Pumpkin Shoot 2012!

[Apple a Day]

Yep, it's that time of year again!
This year I decided to try a new twist; make some brains out of grits, pack them in the pumpkins, and see how they turned out. My daughter took the first shot and the pumpkin exploded. Completely. Brains everywhere.
The second pumpkin took a round which popped the "hatch" I'd cut to add the fake brains and sent it spinning. Her third shot literally knocked its brains out in a big, gnarly lump. There were cheers on the firing line.
The grits clumped well, looked like raw meat, and was easy to clean up once we were done. The gourds I left empty and they took a lot of abuse before they were done. Pics below.
Pic1: Chagrin. He lost his mind. I found it and tried to put it back in
Pic2: Scatterbrain. I couldn't do much for him.
Pic3: Lucky. He took one round through the noggin but it knocked off his stem, he fell, and didn't have to take any more abuse- hence the name.
The other pumpkins were bits.

 

[Apple a Day]

Here are a few pics of the process.
I drilled a hole through the stem to tie onto the target stands so they could swing freely.
Then I cut out a hatch in the back and scooped out the loose guts and most of the seeds
Grits were cooked, food coloring added until it all looked like raw meat
Then the grits were packed in the cavity and sealed with duct tape.

 

[Apple a Day]

All in the name of turning these guys into mulch. The weather was gorgeous. My daughter and I had a great time.
All shots were with a .22 caliber Henry pistol or a Davey Crickett at 25 yards.
Post your own pics/videos!

 

[bigfatdave]

I'll probably wait until the end of the month for my pumpkin season, but I really like the "brains" idea. Last year I tried to shove in shredded paper and water, it was a pain to do and didn't work well.

 

[Dave P.]

Somebody finally comes up with a good use for grits!
Dave

 

[Lo8080]

I love the idea sounds like a lot of fun.

 

[scallop]

Had a similar session a month or so ago with my son. Not as creative as you with the brain mixture, (I did tape some ketchup packs on the mannequin tho) but several pumpkins met their maker. Tons of fun and the deer like to clean it up. Will do another couple three pumpkin sacrifices in the coming weeks. Sorry no carnage pix.....

 

[19-3Ben]

Somebody finally comes up with a good use for grits!

Those are some serious fightin' words. I love grits, and I say that as a New Englander.

Awesome shots and looks fun. I'm surprised by the power of a .22. I wouldn't have thought you'd get a "brains everywhere" kind of reaction out of it!
I can just imagine what would have happened had you used something like a Mosin Nagant.

 

[gp911]

Brings back memories of plinking in my grandparents' garden with my .410 as a youth. Once they were done picking melons, cukes, & squash it was open season!

 

[captain awesome]

I hope I can do some this year, missed out last year. I love the grits idea.

 

[Apple a Day]

I'm surprised by the power of a .22. I wouldn't have thought you'd get a "brains everywhere" kind of reaction out of it!

They are only softball sized pumpkins so a .22 will do the job. I've shot plenty of unaltered pumpkins and they drill holes through, spall some as they leave. Crammed with grits, though, there's no cavity inside to expand into. It's all got to go outwards.

Lots and lots of uses for grits! Tonight I made bean stew and tossed in some grits while it was simmering to thicken it up and give it some nice texture. Tomorrow morning I might make "yellow grits"... take a couple of eggs over easy, toss 'em into a bowl of grits with cheese and bacon, mix it all up and you have a fine breakfast.

 

[9mmfan]

Fall camping trips we have taken to cutting a hole in the pumpkins and putting some tannerite in there. Doesn't work with .22s, but higher power rifles blow 'em right up. Orange goo goes everywhere. A little redneck and a whole lotta fun. I have seen explosive targets that say they work with rimfires, but haven't tried them yet.

 

[Jeff F]

We have not had ours yet, its on the 27th, be some full auto and pumpkins packed with thing that go boom. Its a good time.

 

[Swing]

LOL! 'Tis that time of year.