Running Boar Competition

[Owen]

I spent some time in the Dupleks booth at SHOT where they were playing the video linked below, showing a running boar competition with shotgun slugs. I was aware of the rifle version of the competition, but had never seen it done with realistic hunting type equipment.

Do you think this has any potential in the US?

http://youtu.be/o5dFQiQJfds

 

[Howard Roark]

It has long ago come and gone as Olympic and ISSF sports.

In the beginning it was running deer shot at 100m. Cost of range construction caused the venue to be downsized in 1966 to running boar at 50m. I remember the old running boar range by Phillips Range on Ft. Benning. These were shot with full power .308s.

In 1982 running boar was reduced to 10m running target shot with an air rifle. The target was a reduced boar from 50 to 10m and it was called the squealing rat target if I remember correctly. In 1990 the target was changed to a bullseye. The event was dropped altogether in 2004. Some info can be found here.

There were always very few people around the world that competed in these events. Some of the shooters from that era are still shooting though. Troy Lawton is one of them and is still crushing us at high power and silhouette. I had a few friends that were on the USA running target team that had to move to other disciplines when moving target shut down. I was never in the Army or on any team, just a hanger on and also shot.


Edited to add:
I suspect that the cost of range construction would be a prohibiting factor as a start-up for field competition.

 

[Mike OTDP]

That being said, I think there may be a potential for a running target event - but it would have to be closer to sporting clays in philosophy. Meaning that the event is whatever the organizers can contrive, instead of a specific target moving at a specified speed at a controlled distance.

Work it that way, and you can mount the target on a radio-controlled vehicle of some sort. Those are cheap.

 

[Owen]

Mike,

that's kind of what the Dupleks guy was saying: that the setups aren't that expensive, and just use gravity, a slope and rollerblade wheels to move the target.

I think the strictness of the setups kind of hurts the ISSF games, because they are usually expensive to build (mandatory electronic targets for most events now).

 

[Mike OTDP]

Electronic targets are only required at the full International level - Olympics, World Championships, and World Cup matches. I've shot on them, and they are very nice...but expensive. And not something that you could turn the Duffer Brigade loose on.

The headaches for both Running Target and International Rapid Fire are that the target systems are not cheap, even at the club level. I don't think there are more than two dozen RF bays operating in the entire United States.

 

[bcrt]

running boar

Hello, I am new to this message board but am interested in running target and running boar. I have a 10m rt machine and would like to begin shooting 50m running boar. Is there anyone here that could point me in the right direction or help me find people who shoot running boar? Thank you

 

[rcmodel]

Probably not very many in the U.S.A.

It is primarily a European sport, and there are only a very few ranges here with the necessary facilities to do it.

Wish I could help you.
But, I can't.

I have lived a life of shooting, and have never seen a real Running Bore rifle range in the USA.

See this for further info.
http://runningboar.com/running-target-history

rc

 

[blindhari]

In 1968 I was a serving in Berlin. Consul there got us embroiled in what turned out to be a status rifle match I had never heard of called "Running Boar". So Berlin Brigade formed a Running Boar rifle team which was a pain in the a** from the get go. First of all we had no bolt rifles to compete with. This was taken care of with a slush fund purchase of Sako double trigger rifles. Three weeks of tuning and we rode over to the East German side of Berlin to take a look at the range/course. To shorten the story we took the East Germans, the Hungarians, the West Germans and Russian rifle teams to the cleaners. All six of us were given our rifles at an awards banquet. Robert Kennedy was shot in June I think, and they took away the rifles and the import permits. We wound up with a thank you note and a hearty handclasp from the "assistant consul"

Sgt.
3rd Btn, 6th Inf
Berlin Brigade

 

[Odd Job]

In 1982 running boar was reduced to 10m running target shot with an air rifle. The target was a reduced boar from 50 to 10m and it was called the squealing rat target if I remember correctly. In 1990 the target was changed to a bullseye. The event was dropped altogether in 2004.

That makes sense. I joined my rifle club here in London back in 2003. There was a running rat target at the club for air rifles and pistols. It was a plate that moved on a rail with pulleys if I remember correctly.
I never tried it, because I was more interested in other things at the time. I haven't seen it used at all at the club in recent years.

 

[Jim Watson]

And before that was the 100 metre Running Deer competition, to be shot with a manually operated iron sighted centerfire rifle. The ISU shooters just worked real hard on shucking their Mausers for the doubles runs, We Colonials got sneaky. Walter Winans won with a Rigby double in .22 Savage High Power early on. In the 1960s the AMU built some Remington 760 pumps with long Hart barrels in .222 and Redfield International peep sights.

But the event was dumbed down over time and eventually dropped.

 

[bcrt]

How do we get running boar going in the US?

 

[bcrt]

Are there any shooters that live in Arizona that would be interested in trying to push for a running boar club? I've contacted Ben Avery here in AZ and they have a running boar range. It needs a lot of work. It would also take a lot of shooters willing to show up and shoot for Ben Avery to allow us to use the running boar range. You see, they've built 3 pistol ranges in front of it. Due to safety these ranges would have to be closed if someone were using the rb range.

 

[Dr.Rob]

That looks like fun, and practical.

 

[bcrt]

running boar/ running target

It sure is a lot of fun, and though im not a hunter running boar would be excellent practice for those that do hunt. I myself just started shooting 10m running target with an air rifle and its completely addictive! There are a few of us out here in the US that are trying to get it going again. I'm hoping to go to Texas and shoot in some running boar matches with some of the other guys. Just need a 22 rifle and want to have some fun. That's it.
I could be completely wrong and don't mean to offend, but I think only part of the problem is the lack of ranges. I think another part of the problem is that the word competitions scare off new shooters to the sport. Don't get me wrong, there's absolutely no funding for rt/rb in the US so that is the triple whammy. Its just when I think about how many hunters there are in the states, I can't help and think running boar would be huge! 22, or any other caliber!
I think, and this is my own personal opinion, is that at least in the beginning of getting shooters to the sport, we need to relax the issf rules and find cheaper alternatives to the running boar target system. Ranges don't want to invest in permanent structures that only get used by the few. There have to be other smaller remote controlled carrying systems that don't require a permanent spot at the range. I know some tactical companies make small remote controlled carts that can fit inside the trunk of a car. Using something like this would be cheaper as well. Ranges may be more open to the idea of allowing demonstrations. Thus seeing how they could attract more shooters to their ranges. I may get a lot of flack for changing out the old traditional expensive permanent carrying system for a modern less expensive non traditional system, but in the end we need to find a way to get people shooting this sport. Even if its not approved by the issf. Once we have the number of shooters involved in the sport, we can worry about issf rules. Thoughts or feedback?

 

[jmorris]

I made a running target a number of years ago using an old cordless drill. Set it up so it would stop at either end or you could make it run from either end and back before stopping.

Videos here.

http://vid121.photobucket.com/albums/o213/jmorrismetal/runner1.mp4

Two different diameters in the pully I machined to replace the chuck gave two different speeds plus the 2 sped gear box in the drill would let it go from pretty slow to faster than I can run.

http://vid121.photobucket.com/albums/o213/jmorrismetal/runner2.mp4

The tighter you had the supports the less bounce you have. The most interesting use I had for it was to use it as moving cover, like this video.


I just added some box tube to the normal target stands that would hold a 2x4 and used the same tubing to hold a cable winch and my driver at any height on the 2x4. Ratchet tie downs at either end keep it in place.
http://vid664.photobucket.com/albums/vv5/qvideo/mvsa/aug15/aug143.mp4

The length of the run is only limited by how much cable you have on the winch and string you use to drive the trolly. The last video we set the stage up so all of the targets could be engaged at the end as well, of you didn't have a chance to get them while moving.

Like this video.
http://vid664.photobucket.com/albums/vv5/qvideo/mvsa/aug15/aug149.mp4

 

[bcrt]

That's really cool!! I love the ingenuity! I think that shows everyone how much fun and difficulty shooting at a moving target can be. I think shooting at static targets is fun as well, but deep down inside don't we all want our shooting ranges to have something like this! Great for fun, tactical shooting, hunting recreations and my passion...running boar/running target competitions. Americans are great marksman. Europeans are shooting running boar matches...why aren't we?? I know it would catch on quick and quickly Americans could be representing our skills in international competitions. THAT would be AWESOME!!!

 

[jmorris]

I like building things from ideas and shooting a moving target is fun (I have more moving targets than most clubs, ranges (including LEO, military folks have) and some that just don't exist anywhere else) but the most fun I have had was shooting and watching others shoot and move with it dictating the speed. Really makes it a totally different dynamic.

That malfunction that normally seems like a just a second turns into a 20 yard difference.

 

[oneounceload]

Get a big enough RC car and build the holder to fit on top.

A friend did it inversely as a target carrier in his indoor range. The car runs in a track to keep it straight

 

[bcrt]

I considered the idea of using a remote controlled car/carrier. If we used something like that a stabilizer of sorts would have to made to keep the target from bouncing up and down over stones or rough terrain. I believe that's why issf approved carrying systems slide on a rail system. It gives each shooter a consistently smooth run allowing for accuracy. If a stabilizer could be worked out we could do away with the permanent running boar installations that use sliders. I know while hunting animals move up and down, zig and zag, but in a competition for accuracy a target going over a rock could turn a 10 into a 7. That wouldn't be good. Any ideas what could be used to keep the target stable as if it were on a polished slider?

 

[bcrt]

If anyone wonders why there aren't a lot of running boar ranges. I just got a quote from a company. They want $12,500 for their system...an issf approved system. Crazy

 

[jmorris]

If anyone wonders why there aren't a lot of running boar ranges. I just got a quote from a company. They want $12,500 for their system...an issf approved system. Crazy

What is an ISSF approved system?

I understand that they may not allow an RC car on a track but what exactly is "approved" not a lot of magic, even if you have to use stepper motors to control speed. The distance you need to run is a bigger factor.

 

[bcrt]

Good question. You may be able to find an answer by downloading the rule book for running boar? All I know for sure is that some companies advertise "issf approved".

 

[bcrt]

Your question about what exactly is an approved issf system gets me wondering...how do you get them (issf) to approve a different design? Anyhow, I like the way you think. Wish I had some of your engineering skills. I'd start playing around with some ideas.

 

[bcrt]

Looking at the rule book. For running boar, rule 6.4.15.3 "Targets for 50m are placed on a trolley or target carrier constructed so that the two targets (one running to the left and one to the right) can be alternately shown. The trolley may run on tails, cable, or similar system and must be moved by a driving unit which can be regulated accurately for speed. Targets for 10m are not changed for left and right runs".

I wonder what "or a similar system" means? Probably up to issf discretion? There are more rules to range conditions but I don't see anything else describing the mechanism itself. Probably missing something somewhere. The rule book is huge

 

[bcrt]

Run on rails. Not tails.