Nice view but It needs some eBay 3/8” or 1/2” AR500 8” steel gongs. They are like $20
We never had any prairie dogs, but used to have a lot more woodchucks before I started hunting them with my 30-06, then 6mm Rem and .22-250. I tried to line up four or five when shooting the '06, but they don't herd worth a dang, so decided to stop using the artillery. It only had a .2.5X Weaver on it anyway, so shots were limited to the one I got on the second shot...at 450 yards. I tried hitting one at over 600 yards, but a power line got in the way that I couldn't see at 200 yds. OOOPS! The power company wasn't pleased, but we used the farmer's phone to call them. The foreman who came out was named "Stanley Grimshaw" and he was one "grim" fella that Saturday. I decided I needed a scope with "MO" power (and a thinner reticle).Such a beautiful spot. I envy that nice flat space to shoot. And from what I've heard through the grapevine is that Picher had shot all the prairie dogs in the North East. That's why you only find em out west.
Beautiful range.View attachment 883340 Target is set up at 100 yards, but 200 is available from this position under oak trees...overlooking the family blueberry fields.
J. Picher
I cut off the power to at least 5 communities in Central Maine. It was a pretty blue ball of electrical "fire" involving something like 33,000 volts, as I remember. The line doesn't exist anymore. It was there because of an old trolley line and it was probably easier to keep it maintained than to create a new one.And here I thought the 300 Blackout was the first cartridge so named..... Didn't know you had a 30-06 Blackout way back then. Wonder how many folks lost power ? I'm sure that ruined Mr. Grimshaws day.
The boulder behind the target has a vertical "pocket" where I shoot. No ricochets. However, it's all woods for a mile between the field and the next road. If the granite boulder ever becomes an unsafe backstop, We'll take the front end loader and create a new one with contained sand/gravel. That should take quite a while because we don't shoot a lot of hunting ammo there, mostly rimfire. That portion of the blueberry field is out of production due to market conditions and so many boulders that it doesn't make sense to use mechanical harvesters.Picher, what makes you comfortable about shooting toward that tree line? Are you not worried that someone may be back in the trees?
When I first moved here, I set up a temporary bench that gave me 430 yards, before the rolling field stopped us. Mirage was pretty bad, though.That's nice but being a plains rat for my whole life I have a need to see----for long distances.
When I first moved here, I set up a temporary bench that gave me 430 yards, before the rolling field stopped us. Mirage was pretty bad, though.
My range is often very windy or there's tough mirage, so when conditions aren't favorable, I just pack my gear and go to the Club, about 10 miles away in Augusta, ME., or just wait a day or so for favorable conditions.Having space that allows shooting at home is a blessing for serious shooters like Mr. Picher. When scouting land to buy for my new home ( 22 years ago.) I was determined there would be adequate acreage for a shooting range plus adequate forest cover for deer and other wildlife. I cleared enough trees for a close by 50 yd plinking range for two grandsons, plus further from the house cleared enough for 100 yard range for shooting shed with concrete benches for centerfire testing. Trees close on either side of narrow shooting lane are a great windbrake, almost like shooting in a tunnel. But take warning if you have two grandsons who love to shoot, a weekend of shooting will consume a gigantic amount of .22RF ammo. And the southern mountains are not always warm and sunny, as also shown in a recent pic... .
Obviously not January. I just ran across the photo taken last summer. I haven't been down there for most of the winter. The guy who was trapping down there really chewed up the access when it was soft. (I think he has to visit his leghold traps daily.)Things sure are green for January in Maine.