Ciderbarrel

07/06/2026

Blah, I had a horrible 2nd stage today.

I thought I removed all my suspect ammo from a batch I made last week. I missed one. It was my 10th rifle shot on thr 1st stage and it had too much powder and filler and blew back in my face.

2nd stage, rifle was 2nd. I had trouble loading the rifle, but got all 10 rounds in. Time to shoot the rifle -- the lever does not budge. There were 3 rifle makeups with the SG, so I only got 7 misses.

I was 10 seconds off from finishing in 4th instead of 7th. I am pretty pi**ed at myself at the moment.

The lever is bent. I took it apart and the bolt does not go all the way forward, but when the center pin is removed from the lever, the toggles can lay flay and the ladle does not catch on the links.

I finished the other 4 stages with my old 357, and I am glad i brought it and ammo for it, but still mad at myself.

One silver lining, I had my first ever sub-30 second stages this weekend and Scarlett Darlin recorded my personal best stage, the last one of the match, 26.33, clean.

04/06/2026

Well, the book and website says 8:30, but this morning they pushed the BP match to 1pm.

I am all setup and dressed and do not want to tear it all down and pack up to sit at the hotel for 2 hours and come on back and get loaded up again.

I guess I have 3 hours to kill 🙄😡💀

04/06/2026

In Wartrace for the Tennessee State Championship.

If things go according to plan, this will be my last out-of-state match for the next couple of years.

It was a long drive in last night and got only a few hours of sleep. At least I gained an hour by crossing into the CDT timezone. One state over, but 421 miles away.

Today, the Black Powder match.

Because of my experiment in Georgia, I was going to go left cross-draw. I still cannot get the hang of twisting anti-clockwise, after doing clockwise the last two years for right cross-draw, so I am sticking with a standard setup and will most likely pass off the gun from my right to left hand.

27/05/2026

27/05/2026

27/05/2026

17/05/2026

2026 Georgia State is in the books!

I had a great haul, but dang was it hot!

Because of the nerve damage in my right hand, that I have had since the 80s, I decided to stop shooting righty cross-draw and go double duelist.

This is my first time ever shooting left handed.
Left was clean all weekend. Right, which I always shot with, had 7 (I think) misses in the black powder match, and 2 misses today.

I am considering going lefty cross-draw in future.

On to the hardware!

I won two door prizes:
1) A $20 gift card to Denham's, which I immediately spent on a new green vest
2) This Swig Life 20oz tumbler.

I finished 3rd in the black powder match, 3rd in the main match, 1st place for 1887 speed shotgun, and a judge's pick for one of the best dressed.

16/05/2026

At the 2026 Georgia State Championship

I am terrible at social media. Today is day 2. Had an ok day 1.

198.27 total time, but shooting clean so far!

On side match day, I had issues in the Black Powder match.

I went from right handed cross draw, to double duelist. My first time ever shooting left handed.

Left hand was clean. Right hand had 7 or so misses.

1887 speed shotgun side match, I am pretty sure I took 1st place.