Well gents I am proud to announce the first of what I hope will become a popular annual event up here in gods country. We are calling it the "Big Bore Safari Challenge". It will be held at the Lincoln County shooting sports complex in Libby, Montana (we border Idaho and Canada). We have come up with some fun and challenging events with a number of life size moving targets. I have tried to set the various stages so that they will not favor any particular style of rifle or sight system. I will be posting pictures of our targets and the course of fire shortly. So if you are interested in a FUN yet challenging shoot please mark your calendars for Sunday 08-21-11. We will shoot from 8am to noon.

P.S. Come a day early and enjoy the Igniters classic car show which will take over downtown on Saturday.

P.S.S. Thanks (I think) to Dan416 for the inspiration to organize this shoot.

Here are couple of the targets that will be charging the shooters on 08-21-11.

The course of fire and rules........

Big Bore Safari Challenge Libby, Montana Sunday August 21, 2011 8am-Noon

The Event: This is a family oriented FUN shoot at life size targets. It is designed to simulate events encountered on an African safari. Targets will be scored and times will be announced, but since there are no valuable prizes, you will be shooting purely for the glory of sport and not much else! Participants will be expected to cheerfully help with reset of targets, powering the moving targets and any other menial labor that may be necessary for the greater good. The event is free but a donation of $10 to cover equipment and targets would be greatly appreciated! We may have grilled burgers and dogs available for lunch.

The Guns: This is a big bore, dangerous game rifle shoot. Essentially .375 caliber or larger, single shot, bolt or double rifles. If you have a lever gun that shoots .45 caliber bullets over 400 grains then you are welcome to bring it. Double barrel 10/12/20 gauge guns firing single lead balls or slugs will also be allowed. If you have a serious big game hand cannon you can shoot too. This is all about fun and practice so bring what you have and let’s shoot! You will need about 25rds. NO LIGHT RELOADS!

The Rules: All guns will be placed on the shooting bench with actions open. When it is your turn to shoot, you will be directed to get your rifle by the range master. SAFETY AND MUZZLE CONTROL ARE NON-NEGOTIABLE! The start position is low ready with a round in the chamber and the safety on, unless otherwise directed by range staff. A range master “PH” will stay beside you at all times while on the course. There will only be two rounds of ammunition allowed in your rifle when starting the stage, extra rounds must be loaded from the belt, pocket etc. We reserve the right to change the course of fire based on our disposition, your disposition, untimely demise of the targets, comments from the peanut gallery, weather, or whatever other factors may be present. All distances are approximate and subject to change due to apparent degree of difficulty or ease.

The Course of fire:

1 “Sight in at camp”, Standing on your hind legs, fire 2 shots on paper target at 40 yards, reload, fire 1 more shot.

2 “Camp meat” Standing , shoot 2 one gallon water jug “guineas” on ground at 25 and 30 yards for dinner.

3 “Crossing Buffalo” Standing, fire 2 shots at 25 yard moving buff, move forward 5 yards, reload 1 round then fire a “finisher” into the water jug “ buffalo heart” on ground at 20 yards.

4. “Poachers” Fire two shots at poachers (balloon heads on 5’ pvc pipe stands) at 20 and 30 yards, move forward 5 yards to the land rover (table), reload, kneel to take cover and fire 1 round at third poacher at 50 yards, can use table as rest.

5 “Charging Lion” From 25yds, on the whistle, Lion starts and shooter takes a knee, 2 rounds to chest target.

6 “Sleeping Crocodile” 1 or 2 shots at a ten foot “croc” with water jug brain, 100yards, we provide shooting sticks.

7 “Charging Buffalo” On the whistle, 25 yard buffalo starts toward shooter, 2 rounds to chest target.

8 “Baboons in Camp, shoot quick” Two “babloons” on short pvc pipe at 20yds, 2 more at 25yds, fire 2rds, reload, fire 2 rds.

9 “Save the PH” With empty rifle ,walk/jog/run forward 20 yards, load 2 rounds and fire at the 5 yard buffalo stomping the PH.

10 “Pandemonium” 1rd at 25 yard crossing buff, 1rd at charging buff(started from 30yds on your 1st shot), reload, fire 1 more round at still charging buff.

Life size moving targets will be powered by volunteer human beings pulling a rope at a brisk walk.

The Location: Libby Shooting Sports Complex on Farm to Market Rd. across from Libby International Airport. Time: 8am-Noon.

After the shoot is concluded we invite family and friends (responsible children?) to try some of the different stages with their non-safari rifles. This will continue until we run out of ammo, destroy all of the targets, become physically exhausted, or simply get thrown off the range due to darkness!

Please call Jay at 406-293-4451 to RSVP or request more information.

You can also email your RSVP to jcs271@yahoo.com

That sounds like a real hoot. Will check my calendar.

Oooooooooooh, Baby!!

Sounds like something I need to log onto. Don't forget to post that stogie burners like me can dance across the border and buy Cuban Cigars!!

thanks for the heads up,

Rich

There is nothing more fun than attending a big bore shoot.

If you are FOR SURE coming, would you please make a post here so i can keep track of my need for supplies. Thanks, Jay

P.S. If possible please bring 5 one gallon milk/water jugs. I am currently over-hydrated and will never be able to keep up!


.

Count me in!

Jay,
Sounds Cool! Great course of fire. We will get a contingent from down here to participate.

Thanks for the info on 450N dies. Milan is now set up with his Sabatti. I haven't got to shoot it yet but it is on the schedule for next week.

I will be there, a day early. Can you book me for the car show with my Jaguar XK-8 convertible too...?

thanks,

Rich

I can't make it, but it sounds like fun!

Why so may reloads my 416 holds 4 rounds.

Are we trying to gives thoses with the cheap doubles a fair chance

Too bad I have plans to be in your great state the last 2 weeks of July. Sounds like good fun

quote:

Originally posted by p dog shooter:
Why so may reloads my 416 holds 4 rounds.

Are we trying to gives thoses with the cheap doubles a fair chance

Nah, nothing that sinister. I just get perverse pleasure at watching people in distress try to reload their guns on the move.

I now have most of the targets complete, so here is a small preview. They are 3/4 to full size. These are all "first generation" so I had to adjust the aiming point on a few due to the need to protect my supports on the carts. Future versions will be more anatomically correct and more fully hide the cart. These are all put together with mostly scraps and wheels that I pillaged from lawnmowers at the dump this spring. They roll straight and are quite stout so I think they will work great. My final test will be to hook them all together like a train and then pull them down our dirt road with my 4 wheeler. Of course my croc "jughead" just sort of lays there.

P.S. The lion was made from a piece of six year old plywood that I found off all by itself away from the other plywood.

Cool targets looks like lots of fun

I'll try to get some shooters from here to come up an shoot with you guys. nice looking targets by the way!

Bump, its getting closer!

Bump, Gettin closer!

I would like to make a few comments about Libby Montana.

The wife and I have hunted Grouse and Black Bear out of Libby 10 times.

We would get there a week or so early to hunt Grouse, and then hunt Black Bear on a backpack trip.

The people of Libby, from the Motel operators, to the sporting goods store operaters, to the grocery store workers, to the resturant workers, etc. were ALL very nice, and very good people. This also applies to the people in Troy, and in Eureka Montana.

I can say the same for everybody I have ever met in Montana and Idaho, and Wyoming as well... Fine folk ALL.

2 weeks away bump

Mike and I will be up Saturday night. We have jugs ready to go. Can you recommend a motel?

The Venture Inn is good with a nice restaurant built in. There is also the Roadway Inn or any one of the three Sandman Motels.

Or, how about right here at the "Lazy J"

I am ready to go, if Cabela's ever gets my 470 Bullets in.

6 days away!

Jay, thanks so much for the outstanding shoot! It's like sporting clays for rifles.

If you had not told me, I would never have known this was the first event you had put on. The hospitality of you and your fellow Libby MT townfolk was second to none. Looking forward to the next shoot!

I'll post some of my photos later

Jay, Great shoot! Super targets and arrays. The match was well organized and well run. You have a nice group of guys up there. Thanks to Rich for acting as RO.

Here are some photos from the event:

Jay, congrats on the great shoot. I sure wish that we could have made it. Maybe next year.

Hey Rob, thanks for posting all the great pictures. I am glad you had a good time. I am already planning some fun stages for next year. I appreciate everyone that helped out, especially Richard who was my rangemaster/timer and Dan my grillmaster who whipped up an exceptional feast.

I look forward to seeing you all next spring!