Ok y'all FIRST,, let's be nice!!!!!!
We have a poster who asked a serious question and this has gone a bit of a different direction.
To answer the original post,, yes,, a Blackhawk can be used w/o any issues.
Getting into SASS is like any other hobby/sport out there. You can get in on the cheap, or spend a war pension.
I think that's the main points being "discussed" here. Jim has been trying to point out that it's a matter of priorities & what you are willing to do to get involved. Others are mentioning it's too expensive.
THERE ARE WAYS TO GET INTO IT CHEAPLY!!!
If you are new to shooting, don't own any guns, don't reload, raised in a city, wear suits & a tie as casual wear, don't know what boots are,, and the last cowboy hat you owned was a Christmas gift when you were 5 years old,, then you ARE gonna spend SOME money.
How MUCH you spend,, and HOW you BUDGET it,, will determine the cost to be involved.
As noted above,, you can shop at thrift stores & buy older styled clothes that "fit in" very cheaply. I did when I started,, by spending a total of $6 for 2 shirts & a set of suspenders at "goodwill." I already had boots & a hat,, so I was able to wear jeans,, ( the were designed in the mid 1800's) so no problem. I have seen PLENTY of folks shoot matches with the bare minimum of legal SASS attire.
Gun carts can be built from scrap material & stuff scrounged up easily enough. Again,, I speak from experience.
Guns & ammo; The most expensive part of the required things needed. As noted,, judicious shopping can reveal good deals on used but not abused guns,, and especially guns not made by Ruger or Colt. As noted,, you can go to matches,, and other cowboys there will loan you guns to use. Again,, I know from my direct experience. Ammo,, yes,, reloading is THE way to go,, but if we shoot any amount,, most of us already do that. If not,, you CAN make friends at any local match with someone who HAS reloading equipment & will let you use it when you need to. You just buy the components.
It may take time to locate a good deal on the guns you need,, and if, as mentioned,, you are on a srtict fixed income,, then it may take you longer to save up the necessary $$ to purchase a needed firearm,, be it a second pistol, the rifle, or a shotgun. Again, patience & careful shopping around will yield good results.
Finding a club; Easy enough by getting on the SASS website & looking around. In fact,, in some areas,, there are several close enough to where you might be able to enjoy more than one club. Other places it may be a bit of a distance,, and cost more to join, shoot, or just plain drive it. Again,, if a tight budget is a limiting factor,, discuss carpooling, talk to club officials about a discount, (some clubs have disabled, or veteran discount rates, etc.)
I guess what I'm getting at is that even on a VERY tight budget,, if you have the desires,, it IS a possbility. Maybe NOT the same as some folks who can afford a $500 custom holster rig,, or $1500 custom tuned SA's,, or whatever.
BUT we do NOT need to be in a pizzen contest about things.
Jim made a strong argument about those who actually WANT something WILL find a way to do it.
I believe a few others made EXCELLENT points about tight budgets, & the costs related to SASS. But as someone who has PERSONALLY spoken with SASS member #1,, Judge Roy Bean along with several of the Founders,,, they developed the "game" to where it CAN be enjoyed by most folks,, even on tight budgets.
That's not to say that a FEW clubs & their leaders & organizers don't push things a bit harsher than SASS wants. If that's the case,, then a different club is the best thing to look for.
BTW; I'm a cheapskate when it come to a lot of purchases not directly related to Rugers. When I joined SASs, I only had Ruger SA's and I had to find a rifle & a shotgun. Well, for several matches,, I had to borrow guns, some gear etc. But,, I put together my gunbelt, (Hunter plain jane,) A Norinco 97 copy with a broken stock, at first a Marlin 44 mag rifle, all over a 18 month period. I upgraded when I could,, and still only have one pair of pants that are "period correct" thanks to a Christmas present. MY shirts are up to 4 different ones. My hat is the same one I've had for years. My boots are the ones I had before SASS. Most of my gun cart is from scrap. I reload,, so I'm as cheap as you can get.
I already had Ruger SA's so my guns, (shotgun & rifle) cost me a total of $450. It can be done,, but again,, lets tone down the pizzen comments. We are all shooters around here.
