With the publication of my 2009 work schedule, I can select the weekend which is "contained" within my once-every-month 8-day sabbatical.
Therefore, I now announce that the 2009 Nevada Cast Boolit Shoot will be held at (or near) Winnemucca on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the 29-30-31 of MAY.
In 2008 I was in the unusual position of never seeing the actual venue for the Shoot, being tied too tightly to daily hospital treatments and generally under the weather. Things have changed for 2009, both healthwise and in the availability of range space.
While I'm reasonably sure that we would be welcomed again at the site used last year, we now also have a very respectable new County range just a few miles outside town, with shooting distances to 400 yards. Depending on the number of folks attending, I think we might be accomodated on just the single "long range" range, setting up targets from 25 yards out to 400. There are two permanent benchrests on this range, and tables could be set-up on the same firing-line alignment. The way this range is built, targets at all distances can be fired-upon at the same time.
I'd like to keep the displacement of resident shooters to a minimum, but just a few steps away from the 400-yard range is a very wide 100-yard facility (with benchrests) and a pair of 50-yard ranges (one having a benchrest). All the various ranges are safe for independent operation without regard to activity on the other ranges.
It sounds like a new event or two may be in the planning; I'm thinking particularly of the "snubby match" for any handgun with barrel length of 3" or less. Discussions are already well underway on this subject, and it sure sounds like fun.
Apart from that, we will again be shooting rifle for group and score, with categories for both iron and glass sights. Handgun events for group and score will also be fired, as well as team rifle and team handgun. Additional shoots are often fired. Details will be filled in as time progresses.
Long-range rifle has finally been shot at distances worthy of the name, and is fired OFF-HAND at steel.....Ammohead has proven to be a danged tough competitor in this exercise, and one wonders if he can be beaten this year????? Five rounds from 400 yards at a smallish steel plate, hit or miss from the hind laigs, is a daunting proposition
Perhaps the early arrivals, many of whom will have seen the fine place used in '08, could inspect the new range on the Friday before the Rools Kommittee dinner and see how it compares as a venue for our Shoot. Arrangements for range use could easily be canceled if it's determined that the '08 site is better, and by the same token it imposes no particular strain on the landowner if we decide not to shoot on his place.
I'll take the required steps to assure that either site is available for our choosing.
Making reservations early is highly recommended. Fortunately, Memorial Day falls on the weekend ahead of our planned dates, but reserving several months in advance is a very good idea.
Over six months to go, and I'm already getting pumped-up about it! Keeping the priorities in mind, it's astonishing how durable and enjoyable this event has turned-out to be. Maybe the LACK of emphasis on gritted-teeth, ego-invested hairy-eyeball competition has enabled us all to relax and remember just how much pure fun is to be had from shooting and shooters. And, Lordy, do we have fun....
The priorities? That's easy... Safety, Fun & Socializing, and low-key shooting against each other.
It's worked exceedingly well for many years, now. Can we expect to see YOU????