THE UNOFFICIAL DEFCON SHOOT PAGE
WHAT
WHERE
WHEN
WHY
WHOA
WOOT!
WOW!
The DEFCON Shoot is a public event that happens just prior to the DEFCON hacker conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is an opportunitiy to see and possibly shoot some of the guns belonging to your friends while taking pride in showing and firing your own steel, as well, in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.
To heck with paying entrace fees and dealing with staff at a local range... we just pull off the side of the road in the desert and manage everything ourselves. The DEFCON Shoot takes place at the Lovell Group Campsite on Lovell Canyon Road, about 6 miles off of State Route 160. This spot is about 7 or 8 miles due West of Las Vegas proper as the crow flies, which translates to about 30 miles of highway time. Add on the small streets before and after, and Mr. Google estimates a trip of exactly one hour from the Riv to the range. This is an established shooting spot, and one where just about any type of safe, sane shooting is legal. Bring your Class-III and NFA steel if your paperwork is in order, because anything goes as long as you're not being a dick.
The DEFCON Shoot takes place on the Thursday prior to the start of DEFCON. We begin rallying all interested parties in the lobby of hotel around 06:30 and get underway by 07:00. The shoot itself starts at 08:00 and usually ends between 10:00 and 11:00.
We always hope to be be back in our vehicles and departing by 11:00 in order to be back at the Riviera with plenty of time to spare so that all folks working DC101 or attending the ToxicBBQ have time to clean up, change, etc.
For many years, the DEFCON Shoot was a beloved part of the world's largest hacker convention. Gun owning geeks would rally together in Vegas for DEFCON and -- in between the talks, parties, and general goings-on in Sin City -- they would take the time one morning to head out in the desert and blow off some steam by letting loose with loads of ordinance. Organized by CHS, a highly venerated DEFCON Goon, this event took place year after year until 2005.
As is so often the case with events at DEFCON, times had changed and the event had outgrown its surroundings. For a number of years, there was no DEFCON Shoot... the ranges where it had taken place in the past had been swallowed up by the city's suburban sprawl and folks just needed a break. Now, however, with the help of some new blood, the event has been resurrected. While CHS is no longer leading the proceedings, we always hope to see him and many of the veterans of past DC-Shoot events at the firing line.
I frequently used to gather some of my closest compadres for trips to local rental ranges like The Gun Store or American Shooters, but since I have only been attending DEFCON since DC8 I thus missed out on a great deal of the earlier fun. Nowadays, I have become the DEFCON Shoot's primary coordinator and have tried to whip up enough gun enthusiasts' support to see this sort of high-powered good time continue happening.
Since we're not at a gun range operating as a business this year, there are no cover fees and no other costs associated, other than ammo. We'd like to work out a system whereby people who are interested in specific calibers can buy in bulk and have things shipped in advance, so keep an eye on the DEFCON Shoot area of the forums for details on that front.
If you'd also be interested in contributing to the costs of our supplies and extra baggage fees (for those of us who are bringing extra firearms to let others try) we may pass the hat... but there should be no official costs to show up and participate.
Naturally, we'd really love it if you stuck around for at least a few minutes afterwards to help police up the trash, etc. If you can't do that (and have to dash back to the hotel for other obligations on Thursday) at least be sure to handle your own debris, casings, etc.
So, you think you'd like to participate in the newly-revitalized DEFCON Shoot? That's great! I can't do it without you! Swing on over to the DEFCON Forums to talk with others about the shoot or just email me... deviant [åt] deviating [döt] net
We can't have the shoot without you, so don't delay... let us know your level of interest today!
WOW! LOOKS LIKE YOU ALL HAD FUN!
Yes, indeed... it's always a great time when you get a bunch of gun people together.
Here are some photos from the 2008 DEFCON Shoot...
Here is a video montage from the 2009 DEFCON Shoot...
