Taquila Tab is an alter-ego that was created in May 1998 when I first became a member of the Single Action Shooting Society or SASS as it is called.  He is sometimes a Bandito and at others times works for the Federales (depending on which side is paying the most at the time).  Occasionally, he will even masquerade as a "B-Western" hero much to the amusement of his compadres.

His alias is derived from the initials of his real identity and his thirst for the magic elixir that is a spirit made from the blue agave plant primarily in the area surrounding Tequila, a town in the western Mexican state of Jalisco, northwest of Guadalajara.

He can be found scrounging the countryside in the company of other reprobates known as the Midwest Chapter of the Dirty Gamey Bastards (and one fine Bitch) or DGB's.  Members of this gang come and go but the core cast is the Alamo Kid, the Honky Tonk Harlot (who is rumored to be Taquila Tab's wife) and Triple T. At times members of the gang have included Back 40, Cascade Charlie, Fancy Bob, Fancy Red, and John Lee.  If this gang ever comes riding into your town, you'd be wise to give them a wide berth!

Taquila Tab is armed and dangerous!  He is known to own two 4 5/8" barrel stainless steel "old-model" Ruger Vaqueros in .357 caliber complete with Eagle Gunfighter grips.  These guns have had work by Badlands Bill Oglesby so they are quick.  They are usually loaded with .358" diameter.130 grain round nosed flat point bullets in front of 3.2 grains of Vihtavouri N320 powder and Federal small pistol magnum primers in a .38 Special Starline brass case.  He sometimes carries a pair of the "new-model" Ruger Vaqueros with a 4 5/8" barrel length and standard black grips as well.

The pistols are holstered either in a Bob Mernickle custom cross-draw rig or a Buscadero drop-loop gunbelt from Texas Gunslinger leather with holsters fashioned by Tinsleep out of the Oklahoma Indian Territory.

As a rifle he is packing either a 24" 1894 model .357 caliber Marlin worked over by Long Hunter or a 24" 1894 Marlin .357 caliber that he received after work by Spur.  Both rifles have Manatee's Grabber sights added to insure accuracy.  The rifles are usually loaded with .357" diameter.147 grain truncated cone bullets in front of 3.2 grains of Vihtavouri N320 powder and Federal small pistol magnum primers.

His choice of a scattergun is either an original Winchester 1897 model 12-gauge or a Norinco 1897 model 12-gauge.  Both shotguns have 18 1/2" barrels and have action work by the famed Coyote Cap.  He wears a shotgun belt from Kirkpatrick leather to hold the Winchester AA shells for these babies.

His bona fides to fame are:

Co-Founder of the McLean County Peacemakers, Bloomington, Illinois
3-term Territorial Governor of Springfield, Illinois' Long Nine
Creator of the 265+ member Prairie State Cowboy Action Shooters Association
Match Director of the 2005 Randolph County Ruckus, (Illinois' first-ever State Championship)
Match Director of the 2006 Randolph County Ruckus
Match Director of the largest 2005 SASS State Championship
Match Director of the largest 2006 SASS State Championship
Top-10 "B-Western" Finish at the 2006 National Championship (Winter Range)
2006 Illinois "B-Western" Champion
2007 Named honorary member of the famed Malone Posse.