tophet1
.400 member
Reged: 15/09/07
Posts: 1873
Loc: NSW, Australia
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Three hours west of Brisbane in Australia is a small town called Millmeran. Population 1,200. Here is one of the largest sporting shooter complexes in Australia. Full bore, shotgun, Western action and Rendezvous activitys (amongst many others) can be run there.
On Fathers Day weekend my son and I attended a Big Bore Rifle shoot at the facility. We arrived on Saturday afternoon, trued up our rifles, had a few shots at the metalic silhouette targets and as the sun set lit a bonfire behind the accomodation shed. With wild Boar and vegetables simmering in a camp over placed in the coals, we enjoyed what all shooters enjoy, a few drinks and good conversation.
The next morning we began a series of shoots designed to simulate field hunting. Special Snap, African Plains Rifle and Big Bore. Each have their own rules and energy limits which are too complex to describe here. They fall under the umbrella of the SSAA (Sporting Shooters Association of Australia).
450 Ackley was the range officer assisted by FATBOY404.
In Australia most large calibres actually fall into the medium bore category. We had 7 shooters present and many more rifles.
1x .404, 1x .416 Rigby, 3x 9.3x62, 3x 7x57, 1x .35 Whelen, 1x 8x57, 1x .300 H&H, 6mm.223, .22-250 etc.
A few photos for your enjoyment.
On the line. FATBOY404 watching the stopwatch on this timed event.

450 Ackley and his .300 H&H

Code4 and my XS Ghost ring 7x57

tophet Jnr finding time to catch up on his txt'ing.

On the drive up this little fella decided to become our mascot.

It was a great way for me to spend Fathers Day with my son who, using his open sighted re-furbished VZ-24 8x57 had great fun hitting a bisalloy 'gong' out at 400 yards.
Many thx to 450 Ackley and FATBOY404 for looking after us.
Edited by CptCurl (10/09/10 11:30 PM)
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AFRO408
.333 member
Reged: 21/01/09
Posts: 312
Loc: Arding NSW
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Sounds like a great weekend mate. The facilities look comfortable.
I haven't shot up at that range, only attended an SSAA National AGM years ago. They only had the Rendezvous range up and running back then, early 90's.
-------------------- Flinch ? Wot flinch ? Gunsmithing is my PASSION.
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Ben
.400 member
Reged: 22/08/08
Posts: 1917
Loc: Northern Territory, Australia
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Good stuff!
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450_Ackley
.375 member
Reged: 06/02/03
Posts: 583
Loc: Darling Downs, Qld Australia
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Tophet1, Your camera has to be broken, looking at that photo you took of me. Can you believe Fatboy had the hide to say that the camera adds 10 lbs, I think he might have been a bit kind, it looks as though it's added about 50 lbs to me! (I'll stick with the excuse that it's ballast to absorb recoil)
It was a pleasure to have you Gentlemen attend our little shoot, and we would be happy to have all of you back again, anytime.
David.
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FATBOY404
.400 member
Reged: 14/11/09
Posts: 1730
Loc: QLD
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The only drama to come out of the shoot was that all of us now know how many rifles we "NEED" to shoot all the events.
I am sure I will have no problem with the permit to acquire from Weapons licencing but the one from my "Wife" will be a little more difficult.
It was another great weekend. 450 Ackley made all of us welcome and is a wealth of knowledge in shooting these events and the firearms used.
Look forward to the next one.
Cheers Neale.
-------------------- "WHATEVER BLOWS YOUR HAIR BACK"
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Rule303
.450 member
Reged: 05/07/09
Posts: 5262
Loc: Woodford Qld
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John looks like it was a good weekend but you have to stop picking up hitch hikers.:-) Tophet jnr seems to be having a good time. Fatboy404, what can I say sitting down on the job again.
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NitroX
.700 member
Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 40702
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...
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Well done Gentlemen.
-------------------- John aka NitroX
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Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"
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FATBOY404
.400 member
Reged: 14/11/09
Posts: 1730
Loc: QLD
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Hey Greg. All I can say was that I was tired after looking after Tohpet1 and Jnr.(thats a lie)
Look forward to seeing you at the next one mate.
Cheers Neale.
-------------------- "WHATEVER BLOWS YOUR HAIR BACK"
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tophet1
.400 member
Reged: 15/09/07
Posts: 1873
Loc: NSW, Australia
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tired ? is that what you call it after two bottles of Rum ?
AFRO408 is making enquiries re: Guyra in October. Stay tuned.
Edited by tophet1 (08/09/10 09:47 PM)
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crkennedy1
.375 member
Reged: 05/12/08
Posts: 501
Loc: Utah
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John, as usual it looks like you and your son had a good time! By the way, my animal heads recently came back from Africa and it was like Christmas day! I can't believe it's already been a year... Christopher
-------------------- DOUBLE or NOTHING
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tophet1
.400 member
Reged: 15/09/07
Posts: 1873
Loc: NSW, Australia
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Great news Chris,
If you get the chance, get to one of these shoots. It's no benchresting, field positions only. Off hand, sitting, prone and standing supported. I try to keep in the spirit of the event with open sights and classic calibers but it's 'shoot what ya brung' which is what shooting should be all about.
My favourite was the snap. Eight rounds in 18 (?) seconds. I get four down in the CZ .416 and I tell you I was flat out thumbing the next four fat boys into the magazine on the reload. It was hang on and get them down range ASAP. Recoil ? what recoil ?
www.ssaa.org.au/competition-info/stories/big-game-rifle_may1.pdf
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FATBOY404
.400 member
Reged: 14/11/09
Posts: 1730
Loc: QLD
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It feels like 18 seconds but it is actually 35 seconds John.
It is fun indeed.
-------------------- "WHATEVER BLOWS YOUR HAIR BACK"
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tophet1
.400 member
Reged: 15/09/07
Posts: 1873
Loc: NSW, Australia
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It felt like 5 seconds. I might do something about building a rolling (Charging) target. Y/N ?
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kamilaroi
.400 member
Reged: 18/12/04
Posts: 1803
Loc: sydney, new south wales, Austr...
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^ I got the NSW ADA running deer shoot at Lithgow going in 1998, it's been a success and certainly sorts out the greeks from the goats (or kiwis from the sheep as the case may be).
Guyra silhouette shoot coming up soon!
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FATBOY404
.400 member
Reged: 14/11/09
Posts: 1730
Loc: QLD
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Hey John. If you look up 404 Jeffery's on U tube,you will see a bloke with a charging Buff head on a flying fox set up.(Man he is quick).
HuntersHeart and I made one at my range.
We start with an empty gun and shoot it as many times as you can in its 20 yards of travel.
-------------------- "WHATEVER BLOWS YOUR HAIR BACK"
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Rule303
.450 member
Reged: 05/07/09
Posts: 5262
Loc: Woodford Qld
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Neal, I hope to be at next years. I am off to the Solomons Islands for a few months back early June next year.
2 Bottles of rum, I feel for you. Tophet drinks the gay stuff while he feeds you the OP and gives you grief for not keeping up. hehe. That's my story and I am sticking to it.
John if Tophet Jnr was ring the bell at 400 with open sights what ever you do, do not up set him.
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FATBOY404
.400 member
Reged: 14/11/09
Posts: 1730
Loc: QLD
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Greg. All you would have to do to put jnr off his game is hide his phone.(no texting)
Of coarse I was the only drinker.(not)
Solomons hey.
That will be an experience I'd say.
Cheers Neale.
-------------------- "WHATEVER BLOWS YOUR HAIR BACK"
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tophet1
.400 member
Reged: 15/09/07
Posts: 1873
Loc: NSW, Australia
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Quote:
^ I got the NSW ADA running deer shoot at Lithgow going in 1998, it's been a success and certainly sorts out the greeks from the goats (or kiwis from the sheep as the case may be).
Guyra silhouette shoot coming up soon!
That maybe the shoot we hope to attend. Not sure what is involved. ( Note to self: Ring AFRO ). It would be good to meet up and pop primers .
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kamilaroi
.400 member
Reged: 18/12/04
Posts: 1803
Loc: sydney, new south wales, Austr...
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^ Yeah, I hope to bring the Alex Henry, 22rf Martini, Mannlicher 1910 9.5x 57 and the Husky 257AI Roberts if they are complete but I may be short a few.
Anyway it should be a good turnout for a yarn up.
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paz
.224 member
Reged: 14/08/10
Posts: 2
Loc: New South Wales, Australia
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Quote:
tired ? is that what you call it after two bottles of Rum ?
AFRO408 is making enquiries re: Guyra in October. Stay tuned.
Looks good gents, keep me posted next time Tophet .
Paz
-------------------- The single shot on fine and beautiful lines built by a master craftsman is indeed a gentleman's piece...
Colonel Townsend Whelen
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tophet1
.400 member
Reged: 15/09/07
Posts: 1873
Loc: NSW, Australia
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Welcome Karl.
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paz
.224 member
Reged: 14/08/10
Posts: 2
Loc: New South Wales, Australia
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Quote:
Welcome Karl.
Thanks mate.
Paz
-------------------- The single shot on fine and beautiful lines built by a master craftsman is indeed a gentleman's piece...
Colonel Townsend Whelen
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