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Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: philw on May 21, 2010, 07:51:01 AM

Title: Wodonga Big Bore 2010
Post by: philw on May 21, 2010, 07:51:01 AM
ok peoples 


just letting you know of an event that Sledge is catching the boat to Australia  and Hopefully I am able to drive over

we are members ( as you may know)  of a forum called Australian Hunting Net 

this is one of the largest forums in australia for Hunting & Shooting and first ever online hunting club that is approved by both NSW and Victoria  as a club that is  recognised for there licensing


well we are having a get together at Wodonga (on the border of New South Wales and Victoria )


it will have members going from all over Australia   

and Steve Lee is should also be there  ;D ;D  ( Eric  did you need a reminder )


I can not wait I just hope we get some good news at the Drs  for my Mrs  as I won't know until the day before I am meant to head off on the drive
Title: Re: Wodonga Big Bore 2010
Post by: sledgemeister on May 21, 2010, 10:41:33 AM
Been in the shed tonight reloading the .444 ready for a bit of bump and grind on the range, dont worry phil I have some low power loads for you  :P

(http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs521.snc3/29684_1450743634087_1398138947_31190299_163106_n.jpg)
Left: 240gr Hawkesbury River SWC
Right: 240gr Topscore RNFP
Both loaded with 35gr Alliant 2400, should push about 2100fps
Title: Re: Wodonga Big Bore 2010
Post by: philw on May 21, 2010, 08:02:05 PM
Been in the shed tonight reloading the .444 ready for a bit of bump and grind on the range, dont worry phil I have some low power loads for you  :P

Left: 240gr Hawkesbury River SWC
Right: 240gr Topscore RNFP
Both loaded with 35gr Alliant 2400, should push about 2100fps

nice   they will go well for the running mouse event on Sunday  :)
Title: Re: Wodonga Big Bore 2010
Post by: Timothy on May 21, 2010, 08:05:39 PM
How long is the boat ride Sledge?  Must be a few hundred miles right?

Enjoy yourselves and be safe!
Title: Re: Wodonga Big Bore 2010
Post by: sledgemeister on May 22, 2010, 12:52:03 AM
How long is the boat ride Sledge?  Must be a few hundred miles right?

Enjoy yourselves and be safe!

Takes 10 hours from when we leave until we get into port melbourne (depending on sea conditions, Bass Strait is known to be some of the roughest waters in the world.
Its 429 km distance or about 268 miles
Title: Re: Wodonga Big Bore 2010
Post by: tombogan03884 on May 22, 2010, 02:09:43 AM
Been in the shed tonight reloading the .444 ready for a bit of bump and grind on the range, dont worry phil I have some low power loads for you  :P

(http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs521.snc3/29684_1450743634087_1398138947_31190299_163106_n.jpg)
Left: 240gr Hawkesbury River SWC
Right: 240gr Topscore RNFP
Both loaded with 35gr Alliant 2400, should push about 2100fps

nice   they will go well for the running mouse event on Sunday  :)

How big are your mice ?    :o
Title: Re: Wodonga Big Bore 2010
Post by: philw on May 22, 2010, 06:10:45 AM
How big are your mice ?    :o

about 5 foot  ;)  for the ones I shoot





hehe   they are hoping to have a rim fire event  on a running target set up if they can get it working


Title: Re: Wodonga Big Bore 2010
Post by: sledgemeister on May 22, 2010, 10:24:22 AM
I have loaded a couple of extra specials one for the mice  ;)
300gr jhp with 42.5gr of AR2207 should develop about 2100 fps, roughly 3000 foot pounds force. If that dont stop the things advancement I am high tailing some where safe to live like a bear den, lion pit or a cobra enclosure!

Gonna try em out tomorrow, when I find someone victim willing to try em. I have a person in mind already  ;D If I think of it I will video tape his misfortune experience.  ;D


Pic Below

left to right:
 .22lr, 9mm, .444 Marlin in 240gr swc, 300gr jhp, 200gr rnfp and 240gr rnfp. The 300gr is loaded with 42.5gr of AR2207 generating 2100 fps.
Title: Re: Wodonga Big Bore 2010
Post by: twyacht on May 23, 2010, 09:02:31 PM
I'm very pleased to see some of you fellow gun "blokes" down under, have maintained, although I'm sure heavily regulated, the "secrets" to create a big bore round.

Thankfully, that has not been taken from you, and I hope you can always keep it.

Where's Quigley?

  ;D

I would think a 45-70, would be a fine addition to a big bore shoot. Easy to reload, and create another "kaboom" for the range.



Title: Re: Wodonga Big Bore 2010
Post by: Hazcat on May 24, 2010, 09:11:54 AM
Quigley used a 45-110 I believe.
Title: Re: Wodonga Big Bore 2010
Post by: sledgemeister on May 25, 2010, 09:58:40 AM
I'm very pleased to see some of you fellow gun "blokes" down under, have maintained, although I'm sure heavily regulated, the "secrets" to create a big bore round.

Thankfully, that has not been taken from you, and I hope you can always keep it.

Where's Quigley?

  ;D

I would think a 45-70, would be a fine addition to a big bore shoot. Easy to reload, and create another "kaboom" for the range.
I have finished reloading tonight, I think the poor old ferry man is going to get a bit of a surprise when it comes to my car load. As per their regulations I have to unpack my firearms and ammunition from my car and place it in their special lockable trailer LOL. I have two cases of loaded ammunition LOL just guessing approx 250rnds .444 250 rounds of .44, 1000 rnds of .22, 600 rnds of 9mm, 100 rnds of .310 and about 300 rnds of .357 possibly more LOL I am taking accross  4 pistols and 4 rifles I have a feeling they may get nervous lololol
Thats should last me a day or two, if not there is a local gunshop to get more



This will probably be my last post for a while as I have no control when i cross the border to the northern states (they are a crazy lot up there, 1/2 of them dont even speak engrish.
so catch ya all in a couple weeks and stay safe y'all!
Title: Re: Wodonga Big Bore 2010
Post by: shooter32 on May 25, 2010, 10:18:32 AM
Enjoy Sledge!!!! 

Take lots of pictures!
Title: Re: Wodonga Big Bore 2010
Post by: Hazcat on May 25, 2010, 11:21:43 AM
Get a picture of the ferryman's face when he sees yer stash! ;D
Title: Re: Wodonga Big Bore 2010
Post by: ericire12 on May 25, 2010, 11:38:04 AM
Quigley used a 45-110 I believe.

The guns of Quigley Down Under:
http://www.imfdb.org/index.php/Quigley
Title: Re: Wodonga Big Bore 2010
Post by: Walter45Auto on May 25, 2010, 12:27:58 PM
....I am taking accross  4 pistols and 4 rifles...
Thats should last me a day or two, if not there is a local gunshop to get more


Only taking 8 huh? Must be time constraints. ;D
Title: Re: Wodonga Big Bore 2010
Post by: sledgemeister on May 25, 2010, 12:30:15 PM
Only taking 8 huh? Must be time constraints. ;D

Not taking the trailer this time  :P
Title: Re: Wodonga Big Bore 2010
Post by: Walter45Auto on May 25, 2010, 12:33:22 PM
When I go to the range I take at least 12 guns, and shoot at least 10 of them..... 8) One of my friends once said "You said you were bringing some pistols, but I didn't know you were gonna bring 10 of them!" {Which was in addition to the 3 shotguns I'd brought.}
Title: Re: Wodonga Big Bore 2010
Post by: philw on May 26, 2010, 06:19:37 AM
well I am going   ;D ;D (http://gallery.mac.com/philw/100192/jester/web.gif?ver=12747846150001)


so now I have to Pack   and get out of here in about 16 hours 



had organised to borrow a few toys   so taking 

12G , .303, .243wssm, .22lr CZ.
.44BP, 9mm, .357, .45acp ( yep you read that correctly got my hands on a 1911:)  )   and a .22

I don't think that is over kill   

and then for the 640 Mille Drive   ;D ( 1 way )


so as you can guess sledge and I will be off line for a few days    hope you all look after the corner for us while we are away
Title: Re: Wodonga Big Bore 2010
Post by: tombogan03884 on May 26, 2010, 11:05:48 AM
Have fun guys.
POST PICS  ;D
Title: Re: Wodonga Big Bore 2010
Post by: Walter45Auto on May 26, 2010, 01:22:09 PM
Have fun guys.
POST PICS  ;D

What he said. ;D
Title: Re: Wodonga Big Bore 2010
Post by: philw on June 02, 2010, 07:57:02 AM
well....   what a weekend

had an absolute ball.   and we are all ready talking about Next years  ;D

it was very cool to put faces to screen names after all these years "finally"
I found it amazing  from the moment I arrived it was like catching up with old mates again that have not seen each other for years everyone just got a long.  this is very good considering we were effectively all strangers that met up over the internet. that ALL have a common interest

we ended up with about 50 AHN forum members and on saturday including there famlies  had 80 on the range shooting   ;D
cop that for an organised over the internet event + in Australia.

now to get it out before Sledge will  :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[  I know I went to a Catholic school  however I never though I would get "blessed" by the pope   ( especialy a super short one ) over the weekend.   and for that I won a Bottle of Scotch.







for my self  it started out heading over there for Friday to set up camp and catch up before the weekend shoot.
after a couple of "beverages"  Rob & Mrs Sledge  & a couple others headed back in to town  to there hotels while the rest of us camped out.  that night it Rained ALL night  ( explained the wet sleeping bag from the puddle of water at the end of my swag)

in the morning it stopped raining long enough for a couple of us to pack up the gear and head on to the range to dry out and start the fire for breakfast. 
come around 10am targets were set up and the guns, cannons were set up ready for a day of burning powder & throwing lead down range. 
as you saw  Steve made it along  and joined in on the fun,  he even brought some of his guns along for the shoot. 

Everyone was saying  have you shot this before.   try this then..    there were a few that had never shot Pistols before so Rob and I both fixed that issue.  the smiles from everyone that had a go was worth it  especially when they shot the 1911 .45acp or Rob's Ruger .44mag

after we cleaned up and put all the bang sticks away  we cracked open a few more beers had a good camp fire chat and sing along  led by Steve.   it was a laugh and a very good night.

Sunday started a little slower for a few.  was a very similar format to the day before   a couple of "formal" comps  and the rest of the time was just fun...   as you can see from the vids  lots of fun.. 

I will also add some Pics later on. 

Title: Re: Wodonga Big Bore 2010
Post by: sledgemeister on June 02, 2010, 09:03:15 AM
weatherby eyebrow from a pope gun........holy moly, ohhhh the shame!!!!! lol
Nice job on the vid mate. I noticed you omittted the bit before me saying "safety" lol!
Title: Re: Wodonga Big Bore 2010
Post by: philw on June 02, 2010, 08:44:48 PM
hehe 


I just realised I need to explain the pope gun

it is the .243 ad that is the shame of it all,    could of been something bigger like that 577NE  or the .416  but no!!!  was the pope


Quote
.243's on all creatures great and small from Hares to Bears and it seemed no muff was too tough for the .243. Then it was revealed that Pope John Paul II himself was a regular user of the .243 as he loved to pop Pigeons across the vast courtyards of the Vatican and having survived an earlier assasination attempt, he liked the idea of a cartridge flat enough for the courtyard but with enough grunt to say hello to any non-believers. Seems the Pope was right, the .243 was all anyone needed in this life or the next (and he should know) so the .243 was canonised and is known as the Pope Gun.

http://www.australianhunting.net/AHN_Journal/Articles/008%20Saint%20Or%20Sinner.htm


Title: Re: Wodonga Big Bore 2010
Post by: Solus on June 03, 2010, 07:59:42 AM
Phil, watched the video a few times trying to spot you getting mauled by the Pope Gun (nice story with that.  Had not heard the phrase before), but I keep getting distracted by all the other great things going on and haven't found it!!..

But, it does make me long for a life just full of that....not just once a year but all the time....singing around campfires, shooting whenever we get enough ammo loaded...learning gunsmithing as we go along....meals prepared in camp...and all th is with great folks.


Sigh.   When I win the lottery, I'll have to buy enough land in a place that this can be done.

I always ache on the last day.....knowing how I will miss the friends I have at these get togethers. 

At least with the INet and forums, you can stay in pretty close touch between times together.
Title: Re: Wodonga Big Bore 2010
Post by: sledgemeister on June 04, 2010, 10:33:23 AM
a few pics from day one
Title: Re: Wodonga Big Bore 2010
Post by: tombogan03884 on June 04, 2010, 10:55:44 AM
Looks like a fun time was had by all  ;D