The Gunslinger Syndicated Radio Show • February 22, 2026
Wild Bunch 1911s, Ammunition Stability & Auction Aftermath
Jeff Taverner is just back from the Cowboy Action Shooting World Championship in Arizona, where Wild Bunch (cowboy shooting with 1911s) was running when he left. The auction aftermath that greeted him was quieter than usual: a Tuesday afternoon downpour staggered the crowd that normally descends all at once on pickup day, and the crew got a rare afternoon to breathe. A story about the buyer of the John Wayne collection leads to the Visalia parade saddle (a piece that needed its own shipping logistics) before caller Richard turns the show toward a question that opens further than it sounds: how stable is ammunition over decades of storage, and what actually happens if you try to burn or dispose of old rounds?
In This Episode
- Busy Week and the Cowboy Action Shooting World Championship in Arizona
- Auction Aftermath and the Rainy Quiet Tuesday
- The Amazon Effect and Auction Shipping Process
- The Buyer of the John Wayne Collection
- The John Wayne Visalia Parade Saddle Story
- Caller Richard on Ammunition Stability Over Time
- Safety of Dropping or Burning Old Ammunition
- Richard Shares a Washington Birthday Joke
- Teaser for Rick from CRPA After the Break
Busy Week and the Cowboy Action Shooting World Championship in Arizona
It has been a busy week for the Gunslingers. Mark is already out in Arizona for the Cowboy Action Shooting World Championship. Starting in the morning is Wild Bunch, cowboy shooting with 1911s basically. Mark shoots that. The host tried it once but found the restrictions a little too tight for his fancy choice 1911s. He will watch from afar this time. The host heads out Wednesday afternoon and stays through Saturday.
Auction Aftermath and the Rainy Quiet Tuesday
The first fresh week after the auction has been so far so good. Normally Tuesday is a zoo with everyone antsy for their items but it poured rain and kept things quiet. The weather staggered the crowd instead of having them all bung in at once. It was a real breath of fresh air.
The Amazon Effect and Auction Shipping Process
Buyers want their stuff right now like Amazon instant gratification. But auctions run with limited manpower and four or five guys working hard for two weeks to get everything out. Send your FFL late and your gun ships late. It is first come first served. Some folks wait ten days then scream on day eleven. There is a process.
The Buyer of the John Wayne Collection
The host spoke with the very nice gentleman in North Carolina who bought almost all the Wayne collection. He was ecstatic over every piece he received.
The John Wayne Visalia Parade Saddle Story
The saddle is an old Visalia from the late 1930s numbered to John Wayne with his name stamped in it twice. It came as a full parade set with martingale, bridle, bit, and heavy silver everywhere. The host secured a letter from Patrick confirming it was authentic, his dad Patrick Wayne’s parade saddle. Built for a six foot four man, the stirrups were sewn in place with no Blevins buckle. The host rode it once in the Norco parade on Pete. The old leather squeaked loud enough to hear a half block away. The parade started late, Pete got hot and angry in the sun, and left a couple large piles on the street. Norco calls itself Horse Town USA yet has no pooper scoopers following the horses like the Rose Parade does. Bada Bing pizza banners draped over Pete did not improve his mood.
Caller Richard on Ammunition Stability Over Time
Richard calls in from the airport to ask how long a cartridge stays safe over the years if kept properly. The host has pre World War I ammo that still shoots fine but some from the 1970s he would not trust. It all depends on storage. Drastic heat, cold, or moisture can ruin it fast.
Safety of Dropping or Burning Old Ammunition
Richard asks if dropping old ammo on the floor could make it go off. No, not unless it lands primer first on the head of a nail. Even then it does not act like the movies. Throw it in a fire and the brass pops like popcorn, loud and unpleasant, but the heavy projectile stays right there with no direction or force.