A Firearms Odyssey: Hunting for Boomers, Gunning for Prairie Rats, My Introduction to .22 BR, Tube Guns, Shooting ‘The Great White Buffalo’ and the Sporting Rifle Match (Where I Met My Match) – Part 1

 

od.ys.sey (noun)
a long series of travels and adventures

For many of you who have been reading this blog over the years, the topic of Boomershoot will be familiar, having been written about, referenced and photographed on many occasions. This is a series of six stories that comprise my own gun-related travels and adventures, all of them rooted in my first trip to Boomershoot. I will post one a day so as not to overload the readers’ retinas or Phil’s hosting server.

 

Hunting for Boomers

For me the Boomer adventure began in the fall of 2004. I was reading a firearms related blog and there was mention made of and a link to something called Boomershoot. I was immediately intrigued and wanted to learn more. I pushed the buttons on the keyboard and was transported to a website that depicted “a long range, high-power, precision rifle shooting event with high explosive, reactive targets up to 700 yards away. . . . . located in North Central Idaho near Orofino”. The pictures were enticing and I decided to sign up for the next event, to be held in April of 2005.

My home club range in Michigan maxes out at 300 yd., so I was eager to try my luck at something longer. The idea of a road trip to Idaho sounded like fun and only added to my anticipation. I loaded up a suitable supply of .308 cartridges for my Remington 700 VS using Sierra MatchKing 168’s with Reloader 15 and Federal 210M primers.

In addition to the Boomershoot event itself, there was a rifle clinic, held the day prior, conducted by a retired Army major with help from some outstanding young veterans who had returned from Iraq. I signed up for this clinic as well as the main event.

 

View from the firing linephoto by Dave RNS Photographer ©

 

The berm with trees separating the two fields is used for target placement and is 385 yd. from the firing line. The hill beyond the berm is used for hundreds of targets beginning at the base which is around 575 yd. out and continuing up to a spot near the crest at 700 yd. Targets are placed in the swale or “crease” running up the left center of the hill. There are so many targets placed on the hillside that it appears that a “river of boomers” is running down the hill.

 

photo by Dave RNS Photographer ©

 

The targets are cardboard boxes in two sizes,  4” square and 7 3/8” square. A plastic baggie containing the reactive material is inside the box. Hitting the center of the box or even lower center usually sets it off, as the baggie tends to settle somewhat inside the box. Sometimes a hit which tears off a lower corner of the box also opens up the baggie and the powder spills out onto the ground, making the target non-reactive. So to set off a small target at 700 yd.  is just over a ½ MOA shot.

The rifle clinic was helpful to all who participated, some new at long range shooting and others more experienced. The instructors were patient, informative and before long had everyone hitting targets at the 385 yd. line and beyond. I brought home a “target” which was a 1 x 2 stake of pine that the cardboard boxes are attached to with rubber bands. This one had lost its target and was standing alone at the 385 yd. berm. I had my partner/spotter, a very nice fellow from Idaho that I had paired up with in the clinic (we shot together for the remainder of the weekend), give me a wind reading. He told me to favor right, as there was a slight breeze blowing in from the west or right side. I held the crosshairs of the scope halfway between the right edge of the stake and its centerline. When Terry said “send it”, I gently squeezed the trigger and sent the 168 gr. MatchKing on its way. The result was a one shot – one hit in the stake. I was thrilled to say the least. It didn’t qualify me to start wearing a white feather, but I did feel great with the shot. I was really looking forward to the main event the next day.

 

photo by Dave RNS Photographer ©

 

Boomershoot Sunday begins with a few opening festivities such as an anvil launch .  .  .

 

photo by Dave RNS Photographer ©

 

and the fireball.  .  .  .

 

photo by Dave RNS Photographer ©

 

These are followed by a shooter’s meeting, where Joe goes over safety rules again and outlines the day’s schedule. When the horn sounds, the firing line becomes hot and everyone starts shooting at the target(s) of their choice. Some old timers go right for the small targets at the top of the hill.

At this first Boomershoot, I brought the .308 Remington, as well as a Winchester Model 70 in .223, shooting factory ammo, and one of my single-shot black powder cartridge rifles that I use in Black Powder Cartridge Rifle Silhouette matches, a Remington #3 Hepburn in .40-65.

 

photo by Dave RNS Photographer ©

 

Throughout the day, as long as the firing line is “hot”, shooters are firing away at whatever targets they select in their sights. It’s really a sight to behold and hear as multiple boomers are sounding off and smoke fills the scene. A cease fire is called for a lunch break. More targets are placed in the killing zone and the fun resumes. When Sunday afternoon winds down, a cease fire is called and the “crew” gathers undetonated targets from the hill and places them (along with fresh ones) on the 385 yd. berm. Then a group of participants who have paid an additional fee can join in an activity that was originally called “Clean-up”.  Joe and his crew take the folks down to the berm at the tree line and from about 15-20 yd. shooters blast away at the targets. Dirt is flying, smoke is everywhere and sometimes small ground fires are sparked off (and quickly put out), but all is fun and conducted in a safe manner.  This now called the “High Intensity Event” and takes place on Friday and Saturday after the end of the clinic sessions.  I took this next picture at the 2007 Clean-up session from back at the main firing line.

 

photo by Dave RNS Photographer ©

 

Come Monday, it’s all over and time to head home. It always generates a mixed feeling to leave this beautiful part of the country where the Clearwater River runs. If you’ve never driven Highway 12 from Lolo, MT (just south of Missoula) up over Lolo Pass and down along the Lochsa River which becomes the Clearwater, and on to Orofino, you should make an effort to treat yourself to beautiful Idaho scenery and a fun driving road.

 

photo by Dave RNS Photographer ©

 

Since that first year in 2005, I have made Boomershoot a yearly pilgrimage, as it has become, for me, a special trip to a special place. I’ve returned each year since that first one in 2005 except for 2006 when a family matter prevented my attending. I’ve met some very fine folks along the way. David, who hails from central California, likes to use handguns chambered in rifle cartridge calibers to hunt boomers .  .  .  .

 

photo by Dave RNS Photographer ©

 

.  .  .  and Phil, who hails from Washington state and happens to run this blog.

 

photo by David Whitewolf on his iPhone

 

I can’t talk about the Idaho and Boomershoot experience and not mention Kenda and Bob Tribble.  They ran the bed and breakfast in Orofino where David, Phil and I first met up when we lodged there during Boomershoot 2007. This particular Boomershoot was special to me because I had my son along with me. The four of us had a great time staying up late jawboning about the world and other topics, smaller in scale.

 

Bob and Kendaphoto by Dave RNS Photographer ©

 

Although they are no longer in the B & B business, we have all become good friends and look forward to seeing them when Boomershoot rolls around.

 

photo by Dave RNS Photographer ©

 

The RNS Crew with Bob T. and Rowdy in 2007photo by Dave RNS Photographer ©

 

Since 2007, Phil, David and I have reserved and used adjoining shooting positions each year. After David’s gazebo tent of had a difficult time with the breezes in 2007, we’ve shared a robust portable garage canopy that Phil first brought in 2008. It spans about 2 1/2 shooting positions with plenty of room for our shooting benches, including David’s doublewide.  We affectionately call it ‘The Boomeragio”. In 2010, Phil upgraded the “facility” with a nice comfy couch. What a concept! A couch on the firing line. It was a nice touch when one wanted to sit and relax.

 

photo by Dave RNS Photographer ©

 

During a cease fire period in 2010 we brainstormed about what might be brought in 2011 to further upgrade the “Boomeragio”. Fountains and grilles were discussed. True to form, this past April Phil upgraded the firing line hotel again with a loveseat that allowed both positions to recline.

 

photo by Dave RNS Photographer ©

 

He also brought a propane gas grill which he had obtained for free on Craigslist, and David graciously brought the fixin’s and utensils. The kitchen was set up next to the canopy in the unused portion of one of our shooting positions.

 

photo by David Whitewolf on his iPhone

 

Joe, the Boomershoot organizer, holds a banquet dinner the night before Boomershoot for those participants who sign up. At this dinner a ticket raffle is held where participants try and win many desirable items donated by local merchants, shooting related manufacturers, retailers and participants themselves. Proceeds from this raffle are donated to a wonderful volunteer organization, Soldiers’ Angels, which provides many types and levels of comfort to our soldiers in the field and those who have returned home. Soldiers’ Angels has helped a relative of Joe’s and his wife, so they are very grateful and choose to support this outstanding organization.

In 2009 I was fortunate enough to win a new Hart gun barrel blank donated by a gunsmith. This barrel was in .22 caliber with a 14” twist. I’d never had a custom gun built before, so this was to be one more new chapter in my firearms odyssey.  More on this later.

 

Next:      Part 2             Gunning for Prairie Rats