Daily Archives: March 12, 2005

Visit to Teakean Butte and the Taj Mahal

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Barb and I approached the butte from three different sides without luck.  Barb commented that this was a Ry type adventure.  Those that know Ry will understand.  We had driven by a driveway with a name I recognized as a Boomershooter so we turned around and went to ask his advice.  Jim told us we couldn’t get to the top without crossing some private property that did not belong to him.  He suggested we walk most of the way to the top on his property so we accepted his offer.  Elevation wise we were within about 600 feet before we turned around and came back.

Pictures are here.  The weather was just a bit unsettled but pleasant enough for a hike.  It made for some nice cloud pictures.  If you know what to look for in the first four pictures you can see the Boomershoot site. 

We went on to the Taj Mahal to test the new mix.  The material did not turn into a solid mass like some of the previous mixes had.  It was just slightly caked however.  Overall it looked good:

Another really good sign was that the small sample I had left out had not spontaneously combusted when it was exposed to sunlight for a week:

Next I fired a shot from the .22 that should have hit with a velocity of about 1170 fps.  It did not detonate the target but it did tip it over.  I loaded the high velocity ammo and shot it three times on the edge.  It did not detonate.  I put the target upright and it then detonated on the first shot.  Estimated target velocity–1540 fps.  The edge hits were going through three layers of cardboard so I suppose it’s possible that the extra cardboard slowed down the little 38 grain pellets enough to cause the failures.  At this time I am pleased with the new mix and packaging.  It’s rare that we will ever store things more than a week and if it still detonates with a 38 grain bullet at 1540 fps that is probably good enough.  In another couple of weeks I’ll do the final tests.

We stopped by the new shooting positions we created last fall and looked at the grass Ry had planted.  It seems to be doing well.  In another six weeks (Boomershoot 2005) I expect it will be usable.

It’s off to Teakean Butte

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Barb and I are going on a drive and a hike up Teakean Butte near the Boomershoot site.  It’s the highest hill for many miles around in that area.  And it’s going to be the site for a wireless Internet broadcast tower late this summer.  I want to see if we will have good coverage of the site as well as just enjoying the hike with Barb.

If we have time we will check on the reactive targets I put away for storage tests last week.  Pictures and stories when we get back.

Boomershoot reactive target prep

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The most labor intensive portions of Boomershoot is the building of the reactive targets.  Each year we learn more and improve things for the next year.  One of the things that has been a pain has been the pouring of “Fuel 0“ into a small measuring cup.  A couple weeks ago I spotted this the store (click for a bigger picture):

I picked one up at the store today along with the little stand which it is setting on.  This will allow us to dispense the fuel easier, cleaner, and faster than before.

A few days ago I purchased 50 pounds of “Fuel 2”.  I only expect to use about 35 pounds but it was cheaper to buy 50 pounds than to buy 40 pounds (so I make sure I don’t run out) in the next size smaller package.  It came in a paper sack which I was certain would draw moisture and fall apart during storage.  I bought the plastic containers pictured below, transferred it into the containers, and managed to clean up the kitchen (it’s rather messy stuff) before Barb got home (click on the picture for a larger view).

I’ve got my eye on some more kitchen appliances to speed some other aspects of the process up from last year.  Boomershoot 2005, over 600 targets, over 1000 pounds of high explosives.  It should be a snap this year.

Gun rights champion nominated to hall of fame

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The anti-freedom crowd is “outraged“ by this:

TALLAHASSEE — The pistol-packing grandma about to be inducted into the Florida Women’s Hall of Fame is the most controversial appointment since its inception 22 years ago.

Why?

Because Marion Hammer, a squat senior citizen with a soft Southern twang, was the first — and only — female president of the National Rifle Association.

Gun control advocates and women’s rights groups are outraged at the selection of Hammer, one of three women Gov. Jeb Bush tapped this year to join writer Zora Neale Hurston, tennis star Chris Evert, former state Education Commissioner Betty Castor and Lt. Gov. Toni Jennings among others “who have made significant improvement of life for women and for all citizens of Florida,” according to the Hall of Fame’s Web site.

During the campaign against initiative 676 in Washington State a few years ago I got to meet Ms. Hammer.  She and her NRA staff helped defeat the proposed gun registration law.  I was impressed with her determination and her strength of will.  She seemed smart too.  I have no reservations about her being inducted into the hall of fame.  I’m sure she deserves it.

The article goes on to say:

Hammer, who said she never tells anyone how many guns she owns because “it’s nobody’s business,” remains nonplussed.

“Isn’t that a hoot?” she chuckled when told that the National Organization for Women and others plan to protest her nomination on Monday, the day before the induction ceremony takes place in the Capitol.

Yup.  That’s a hoot alright.

Quote of the day–Greg Hamilton

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Our fighting system is as non diagnostic as can be, very little conditional branching, and works against either side attack without mirroring. It is reactive from the stand point that the bad guy has to attack but after that it stresses that you be the actor forever after that.

My simple combat philosophy: My turn, my space, your pain.

Greg Hamilton
Thu 7/19/01 6:47 PM
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