First Annual Northwest Meet and Shoot! Day One!

First Annual Northwest Meet and Shoot! Day One! - Printable Version

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First Annual Northwest Meet and Shoot! Day One! - bwaites - 10-03-2011

The Alexander Arms Meet and Shoot was held Friday and Saturday, the 30th of September and the 1st of October at the High Power Range at Rattlesnake Mountain outside Richland Washington. The range sits up a dry, narrow canyon from the highway, about a mile of very narrow, 1 1/2 lane graveled road. Once up on the flat, the range consists of a very well put together 1000 yard range with 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 800, 900, and 1000 yard firing lines.

Bill Alexander flew in, as did a few other members and guests. Bill sent representative samples of Alexander Arms rifles, including Grendels in several guises, the impressive Beowulf, and the 17 HMR.

The weather was September gorgeous, temps in the 70's with mild breeze. We had a nice sized group of about 15 show up Friday afternoon. They included forum members from Washington and California, as well as a group of new people to the Alexander Arms stable from the local area.

We decided that the 200 yard line was a reasonable compromise for the 3 different calibers, so we set up there. Everyone got the opportunity to shoot the various rifles, then we had a very nice gentleman show up who allowed us to shoot his version of a .50 caliber handgun, a Contender.

[Image: 5070.jpg]

Thats a .14 Flea on the left, then a .50-.70 with .50 ball round, then a .50 cal Amax 750 grain bullet, then a Beowulf round!

The Contender had a massive 12 inch barrel with a huge muzzle brake. Bill Alexander managed 3 well controlled rounds, but I don't think anyone else shot more than 2 rounds. 1 was plenty for me!

We spent all afternoon shooting, talking, laughing, and generally acting like a bunch of old friends. At least 3 people are planning on joining the Grendel Hordes based on their experience that day, with several others very interested in the Beowulf and the .17.

Some of us then retired to a local restaurant, where we spent a few more hours talking and reviewing the day and our thoughts on the Grendel and its brothers.

First Annual Northwest Meet and Shoot! Day One! - bwaites - 10-03-2011

[SIZE="4"]Or "How to Have a Blazing Success!"[/SIZE]

Saturday morning was hazy and gray, but still warm. By noon, when we were scheduled to be on the range, the wind had increased to 10-15 MPH, but the clouds had cleared and it was very pleasant. That wind would play a part in the drama that was to ensue. There was some gustiness, but never close to what Rattlesnake is capable of!

We had a slightly smaller group to start, but forum members from Washington, Oregon, and a few holdovers were enthusiastic to get started. We had a few new local guys as well, so we started shooting, encouraging everyone to burn ammunition to their hearts content.

[Image: lowprogrendelandtarget.jpg]

One intreprid member had even ridden his motorcycle up that graveled narrow road, after riding in from Oregon! Here he was shooting with his bike in the background!

People seemed to be kicking along pretty happily for the first 2 and a half hours and everyone was shooting and talking and comparing notes when one of the Range Officers noticed some smoke about a mile behind us, and down the hill.

[Image: firstsignoffire.jpg]

Since the wind was from that general direction, our Range Master went to check it out by going back to the 1000 yard line and looking down the hill. He returned almost immediately, and told us the fire was moving quickly and was already to the base of the hill below the 1000 yard line. He recommended we pack it up, and get down the canyon before the fire, so we broke stuff down as fast as we could and headed out.

First Annual Northwest Meet and Shoot! Day One! - bwaites - 10-03-2011

We soon realized that it was going to be tighter than we had initially thought.

[Image: firetruckat1000yardline.jpg]

As we turned down the canyon, we met fire and brush trucks coming up the road, and found that the fire had beat us to the canyon and was burning on the right side as we came down.

[Image: fireclose.jpg]

The fire trucks had to work the fire by spraying over us as we came down the canyon, here you can see them starting to spray as the motorcyclist rides down the canyon.

First Annual Northwest Meet and Shoot! Day One! - bwaites - 10-03-2011

[Image: multiplefiretrucks.jpg]

Bill Alexander likes firetrucks, and we counted at least 17 different rigs, including trucks, big Catepillars, 4 Wheelers, etc. from at least 4 different fire districts.

Hanford is the Hanford Nuclear Reservation, and that truck is fairly unique!

So, the day ended early, but everyone seemed happy with the 2 days!

Special thanks to Bill Alexander for the photos, to JASmith for the photo downloads and emails, and to the TriCities Shooting Association for their help and supplying Range Officers for us. They run a first class operation.

A big thanks to Alexander Arms for all their behind the scenes work to get ammunition, rifles, and all the other stuff out here.

First Annual Northwest Meet and Shoot! Day One! - jwilson1985 - 10-03-2011

bill i wish u were closer and hope in the future we can meet id like very much to shoot with you and let u shoot some loki stuff...maybe we'll be at the same place one day....that pistol round reminds me of the old 500 phantom that was in the ar-10 plat form for a short while

First Annual Northwest Meet and Shoot! Day One! - bwaites - 10-03-2011

jwilson1985 Wrote:bill i wish u were closer and hope in the future we can meet id like very much to shoot with you and let u shoot some loki stuff...maybe we'll be at the same place one day....that pistol round reminds me of the old 500 phantom that was in the ar-10 plat form for a short while

I'd love to shoot some of the LOKI stuff! I'm an experienced field tester, as Bill Alexander will readily attest! LOL!! Smile

First Annual Northwest Meet and Shoot! Day One! - jwilson1985 - 10-03-2011

bwaites Wrote:I'd love to shoot some of the LOKI stuff! I'm an experienced field tester, as Bill Alexander will readily attest! LOL!!

im sure we could work that out id let u shoot mine that way u can give your opinion on the scope also let me get done cerkoteing it and ill give you a call

First Annual Northwest Meet and Shoot! Day One! - RStewart - 10-03-2011

You guys have all the fun. Sad

First Annual Northwest Meet and Shoot! Day One! - bwaites - 10-03-2011

RStewart Wrote:You guys have all the fun.

We Try!!

I'm hoping some of the other members will post their views and experiences, so that we can continue to improve this idea.

First Annual Northwest Meet and Shoot! Day One! - Longshot_34 - 10-03-2011

It looks like you guys had a great time! As scheduled, I was stuck at my brothers wedding all day saturday. Hopefully there will be another shoot in the area in the future.

First Annual Northwest Meet and Shoot! Day One! - Jamie45 - 10-05-2011

What is want to know is if Bill got the rest of his stuff back, or was that your cooler causing that heavy black smoke over the hill for a few minutes? Big Grin

First Annual Northwest Meet and Shoot! Day One! - bwaites - 10-05-2011

Nope, they let me back up the hill about 4 PM. The fire didn't jump the road, though it did blow around behind the range a bit. I retrieved everything, all in good shape. We would have been fine staying, but George did the right thing getting us off the hill.

First Annual Northwest Meet and Shoot! Day One! - Jamie45 - 10-05-2011

Ya know Bill; we didn’t think that process through very well, considering that I went down right behind you with an empty truck bed. Next time we will know better.

First Annual Northwest Meet and Shoot! Day One! - JASmith - 10-05-2011

I might be inclined to agree with Jamie45 except that the flames were rather close as we drove between the flames firetruck squirting water almost level...

Even a minute later and they would have been just a few feet from our cars.

I've had enough near-misses in my lifetime that I no longer object when someone suggests its time to move (well, most of the time anyway...)

First Annual Northwest Meet and Shoot! Day One! - bwaites - 10-05-2011

JASmith Wrote:I might be inclined to agree with Jamie45 except that the flames were rather close as we drove between the flames firetruck squirting water almost level...

Even a minute later and they would have been just a few feet from our cars.

I've had enough near-misses in my lifetime that I no longer object when someone suggests its time to move (well, most of the time anyway...)

Yes, but it wouldn't have taken any longer to put them in his truck vs. Carry them the 30 yards to the shed like we did!

Evacuation planning was not on my "to do" list for the Meet and Shoot! I'll have to add that for next year!

First Annual Northwest Meet and Shoot! Day One! - JASmith - 10-05-2011

bwaites Wrote:Yes, but it wouldn't have taken any longer to put them in his truck vs. Carry them the 30 yards to the shed like we did!

Evacuation planning was not on my "to do" list for the Meet and Shoot! I'll have to add that for next year!

Both points taken!

First Annual Northwest Meet and Shoot! Day One! - LRRPF52 - 10-06-2011

Mr. Murphy will always show up and take your well-thought plans, and use them for his bum fodder while smiling at you...rules of the road. Primary, Alternate, Contingency, Emergency...nearest Aid Bag, Nearest trauma center...

First Annual Northwest Meet and Shoot! Day One! - bwaites - 10-06-2011

LRRPF52 Wrote:Mr. Murphy will always show up and take your well-thought plans, and use them for his bum fodder while smiling at you...rules of the road. Primary, Alternate, Contingency, Emergency...nearest Aid Bag, Nearest trauma center...

I had the nearest Aid Bag, including plenty of Celox, which I like better than Quikclot, and the closest Trauma center, but the fire evacuation....Well, that wasn't calculated, especially if it didn't include us CAUSING the fire!
LOL!!!

First Annual Northwest Meet and Shoot! Day One! - Schwag173 - 03-17-2012

Will this be an annual event?

First Annual Northwest Meet and Shoot! Day One! - bwaites - 03-17-2012

Schwag173 Wrote:Will this be an annual event?

We are hopeful, although the next time we will probably go to the west side.