Well Golly Gee Whiz Mr Grumpbutt    A tiddly bit of Speculative Humor is always appreciated. 
…..

Unfortunately, Founders Ranch was a fools errand from the beginning.  P
…..
What Were They Thinking

AHA! I dont just resemble that, I am the postergrump!

I can LITERRALY see what they were thinking….
1. California was already unfriendly, hadda move “somewhere”
2. New Mexico is still a firearm freindly state, and NRA Wittington has been here for ages, setting the precedent,
Along with the Boy Scout Philmont Ranch, both of which have had great history here.
(Btw i myself dreamed of going th Philmont as a kid, and Wittington for many many lustrum)
3. The ranch selected got the folowing near it walmart supercenter, couple NICE motels, several feed stores selling ammo, Smiths supermarket, quite a few other amenities for a rural town.
4. 4the ranch is literally 40 minutes from Albuquerque with all its amenities.
5 until 2022 Albuquerque and NM have been VERY gun friendly
6. They succumbed to the same hopeful mindset that all real estate speculators fall prey to:
It will expand and succeed if everybody does their part! I can point to such debacles as Pueblo West Colorado,
The Sallton Sea resorts and suburbs, several rural burbs built aro7nd the concept of “private plane commuting”
And several company towns that died as soon as that specific business dried up.

The old, if we build it they will come.

But theres not that much other stuff to visit once you are done shooting.
If you are extremely interested in “Indian Country” , visiting the Pueblos, visiting Hopi, Zuni, and Navajo land,
And ancient archialogical sites… there aint much here.

Others hav esaid they shoulda built it near Las Vegas - easy cheap airfare and lots of other stuff to do!
And they are right! Desert in nevada probably cost more that the Bunch wanted to spend.

They invented a cool hobby game.
They ruined a good hobby by turning it into a business
They tried to build an international business model based on a Very Small Niche hobby market.

Their heads got too big, they became too self important and did not listen to the user base.
They stifled outside ideas, stifled any opinions outside of the wild bunch. Even to the point of censoring
Any body who disagreed.

They kept increasing the cost of membership! With no real value added! I myslef kept saying
Well, this year I can budget in the cost…. And they increased the cost past the pain point.
And frankly, what value did they add? The excuse is “covering costs and insurance” . The rality is
Every single club outside of founders ranch found a way to play CAS without requiring SASS membership,
Usually thru a “one time” five dollar fee. For a person such as myself, who could not shoot more than once or twice a month, and who goes all winter without shooting an outdoor event, SASS membership was a overbearing expense that literally was not worth it. Especially since most clubs are a “shoot and leave “ crowd. No point gearing up, dressing up, etc if I am only there for a 2 hour shoot and no visiting…..

Now, before anybody starts trying to prove “why I am wrong” …..
Look at any of the weekend or week long Rondesvous Events held all over the country.
These are hobby events, run by hobbyists. Not by Egomaniacs who want to make a living off it.
Most all these rondys are still reasonable and affordable, and except for specific stuff like national sanctioned matches, or civil war anctioned matches, are all easy going and affordable.

Sooooo

Let the opinions fly!

How much can a gofundme raise, i wonder…..

Yhs
Prof whatever

 

Big hole cylinders and little hole barrels can get really messy   

Da odder Mike 

In a hurry!!!!!   

  Yep, I knew of your exploits with the Piettas and I've done a few Uberti's with different length barrels ( 19th century  Pistol Packs ya know). Anyway. I've not had different caliber '72's  here at the same time to get that "I otta try that" ding in my head. In fact I've got a pair in 45C visiting but no others.
  I'm glad you mentioned it though,  definitely worth looking into!!!

Thuther mike

They're also taking backorders on .38-40 and .32-20.

Starline accepting backorders right now.

...45 Colt has always been and always will have a 1.6" long case. ...

... They are either surprised or continue to argue when they can't find a manufacturer that calls it "Long Colt"....

Well, 1.6" OAL, not case.  But yeah.

Armscor and Fiocchi call it "45 Long Colt".  But heck, they ain't even American, so probly got lost in translation.