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Gaston, SC - October 27-28, 2012

Started by TheIronMantis, October 29, 2012, 03:48:45 PM

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TheIronMantis

Fourteen gallant shooters attended the clinic this past weekend at the Mid Carolina Rifle Club in Gaston, SC.  The weather was a bit windy, but absolutely beautiful.  It was a welcome change from the last event at this range, which has since been coined the Deathseed due to the extremely hot temperatures we experienced on 6/30 and 7/1.

After the welcome and safety briefings we got to business on the redcoat targets.  Ten out of the 14 shooters were able to qualify at a distance of at least 100 yards, and two were able to score a hit on the 250 yd headshot.  These numbers were above average, and demonstrate that we know how to shoot all right in South Carolina, but we definitely have some room to improve on.

The firehouse was then turned on.  Shooters were taught several courses of instruction including proper sling use, steady hold factors in prone, six steps of firing the shot, inches minutes and clicks, South Carolina skootchin' our NPOA and several other tools to throw in the ol' Riflemen's tool box.  However, this group of shooters was unique.  Right off the bat, most were grouping within 8 MOA or less on the first square target of the day.

Lunch time and a well deserved break came around noon.  We all heard the inspiring stories of the 1st and 2nd strikes as told by DrJohn and dreamerofdreams, repectively.  After lunch it was back to the firing line for some more squeezin' of the trigger.

Steady hold factors in the standing and seated positions were taught along with transitions and mag changes.  Then it was time to break out the old anvil called the AQT and see if we could forge some Riflemen.  Lo and behold, on the first AQT of the day Zach, a DI from nearby Ft. Jackson scored a 214 and earned his Rifleman patch.  After the AQT, another well deserved break was taken and TAZdevil told us the 3rd strike.

At the end of the next AQT we found we had a woman with us who also knew very much what she was about.  Erica scored a 216 on the AQT.  After another AQT it was time to close it out with another red coat target.  The overall numbers were not as good as the morning redcoat.  It was probably due to all that "safetyonstanding" that mean line boss had them do throughout the afternoon.  However, we did have a lot more 300, 400 and headshots than we did in the morning.  We closed out Saturday with a nice benediction and learned what our responsibilities as Rifleman and soon to be Riflemen are.

Sunday morning five shooters returned to continue learning new skills and practicing the skills that were taught on Saturday.  Sunday morning was a quick review of the teachings from Saturday.  Two AQTs were shot before lunch and we found us another Rifleman.  Tom showed us that even if you run out of time on stage 2 it could still be done.  Even with only getting about half his shots off on stage 2 he made those shots count, did well on the other stages and scored 215 on the first AQT.  Although, not besting his previous score he backed it up with a 211.  Lunch time rolled around again and we heard the stories of DANGEROUS old men, brave women and gallant children as told by leadfarmer and TAZDevil.  Afterwards, we were taught some skills of advanced marksmanship.

After lunch we shot a few more AQTs and took a break.  During this break we heard a little bit about the revolutionary war battles that took place in the Palmetto State.  We heard very briefly about the battles and Charleston and Camden and how they didn't go very well.  Then we heard more detail about the massacre that Tarleton perpetrated on Abraham Buford and his men at Waxhaws, and how this battle provided  the spark needed to light the fire of liberty of those in the south.  We tied it all together when we heard about a group of Overmountain Men came over to take care of Patrick Ferguson at the Battle of King's mountain.

After a few more AQTs we moved the firing line back to 100 yards.  Shooters applies lessons taught during inches-minutes-clicks while shooting at this distance.  After two sighter volleys we shot an advanced AQT.  Our Shootboss TAZdevil showed us how it was done, by qualifying with a score of 176.  Afterwards, we were all beat and it was starting to get dark.  We closed the day up and said our goodbyes.  However, Erica and Tom decided that they wanted to grab a bigger bucket to bail with and decided to become IITs!

All in all it was a great shoot.  Congrats to all shooters and the new Rifle(wo)men and to the new IITs.

I have two pictures, but Adena, our new state coordinator, will have many more two share.

Here is Tom getting his patch.


Shootboss, TAZdevil with his Advanced AQTs after showing us all how it was done.


Adena

What a great weekend for shooting!!!

Thank you to all the shooters that came to learn about marksmanship and heritage.

Thank you to the incredible group of instructors that spent the weekend sharing their knowledge.

Finally, thank you to Erica and Tom for stepping up and taking Orange Hats!  ^:)^  ^:)^  ^:)^

Adena











"Children should be educated and instructed in the principles of freedom." - John Adams

"The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave." - Patrick Henry, Speech in the Virginia Convention, March 23, 1775

TAZDevil

Weather was great, nice fall day
3 riflemen!
TAZ
"An Englishman's home is his castle" Jason Russell

"Posterity, you will never know how much it cost the present generation to preserve your freedom. I hope you will make good use of it. If you do not, I shall repent in heaven that ever I took half the pains to preserve it."  John Adams

L0ck3

Great range, great shooters and great weekend. I hope to see you all next time.
Thanks.
L0ck3 (Tom)
310-709-5608
I am capital L zero c k three on Appleseed forum and LibertySeed forum.


Every man has a property in his own person. This nobody has a right to, but himself.
--John Locke

Government has no other end, but the preservation of property.
--John Locke