Is Your Rig Ready for Land Run?

A Cowboy Shooter’s Pre-Match Gear Checklist

Land Run is getting close, and by now most shooters are thinking about ammo, travel plans, practice sessions, and getting those last few things packed.

But before you load the truck and head to Oklahoma, there’s one more question worth asking:

Is your gear really ready?

A major match is not the place to discover a loose screw, stretched shell loop, troublesome magazine, or a piece of gear you forgot at home. A few minutes spent checking everything now can save a whole lot of frustration once the timer starts.

Start With Your Gun Belt

Put your gun belt on with the same clothes you plan to shoot in. Make sure it sits where you want it and feels the way you expect it to feel.

Take a close look at the leather, stitching, hardware, cartridge loops, and buckle. Then holster your guns and make a few practice draws.

Nothing should feel different on match day.

Check Your Holsters

Look closely at your holsters and their mounting hardware. Check the stitching, retention, screws, and attachment points.

Chicago screws have a funny way of disappearing over time, especially on gear that gets used as much as Cowboy Action Shooting equipment does.

If you're shooting Land Run and you're missing a Chicago screw, come see us at the Mernickle Custom Holsters tent.

We'll have plenty of Chicago screws with us, and if your Mernickle rig is missing one, we'll replace it for you free of charge.

We would much rather help you fix it before your next stage than watch a little piece of hardware cause a big problem.

Don't Forget Your Shotgun Belt

Check your shotgun belt and every shell loop. Make sure the shells sit where you expect them to and that nothing has become loose, damaged, or uncomfortable.

Your shotgun belt is one of those pieces of equipment that you don't want to think about while you're shooting. Your hand should simply go where it always goes and the shells should be there.

Lay Everything Out Before You Pack

One of the easiest ways to leave something behind is to pack a little here and a little there.

Before the trip, lay your complete shooting setup out where you can see it.

• Gun belt
• Holsters
• Shotgun belt
• Loading blocks or loading strips
• Lever wraps
• Buttstock covers
• Screw knife
• Ammo
• Eye and ear protection
• Any spare parts or tools you normally carry

If you use it during a match, make sure you see it before it goes into the truck.

A Screw Knife Is a Necessity, Not Just an Accessory

One piece of equipment we believe every serious Cowboy Action shooter should have is a screw knife.

A screw knife isn't there just because it looks good hanging from your rig. It's a working tool.

Ours mounts directly to your holster so it's immediately available when you need it. If something works loose on your rifle or another piece of equipment between stages, you don't want to go digging through a gun cart or bag looking for a screwdriver.

You want the right tool right there on your rig.

That's why we consider a screw knife a necessity rather than simply another accessory.

Check Your Lever Wraps and Buttstock Covers

Take a look at your lever wraps and buttstock covers as well. Make sure everything is secure, comfortable, and positioned correctly.

Small things can become very noticeable after several stages of shooting.

The best gear is the gear you don't have to think about.

Shooting Wild Bunch at Land Run?

If you're shooting Wild Bunch, your pre-match equipment check needs a few additional items.

Start with your 1911 magazines.

Clean them, inspect them, and most importantly, test them. If you have a magazine that's been giving you trouble, this isn't the match to give it another chance.

Make sure you have enough magazines for the match and consider identifying or numbering them so you know exactly which one you're using if a problem develops.

Check Your Magazine Pads

Take a look at your magazine pads before the match as well.

If you need mag pads, stop by the Mernickle Custom Holsters tent at Land Run.

We'll have mag pads available, and we'll have the ability to mount them directly onto your magazines while you're there.

We can also add your initials to them, making it much easier to identify your magazines when several shooters have equipment sitting on the same table.

Check the Rest of Your Wild Bunch Gear

Give your 1911 holster, magazine pouches, shotgun belt, rifle gear, and hardware the same inspection you would give your Cowboy Action rig.

And don't forget that screw knife.

Wild Bunch puts plenty of rounds through your equipment. The goal is simple:

Check it now. Test it now. Show up ready to shoot, not troubleshoot.

Should You Change Gear Right Before a Big Match?

One thing I tell customers all the time when we're vending at a shoot is:

Don't change your gear right before a major match unless you're making a true upgrade.

You don't want to completely change the way your equipment feels after you've spent months developing muscle memory with your current setup.

But there is a difference between simply changing equipment and upgrading something that immediately improves your setup.

Our Mernickle shotgun belts are a good example.

They require no break-in time.

They're designed so they don't have to get softer before they work correctly. They don't start too tight, become too loose, or need weeks of use before the shell loops feel right.

They're match-ready from day one.

Put it on, adjust it, load it, and go shoot.

That's the kind of equipment upgrade you can comfortably make before a major match because you're not waiting for the gear to eventually start working the way it should.

Give Your Guns One More Check

Your leather isn't the only thing that deserves attention before you leave.

Clean your firearms, inspect your screws and moving parts, and function-check everything.

If you've been practicing heavily leading up to Land Run, your guns have been working hard too.

A few minutes of preventive maintenance at home beats trying to repair something between stages.

Then Leave It Alone and Go Shoot

Once everything is checked, tested, and packed, leave it alone.

You've done the practice. You've prepared your equipment. Now trust it.

When you step up to the firing line, the last thing you should be thinking about is your gear.

Your equipment should simply do its job so you can concentrate on doing yours.

Come See Us at Land Run

The Mernickle Custom Holsters crew will be at Land Run with plenty of gear, parts, shotgun belts, screw knives, mag pads, Chicago screws, and more.

If something on your Mernickle rig needs attention, come by and see us. We'll do everything we can to help get you ready for your next stage.

And remember:

Check it now. Test it now. Show up ready to shoot, not troubleshoot.

Safe travels, shoot straight, and we'll see you at Land Run!

Mernickle Custom Holsters
Artistry in Leather