I think the limit is 160.........Better get them in.........soon. And Cliff.......you thought I'd miss that! I'll Tell Rodney to get the gun cleaner......ah hmmmm Adult beverage!! SAM