After the Match. Under the pavilion... R&R time.

Several long time Distinguished shooters are in this photo relaxing after a hard morning on the Range.

About 6 or 7 each evening a communal BBQ and picnic takes place here. Everyone throws their brats, burgers, and steaks on the large grill and has a good time.

Life in the Pits.

During a Match everyone pulls pit duty on a rotational basis. You are either shooting, scoring, or pulling targets.

These are the 600 yard prone targets. That black "bull" looks BIG close up. The bull on the 600 yd target is 36 inches across... which is 6.0 Minutes of Angle (MOA)... the same size as the black bull of our 100 yd. SR-1 target. All NRA and CMP targets, for all distances, have a black bull that is approx. 6.0 Minutes of Angle (MOA) across. This means that the bull looks the same through the sights no matter what distance you are shooting.

On the target in the foreground the Red marker at lower left and white spotter shows somebody just scored an "X". When the shooter fires his next shot the puller will pull the target down, move the spotter to the new bullet hole, put a paster over the old hole, and move the red marker to show the value of the new shot.

The target being scored by the guy in the camo cap shows a black spotter in the 5 Ring at 12:00 O-Clock.

Bill Corcoran shoots standing with his AR15... target #5

The 200 yd SR target has a black bull that is 13 inches or 6.5 MOA across.

Bill Corcoran gives advice to Osage Orange Teammate Pat Worley.
Team Match May 2, 2004

This is the 300 yard rapid prone stage. Just below the number boards you can see the ridge and little white marker posts that is the 200 yard firing line.

 Swampy coaches and spots for Ed on his 200 yd sitting stage.

Team Match, June 6, 2004

A fitting way to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of D-Day.

 Les Welch coaches and scores Swampy at the 600 yard line.

When watching through a scope as someone shoots the 600 you can actually see the bullet "trace" as it's supersonic shock wave travels to the target. A good scorer can tell where the bullet went even before the target comes back up with a marker.

Team Match June 6, 2004

Bill Corcoran shoots prone at 600 yards.

Boy those targets look small. The black bull of the 600 yd MR target is 3 FEET across, but its apparent size through the sights is the same as our 100 yd SR-1's bull.

Believe it or not, some of the REALLY GOOD shooters out there can hit that black spot every time....

 This years Planet 2004 Matches are the week of August 2nd through the 8th.

The schedule is as follows:

Monday, August 2nd through Wednesday Aug 4th. the Range is opened to campers, RV's, and tents to set up and for practice shooting, BBQ, fellowship & general BS
Thursday, Aug 5th: 88 round NRA Regional Course, 200-300-600
Friday, Aug 6th: Same thing as Thursday
Saturday, Aug 7th: 88 round NRA Long Range course, all prone at 600, in 4 stages. Two stages are for iron sights, two stages are for any sights (scopes included.)
Sunday, Aug 8th: 50 round Team Match 200-300-600

    Come on out and shoot in as many or as few events as you like.....

     For entry forms and further info contact Dale Strannigan at (816) 578-4020.

Shooting at Bucksnort starts at 7:00 AM each day and is usually done by 1:00 PM. This leaves the afternoon free for practice shooting, eating, naps, and trips to Sierra (see below). There is usually a big communal BBQ in the pavilion around 6:00 or 7:00 PM each evening. Everyone throws stuff on the grills and tables and has a big pot-luck picnic. Participation is not mandatory. If you want to do your own thing at your own tent or go to town for a meal it's OK.
BTW, bring chairs..... There are very few under the pavilion.
Bring enough ammo for all the events you plan to shoot, plus enough for alibi rounds and practice matches. Also can't hurt to bring a .22 to plink with in the afternoon if you feel the need. Bring .22 targets too.... They have short range frames close by the pavilion for this sort of stuff.
     Bring lots of water, Gator-Ade, etc.... and snacks. There are no breaks during a match so you have to keep what you need with you in your vehicle or range bag.

     As far as plans go.... I am going to try to go up either Tuesday afternoon or Wed morning so I can get in at least one afternoon practice match. On Tuesday and Wednesday some of the guys will usually set up and do a 2-3-600 yd, 40 or 50 round "pick up" practice match (starting sometime after lunch) just so everyone who wants to get some good zeros can do so. If you arrive too late for that, after they are done you can get just a couple guys to shoot wherever you want, one pulling pits, the other shooting and then trade off. The range is open for this all the way to sunset.....
I plan to shoot the Thursday and Friday matches and most likely the Saturday LR match too. Don't know about the Sunday Team Match. Depends on how tired I am at the end of Saturday.

     Steve Kemm, Thomas and Monica Reemes, and Ed Bowles are also coming up to spend a few days and get in some "Across the Course" fun.

     The last two years I've been the only Osage Orange member at the Planet Matches cuz' everyone else who had the time went to Camp Perry. I'm looking forward to having more OOS company at this years event.

Best to all,
Steve M.     aka Swampy

Getting to Bucksnort from Springfield is about as simple as it gets. Drive North on US 65....... About 20 miles North of Sedalia you will cross under I-70. About 3-4 miles past I-70 you will be coming up a LONG hill and see a quarry off to the left. At the top of the hill county rd UU turns off to the right (East). Turn Right on UU and follow it about 4 miles till it "tees" into a gravel road. Turn Left on the gravel road and go about 1/2 mile till it makes a gentle curve to the Right. At the back end of the curve you will be heading straight into the Bucksnort entrance on the Left side of the road. Turn in and start looking for a place to pitch your tent-RV or go into the cabin and stake out a bunk. Distance: I live just East of Springfield off of 65. From my door to Bucksnort is exactly 140 miles. Takes me 2-1/2 hours to drive it. Interesting side note: As you come into Sedalia from the South... 65 will run through the town straight as an arrow. On the North end of town you'll pass over a viaduct over some train tracks just as 65 makes a long curve to the Right. Go past the light and intersection in the curve and past the HUMUNGOUS warehouse and start looking off to the right. After you clear some smaller buildings you'll see the Sierra Bullets plant back in this little industrial park. Big Black letters on the back of the building say "Sierra Bullets" (duh!!). Do not to pass up the opportunity to stop in one afternoon and buy as many of your next years bullets as you can afford to..... The prices are about 1/3rd below retail for the "seconds". Sold by the pound. The Factory Store is open daily but closed between 12 and 1 for lunch. Every bullet I load comes from here. Also don't pass up the chance for a free tour of the factory. It's fascinating to see how those little shiny pills are made. Best to ya', Swampy