In some ways the camera motion in this picture adds to the realism of the event:

There were 50 to 75 people shooting at 150 or so high explosive targets from 25 yards away. The rapid detonations at such close range gave my chest a real pounding.

It was all over within a minute or two. But then there was the fire…

Notice the burning flare just right of center in the picture above? That was one of four used to ignite the gasoline from the fireball targets.

The fire required two fire extinguishers and several gallons of water to extinguish. Even though there was no smoke or detectable hot spots two hours later I wasn’t satisfied and persuaded my brother Doug to bring out the water truck and we put another 100 to 200 gallons of water on the stump and ashes. We turned the area into a muddy, ugly, soup.

Boomershoot 2007 cleanup–It was work for me but it was fun for others.

All photos are from Xenia Joy.

I got lots of praise for Boomershoot 2007. The emails are still coming in. I also received lots of compliments received during the event. Even daughter Xenia had people come up to her and thank her for putting on the event.

It went really well. I had some great help. Scott arrived on Thursday before I did and stayed almost as long as I did on Sunday night. Tim, Ben, Sean, Rolf, Jason, Ry, Xenia, Kim, Caleb, and John also put in lots of hours to make the event great. My brothers and my parents both contributed to making the event a success too. Then there were the groupies that helped–Barb and Jennifer. They want jackets with the dates of all the events they attended.

Kim and Caleb made nearly all of the 1300 to 1400 pounds of Boomerite we used. And it was done in record time. This was in part because of what great workers they are but also because Kim came up with a great innovation in the manufacturing process. I thought I had it all optimized and was feeling pretty clever when I showed Kim how to prepare the Potassium Chlorate. About 15 minutes later she said, “Hey Dad! Watch this.” Wow! I’m sure she doubled production with that little twist on things.

The fireball target that Ry built was wonderful. I just love the way that ball of fire rises up into the sky with clear air underneath it.

Gene and his crew put on the Precision Rifle Clinic and several people came up to me and told me how much they learned from taking the class and what a great value it was. One guy drove up from Arizona–mostly for the class which would have cost more to take closer to home. Which is kind of ironic because one of the instructors also drove from Arizona.

We did have a fire get a little out of control at the end of the day. No harm done. It burned an old stump and some dead branches that needed to be cleaned up anyway. We used up two fire extinguishers to put it out. Then used several gallons of water to quench the hot coals. I wasn’t entirely comfortable with the end result even though I couldn’t find any hot spots or smell smoke a couple hours later. I convinced my brother Doug to bring over the water truck and we put another 100 to 200 gallons of water on the burned area and turned the ashes, sticks, and dirt into a thin ugly soup.

About 900 targets were consumed in the three days. Over 700 of those were on Sunday.

And it is my claim I had the best shooting record of anyone there. I fired four shots, connecting with four boomers, using an AR-15 carbine with Wolf ammo, iron sights, and from a kneeling position.

Of course all my boomers were less than 25 yards away. Most everyone else had to shoot the majority of theirs from at least 375 yards away.

I expect I’ll open up entry for Boomershoot 2008 by the end of the month. Prices will remain the same as 2007. The date will be a weekend near the end of April or the first of May. Expect it to fill up sometime in June or July of 2007.

I’m back in Idaho early. Tomorrow I go on site and begin preparing. The weather forecast is great. The toilets are already on site. The helpers have all confirmed (with one in Orofino already).

It’s going to be a great event. Spectators are welcome.

Directions are here.

I finished the Boomershoot 2006 history (at 24+ MBytes it’s not for dial-up) video and started burning CD’s last night. Other than the video there’s not much new from last years CDROM.

I had new signs made for Boomershoot this year. The old ones were hand printed and since it was my printing it was horrid. The new ones are functional and professional.

With the creation of reserved shooting positions we now have the need for markings of each of the individual positions. Ry came up with the idea of how to do it. The sign company wanted $1400 for them. That being OUT OF THE QUESTION I had them sell me the plastic cut to size which cost $50. I then convinced Xenia to apply the $40 worth of vinyl numbers for just $20. $110 versus $1400. The results are good enough for who they are for:

Boomershoot 2007 stuff. There are even mugs, posters, bibs, thongs, and boxer shorts. All with this awesome image (edited by Xenia Joy):

Where the Clearwater River wanders through the hillsides, you’ll find Joe Huffman planting his father’s fields with a thousand pounds of explosives.

Kim Griffis
KING 5 Evening Magazine (complete with video)
[What timing! I made room for 12 more teams last night then tonight they showed the video again. I then got a phone call and four emails. It was originally made at Boomershoot 2005. They keep replaying it and have a different voice over than the original. I pretty sure Kim Griffis wrote the original script and I know she narrated it. Now they have someone else narrating with at least one very minor tweak to the script.–Joe]

I have rearranged some of the .50 caliber shooters and have created 15 new .30 cal (or smaller caliber if you want) positions at the west end of the .50 caliber ghetto. From these positions you will be able to shoot at some of the 380 yard targets as well as all of the 575 and beyond targets.

If you want one of the positions send me an email with your phone number, your name, and the names of up to two other people. These additional people must be designated as either spotters (no charge) or shooters.  I will respond within a day or two with your shooting position number (8A->11C are currently available) and how to pay for the position.

These are available on a first come first serve basis.

If you have any questions don’t hesitate to give me a call or send an email.

Voice: 208-301-4254
Email: joeh@boomershoot.org

Yesterday I went to a local store to pick up the 800 surveyors stakes used to mount the targets and some powdered lime used for neutralizing acid in the soil. The acid in the soil causes the lead bullet to leach into the ground and water. I wandered around looking for the lime and finally asked. The guy found two broken bags spilling their contents in a back corner. He checked inventory in the computer and found a quantity of zero. I asked about the next shipment and was told I would have to talk to someone “up front”. As we walked into the main store he said I might be able to get the two broken bags cheap if I asked the guy up front. He introduced me and I explained the situation with the two broken bags. Instead of the usual $8 something a bag he offered me them for $2.00. I agreed if they could put them in a garbage bag or something so the contents wouldn’t spill. He agreed and asked if I needed anything else.

I told him I needed 800 surveyors stakes. He asked, “What are you going to do with that many stakes? You’re not surveying for a house.” I paused as I internally debated telling him it was for explosives or for a big vampire hunt. He said, “Maybe we don’t want to know…” I agreed, “Maybe not.” As he wrote up the ticket I pointed to the BOOMERSHOOT label on my jacket and told him, “I put on a shooting event called Boomershoot every year. We make explosives, put them in cardboard boxes, and put on the stakes. Then people from all over the country show up to shoot at them.” He stopped typing. “Really! I was a 8541 in the Marines. Where is this at?” I told him near Cavendish and he knew where it was at and said he would have to check it out. He started type again told me, “I’m going to give you those broken bags for free because I like you already.” He talked about the scopes he used in the military and asked what sort of guns people bring to Boomershoot. I told him lots of things up to and including .50 BMG. We talked about match ammo and the size and range of the targets. As he finished typing he told me, “I’m giving you a discount on the stakes too… unless you have a problem with that.” I told him the event was full but it’s fun to watch and we get spectators that drive from Seattle each year. He said he would definitely check it out and asked if there was a website. I gave him Boomershoot.org and a buddy and he were checking it out as I left to load up the stakes and lime.

I looked at the receipt later and realized I got the stakes for half the normal price.