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 (Editorial
Continued) Now
I don't really mind someone loading 5.6 grains of Tite
Group in a .45 Colt and achieving 650 fps or maybe even
as low as 625 fps. However, regardless of what
category, caliber, and bullet weight you chose, it is
more "appropriate" to have your velocities above 700
fps. I have certainly used the 5.6 Tite Group load
with a 200-gr. bullet extensively; it has lower recoil
and is more fun to shoot numerous rounds with versus 6.0
grains of Tite Group or 8.0 grains of Unique under a
250-gr. bullet. I do get a lot more thrill when I
am using the more powerful load that results in a big
"boom!" What I do take exception to is when a person
starts to drop below 600-650 fps using a very light
bullet. I think this is also dangerous and it is
much easier to end up with a squib load. A squib
load is one in which the powder charge is so light it
barely pushes the bullet out of the barrel, or the
bullet lodges in the barrel. If the bullet is not
removed prior to the next round being fired, the barrel
will either bulge or explode. This kind of safety
hazard is certainly not within the Spirit of the Game.
Let me repeat myself, I believe that ultra light loads
are dangerous and not conducive to good sportsmanship.
When you can see the bullet come out of the barrel and
drop inches before hitting a target 12 yards away and
then go plop on the ground in front of the target,
it's a blooper, and it is not the right thing to do.
When a person is competing in a black powder category
with a cartridge that does this and has a duplex powder
load producing hardly any smoke, you are defeating the
whole purpose of shooting black powder, and it is WRONG!
You may be able to win your class, but don't look for
any kudos from me as you have just put yourself out of
the running for any Spirit of the Game award that I am
involved in.
I think each and every one of us should
look at why we are in this game and how we play it.
The first objective is always safety. The second
objective should be playing within the rules, including
the Spirit of the Game both on and off the firing line.
The third objective should be having fun. The
fourth objective should be supporting the sport and our
Second Amendment rights. If at any time you fail
in any of these objectives, you are not living up to The
Cowboy Way.
Happy
trails,
Chucky
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