The Libby Rod and Gun Club recently hosted the 13th annual Safari Rifle Challenge. The big bore rifle competition drew shooters from MT, ID, WA, OR, NV, AZ, TX, CO, and Canada. They came armed with everything from .375 and .416 caliber bolt actions to custom .600 Nitro Express and 10 Bore Double Rifles. The ten different stages of required shooters to engage everything from photo realistic life size moving Cape Buffalo targets down to small steel plates, all at distances from 30-120 yards. Two of the events that proved to be very popular this year were the life size photo target of a fast-charging Rhinoceros powered by a modified ATV,







and the "charging water jugs" event where two competitors must shoot the three one-gallon water jugs swinging from a cart racing towards them. Some jugs were shot so close that even the spectators got wet from the spray!













Match director Jay Sheffield said that the competition would not happen without the help of the numerous volunteers who show up every year to set the various stage scenarios and to immediately repair severely damaged targets, all with the efficiency of a NASCAR pit crew.



The competition is also the main fundraising event for the youth participants of the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP). Seven high school age members of the team came out to assist with scoring, target set up and to provide some youthful energy to several of the rope towed moving targets.







Four of the team's parents also provided a catered meal for the shooters and guests. Each year the match competitors prove to be extremely generous to the youth shooting programs and this year was no exception.



The events primary sponsor, Shawn Joyce of Diizche Safari Adventures provided the first place trophy of a Bronze Lion as well as a large number of great items for the raffle table.











While many participants also quietly made cash donations, the gentleman who brought the .600 Nitro Express double rifle offered other competitors a once in a lifetime opportunity to shoot that rifle for $50 a shot with all proceeds going to the youth shooting team. With factory ammo normally selling for $100 per round, a dozen adventurous folks took advantage of the unique opportunity to launch a .620 caliber, 900-grain bullet at over 2050 feet per second as it generated over 8400 ft lbs of energy. They quickly raised $600 while earning themselves a few bruised shoulders in the process.



The final tally of funds raised to support the SCTP youth shooting team was over $2,300.

When the dust finally settled, Libby's own John Harma (center) was declared the winner with a score of 193/220.







Exceptional shooting considering that all shots were taken offhand, and several of the ten rings were only one inch in diameter.



Many of the competitors had attended the shoot in previous years and all were impressed by the dramatic expansion of the Lincoln County range facility and the improvements to its infrastructure. The Libby Rod and Gun Club, the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners and our local National Forest Service Supervisors Office have all worked together to create what is truly the finest FREE public range in the state of Montana.



The competition is held every year on the second Saturday in June. If you own a safari rifle in caliber .375 or larger and would like to shoot against some of the best in the country, contact [email protected] for more information.





Random pictures......



Saving the injured tourist.













Dang that buffalo is big....



[img]https://i.imgur.com/YOtGkpk.jpg[/img]



A few nice guns.



[img]https://i.imgur.com/79ZPDkc.jpg[/img]



[img]https://i.imgur.com/RwmIsPf.jpg[/img]



[img]https://i.imgur.com/1njdqZ8.jpg[/img]









Will add more pics soon.

Very coolest event that looks like it would be a blast (pun intended) to participate in. Some beautiful rifles too!

The last picture…is that an 8 ball that’s been inlaid and mated to a Hogue stock? 😳…..cool idea but the inlay has to cost more than the stock it accentuates. 😂

Yup, real billiard ball. Owners a pretty handy fellow that did it himself.

I had other commitments at home that weekend and was wishing I was there the whole time. I am going to make it happen next year. Looks like too much fun and way to close to home for me to have any excuses with a year to plan.

Shoot me a message at the email address below and I will get you on our private/secure email list.


[email protected]

JCS, Thanks for posting the review and photos. Sure looks like a fun event. Quite an assortment of rifles.