Boomershoot
Encyclopedia
The Boomershoot is a long range precision rifle event held near Orofino, Idaho
, each year in late spring. The targets are filled with explosives at ranges from 375 yards. Shooters are allowed to engage as many targets as they are able during the all-day event. Nearly every year the amount of explosives has increased; in 2004, the amount of explosives put out for people to shoot was greater than all of the other years combined. In 2005, new targets were introduced with smaller amounts of explosives to reduce window breakage in the surrounding countryside. In recent years, the event has also featured an explosive fireball and an Anvil firing to start the event and entertain the participants.
shooters from what is referred to as the "Swamp" at the lower/eastern end of the firing line.
and Outside Magazine, KING 5 Evening Magazine, Shooting Gallery TV show, as well as numerous articles in local newspapers.
A centerfire
rifle capable of delivering accuracy of at least one minute of angle
with velocity
at the target of at least 1500 ft/s (457.2 m/s) is required to reliably detonate the targets.
On the two days prior to the main event a precision rifle clinic is held at the same location using steel as well as exploding targets.
Orofino, Idaho
Orofino is a city in Clearwater County, Idaho, along Orofino Creek and the north bank of the Clearwater River. The population was 3,247 at the 2000 census, and the city is the county seat of Clearwater County...
, each year in late spring. The targets are filled with explosives at ranges from 375 yards. Shooters are allowed to engage as many targets as they are able during the all-day event. Nearly every year the amount of explosives has increased; in 2004, the amount of explosives put out for people to shoot was greater than all of the other years combined. In 2005, new targets were introduced with smaller amounts of explosives to reduce window breakage in the surrounding countryside. In recent years, the event has also featured an explosive fireball and an Anvil firing to start the event and entertain the participants.
Targets
The smallest and closest targets are 4 in (101.6 mm) square boxes, about the size and thickness of a common brown rodent poison container, with more immediate results if a rodent ventures near it during this May event. The longer range targets are similarly shaped and are 6 in (152.4 mm) with more explosive. The farthest targets are shot at mostly by the .50cal.50 BMG
The .50 Browning Machine Gun or 12.7×99mm NATO is a cartridge developed for the Browning .50 caliber machine gun in the late 1910s. Entering service officially in 1921, the round is based on a greatly scaled-up .30-06 cartridge...
shooters from what is referred to as the "Swamp" at the lower/eastern end of the firing line.
Popularity
The Boomershoot has appeared in magazines such as NewsweekNewsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
and Outside Magazine, KING 5 Evening Magazine, Shooting Gallery TV show, as well as numerous articles in local newspapers.
A centerfire
Centerfire ammunition
A centerfire cartridge is a cartridge with a primer located in the center of the cartridge case head. Unlike rimfire cartridges, the primer is a separate and replaceable component....
rifle capable of delivering accuracy of at least one minute of angle
Minute of Angle
Minute of angle is the measurement of a ballistic round's deviation from its initial heading due to gravity and/or the effect of air resistance on velocity. Informally known as a "Bullet's Trajectory" or "the rainbow effect". Long range weapons must account for this effect because a fired round...
with velocity
Velocity
In physics, velocity is speed in a given direction. Speed describes only how fast an object is moving, whereas velocity gives both the speed and direction of the object's motion. To have a constant velocity, an object must have a constant speed and motion in a constant direction. Constant ...
at the target of at least 1500 ft/s (457.2 m/s) is required to reliably detonate the targets.
On the two days prior to the main event a precision rifle clinic is held at the same location using steel as well as exploding targets.