Austin, my 13 year old son and I met up with WV Fred and Tom Kessel out at Tom,s farm and we had an absolute blast. The farm just out of this world and I took a few photos of the range. Tom has a complete range with a great bench set up for both left & right handed shooters. 25,50,100, and 200 yard stationary targets. In one field Tom had hidden plastic jugs filled with water in the edge of the woods on both sides and we walked through trying to locate and dispatch them as quickly as possible. Then we went up to the buff range. It's set up with one buff suspended behind some multifloral rose and another which when released rides down a cable. Depending on where your standing, you either have a frontal charge or a sideways shot. Both buffs are made from heavy mine belt and have a gallon plastic jug filled with liquid soap and red foodcolor in the chest area and a small gatorade bottle on the backside in the brain area. A hit produces a realistic red frothy spray. After shooting at the first buff, Tom would release the other and you'd try to hit the chest then reload and go for the brain. We shot about a dozen different (bolt & double) rifles and a half dozen pistols. What a day! Here's a couple photos.


Just for the record, Fred on the left Tom on the right and dam can they shoot!

An American PARADISE...

Great photos, thanks for posting.
Must make one of those Buff sometime.


Might be worth pointing out that in all
3 photos Tom is pointing his gun in the
direction of or at someone else.

Sounds like great fun!

Hey 500N,

I'll have to take the heat for that as I specificily asked him to change it so the cheek piece would show as I had just got the gun and wanted it to be visible.

I shot that buffalo once, right before it hooked me square in the ass .....

Looks like a great location for a DRSS gathering! Any hogs up there?

Just at the local WalMart .... but if you shoot them, there'd be no one to mow your yard or bring you beer .....

Have been to Tom's farm with Frank Beller and Rick Rose. We had a grand time! The Buf is a trip to say the very least.

I think it was really good practice for Tanzania. When the PH and I peeked over the top of the 10 foot ant hill the PH said "shoot that one!" No time ... no sticks ... no nothing.

Love the belting buffalo, great idea. How are the target bottles attached? Are they hanging by a string or small rope?

This is one of the best things about AR. The regional shoots and get togethers. Where AR'ers can meet face to face, shoot their big bore rifles, and have a good day doing it.

Keith

Seriously, Tom's farm is a GREAT place to shoot double rifles & big bores ..... I've had lots of fun there over the past few years, & enjoyed talking & dreaming about future hunts in Africa ......

How did you get that goat in the middle of the first picture to hold a rifle?

Hey Keith
The large bottles are hooked with a small chain that uses a quick hook. On the back he uses a small cord with different size slip knots in it.

after watching him shoot, we refer to him as "Mr. Goat" at my house.

These are tough buffalo too,I bet I've put 25-30 rounds of 400gr 450/400's in the vitals and it will still charge every time!

It's a shame that you guys don't shoot any Big Rifles like we did in the olden days at Toms farm.

I've heard about those old bore rifles; Tom had one that he used to make a culvert out of the barrel so we could cross the creek in wet weather. Seriously, I'd love to have a gathering - with Tom's permission, of course - at his place and everyone bring their rifles & shoot. I spoke with him this morning about building a standing shooting bench for out there. Maybe we can twist his arm .....

what cal. and make are you guys shootiing

I think we were shooting the little stuff ... like 9,3x74R, .416 Rigby, .458 Lott, and .470 NE. None of that culvert making material.

Even then it sure was fun. Tom is a delightful host and a learned person indeed. Some of his wisdom I didn't understand completely ... e.g.: (On buffalo) "I like to be able to smell'm." On the trip to Tanzania I understood!

Farquharsens, Searcys, Chapuis', William Evans, Army & Navy, Cogswell & Harrison, & even a sidelock Rigby ....... no flies on these hillbilly rifles ...... and the calibers that mstarling mentioned, plus a couple .500 NE's, and a Searcy .577 on the way ..... like I said, us'ins know whats good .....

Thanks for all the comments-I enjoyed having you people out there. Georgegibbs505 helped me put the system up and then we tried out 2 of his 8 bores on them and later a 10 . Its a shame he didn't have the 505 then ! Hes not a bad guy[when he's sleeping] !!!

Tom, my baby girl is do any day, you'll get my rifles for pennies on the dollar.

How 'bout quarters on the dollars, and to heck with ol' Tom ........

GG505--I hope I can get there before your yard sale begins

The guns we were shooting [pictured] were Freds A-N 450/400--Austins J P sauer 45-70--and Dales pre war merkel in 8x57