It’s only still pictures updated once a minute but you can see what’s happening at Boomershoot today on this web page: http://www.boomershoot.org/Live.htm.
Category Archives: Boomershoot
Boomershoot 2018 prep is going well
Today was the official first day of onsite prep for Boomershoot 2018. But we left home yesterday with a full load in my vehicle:
We arrived on site late yesterday afternoon and quickly established that the fields are muddy:
That was just the first field. It got much worse after that.
All the shooting positions were dry after we removed a few positions which were unoccupied. So that isn’t going to be a concern. The weather forecast is looking really good and everything is going according to schedule.
All the Boomershoot direction signs are up now:
We put a new canopy outside our target production facility which is awesome:
Tomorrow we begin target production.
It’s going to be a blast!
Trail of Tears
Boomershoot. There is still time (entry closes TONIGHT at midnight). Sign up here: https://entry.boomershoot.org/
Brian Keith provides motivation:
We like to pretend that genocide is something other people do- the Nazis, or the Tutsis, or the Soviets, or the Chinese Communists.
We Americans practice genocide too.
And just like those other people, we make sure our victims are disarmed before we butcher them.
The Cherokee, Muscogee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, and Seminole did not have the means to fight back against the genocidal United States.
So they died by the thousands.
Genocide isn’t something only “they” do. It’s something we do too.
Be ready.
This far
Boomershoot. There is still time (entry closes at midnight Wednesday April 18th). Sign up here: https://entry.boomershoot.org/
Brian Keith provides motivation:
Governments love to commit genocide.
Here’s over 25 genocides with enough dead to be recorded. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_genocides_by_death_toll)
Genocide is NORMAL.
What’s not normal is fighting back with adequate weapons.
Anyone will fight back with a chair or a garden hoe when they come for your family.
But as Americans we have the rare birthright of fighting back with a level of firepower never before possessed in civilian hands.
Don’t wait for things to get bad before you get serious about demonstrating your skill.
Instead let your would-be rulers know that you can hit a pizza box at half a mile with a first round shot.
Attend Boomershoot.
Take responsibility
Boomershoot. There is still time (entry closes at midnight Wednesday April 18th). Sign up here: https://entry.boomershoot.org/
Brian Keith provides motivation:
Let’s stop pretending we are better than the Brits.
We laugh at their knife crime epidemic and their fear of guns.
We laugh at how we had to ship guns to them so they could fight back against the Nazis.
Instead of viewing them as an aberration, view Britain as normal.
When no one stands up for freedom, when no one is willing to take risks to pass on knowledge of resistance to tyranny, that fighting spirit withers.
The spirit of freedom shrinks.
And one day you wake up to find yourself watching a march go by your window of people who support the cops killing you because you carry a knife.
Stop assuming it can’t happen here.
Take your friends to Boomershoot to keep the spirit of freedom kicking.
Stop kneeling
Boomershoot. There is still time (entry closes at midnight Wednesday April 18th). Sign up here: https://entry.boomershoot.org/
Brian Keith provides motivation:
Doing what the authorities tell you to do is always easier in the short run.
But in the long term it can be devastating.
You could ask these people how following the rules worked for them, but they chose to kneel and do as they were told.
And now they are dead.
These are the stakes.
Attend Boomershoot. It’s not illegal (yet!), and you know your would-be masters would rather you not.
Stop kneeling.
No one is coming to save you
Boomershoot. There is still time (entry closes at midnight Wednesday April 18th). Sign up here: https://entry.boomershoot.org/
Brian Keith provides motivation:
We have this myth of the Militia, of the Patriot, of the 3% who will fight back against an evil government.
But the reality is that many states already outlaw normal handguns and rifles, and we’ve not seen any organized resistance.
And when the government gets really violent and goes beyond passing laws into burning children, still the ‘militia’ is nowhere to be seen.
Don’t count on other people to save you. Count on your closest friends and family.
Bring them to Boomershoot so they can experience the sheer joy of hitting a 7″ target at almost half a mile away.
Don’t practice wishful thinking. Practice fighting back instead.
Invite your friends
Boomershoot. There is still time (entry closes at midnight Wednesday April 18th). Sign up here: https://entry.boomershoot.org/
Brian Keith provides motivation:
Universal laws:
1. After a genocide, everyone says “Never again!”
2. Governments keep on committing genocide.
3. Armed populations NEVER suffer genocide.
4. Governments always disarm populations before genocide.Talk is cheap.
Thankfully so is ammunition and gas.
Talk less about how bad genocide is and invite your friends and family to Boomershoot instead.
You can’t stop genocide. But you can stop it happening to you.
Boomershoot 2018 shirts/caps/mugs/etc.
Boomershoot 2018 is three weeks away. I just finished the design for the shirts, caps, mugs, maternity clothes, thongs, baby bibs, etc. for this event:
You can get your own items from the Boomershoot 2018 CafePress store.
If can also get generic Boomershoot logo items.
There are still positions open for all the events. Don’t miss this amazing event. Sign up here.
Don’t forget that this is the last call for the Boomershoot Precision Rifle Clinic. And the last day to sign up for the PRC is March 31st. So to get into the clinic you must sign up today or tomorrow. Do it now!
Heavy vampire infestation
It’s that time of season again—time to go buy surveyors stakes for Boomershoot (see also Vampire season again and Vampire time of year again).
So, after dinner last night we drove over to Lowe’s and bought the stakes. And this time we also bought some lime at the same time to put on the target berm to stabilize all the lead we put into the ground there:
With the addition of the lime I had an additional line of thought for responding to the anticipated question question from the checkout clerk. Once the vampires are dead we need to get rid of the bodies, right? Lime will help with that.
The clerk didn’t quite bite. “Big project?”, she asked. I wanted a bigger invite than that and just said, “You could say that.” Barb thought it was sufficient and offered, “He usually says, ‘It’s for the vampires.’”. So, I ran with it, “Yes, we have a very heavy infestation of vampires this year and the lime is to dispose of the bodies.” The clerk smiled and murmured something in agreement with the plan. Little did she know the real plan is almost as unbelievable.
Last call for Boomershoot Precision Rifle Clinic
The Boomershoot Precision Rifle Clinic put on by Eugene Econ and his staff has been a part of Boomershoot since 1999. Yesterday I received an email from Eugene stating that this will be his last year. It’s possible someone else will pick up the “baton” but that is unknown at this time. This may be your last chance to get some outstanding instruction for an incredible price with the opportunity to follow it up with practicing your newly acquired skills with hundreds of highly reactive targets the very next day.
You need to make your decision soon because Eugene also asked that Precision Rifle Clinic registration be cutoff on April 1 this year. This is due to the logistics of getting enough staff for the clinic participants.
Sign up NOW for Boomershoot 2018 and the Precision Rifle Clinic.
Also, of possible interest to previous participants is, the “gravel” driveway has been refurbished. You can now easily drive your low clearance vehicle all the way in without fear of banging up the underside or the need of a snorkel to get through the mud holes. See the before and after pictures to get a sense of the improvement.
What is Boomershoot? Boomershoot is a long range, high-power, precision rifle shooting event with high explosive, reactive targets up to 700 yards away.
Boomershoot 2018 slot up for auction
Boomershoot 2018 is coming up fast (the weekend of April 21st and 22nd). There are still a number of great positions available.
And there is a very special position available via auction here. This position was donated by Boomershoot to Hamlin Robinson school for them to auction for fundraising. Additional details are at the link above and here:
1) Hamlin Robinson is a Seattle-based K-8 specialty school for kids with dyslexia and language development issues.
2) The package is just for the main Boomershoot day, but it is ideal for newbies or long distance travelers, as the package includes assistance and spotting from Ryan and I, even loaning bolt rifles if we have to.
3) If the winners sign up for events/training on Friday and Saturday, Ryan and I will still assist and lend equipment.
4) I have extra reservations at the Helgeson so the auction winners don’t need to worry about finding accommodation.
Attend Boomershoot, get free coaching and loaner equipment and help a worthy cause at the same time. It’s a win for everyone.
Quote of the day—Jeff Cooper
Personal weapons are what raised mankind out of the mud, and the rifle is the queen of personal weapons. The possession of a good rifle, as well as the skill to use it well, truly makes a man the monarch of all he surveys. It realizes the ancient dream of the Jovian thunderbolt, and as such it is the embodiment of personal power. For this reason it exercises a curious influence over the minds of most men, and in its best examples it constitutes an object of affection unmatched by any other inanimate object.
Jeff Cooper
1997
The Art of the Rifle Page 1.
[A “monarch of all he surveys” must cause a tremendous amount of anger in the authoritarian and collectivist. The possession of, and skill to use, a rifle makes an individual something much more than a peasant to be controlled. It gives them an opportunity to protect themselves, their loved ones, their property, and to have a say in their own destiny. This is part of Why Boomershoot.
Furthermore, the existence of Boomershoot gives people justification to acquire a rifle and skills to realize “the ancient dream of the Jovian thunderbolt”.—Joe]
Rifle for sale
I’m not looking for a rifle like this, but maybe someone else is. Boomershoot is coming up very soon!
From Richard:
I have been following your blog, The View from North Central Idaho for some time. Getting to Boomershoot is definitely on my bucket list!
I wanted to make you aware of an interesting rifle being sold by a friend of mine.
For Sale from original user:
Accuracy International Sniper Rifle in .308
Field tested in the sandbox
Includes original logbook with photos of test results. Must sign a non-disclosure to receive the logbook.
Certificate of Authenticity from Craft International.
Asking $12,000.00The user convinced AI to buyback the rifle from his unit and then sell it to him.
Please contact me if you or anyone you know has a serious interest.
If you are interested send me an email and I’ll forward it on.
Detonating Boomerite with a pistol
We have long known that Boomerite detonates at lower velocities if the bullet has a flatter tip. But we have never had reliable detonation with a pistol. As I reported a few days ago I made up some 145 grain loads for my .40 S&W gun. I bought the bullets 10 to 15 years ago just for this but I it wasn’t until now that I finally got around to loading them for Boomerite testing. With a near maximum load I get just over 1400 fps at the muzzle. The truncated cone bullets have a pretty wide flat area:
I visited Boomershoot last weekend and among other things I mixed up a batch of Boomerite and tested the hot 145 grain loads. With the weather being a little cold, 34 F, I expected I would have to be pretty close to get detonation. And maybe I wouldn’t be able to get detonation at any safe distance. I put on my flak jacket, eye protection, ear protection, and got back 15 yards. This should be a target velocity of about 1330 fps. I squeezed off a shot—BOOM! Okay, that worked.
How about 25 yards? That would result in about 1280 fps at the target. Another squeeze yielded another earth shaking boom from a seven inch target. Okay then. It’s good enough.
This means I can use my handgun for Boomershoot cleanup if I want to.
Boomershoot Contrails
This morning the conditions were excellent for the formation of contrails over Boomershoot country. From Boomershoot Live:
Click on the pictures to get higher resolution images.
Rounds in the last month & yearly report
This month I finished reloading all the .45 ACP bullets I had—1507 of them.
In .40 S&W I reloaded 502 rounds of 180 grain TCFM (I presume this means Truncated Cone Full Metal jacket) Zero Bullets. These are a little cheaper than the Montana Gold bullets I usually use and I decided to try them. They seem accurate enough and reloaded just fine, but until I had one in my hand I forgot one of the reasons I was using the JHP Montana Gold bullets. The JHP’s do not have exposed lead in the base which means there is less lead put into the air when I’m shooting.
Also in .40 S&W, I reloaded 270 rounds of truncated cone, 145 grain, Master Blaster (the company went out of business years ago but I still have the sample I purchased from probably 10 or 15 years ago) polymer coated lead bullets. These are hot loads with a muzzle velocity of nearly 1390 fps. The intent is to be able to detonate Boomershoot targets from my handgun. I’ll have to be close, perhaps as close as 15 yards, but I think they might work.
I reloaded 296 rounds of .223 Remington. These were all SS109 bullets. Last year, among other things I did in preparation for a Clinton presidency, I purchased a large number of these bullets. They are taking up space on my shelf of bullets and I had many pounds of powder for them on another shelf. It’s time to reduce my inventory of components. I expect the next few months will be spent reloading .223.
Combined that is 2,575 rounds I reloaded in the last month.
2017 was a very good year in terms of reloading. I reloaded over 23,000 rounds. Nearly 21,000 rounds were in .40 S&W.
My life history of hand reloading ammunition by caliber, month, and year:
| 223 Remington | Rounds | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 1998 | 160 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 140 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1999 | 1777 | 0 | 0 | 181 | 578 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 140 | 653 | 200 |
| 2000 | 43 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2001 | 47 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 47 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2016 | 397 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 140 | 257 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | 296 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 296 |
| Total | 2720 | ||||||||||||
| 30.06 | Rounds | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 1997 | 180 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 20 | 79 | 41 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 | 150 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 80 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 0 | 30 |
| 1999 | 90 | 20 | 70 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2003 | 47 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 0 |
| 2016 | 76 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 76 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | 213 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 65 | 148 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 756 | ||||||||||||
| 300WIN | Rounds | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 1999 | 250 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 151 | 60 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 0 | 0 |
| 2000 | 460 | 50 | 120 | 142 | 0 | 57 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 60 | 11 |
| 2001 | 382 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 185 | 15 | 20 | 0 | 73 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 64 |
| 2013 | 499 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 399 |
| Total | 1591 | ||||||||||||
| 40SW | Rounds | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 1997 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 |
| 1998 | 11537 | 570 | 258 | 718 | 1850 | 1812 | 1710 | 402 | 0 | 0 | 1200 | 900 | 2117 |
| 1999 | 2795 | 0 | 894 | 0 | 299 | 693 | 506 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 403 |
| 2000 | 3187 | 795 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1095 | 400 | 396 | 0 | 501 | 0 | 0 |
| 2001 | 2295 | 0 | 300 | 497 | 300 | 0 | 0 | 1198 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2002 | 898 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 198 | 0 | 200 | 300 | 0 | 200 |
| 2003 | 602 | 0 | 300 | 302 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2004 | 1345 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 300 | 600 | 445 | 0 |
| 2005 | 1059 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 659 | 400 | 0 | 0 |
| 2006 | 1000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 400 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 200 | 400 | 0 |
| 2007 | 1136 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 118 | 518 | 300 | 200 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 | 2398 | 0 | 300 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 900 | 399 | 0 | 200 | 0 | 599 |
| 2009 | 1702 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 102 | 300 | 900 | 400 |
| 2010 | 1400 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 200 | 700 | 0 | 200 | 0 | 200 | 0 |
| 2011 | 2300 | 300 | 0 | 400 | 100 | 0 | 500 | 500 | 200 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 300 |
| 2012 | 399 | 0 | 200 | 0 | 199 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | 530 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 530 |
| 2015 | 7012 | 1699 | 1630 | 1137 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 547 | 200 | 400 | 100 | 200 | 1099 |
| 2016 | 17792 | 2197 | 700 | 1462 | 837 | 1899 | 1999 | 1000 | 1500 | 1000 | 1700 | 1500 | 1998 |
| 2017 | 20840 | 3300 | 975 | 525 | 200 | 1899 | 3700 | 2048 | 2644 | 2063 | 1015 | 1699 | 772 |
| Total | 80258 | ||||||||||||
| 45ACP | Rounds | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 2017 | 2007 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 500 | 1507 |
| Total | 2007 | ||||||||||||
| 9MM | Rounds | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 1996 | 11274 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10944 | 141 | 189 |
| 1997 | 7374 | 300 | 0 | 0 | 1190 | 640 | 65 | 0 | 100 | 1088 | 804 | 1060 | 2127 |
| 2015 | 2993 | 0 | 1066 | 1927 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 21641 | ||||||||||||
| Yearly and Monthly Totals |
|||||||||||||
| Year | Rounds | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 1996 | 11274 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10944 | 141 | 189 |
| 1997 | 7585 | 300 | 0 | 40 | 1210 | 719 | 106 | 0 | 100 | 1088 | 804 | 1060 | 2158 |
| 1998 | 11847 | 570 | 258 | 718 | 1930 | 1812 | 1710 | 542 | 20 | 0 | 1240 | 900 | 2147 |
| 1999 | 4912 | 20 | 964 | 181 | 877 | 718 | 657 | 60 | 0 | 0 | 179 | 653 | 603 |
| 2000 | 3690 | 845 | 120 | 142 | 0 | 57 | 1095 | 400 | 396 | 43 | 521 | 60 | 11 |
| 2001 | 2724 | 25 | 300 | 497 | 532 | 15 | 20 | 1198 | 73 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 64 |
| 2002 | 898 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 198 | 0 | 200 | 300 | 0 | 200 |
| 2003 | 649 | 0 | 300 | 302 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 0 |
| 2004 | 1345 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 300 | 600 | 445 | 0 |
| 2005 | 1059 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 659 | 400 | 0 | 0 |
| 2006 | 1000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 400 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 200 | 400 | 0 |
| 2007 | 1136 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 118 | 518 | 300 | 200 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 | 2398 | 0 | 300 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 900 | 399 | 0 | 200 | 0 | 599 |
| 2009 | 1702 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 102 | 300 | 900 | 400 |
| 2010 | 1400 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 200 | 700 | 0 | 200 | 0 | 200 | 0 |
| 2011 | 2300 | 300 | 0 | 400 | 100 | 0 | 500 | 500 | 200 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 300 |
| 2012 | 399 | 0 | 200 | 0 | 199 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2013 | 499 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 399 |
| 2014 | 530 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 530 |
| 2015 | 10005 | 1699 | 2696 | 3064 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 547 | 200 | 400 | 100 | 200 | 1099 |
| 2016 | 18265 | 2197 | 700 | 1462 | 837 | 1899 | 1999 | 1000 | 1500 | 1216 | 1957 | 1500 | 1998 |
| 2017 | 23356 | 3300 | 975 | 525 | 200 | 1899 | 3700 | 2113 | 2792 | 2063 | 1015 | 2199 | 2575 |
| Grand Totals | 108973 | 9256 | 6813 | 7331 | 5903 | 7619 | 9987 | 8276 | 6198 | 6571 | 18960 | 8787 | 13272 |
Because the case preparation required to reload for rifles takes more time than pistol I doubt I will produce nearly as many rounds in 2018 as I did in 2017. But still, it should be enough to give the anti-gun people severe stomach cramps and/or high blood pressure.
Boomershoot Winter Wonderland
Last week I posted some pictures of Kim’s and my adventure at Boomershoot earlier this month. I also posted a link to Kim’s video of our drive from the Boomershoot Taj Mahal to the tree line. Here is the dash cam video of the same drive:
I love the trees loaded down with snow and the dark ominous clouds.
Boomershoot Christmas presents
Daughter Kim and her husband Jacob gave Barb and I Boomershoot Christmas presents!
Customized range officer vests:
From Daughter Xenia and her husband John gave me a rear shooting rest bag:
From Barb’s daughter Maddy I got an earmuff and hearing protection carry bag:
It’s protection for my ear protection.
Among other things Santa put 200 rounds of ammunition in Barb’s stocking (it’s a good thing it is a sturdy stocking!). She says, “It’s the good stuff!”
It’s going to be a white Boomershoot Christmas
When Kim and I were at the Boomershoot site last week there was some snow on the ground and occasionally in the air. We plowed some snow with my vehicle as we wandered around doing various things. We replaced the battery for the solar powered lights at the Taj Mahal, inspected the repaired driveway into the shooting area, removed snow blocking the weather station aerometer, removed snow from solar panels, and removed one of the webcams for the Boomershoot Live web page. The road webcam was just mounted temporarily with wire and I don’t think I have enough solar input to handle two webcams during the middle of winter. I removed the road cam until next spring and will have a permanent mount made by then.
Pictures below the fold.