Groundhog Shoot - Expanded Caliber list SPRING 2017 - Obsolete*****

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  • Last Post 05 March 2019
Scearcy posted this 15 March 2017

Are you interested in a fun shoot with plain base bullets in your old favorite “Closet Queen"

This is Ken Campbell's idea (have you noticed he is an instigator) and I think it is a good idea. The Bunny match idea is a good one but our old 3006 rifles will be too heavy to make the weight limit.  No problem. Lets do our own event.  The rules would be pretty much like the Bunny match rules. Plain base bullet in fixed ammunition. Field positions including walking staff, cane, hand held shooting sticks, shooting sling but no bench rest or mechanical rests ala F Class. To start with we are thinking 4X scopes or iron sights. If we get enough entries, we can worry about separating the scopes from the irons later. We can use either Bunny targets or Ground Hog targets. I am leaning toward Ground Hogs just to avoid confusion with the Bunny postal matches. We can decide this later if their are enough people committed to participate. I don't see any need for a weight limit.  If you want to shoot your Garand, have at it.

I will collect the targets and publish the results in TFS.  If the participants would like, I will also distribute the results quickly via email.  It would be very interesting to collect rifle, bullet and load information just like the regular CBA matches. This info could be a very useful source. 

I am sure there are other details but I would like to not reinvent the wheel here. The Bunny matches are a good framework. This is envisioned as an opportunity to dig out your old Pre-64 Model 70 or that Springfield 03 in the  closet. If you have multiple 3006s I don't foresee a problem with multiple entries.

Who would like to play? If we have enough interest, we will figure out how to sign up.

 

Jim (and Ken)

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Ken Campbell Iowa posted this 05 March 2019

why was it originally for 30-06 only ?? .. well, it occurred to the staff that although the 30-06 is " america's cartridge " ....  nobody was actually shooting them anymore ...

kinda like kneeling at the nat anthem at the football game ...  just ain't right ...

and after a couple salty tears drained from our eyes, it was brought to our attention that heck, there are a whole bunch of cartridges and rifles ..... that aren't maybe up to full boogie, buck$$-on-the-table  competition .... but for some reason ain't never gonna leave the back of our closets or gun fortresses ....  nostalgic, fun to look at, first deer ... etc. ...   maybe even too rusty for anybody to bid on ...  but still go bang pretty good ...

so we changed the welcome list to " bring it and shoot it " ... except for 22 rimfire, which mostly is because it rarely uses cast bullets ...

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as they say " so far so good  " ... 

********

in keeping with the fun side of this, i confess that i shot my 50 yard groundhogs in my front yard ... into a stump that i piled a little brush around to make it look like a ground hog den ...  while i am confessing, ... my wife beat me with one of my own favorite rifles ...

ken

 

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Scearcy posted this 02 March 2019

Jeff and others

Ken and I would like to complete the coyote shoot before we open up the spring groundhog shoot. The last coyote targets are due April 1 so I am trying to not start the official spring groundhog signup until after that date. This thread is a two year old thread with some misinformation as is evidenced by all of the questions. We will start a new thread labelled "2019 Spring Groundhog Shoot".  When you see that thread, we are ready to go. I think last year the targets were due about JUNE 1. We will supply targets unless you wish to purchase an entire packet for your own use but a whole packet of targets is quite pricey. We also are still considering a target change for the spring shoot so don't buy targets yet.

Patience everyone - we will get started by the last week in March.

I thank everyone for your interest  but our crack administrative staff consists of two old guys who sometimes forget their own names. We can't keep up with two shoots simultaneously.

Jim

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jeff houck posted this 02 March 2019

I'll join in too as soon as Idaho thaws. When are the targets due? Please send me what ever sign up materials and rules there are. I'll buy a packet of targets as soon as you say I'm in.

Jeff H.

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John Alexander posted this 02 March 2019

Jim,

Thanks for the detailed answer.

Two will do.  223 and 30 Carbine.

John

 

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Scearcy posted this 01 March 2019

John

Can I pencil you in for 3 entries then?

223, 45-90 and .600 Nitro (20 gauge)?

Jim

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Scearcy posted this 01 March 2019

John

Originally it was conceived as a 3006 match and I don't even remember why. The very first reply we received said that was a bad idea so we quickly moved on to any rifle (or handgun), any caliber, any sight but with a 4X limit on the scopes and PB bullets. In retrospect I am not sure why we ended up with a limit on the power of the scope  as more magnification provides no real advantage from field positions at 50 yards.

We started out, at least I did, that this was a match and we should have some uniformity. It was immediately apparent that the potential shooters wanted simply to shoot their favorite rifles and that they only competition was with ones self. That is the way the subsequent 3 shoots (we don't even use the word match most of the time) have continued.

At 100 yards and beyond we do not limit the bullets to plain bases either so the two longer shoots are any bullet also.

Ken C did I miss anything?

Jim

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John Alexander posted this 01 March 2019

I guess I got in late but I have read the whole thread and it is not clear but it sounds like this is a 30-06 only match.  If true,why?? 

I understand the 45-90 was a great groundhog caliber. 

John

 

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Scearcy posted this 01 March 2019

Bill

We fished on one of the finger lakes many years ago. It was in the spring with high water. Whenever we got too near to the shore, displaced water moccasins would try to get in the boat. They looked like a minature loch ness monster as they swam toward the boat. Finally the guide called it off and we fished out by one of the dams. I still think about that day once in a while. Yeah I guess snow and ice aren't so bad.

Jim

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Bill2728 posted this 01 March 2019

I would be willing to trade a few inches of mud, sloppy ground and flooding for some frozen tundra!  Our wettest Feb on record. Wolf Creek dam on Lake Cumberland in south central Kentucky was releasing water @  45,000 cfs.  Too wet to shoot so I spent the weekend repairing, cleaning and storing my molds and realized that I don't have a plain base 30 cal. mould.  I've never done a postal shoot before and this one just sounds like too much fun to miss so I now have one ordered.

Bill

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Scearcy posted this 01 March 2019

I think you and Ken have had more snow than us. I know longhunter has in the Lacrosse area.

There is a pregnant does eating at the bird feeders. If she leaves the trail, her stomach drags in the snow.

It can't last much longer.

Coffee fueling this post instead of Jamison.

Jim

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rhbrink posted this 01 March 2019

Scearcy, the "FROZEN" tundra! Farther south of you but not much better and another 6 inches of global warming on the way!

Ken, now we are talking a pellet rifle "rat" target out about 25 yards or a really big rat at 50?

RB

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Ken Campbell Iowa posted this 01 March 2019

new snow record here in iowa for brrrrrrrr-u-ary ...

i am thinking about a reduced coyote target across my shop with a pellet rifle  ....   or how about a target of a rat ?? 

.... and yet it was 32 degrees today in anchorage ...  

ken

 

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Scearcy posted this 01 March 2019

Sigh! It is going to snow again tomorrow. February was the 4th snowiest month since 1874 here. -17 F next Saturday night. It is good that I am thinking of coyotes and groundhogs or I might lose my grip on reality.  

Cabin fever has me thinking I need 3-4 new rifles.

I wonder if I can put little snow shoes on my cross sticks

Last night I sketched plans for a target frame mounted on a toboggan - seriously. There is no way to find the pipes in the ground at the 200 yard line.

I think I will keep my ammo in a shirt pocket so the lube doesn't freeze - just like camera batteries I guess.

Great news though - coyote pelts are worth $100 this winter. It seems fir trim is back in style on the yuppies winter coats. I wonder if a large picture of a coyote with about 13 holes in it will have much value.

We never talked about it in the rules but is it legal to shovel a trench in the snow if I am going to shoot from prone?

 We actually used to pull plastic toboggans and use them for rests for long shots. That may be just the ticket for the current conditions.

These are some of my deep thoughts as I sip Jamison and watch old reruns of "Mr Ed the talking horse".

Jim (aka crazed on the tundra)

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mashburn posted this 01 March 2019

Sounds like a whole bunch of fun. I think it will be a good place for a crippled up 74 year old to begin his first cast bullet competition. I can hardly wait. If you don't hit the paper are you required to send your targets in. Just kidding.

Mashburn

David a. Cogburn

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Scearcy posted this 27 February 2019

Dan 

Yes there will be a new thread dedicated to just the spring 2019 ground hog shoot. We will do the signups and review rules, etc in that thread. 

Last year we started the spring thread about mid March I would expect similar this year.

Jim

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Rick OShay posted this 27 February 2019

Gentleman,

Will you be starting a new thread for the ground hog shoot? I still have not the chance to shoot my coyotes yet. Went from heavy snow to wind rain and now mud. I am hoping to get out this week end weather pending. Or I may have to call in sick on a decent day to go shoot a couple.

So I am hoping I have better luck with the ground hog.

Thanks

Dan

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Scearcy posted this 27 February 2019

Mashburn

Your 30-40 is certainly a "legal gun". I will dig out a copy of the rules. There are very few rules where the equipment is concerned. Don't hold me to this until I find last years stuff but we limited the power of the scope (this is a 50 yard match) and limited the bullets to plain base. I think that was about it. As one competitor said : bring your rifle and lets go shoot. We do limit the shooting positions to field positions. That is defined on the signup sheet. It is quite liberal also.

We don't care who wins. The idea is to shoot and have a good time. You can see by this thread that there is a fair amount of good natured banter and pictures are encouraged. We want this to be like shooting with friends in your back yard.

PM your email address to me an I will send you a copy of last years rules and such. THESE ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE EACH YEAR IF A LITTLE TWEAKING IS NEEDED. For example we are discussing possibly using a slightly more challenging target for the 50 yard shoot.

Jim

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mashburn posted this 27 February 2019

I know nothing about this I'm new to cast bullets but it sounds like great fun. How about making it all 30 calibers. My old 30- 40 Model 95 Winchester needs to get out for some exercise. I might even get about four new members to sign up to get in this. How do I get the rules-distance and such..

Mashburn

David a. Cogburn

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Scearcy posted this 26 February 2019

Mashburn

Ken and I have been focused on finishing the 200 yard coyote shoot. However if there is interest we are planning to hold a 50 yard shoot this spring and probably an 100 yard shoot in the late summer.

We will start a new thread in a few weeks when we are nearly finished with the coyotes.

One thing the 50 yard event is plain base bullet only so include that in your planning.

Jim

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mashburn posted this 26 February 2019

i'm interested if my health holds out.

mashburn

David a. Cogburn

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