The “Wild Bunch" side match will allow many firearms that we don’t usually get to shoot in CAS. Those will include some SASS legal firearms plus the single-action (semi)automatic Model 1911-style pistol and many of the rifles and shotguns that are featured in the movie, “The Wild Bunch” (a landmark 1969 film directed by Sam Peckinpah, starring William Holden, Ernest Borgnine and Ben Johnson). If you haven't seen the film at least a dozen times, go get a copy of the "Restored Director's Cut" or "30th Anniversary Edition" on DVD.

The movie depicts the end of the Cowboy-era in the Old West and has been credited a major inspiration for the sport of cowboy action shooting, among the founders of SASS (and thus, their choosing the name, "The Wild Bunch" for the executive directors of SASS). Many feel, as many movie reviewers have remarked, "The Wild Bunch" captures elements of the Old West that the slew of "Spaghetti Westerns" never realized or ever approached. And, while there are many (typical Hollywood) inconsistencies and non-period weaponry featured in the film (which was actually supposed to have been set in 1913), it solidly remains as one of the "Top 10" Western films of all time.

We have searched for standardized guidelines for a "Wild Bunch" side match and shooter classification among CAS clubs and have found many variations. Most seem to be very restrictive, although many do allow early double action revolvers (which we don't). We have tried to make this a "fun" SAA (Single Action Auto) match with as few restrictions as possible, while keeping it true to the original movie and the CAS "spirit of the game. For this match, we want maximum participation and with that in mind, we have tried to "open up" the rules as much as seems reasonable.

Please keep in mind, these rules may be modified as time goes on. If you are purchasing guns for this or any other "Wild Bunch" class or side match in the future, you would be advised to be conservative and do considerable research first as many of the "acceptable" weapons and other equipment outlined here would undoubtedly be prohibited at "Wild Bunch" matches hosted by other clubs. Unless or until SASS adopts standard rules for the "Wild Bunch" class or side match, you will surely see a wide variety of rules and equipment restrictions at different clubs and ranges.


Please read the following information in regard to what you will need if you wish to shoot the "Wild Bunch" match at RANGE WAR in September. Please contact Evil Swede by e-mail if you have any questions. We will have a limited amount of suitable .45 ACP ammo for those that do not have unjacketed, lead ammo for their 1911's. See the "AMMUNITION" section below if you want to buy some commercially loaded lead .45 ACP ammo in advance. In regard to rifle ammo or loads for any exotic period-correct pistols.. hey man, you're on your own!

Your (rifle caliber) CAS lever action rifle, a 1911-style .45ACP pistol with 2 mags and a '97 pump shotgun will work just fine for this match. If you have something else that fits the bill, it is your responsibility to come up with ammo that meets the match requirements. If you don't have the ammo, you can't use that gun! Please review the ammo requirements below and DO NOT bring any jacketed ammo to the match.

CHANGE #102: NO FOREIGN AUTOS.. This means, no broomhandle mausers. This is a 1911 match.


Round Count for the Range War 2 stage WB Sidematch: Pistol 20 - Rifle 20- SG 18+.


We would appreciate your input, in order to make this a viable sidematch in the future. Please send any comments, questions or suggestions to Evil Swede at EvilSwede@bcvc.net.

AMMUNITION: No Military Ammo Allowed. All ammo must be lead only and may be smokeless, duplex or black powder.
Maximum velocities allowed: 1000 fps Pistol and 1500 fps Rifle. Please custom load "Gallery Loads" or purchase your ammo accordingly. We don't want injuries and we don't want No excuses. NO JACKETED OR SEMI-JACKETED AMMO. ALL LEAD, ONLY LEAD. "Gas Checked" and "Copper Washed" rifle ammo is okay, but no jackets or steel core ammo!


Here are some sources for lead .45 ammo:
Black Hills .45 ACP 230 gr. lead round nose remanufactured
Black Hills .45 ACP 200 gr. lead SWC (also comes as remanufactured)
Lancer .45 ACP 230 gr. lead round nose (also comes in 200 gr. lead SWC)
Magtech .45 ACP 200 gr. lead SWC
"AmmoDirect" .45 ACP 230 gr. hard lead round nose
If you know of others, please send the URL to Evil Swede so they can be added here.


All shooters carrying auto-pistols for the "Wild Bunch" match must have the magazine removed except when on the firing line.... NO EXCEPTIONS.


STAGING: Auto-pistol will be cleared at the loading table, and holstered with the hammer down on an empty chamber and the magazine well empty (before and after each stage). All magazines (and stripper-clips, if applicable) will be pre-loaded at the loading table and must be kept on your body (magazine pouches are not required).  The rifle will be staged, loaded, as usual (action closed and hammer down on an empty chamber or action open for unloaded single-shot rifles). The shotgun will be staged, loaded (as usual at Chabot), hammer down on an empty chamber. Rifle and Shotgun magazines may be loaded to maximum capacity or the number of rounds needed for the course of fire, whichever is less.  Load extra rounds from body, as needed. Before starting the stage, the magazine may be inserted in the mag well. The pistol is chambered on the clock. Pistols with stripper clips are loaded on the clock. Specific instructions on handling, reloading and holstering will be given at the match.

CLOTHING: Watch the movie.. anything worn in the movie and all SASS acceptable clothing are just fine. Did you think we were going to make your posse dress up like soldiers in campaign hats, khaki shirts, Jodhpurs riding pants and Cavalry boots? (pictured right)  Well, they wore cowboy duds for most of the movie anyhow, the uniforms were just a ruse to hold up the bank.. what a great scene though!  Costuming taken directly from any scene in the movie is encouraged.. it is a "Wild Bunch" match, isn't it?


HOLSTERS: No modern (Bianchi/Safariland, police or IPSC type) pistol holsters or magazine holders. A WWI-era military khaki web belt with web ammo pouch and tan/brown pre-1917 military flap holster is encouraged, but for this match, old west-style rigs (with or without tie-downs) or any pre-WWII style military-type holster [CLICK HERE], with a flap, including tanker-style (M3 or M7), Cavalry-style swivel (M1912, pictured below) or standard/crossdraw holster (M1916) and pretty much any flap style ammo pouches, in brown, tan or black, are perfectly acceptable. Holster may be tied down, if you wish. Please remember, the "170° Rule" and consider your draw angles when selecting and positioning your holster, particularly when using a crossdraw or tanker-style shoulder holster.


REGARDING PISTOLS: It is the intent that the SAA pistols used for this match be a “box-stock” pre-WWII G.I. model 1911 or 1911-A1 with checkered wood grips and steel fixed or a standard steel drift rear sight, like those used in the movie.  But, as this is a new event, at this particular match, any standard sized (5"), government-style, .45 ACP, 1911-type pistol is acceptable.. including the Colt Model 1991, and Kimber, Springfield, Wilson or other modern 1911-A1 or A2 style “competition” autos, including those with micro-adjustable sights, beavertail hammer, flared ejection port, ambidextrous safety/mag release, BoMar/Wilson or other competition internal and external parts, etc... Any original or domestic pre-1917 model SAA-pistol in .38 caliber or larger is also allowed. Sorry, no Broomhandle Mausers or other top-fed autos.

Other than the above, the only pistol restrictions for this match are simple (common sense) and will be strictly enforced: no optic sights, no fiber optic or tru-glo type sights, no laser dots, no compensators, no ported barrels, no shortened Commander/Officer models, no staggered magazines, no long-slide models and no modern soft rubber (Hogue or Pachmayr type; two-piece, one-piece or wrap-around) or oversized/contour grips.  And, of course, LEAD AMMO ONLY.


REGARDING SHOTGUNS: Winchester 1897 (including '97 Trench Guns), Marlin 1898 (at your own risk) and Winchester Model 12. No Remington 870's or Mossbergs or other modern pumps.. '97's, '98's and Model 12's.. that's pretty much it. Of course any (10, 12, 16 or 20 gauge) side-by-side double barrel shotgun is okay. But, we will be stoking the pumps at the loading bench like a rifle so a repeater is probably better than a SxS. No semi-auto shotguns and no 410s. No slugs, no steel shot.. lead shot only and shot size #6 or smaller (#8 to #9 lead shot preferred).

REGARDING RIFLES: Pre-1913 bolt action rifles are preferred, but any pre-1917-style rifle with iron sights or period-correct peep sight is acceptable.. this includes all "SASS-legal" rifle caliber rifles and all WWI-era and earlier sporting and military rifles including bolt action rifles, such as 1903 Springfield (or ‘03-A3’s), Krag, Enfield and Mauser. Stripper-clips are okay (and are encouraged). Pretty much any original or faithful replica of any rifle caliber long gun that existed pre-1917 is okay. No optical sights or scopes. Be sure to load down your ammo to SASS velocities ("Gallery Loads") AND AGAIN, LEAD AMMO ONLY. Rifle caliber only (no pistol caliber rifles)

NOT ALLOWED: No fully automatic weapons, No hand grenades or dynamite. No Pierce-Arrow Jalopies…. er wait, we’ll make an exception if ya' got one of those. However you must have bad teeth, bad breath, and dress like General Mapache if you are planning to bring a Pierce-Arrow Convertible. You may bring your own dim-witted driver, if you have one. No pistol caliber rifles, no over & under shot guns, no revolvers & no foreign autos (such as Broomhandle Mausers). Your input is important! Please send your comments, questions or suggestions to Evil Swede by e-mail at EvilSwede@bcvc.net.

NOTE: A limited amount of commercially loaded, smokeless, lead, .45 ACP ammo will be available for sale, on-site.