Lincoln County Regulators

THE LEGEND OF THE TEXAS RANGERS

“They could ride like Mexicans, trail like Indians, shoot like Tennesseeans, and fight like the Devil!” was a common description of the Texas Rangers. They helped tame the West and made themselves legends. The Lincoln County Regulators armed with six guns, lever guns, and scatter guns will gather at the Cowboy Action Shooting™ Range and Old West Town at the Ruidoso Gun Club range on Hale Lake Road in Ruidoso Downs on Saturday morning, March 13 to shoot “The Legend of the Texas Rangers,“ the theme of their March Cowboy Action Shooting match. Cowgirls, cowboys, and buckaroos, as well as spectators are urged to dress Western and get ready to have some Texas-style rip-roarin’ fun. Cowboy Action Shooting is the fastest growing family shooting sport in the world!

Competitors will shoot four stages based on the great “Battle of Plum Creek,” “Los Diablos Tejanos,” “Sam Bass” and “Special Force,” all seminal events in the lives of the Texas Rangers as they transitioned from Indian fighters to Lawmen.. Stages have been designed by Special Constable John Steele, SASS #82159 with scenarios written by Sgt. Shuster, SASS #60835 based on his research into the history of the Texas Rangers.
On the First Stage, shooters will assist the Texas Rangers in the “Battle of Plum Creek,” the 1840 defense against the Comanche, the Lords of the South Plains, described as the finest light cavalry in the world. Shooters will begin with the statement, “This is only the beginning!”
Stage Two starts in the town of Buena Vista during the War with Mexico when the Texas Rangers, under the command of Sam Walker are sent behind the lines by General Zachary Taylor to spy on Santa Ana’s Mexican army. They earned the name, “Los Diablos Tejanos.” Competitors will begin with the line, “Its payback time, amigos.”

The times were changing for the Texas Rangers as they transitioned- from Indian fighters to Lawmen, and they were coming up against cattle rustlers, horse thieves and train robbers on Stage Three, “Sam Bass.“ Cowboys and cowgirls will find themselves in Round Rock facing the gang of Sam Bass and joining the Rangers in warning the outlaws, “Lower your guns and raise your hands!“

In the Fourth and final Stage, contenders will join the Texas Rangers’ “Special Force” in patrolling the border in 1875. It was a time of Indian raids, cattle raids and outlaw raids back and forth across the Rio Grande. Shooters will assist the Texas Rangers in a battle with horse thieving border raiders in the Rio Grande Lower Valley and begin with, “Stay on your own side, horse thief!“

The four stage "Legend of the Texas Rangers" Cowboy Action Shooting match will be followed by a single stage Wild Bunch Action match, a new Single Action Shooting Society competition. Known as “the hottest game around,” Wild Bunch Action Shooting is a combination of SASS Cowboy Action Shooting and Action Shooting. The sport uses 1911 Pistols, Lever Action Rifles, and 1897 Pump Shotguns.

The next big Wild Bunch Action Match close to home is the 12 stage Wild Bunch Shootout at Butterfield Trail, May 21--23, sponsored by the Picacho Posse of Las Cruces. This is the first SASS Southwest Regional Wild Bunch Championship and it is sure to become an annual event. There will be just four classes: Men’s Modern, Women’s Modern, Men’s Traditional, and Women’s Traditional. SASS Wild Bunch rules will apply. Competitors can also shoot the End of Trail Wild Bunch Championship in June and the Outlaw Trail SASS Wild Bunch World Championship in October, both at Founders Ranch in Edgewood, NM.

Registration for "The Legend of the Texas Rangers" begins on the range at 9:00 am and shooters are asked to pick a Single Action Shooting Society age-based, standard or costume shooting category when they register. "The Legend of the Taxes Rangers" will begin officially at 9:30 am with Presentation of the Colors and the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by a mandatory safety briefing. The shooting starts at 10:00 am. John Steele will be Match Director.

The Match Fee is $10, cash or check. SASS rules will apply. There will be a $3 one day insurance fee for non-members of the Ruidoso Gun Club. Competitors will need a minimum of 40 pistol cartridges, 40 rifle cartridges and 16 or more shotgun shells. Shooters not fully equipped are invited to borrow the firearms of the experienced. All ammunition must be lead only. For the Wild Bunch Match, shooters can bring any 1911 style handgun, any pump action shotgun, and any pistol caliber lever gun.
Participants and spectators are urged to bring a sack lunch, non-alcoholic beverages and lawn chairs. Anyone up to helping set up targets and getting the Old West town ready for the match is invited to stop at the range at 3:30 on Friday afternoon. Membership in the Lincoln County Regulators may be also purchased at the event.

For information about “The Legend of the Texas Rangers” match, call or email Regulator Special Constable John Steele at 937-3023 or srwood@valornet.com.