July 10, 2004

IXELWIZ WAS KIND ENOUGH TO LET ME go off and play on this fine Saturday, so I joined the High Country Cowboys for another match on the mountainside. There was a fine turnout of 51 shooters, and the stages were based on some good old "B-Western" scenarios.

We pick up the action as Our Hero starts on Stage Five...

Stage Five: Happy Trails To You
My singing voice isn't good enough to get me top billing, but it's not bad enough to be shot for! Nevertheless, as I sung out "Happy trails to you" on my way to the outhouse, I was obliged to defend myself. Dashing into the privy, I pulled my first pistol and alternated between a pair of targets, 1-2. Holstering the empty sixgun, I drew the other and fired again. Leaving the limited cover of the outhouse, I moved to the nearby table and picked up my carbine, shooting 9 rounds at 3 targets: 4-1-4. I exchanged the Winchester for the shotgun and emptied both barrels at the targets. No misses, and a respectable time of 38.18 seconds. A fine way to begin the day!

Stage Six: The Abandoned Mine
I'd tracked the outlaws to the old mine in the hills, but they spotted my approach and opened fire. I swept five targets with my first revolver, left to right, missing once, then reversing the sweep with the other sixgun, right to left. I had 10 rounds in the Winchester and I used 9 of 'em in a Nevada sweep on 5 targets. I missed one of those, too, but put the final round on the bonus target way back in the woods. The finishing touch was hitting a pair of shotgun targets twice each, 1-2, 1-2.

Stage One: I'm A Peaceable Man
It's not easy to rile me -- I'm a peaceable man -- but I can be pushed too far. That's what these hombres had done and I meant to make 'em pay for it. I was standing near a water trough and had to be careful not to trip as I rushed up the steps to the right-side window in the building in front of me. I made it up there fine, but then the wheels came off: I had to put 5 rounds on 4 targets with each pistol, and missed three times with my left hand and once with my right. Ouch! The rifle treated me well, as I put its 8 rounds on 4 targets with no misses and hit all 4 of the shotgun targets, too, but 20 seconds worth of missed targets isn't something I can afford to give away. Dang!

Stage Two: I'm Takin' Over Fer Lightnin'
The bandits had put my pal Lighting out of the fight, but I figured to clean up this gang or die trying. In my hands was a serape, which I tossed over the hitching rail as I drew my first pistol. Two rounds on the left target, two on the right and one on the center. Unfortunately, I missed twice. I ran to the left, where my rifle rested, and grabbed it to fire 10 shots: 1 on the left target, 1 on the right target, and 3 on the middle target -- then repeat. I stepped back to the rail, and used the second pistol just like the first -- except this time I hit 'em all. My shotgun was at the right side of the rail, and I put both barrels on a pair of targets there. Boom! Boom! A fun stage.

Stage Three: Hat In Hand
I wasn't sure whose hat I was holding -- it had been laying in the street -- but the group of rascals coming down the street didn't appreciate the fact that I'd picked it up. I dropped the hat and reached for my Winchester. I had 9 rounds to fire at 3 targets in a triple-tap, but the sun had climbed over the trees right in front of me, which threw the targets into shadow and backlit my blackpowder smoke. I couldn't see a thing after my first shot, and resorted to the "Blackpowder Bob & Weave" in an attempt to spot my targets. It's an amusing thing to watch, if you're not the one doing it! I hit all my targets and moved right to the wheelbarrow where I put 5 rounds on 3 targets with each pistol and then used the shotgun 4 times on a pair of targets, 1-2, 1-2. No misses, even through the clouds of smoke!

Stage Four: Nice Goin' Lofty
We were sneaking up to the rustlers' hideout when Lofty got tangled in his spurs and tripped. "Nice goin', Lofty. They know we're here now." I poked my shotgun through the window and fired six times at a pair of targets, creating a huge cloud of slowly drifting white smoke. I set the scattergun down and moved to the doorway where I had 9 rounds to put on 3 targets in 3 sweeps. The sun was still causing me problems and I missed a target despite my dancing. I set the Winchester aside and stepped to the left window. There were three targets there, and I shot 'em all 2-1-2 with each pistol. And that was that.

Now for the numbers...