Caren sent me a link to this article about a summer camp where teenagers learn to use explosives. At first I was so disappointed that I didn’t have something like that available to me when I was a teenager. Then I realized that I was working with explosives before I was a teenager and I was making my own explosives when I was 16. Okay, so maybe I wasn’t so deprived after all. But I would have liked the opportunity anyway.
Category Archives: Boomershoot
1000 yard shooting at Boomershoot 2008
After getting the suggestion from Ry I have been exploring the possibility of doing a 1000 yard Boomershoot.
I did a few calculations with Modern Ballistics last night to see what would happen if people just overshot the target area. My cousin’s house is a mile away and pretty close to directly behind the proposed target area. The house is out of sight and I suspected the shots would over shoot the house and land in the fields behind his house. It turns out the answer depends on the caliber being shot:
- A 7.62 x 39 (yeah right!) bullet would land in the field several hundred yards in front of the house.
- A .50 BMG bullet would overshoot the house by a few feet.
- A .300 Win Mag shooting Blackhills Match ammo with a 15 MPH wind from the West would put a bullet through his living room window.
I haven’t checked with my cousin yet but I suspect the safety margins are not acceptable.
It is very unlikely there be 1000 yard shooting at Boomershoot 2008. I need to find a different location before that becomes a reality.
Boomershoot 2008 prep
This weekend was pretty much consumed with prep for Boomershoot 2008 (and beyond). As an aside, it’s nearly 90% full now. Those last eight empty positions could disappear in a single day so sign up soon or wait until 2009.
Friday morning I received two and a half tons of ammonium nitrate (BTW, Sebastian says Xenia is “smoking hot” in that picture). Saturday I took the first two loads out to the Taj Mahal. Here is the start of what it looked like as I packed the shed higher and tighter than it has ever been with chemicals:
Xenia came along on with me with the second load and repackaged some of the old stuff so I could store it more compactly. I needed every cubic foot of space I could get. My calculations indicated it should fit if I played this game of Tetris just right.
Saturday I also tried “drilling” (auguring actually) a well near the Taj. I want a plentiful water supply for cleaning up the mixing equipment, first-aid, and the first line of defense against a small fire. The second line of defense against a small fire and the first line of defense against a medium or larger fire is RUN!!!
The ground is already so dry that even in going down three feet in the bottom of the creek bed near the Taj yielded a dry hole. Here you see me working on what ended up being a five foot deep dry hole before I ran into a hard-pan that essentially halted my progress. I’m not sure what my next effort along these lines will be. I know there will be water there at Boomershoot time but if I could get water this time of year by going down 15 feet with a backhoe I would do that. I’ll have to think about it some more.
Today I went back with load three of the ammonium nitrate and confirmed that I have just enough room for all of it.
I also worked on the Internet connection at the Taj and reworked some electrical stuff. The Boomershoot2 WiFi site would take many minutes to connect with Boomershoot1 and then would drop off frequently. I raised the antenna about four or five feet and now it connects in less than a minute and appears to stay connected. I connected the grounding wire to the metal shed and improved the ground connection to the 120 VAC system and the WiFi antenna.
I started work on getting a proper power supply to the WiFi “Range Extender” but discovered the gadget I bought at Fry’s in Renton, 350 miles away, was broken. It only worked if I pushed on a slide switch really hard. It took a while to discover what was wrong and still more effort to figure out how to jury-rig it to work temporarily (a tie-wrap cinched down really tight did the job). I ran out of time so I’ll have to finish that last little wiring job the next time I go out there.
From the ‘only the government should be allowed’ file
I don’t blame the Sheriff’s office or FBI for this–some criminal is responsible. But I don’t want to hear anyone whining about only the government should be allowed to possess certain things when the government can be stolen from as well as private citizens or businesses. The following news release is dated June 13th:
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the FBI and the St. Charles County Sheriff’s Department announced today a joint reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the theft of explosives from an explosives storage bunker at the St. Charles County Sheriff’s Department training center.
An FBI agent discovered the theft at the center, located at 1835 Highway 94, yesterday. The magazine was utilized by the St. Charles County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI’s St. Louis office.
Investigators from ATF, St. Charles County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI responded to the scene immediately, and determined that commercially manufactured high and low explosives were stolen. The types include C-4, dynamite, cast boosters, safety fuse and detonating cord. Not all items in the magazine were taken. The follow-up investigation has determined the theft occurred within the last 10 days. Leads are being followed up as the investigation continues.
Also, someone should get their wrist slapped because the theft should have been discovered in seven days or less:
§ 55.204 Inspection of magazines.
Any person storing explosive materials shall inspect his magazines at least every seven days. This inspection need not be an inventory, but must be sufficient to determine whether there has been unauthorized entry or attempted entry into the magazines, or unauthorized removal of the contents of the magazines.
[T.D. ATF-87, 46 FR 40384, Aug. 7, 1981]
Happiness is tons of ammonium nitrate
Ammonium nitrate is the primary ingredient in Boomerite. Two years ago I bought the last of the fertilizer grade ammonium nitrate in the county. I had enough for about four years at the previous rate of consumption. With the increased number of participants, increased number of targets, and increased size of the targets it was looking like I had enough for 2008 and maybe 2009 if I stretched the ammonium nitrate a little bit. That wasn’t really acceptable.
For the last year and a half I have been trying on and off to find another supplier. I could get it in Missouri or Vermont but transportation was “an issue”. Earlier this week I found a supplier that would deliver it to my doorstep for $0.50/pound. My last batch cost $0.14/pound. Heavy sigh. But in the big scheme of things just a couple extra shooting positions covers the difference in cost of the AN.
So… I ordered 5000 pounds which was delivered this morning:
This means I don’t have to be at all stingy with the targets for the immediate future. Boomershoot 2008 and 2009 will be bigger blasts than any previous event.
Tomorrow I start trying to pack into in the Taj Mahal. I think I have just enough room…
Limiting IED production
Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) are a huge issue for our forces in the sandbox. Because I have some experience in making improvised explosives this was one of the areas where I was trying to contribute when I worked at PNNL. Unfortunately that didn’t work out and I was involuntarily sidelined in that effort. Here is some tantalizing information on how the battle against IEDs is going:
There may be an unlimited supply of explosives in Iraq, but there is not an unlimited supply of people who know how to wire the detonators. In 2004, CIA operatives in Iraq believed they had identified the signatures of 11 different bomb-makers. They proposed a diabolical – but potentially effective – sabotage program that would have flooded Iraq with booby-trapped detonators designed to explode in the bomb-makers’ hands. But the CIA’s general counsel’s office said no. The lawyers claimed the agency lacked authority for such an operation, one source recalled.
Aside from the aneurysm inducing restriction imposed by the lawyers this is very interesting information. There are a very limited number of people in the Islamic extremist community with the technical skills to connect a remote garage door opener, walkie-talkie, or cell phone ringer, to the two wires of a blasting cap. This is an incredibly foreign concept to me. On the farm I was working with explosives when I was 10 years old and making electronic projects (and yes, some of them used vacuum tubes which means my son will claim it was in prehistoric times) by the time I was 12 or so. I don’t remember how much before that I was doing simple things with electric circuits — which is all the expertise you need to connect detonators.
I expect this is some sort of cultural difference. They think entirely different than we do, some say it may be more different that we can think. And apparently the reverse is true as well. Something that I could do as a child before my voice changed is a rare skill in their culture. So if we can’t remove those rare individuals from their society with sabotaged detonators how else can we take advantage of their lack of people with technical skills above that of a 12 year-old?
Pistols of Boomershoot
One of the most frequent questions I get about Boomershoot is, paraphrased, “Do I have enough gun for the job?” In almost all cases the answer is yes. If you have a centerfire rifle, shooting a rifle cartridge (.357 or .44 magnum rifles don’t have a chance), with a scope then there are very few modern rifles that don’t have a reasonable chance of claiming a few boomers. In fact there are some pistols that have been successfully used on the closer targets. Here is a picture of three pistols successfully used at Boomershoot 2007.
And while I’m on the topic of Boomershoot–this weekend I should have some news to release about Boomershoot 2008. I shared it with a couple people yesterday and they expressed “great joy”. There are only 14 long range positions left for the April of 2008 event. Sign up soon if you want to participate.
Boomershoot 2008 almost full
There are only two .50 caliber positions and 13 regular positions still available. Overall the long range shooting event is 80% full. General entry has been open for only nine days and it’s still 321 days until Boomershoot 2008.
If I wasn’t doing this to further gun rights instead making money I would have raised the price. I still might have to do that when I get in my next shipment of ammonium nitrate. I still have enough for 2008 and 2009 but I can no longer just visit the local farm supply warehouse and have them fill up the back of the truck with fertilizer at $0.15 per pound. It appears I’m going to have to pay the premium for the explosive grade material. I’m working on avoiding that but I’ll have to just wait and see.
Media coverage of Boomershoot
I haven’t seen the article yet but it’s supposedly out:
Idaho Magazine–Outdoor Sports: It’s a Blast, by Barbara A. Scott.
In the spirit of full disclosure–the potential exists for some bias in the article. I’ve been sleeping with the author for over 30 years now. It was a long term investment and I’m hoping it paid off.
Boomershoot 2008 is now open for entry
The next Boomershoot will be April 27, 2008. This is the earliest I have ever opened it up for entry. I opened it up a few days ago for people that had participated in Boomershoot 2007. Despite having increased the number of positions available the event is already nearly 60% full.
If you want to participate I suggest you sign up within the next week or maybe two at the latest.
The Boomershoot 2008 on-line entry form is here.
Update: The event is now (June 2nd 23:45) 61% full. Also, I just got word that “The Anvil Guy” will be back. He also had a request for comments on the anvil launches:
My name is Steve and I have had the enjoyment of firing my anvils at Boomershoot for 4 years.This year my brother Michael did the firing as I couldn’t make it…I enjoy doing it and am always trying for more altitude. I would appreciate any and all comments, serious or smart ass from those who have witnessed the firing…
If you have a comment either send it directly to him, if you have his email address, or send it to joeh@boomershoot.org and I’ll forward it on.
Boomershoot photos and videos
I found this collection of You-Tube/Google Boomershoot videos. Then Jason has his collection of videos I have previous linked to. And he has some great pictures of Boomershoot 2007 as well. I like the following best:
Ry (on the right) and I in front of his fireball creation–“If you are going to do something you might as well overdo it.“
Xenia and John seen through the smoke of the unintentional fire created during “cleanup”.
I’ve been thinking about Boomershoot a lot recently. I’ve been working on the online entry program and am about to open up entries for Boomershoot 2008.
Boomershoot 2008 status
I updated the Boomershoot 2008 web page today. I also added a page outlining some of the preparations already accomplished.
I have increased the number of shooting positions to 76 total.
The new online entry website is currently under test. If you would like to help test it let me know and I’ll send you the URL.
The date for Boomershoot 2008 has been set–April 27th. We will be accepting entries soon–probably by the end of the week. I already gave away two positions to King County Friends of the NRA. Staff and Boomershoot 2007 entrants will have first chance when it opens up. When I give the general announcement expect it to fill up within a month with the best positions filled within a couple weeks. If you think you might want to attend sign up soon then get a refund if you can’t make it.
Another Boomershoot idea?
Uhh… I don’t think so Ry.
Quote of the day–Sean Flynn
My dream is to attend Boomershoot with an energy weapon.
Sean Flynn
May 9, 2007
[This was while discussing potential changes for Boomershoot 2008 with Ry and I. This is actually close to one of my nightmares from a few years ago. The fields burst into long streams of flames from dozens of laser range finders that ignited anything they illuminated.–Joe]
I was going to ask for these
Peter showed these to me on his camera a few seconds after I pulled the trigger that initiated the explosion. All the other pictures I have seen missed a lot of the fireball because the fireball left the top of the frame so quickly. Peter captured it with this sequence. Probably 20 seconds prior Peter asked if we were too close. In response I asked, “You are wearing sunscreen, right?” As I knew from experience four gallons of gas being burned in the space of a couple seconds it was going to be very warm for the observers.
Here is my favorite of the sequence:
For scale notice the sticks, some of them on fire, some falling from the sky and others attempting to achieve orbit. Those are all 18 inches long.
That was a fireball. Not some wimpy fire spread around on the grass like some years. This was a true fireball. As Ben said, “The morning fireball was amazing. A-MAZE-ING.” Thanks Ry.
Thanks to Peter for sharing.
Thanks to David at Random Nuclear Strikes for finding Peter’s pictures.
Quote of the day–Ry Jones
I’ll work to make the event so painful and expensive that nobody returns… I’ve already put out enough ideas about how to make a 1000 yard shoot hard; we’ll see how moderate they are when Joe rejects all of them.
Remember, Joe wanted a berm to shoot from, I wanted a trench full of mud. spectators would get paintball guns to distract the shooters. Joe’s no fun!
Ry Jones
May 9, 2007
You love me! You really love me!
[He forgot to mention that after Boomershoot 2006 he also suggested the entry fee be raised to $4000. And don’t forget that at Boomershoot 2007 it was his creation of the fireball target that resulted in flaming sticks falling from the sky. I love Ry’s ideas. I just don’t always implement them as originally proposed.–Joe]
1000 yard Monday
As Ry mentioned he pitched an idea to me today. For Boomershoot 2008 he suggested two things:
- We dispose of the farce known as “cleanup” where people shoot the “leftover” targets from 25 yards away. In actuality I hold back 150 to 200 targets just so people get a chance to do that. Instead we do that in a more formal manner on a different day and give people more targets especially for that.
- We do a 1000 yard event for the few, the arrogant, those that say the existing Boomershoot is too easy. Utilizing the existing targets, four and seven inches square boxes, we separate the “men from the boys” by separating the targets from the shooters by 1000 yards. We do this on a different day and perhaps a different location. It could be called 1000 yard Monday or some such thing.
I’m interested. It could work. And as Ry pointed out, it’s in keeping with my original intent for Boomershoot. I need to find 1000 yards that can handle five or ten shooters. And I need to confirm my potential new supplier of ammonium nitrate. We’ll be making and using more HE.
Best Boomershoot video
Jason has posted some of the best Boomershoot 2007 video I have seen so far. In the opening fireball “ceremony” notice the flaming sticks falling from the sky. Ummm… that wasn’t what we planned. As software developers we should have known better than to ship product that Test hadn’t even tried to install. It was sort of, “It compiles, it links, let’s ship it.”
Boomershoot 2007 blogging
Excluding my blog, here are all the blog reports I have been able to find about Boomershoot 2007. They are in chronological order starting a few days before the actual event:
- BAG Day purchases and Range Report April 16, 2007 via Phil at Random Nuclear Strikes.
- Boomershoot Prep, Continued April 22, 2007 via David at Random Nuclear Strikes.
- RNS Quote of the Day: 04/23/07 April 23, 2007 via Phil at Random Nuclear Strikes.
- I’ll have to go one of these years April 26, 2007 via SayUncle at SayUncle.
- RNS Quote of the Day: 04/26/07 April 26, 2007 via Phil at Random Nuclear Strikes.
- Boomershoot! April 27, 2007 via Jeff Soyer at Alphecca.
- Boomershoot Weekend April 28, 2007 via Fodder at Ride Fast & Shoot Straight.
- I heart explosives April 29, 2007 via Ben at Periodic Journal of my wanderings.
- Boomershoot 2007 wrapup April 30, 2007 via Ry at Outrageous Malfunction.
- Opening fireball May 1, 2007 via Ry at Outrageous Malfunction.
- Weeee’rrre Back! May 1, 2007 via Phil at Random Nuclear Strikes
- .30 Carbine Order May 1, 2007 via Benjamin at Reasonablenut.
- Boomershoot 2007 May 1, 2007 via Ben at Periodic Journal of my wanderings.
- Anvil altitude May 2, 2007 via Ry at Outrageous Malfunction.
- It’s Almost Too Much Fun May 2, 2007 via Phil at Random Nuclear Strikes.
- RNS Quote of the Day: 05/02/2007 May 2, 2007 via Phil at Random Nuclear Strikes.
- Boomershoot Videos May 3, 2007 via Mr. Completely at Mr. Completely.
- Boomershoot Equipment AAR (At least most of it) May 3, 2007 via Phil at Random Nuclear Strikes. Includes video of the opening fireball and the anvil launch.
- Boomershoot 2007 May 3, 2007 via Ben at Periodic Journal of my wanderings. Good chronology of the event and some great pictures if you follow the link.
- Boomershoot 2007 May 4, 2007 via Ben at Periodic Journal of my wanderings. Includes some movies made from his still camera on full auto.
- More big booms May 4, 2007 via SayUncle at SayUncle.
- Boomershoot AAR (The rest of it) May 4, 2007 via Phil at Random Nuclear Strikes. I love the clean up video!
- Boomershoot 2007 May 4, 2007 via Xenia at A Celebration of Contemplation. Complete with video of her and others working and goofing off at the event.
Quote of the day–Benjamin Kaufman
The morning fireball was amazing. A-MAZE-ING.
Benjamin Kaufman
Boomershoot 2007
See also these posts by Ben about Boomershoot 2007:
http://leroy-brown242.livejournal.com/209809.html
http://leroy-brown242.livejournal.com/207943.html
http://leroy-brown242.livejournal.com/207746.html
[And yes, the morning fireball was really, really good.–Joe]