Red Rabbit

sounds like it is growing again.

Here is the inciweb link with map. Glad it went more north rather than northeast to Jacob Lake. https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6748/

https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/coconino/news-events/?cid=FSEPRD748497 Stage 2 fire restrictions to expand across Coconino, Kaibab national forests FLAGSTAFF, Ariz., June 9, 2020 — The Coconino and Kaibab national forests of northern Arizona will implement Stage 2 fire restrictions across both forests at 8 a.m., June 13, due to increasing fire danger and the need to prevent human-caused wildfires during potentially dangerous fire conditions. The Kaibab National Forest will also temporarily close the Bill Williams Mountain watershed just southwest of the City of Williams due to the area's susceptibility to uncharacteristically severe wildfire and the post-wildfire flooding that would result. The Stage 2 fire restrictions will prohibit the following: Fires, campfires, charcoal, coal and wood stoves. Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least 3 feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of any flammable material. Welding or operating an acetylene or other torch with open flame. Operating a chainsaw or other equipment powered by an internal combustion engine between the hours of 9 a.m. and 8 p.m.

As an alternative to tough sand and water, buckets filled with wood shavings like for hamster cages, or garden mulch, and filled with water may be good. Finding bullet fragments would be more difficult than with plain jugs of water though. Maybe just one jug of mulch and water in front?

A guy I know here in Flagstaff took his North American Grand Slam with his 30-06. I also hunted with a guy who's son took a Kodiak brown bear with a 25-06 and TSX bullet. As many say, bullets matter more than head stamps.

What rifle chamberings do you currently have? Intended game? Range/distance? Budget? One rifle to cover everything? Do you reload? Muzzle brake or suppressor? Assuming factory ammo, for coues and antelope and less recoil, perhaps a 6.5 PRC A 300 WSM throwing a 150 Nosler Accubond will be flatter with less wind drift (but with a little more recoil) than a 143 ELDX from a 6.5 PRC. The WSM would have the advantage of heavier wider bullets for elk and bear. 270 WSM, 300 Win Mag, 7mm Rem Mag would be good considerations also on the magnum side, and 270 Win or 30-06 on standard cartridges. Plenty of variety of factory ammo to choose from and find one that your rifle likes.

sounds rather unforgiving. how much penetration have you gotten into the wet sand?

Trying to think of ideas for relatively inexpensive media to test bullet performance. 50/50 paraffin/vaseline, wet newspaper, wet acoustic ceiling tiles, gallon water jugs, 1/4" fiberboard to simulate shoulder bone, flour/salt modeling clay. A search on another forum had a post suggesting "terra sorb" which forms a gel for water retention in soil. Any other ideas of an inexpensive material that would be consistent and reasonably simulate muscle/ribs/shoulder blade?

Took advantage of some light winds in northern Arizona this morning to get out and shoot some of the 124 Hammer Hunters behind H1000 powder. Sure have had some windy days lately with one having gusts to 65mph. This is the first group of 5 shots into 0.58" at 100 yards. 3298 fps average with ES of 49 and SD of 17. The ProChrono lists a deviation up to 1%, so that could be +/- 33 fps, ES 66fps. So some of the ES of the string could be chronograph error.

interesting info: https://k2radio.com/wells-fargo-sues-cody-firm-gunwerks-claims-it-owes-2-8-million/

look under the bonus point reports listed under the bonus point process on the website. https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/azgfd-portal-wordpress-pantheon/wp-content/uploads/archive/Individual-Bonus-Point-Report-as-of-3-13-2020.pdf

Rick Jamison had plans about 30 years ago for a shooting bench and I built a bench which I still use today. The high school welding shop made the brackets for me. You can also buy some here: https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/14883552/1

I suspect if use of steel core bullets, tracers, and tannerite were eliminated by shooters, then the wildfire problems would be mitigated. 452, is BLM land closed?

From the Badlands website "..and the best part is that our bullets can be loaded just like any conventional bullet." I did not notice much difference in charge:velocity:pressure when using either the Badlands Bulldozer or Hammer Hunter vs regular jacketed bullets, unlike needing reduced charges for a Barnes TTSX or Nosler e-tip. For example I got 3122 fps with 65.5 gr Ramshot Magnum and 130 Swift Scirocco, and 3154fps with 65.5 gr Magnum and 125 Bulldozer. I had the Bulldozers seated 0.020" off the lands. I have not tried a Berger VLD with the new barrel.

Used the last 5 Hammer Hunters with some CCI 250 primers. Groups and ES/SD got worse. A new box of bullets should arrive soon to try H1000 instead of the Ramshot Magnum.