On the Dream Hunt we met one of the tag holders for a brief time and he said that he was not camping in the area but would be driving in each day until he filled his tag.  He made a comment about even being allowed to hunt on Thanksgiving Day if he chose.  Tracker asked him how much that cost him…he replied…”A LOT of money”!

I’m not very good with peoples names, especially just after I have met them.  The name usually goes in one ear and out the other and so did his.  I did manage to give him a Dream Catcher for this hunt and wished him well.  He was quite appreciative.

After the hunt was concluded, Baby Boy looked his name up on the computer…lo and behold…This man teaches a “long range” shooting course here in Northern Utah.   On the site he  says he “GUARANTEES” you will be grouping shots at 1,000 yards by the end of the second, and final, day of the course.  Now to me that is one heck of a statement to be making.  He also says he will refund your money if you are not grouping those shots at 1,000 yards.

It sounds like a great course and I’m sure it is, but as for me, it is way to pricey.   Part of the deal is you are buying a special rifle and scope along with the course.  It sounds fun.

I looked up the caliber of bullet the rifle is made to shoot and to buy factory ammo it will cost you anywhere from $140 to $155 for a box of 20 bullets.  OUCH!  I’m sure reloading your own would save a lot but would still be expensive.

And how about the recoil from that rifle?  OUCH again!  I suppose the cost of the bullets would not be too much of a deal over the long run, say a year.  I could only imagine myself shooting one time every month at the most, and that would be if the doctor allowed me to shoot after my shoulder surgery.  That being said, 20 shells would last 20 months.

The recoil reminds me of the first time I used 425 grain conicals in my muzz and I followed the manufacturers recommendation to use 120 grains of ffg powder to push it out the barrel.

I spread out my blanket on the ground, got two pillows to rest the rifle on, laid down prone, took careful aim and fired the first shot.

My GOD did that hurt!  I rolled over on my back and started to rub my shoulder thinking I had just broken my collar bone.  Tears welled up in my eyes and there I laid moaning.  After a bit I got up and went to see the enormous hole in the target only to discover I missed the target and the large cardboard backing it was mounted on.  I had no idea where the bullet had gone.

Reluctantly I went back and reloaded only this time with 90 grains of powder instead of the 120 they recommended.  It still hurt like crazy causing a second bruise on top of the first one.  I still missed the target and picked up all my stuff and went home crying.

Shooting should be a fun thing.  So, when you are viewing this long range target shooting site, and you see the guy laying on the ground shooting time after time, pay close attention to the size of the guy.  He isn’t a little guy like me and he obviously has had some major surgery done to his shoulder.  I think he has had a metal plate installed.

http://thompsonlongrange.com/

Check it out.  Mr. Thompson seemed like an OK guy and I’m sure he is teaching a lot of people how to hit what they are aiming at out there at 1,000 yards.  He is also making Weatherby and Leopold some good money as well.

Bears Butt

Dec. 4, 2012