![Image](http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g66/packrat1/Rat%20Rodeo%206-09/DSC_0129.jpg)
Two of our crew from western Oregon set up benches on a hill at the ranchers house. The hill was 450 yards, (direct laser measured) overlooking the center of a rat infested field. We were set up at 90* from them, at 525 yards to the center of the same field......see the relationship to the rock shooting mentioned above? It was very cool to watch the dust signature from them shooting, miss a rat, them wack/launch the rat from 525 right out from under them so to speak. What fun (the pic was shot from 500+ yards using a 200mm tele lens from our shooting position).
![Image](http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g66/packrat1/Rat%20Rodeo%206-09/DSC_0093-1.jpg)
Yours truly drawing a bead on Skippy with my Cooper Varmint 223. With the intense heat, I wanted to shoot a caliber a bit slower than my 204's for barrel-saving heat issues. Even shooting 40gr BT's at 3,700 fps, it was a chore to keep our barrels cool this trip:
![Image](http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g66/packrat1/Rat%20Rodeo%206-09/DSC_0058-2.jpg)
This was only about a 225 yard shot, but you can see the rat flying in the dust signature:
![Image](http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g66/packrat1/Rat%20Rodeo%206-09/DSC_0057-3.jpg)
Here's Gary (Captqc) pondering where the next squirrel will appear, dreaming about his new Cooper Phoenix 204 somewhere between Ohio and Oregon:
![Image](http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g66/packrat1/Rat%20Rodeo%206-09/DSC_0037-1.jpg)
This place is so nice, it's almost like varmint shooting in a park; perfect!
![wink :wink:](./images/smilies/wink.gif)
![Image](http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g66/packrat1/Rat%20Rodeo%206-09/DSC_0102-1.jpg)
One of our alternate positions was on a hill overlooking a peninsula on the lake at the ranch. This is Captqc's and my setup, "beachside":
![Image](http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g66/packrat1/Rat%20Rodeo%206-09/DSC_0104.jpg)
Big hole, little squirrel: (Probably moved into an old badger hole. Hitting these guys past 400 yards is a real feat, believe me...)
![Image](http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g66/packrat1/Rat%20Rodeo%206-09/DSC_0122-1.jpg)
The terminal effect of a Nosler .224" 40 grain Ballistic Tip at 3,700 fps, courtesy of "Rosa", my Cooper .223:
![Image](http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g66/packrat1/Rat%20Rodeo%206-09/DSC_0121-1.jpg)
Sorta turns 'em inside out, no?
This is a parting shot of "Rosa" cooling her hot barrel under my shade canopy wearing her new Leupold Alumna scope covers....very nice addition, and they fold flat if wanted.
![Image](http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g66/packrat1/Rat%20Rodeo%206-09/DSC_0012-2.jpg)
She got a good workout this trip, and I'm now looking at an impressive pile of freshly tumbled brass ready to reload for next season. I can tell now that the "Cooper Curse" is upon me, and possibly Captqc also (can't have only one.....) Hope you enjoyed the trip pics and have a great varmint season in your own area of our great country.