Alaska BR?

S

STBE Harris

Guest
Anybody shooting centerfire BR matches in Alaska? Fixin to move up there for a few years. Anyone shooting BR rifles on their own?

IF you moved recently did you get any of your powder, primers, brass, loaded rounds, heck bottles of Hoppes, Butches', paint, dang even spray cans of PAM up there? If so please detail.

Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

STBE soon to change my logon name to Nanuk or sumphin!
 
Paul Weller and Don Feltman

In the 1983 Hunter Rifle Nationals held at Dietz Range in New Braunfels, Texas...Paul Weller and Don Feltman came all the way from Alaska to shoot with us...I know that the guys in Snow Shoe Alaska were shooting in the Transcontinental League (Postal Matches) for Hunter Class Rifles...
Check out this link...
http://snowshoegunclub.com/


Good Luck
Eddie in Texas
 
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It's my understanding that Homer Strickland packed up & moved to the lower 48.
I haven't been down in that neck of the woods to verify or not.

Alaska-
Full of Texans-
They can't handle the cold & they're humbled when they realize this state is 5X larger than TX.

STBE Harris-
You going to the North Slope for work???
All it takes is volunteers.
Summer is a busy time & a short season-bring on the changing leaves,snow & cold weather!
 
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Homer has built a shop and settled in Arkansas. I talked to him last week. Don used to prep my brass on those long winter nights. I guess that he found out that he was too cheap and he just quit.
The cold up there wasn't too bad, just the long nights.
Butch
 
Hey STBE,
There were some folks in Kodiak shooting some rimfire and centerfire benchrest. I have the e-mail for one of them.
Don has been shooting rimfire benchrest with a few of uss at Birchwood. We are there most weekends between 7 and 8 AM. We're the only ones with windflags and are on D range. We are a prestigious group know and the B&F Shootist Society (Belch and Fart that is)
Send me an e-mail me and I'll get you my phone number and the e-mail for the Kodiak guy.
It was a big loss for us when Homer moved South, but he sounds like he is doing great and he sure dserves it.
Jim
 
Last time I checked, I may be the only one! I live and practice now and again in Juneau, Alaska, and I'd look forward to company. I'm new to the game and shot two matches in Arizona last winter, lots of fun but the travel is a pain and expensive. Nice bunch of folks though, had a great time and I really enjoyed learning new things and the friendly competition. What part of Alaska are you moving to? Regards, Chuck
 
Jinfinn, missed your post, but we have family up your way and we get there now and again. Would enjoy shooting with you. IDo you guys get out all year around, assuming it's above zero??
 
Hey Kodzoff,
We shoot most of the year but we have gotten soft the last few years and generally stay home when it is much below 20 degrees.
If you'd like, e-mail me and let me know about the family you have up here or if you are planning a visit.
Jim
 
STBE,

What part of Alaska are you moving too? This is a big place with few roads.
Benchrest shooting isn't a real popular sport. And with a population density of roughly one person per square mile, finding like minded shooters can be tough.

Last time I heard from Jim, they seemed to have a pretty good crowd for their rimfire matches.

We shoot some rough & ready matches every other Sunday evening in the summer (the alternate weeks are rimfire). Here's a link to the club's website if you end up on the island here.

http://www.kisaorg.com/home/

You can get anything you want up here. It's usually difficult, time consuming and expensive, but it can be done. Ask the locals where ever you end up how to do it.
 
Thanks to all you Alaskans

We are moving to Anchorage should be there for 2-4 years. Be there probably by end of August. I am going to keep your E-mail and phone #'s and call when I get up there. Right now I dont have a clue as to where your locations are in relation to Anchorage. I've been a desert rat in New Mexico and Texas so little aprehensive about the winters there 20 below??? How about Tex Mex food? Will I get withdrawls??

I am on the Rimfire forum also so you will see my posts there. Would love to shoot with you'all. Center fire and Rimfire. Don't shoot in matches much though.

Do you know if you can get your powder, primers and ammo up there. OR do you have to leave it down here and buy new more expensive stuff up there???

STBE aska Nanuk?
 
STBE,
I think you'll find shipping powders and primers up here yourself will be cost prohibative. Getting powder and primers here isn't a big deal. Now getting high-end 22 RF ammo is another matter. There is very little "good" 22 RF ammo sold locally. We have one source for Wolff and several stores sell Remington labeled Eley Match EPS. However, sevral of us have figured out a way to get ammo up here that is not too expensive.
If you are driving through Canada, I think you'll be very restricted on the amount of ammo you can bring. If you are flying Alaska Airlines, you can check up to 50 lbs of small arms ammo with your luggage. They have, however, begun to charge for a second bag.
Keep in touch.
Jim
 
There are very limited amounts of anything benchrest related available here. You can get Federal primers and N-133 if you hunt around a little. Remington/Eley Match ammo is available at a few places. Great Northern Guns had some R-50 last time I passed through Anchorage. Other than that, you're looking at shipping it up.

Flat rate priority mail boxes are by far the cheapest way to ship something here, especially the heavy stuff (are you listening, Bruno's?). The post office isn't any worse than anyone else for shipping rifles either. The rest of the stuff will have to be handled by a freight forwarding service. Carlile and Southern Alaska Forwarding are two that I've used. You'll have more options living in Anchorage (almost everything here passed through Anchorage at some point). You end up paying two shipping charges; one from wherever to Seattle and a second from Seattle up to Alaska. You can also take up to 50 pounds of ammo per person as checked baggage on Alaska Airlines. They're not too shocked if you show up at the ticket counter with guns either. One of the nice things about Alaska is no one cares if you own guns. As a matter of fact, people would think it a little strange if you didn't have at least a couple.

There are a few Mexican restaurants in Anchorage. Can't say how they compare to the best that Texas and New Mexico have to offer. My guess is not favorably.

June would be a better time than August. Winters here can be brutal. Not so much because of the cold, they're also longer and darker than anything you're used to. Be prepared for cabin fever. You're going to have to bundle up and get out in it from time to time to preserve your sanity. Summers are short but glorious though.

The trick to making it in Alaska is to learn to make do or do without. If you want something bad enough, you have to be prepared to do it yourself. How about it, Mr. Match Director?
 
Hi Mike,
Things are going well. I'll shoot you an e-mail.
Whatever happened to the Kodiak guys who were moving up this way?
Jim
 
Weather in Late August

What's the weather like in late August? We'll be in Anchorage, Denali and then on to Fairbanks around the 24th. Not going for shooting, just eating and relaxing. I quit eating Mexican food out side of Texas. Worst I ever tried was in Australia in 2000.
 
Hi Fred,
The weather up here is always a crap shoot, but late August can be nice, although pretty cool by your standards. It can be frosting at night.
By late August the hills are usually getting fall colors, especially up North in Denali.
Maybe we can hook up when you come through. If you don't want Mexican, I can get you to a place that has really outstanding steaks right in Anchorage downtown.
Jim
 
Hey Butch,
The fireweed will be past its peak by then and starting to go to seed, but it still will be pretty.
I'm not sure about the resturant in the Captain Cook, but I can sure steer you to a few Down Town. Club Paris is the one with great steaks. It's a hole in the wall place that has been here for many years. The Glacier Brew House and Simond and Seaforts an another two good ones.
Maybe we can get together and swap Homer stories. I miss having him up here.
Jim
 
Jim,
We moved back in 1980 to Texas. We sure miss it. Is the Arctic Roadrunner hamburger joint still there? Homer has built a big shop. He said the next time he goes to Houston he will stop in and spend some time with me. This is getting further off topic.
Butch
 
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