Winterseed: National Rifle Association Whittington Center April 16-17, 2016

[TaosGlock]

This was our opening event for 2016 at the prestigious NRA Whittington Center.

What we got were some of the most horrendous conditions we have ever encountered in our nearly decade of teaching here.
50 mph winds, temps in the 20's, sub-zero wind chill and snow and visibility to a few yards. 

All other events at the WC were canceled.

In true Rifleman tradition, our show went on. 
5 hardy shooters showed up to be immersed in the warmth of rifle marksmanship and American heritage.

We only cancel events due to weather for safety reasons; bolt or sheet lightning, tornados, tsunami's and earthquakes.
Our record remains intact.

We set up a mock firing line for the initial instruction inside the Coors building on the Coors Range.
It finally cleared up but the cold and wind persisted, as did the shooters.

What a rugged and hardy lot of shooters. And we got 2 Rifleman to boot!
It makes our heart swell with pride as American's are not quitters.

More later as we are still thawing out...

Thanks to Captwa's wife Barbara for the pics!

Below, the flag at the main entrance to the NRA WC was shredded in the gale force gusts.
WC staff had to get creative to get it down.
A ladder on the ground, chained to the flag pole enabled the workers to reach the top pulley with a pole.


Below,we set up the target line in the worst of it at about 7:45 AM.
Visibility is less than 400 yards. BlueFeather (in the orange coat) Captwa and Jones (R) use wire, sandbags and extra t-posts to keep the line intact.
Still, it had that 4 MOA wobble. but that is as good as it's gonna get...for now. The camera is hard to hold steady.


Below, the shooters show up and we adapt the instruction modules for the inside with a mock firing line.
Then we sneak out for a round of shooting and head back in for more.
Note the 2 propane heaters. Thanks to NRA WC staff, Eric Whaley and Butch Priest for getting those up. The building is more of a windbreak.


When it is cold, you do what it takes to warm up before heading back out into the blizzard!

[TaosGlock]

 Can you hit a target at 25 yards? How about at 500 yards? Whether you are new to the shooting sports or a seasoned shooter Appleseed will be able to teach you a thing or two.

For the new shooter we can teach you to use your rifle safely and also be able to hit your target. For the seasoned shooter we can teach you to shoot more accurately - even out to 500 yards.

Project Appleseed can help transform you from a man with a rifle into a Rifleman. A Rifleman is more than a man (or woman) with a rifle. A Rifleman understands that owning and mastering a rifle is part of his heritage as an American. And he knows why: This is a nation founded by Riflemen -- men and women skilled in the use of arms.

Those skills served the colonists well when they stood up to the British on April 19, 1775, at Lexington and Concord, and routed the British forces that tried to seize the colonists' arms. They did it with grit, with determination, and with superior skill in marksmanship. They pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor to the task. And they didn't stop until they had won. Throughout history, Riflemen have embodied personal responsibility and been pillars of their communities, characteristics that are becoming ever more rare in our nation.

At Project Appleseed, we want to return America to being a nation of Riflemen. And we want you to join us

As always, we arrived at the NRA WC to set up the line on Friday afternoon. Shooters are usually greeted with the usual welcoming committee:


Our usual traveling crew of 3. Our truck is bulging with rifles, ammo, steel targets and shooting supplies, close to spilling out. As we drove down to the Coors Range in some very nice spring weather, we thought "Hey, what could possibly go wrong this weekend?''


That question was answered at midnight as the windows of the cabin started shaking due to the high winds. By 7:30 Sat AM, it was as though  another season moved in. The weather was degrading rapidly and visibility was down to a few hundred yards.
We wondered how many shooters would show up!



Then they all arrived! Due to the weather, we simply set up a mock firing line inside and did the POI with the COF doing dry fire.





...more to come.

[TaosGlock]

Through Project Appleseed, the Revolutionary War Veterans Association is committed to teaching two things: rifle marksmanship and our early American heritage. We do this for one simple reason, the skill and knowledge of what our founding fathers left to us is eroding in modern America and without deliberate action, they will be lost to ignorance and apathy.

Is there a direct relationship between understanding our country's founding and civic virtue? The answer should anecdotally be quite clear. As our citizens' knowledge of founding principles has declined, so too has our involvement in this government 'of, by and for The People.' Instead, our citizens seem all too content to relegate governmental decisions and knowledge to those that have been elected, all the while assuming these officials' abilities and agendas are working on their behalf. We believe that if this trend continues, our country will be left with an expansive gulf between the populace and the government.


Meanwhile outside, Captwa and Jones got rid of the wet snow so the shooters could enjoy the
relative comforts of cold damp concrete as opposed to wet cold slushy snow that was rapidly piling up.


At least now we could shoot and the visibility improved. But the wind was howling and the temp dropped as the wind chill increased.
Sand bags held the mats in place.


This rugged group of shooters braved the elements and we marched on.



Captwa coaches on the line. It was cold!


Karen's hair is actually being blown straight back as the fierce North wind was in our face most of the weekend.




...more to come.

[TaosGlock]

Through Project Appleseed, the Revolutionary War Veterans Association is committed to teaching two things: rifle marksmanship and our early American heritage. We do this for one simple reason, the skill and knowledge of what our founding fathers left to us is eroding in modern America and without deliberate action, they will be lost to ignorance and apathy.

Is there a direct relationship between understanding our country's founding and civic virtue? The answer should anecdotally be quite clear. As our citizens' knowledge of founding principles has declined, so too has our involvement in this government 'of, by and for The People.' Instead, our citizens seem all too content to relegate governmental decisions and knowledge to those that have been elected, all the while assuming these officials' abilities and agendas are working on their behalf. We believe that if this trend continues, our country will be left with an expansive gulf between the populace and the government.

Meanwhile we start fine tuning things on the line and the groups start to shrink..as does the temps and the daylight.
BlueFeather in her Mt.Everest coat coaches "shorty".


Jones helps Peri with a malfunction. The rifles did surprisingly well in the cold.
At an Appleseed one will learn much about about your equipment.


Eric Whaley, NRA WC Event Coordinator/Adventure Camp Coordinator gets it done. He eventually scored "Expert" on the AQT!


Jones as Line Boss:


Much of the snow was blown away on day 2 as BlueFeather watches over the line.


Seated position with Peri (top) and Jon (below). Jon used a bolt gun to score Expert on the AQT!




Jones explains the AQT.

[TaosGlock]

Through Project Appleseed, the Revolutionary War Veterans Association is committed to teaching two things: rifle marksmanship and our early American heritage. We do this for one simple reason, the skill and knowledge of what our founding fathers left to us is eroding in modern America and without deliberate action, they will be lost to ignorance and apathy.

Is there a direct relationship between understanding our country's founding and civic virtue? The answer should anecdotally be quite clear. As our citizens' knowledge of founding principles has declined, so too has our involvement in this government 'of, by and for The People.' Instead, our citizens seem all too content to relegate governmental decisions and knowledge to those that have been elected, all the while assuming these officials' abilities and agendas are working on their behalf. We believe that if this trend continues, our country will be left with an expansive gulf between the populace and the government.

During breaks, we'll teach you the true story of the nation that was founded on April 19, 1775, and why liberty was so important to the founders that they would risk everything for it. Project Appleseed believes that the essence of being an American is living up to the ideals of our founders and fanning the flames of liberty.






Major Buttrick at the North Bridge of Concord where he said, "Fire, for God's sake fire! Fire as fast as you can!"

[TaosGlock]

A Rifleman can take a rack-grade rifle and hit targets out to the Rifleman's quarter-mile. If a Rifleman can see the target, he can hit it. Come to one of our shoots and score 210 or better out of 250 on the AQT (Appleseed Qualification Test) and you can earn your Rifleman's patch.
Our course is heartily approved by the CMP (Civilian Marksmanship Program).
Each attendee receives a certificate that enables him/her to purchase a M1 Garand rifle and ammo.
Here is mine:


BlueFeather loads an En Bloc, slams the bolt forward and makes ready for the 1123 Yard White Buffalo:


What do you mean we have to head home.


...more later.

[hbennett]

Outstanding dedication by Instructors and shooter!  Indeed, you are made of the stuff of our forefather Patriots !!  My hat is off to you!

[FourFans]

My newly minted Red Hat is off to you guys,,, hard core.

[TaosGlock]

Our 2 new Rifleman! Congrats Eric and Jon!



A huge thanks to all the shooters who took time off from their daily lives to get re-acquainted with
their heritage and learn/refresh the fundamentals of precision marksmanship.

A big thanks to my all volunteer instructor crew who worked tirelessly to assist this event.
Thanks Captwa, Jones and BlueFeather!

Thanks to ALL you awesome shooters who showed up and to this event.

A big thanks to the NRA Whittington Staff for the use of the prestigious Coors Range!

And a huge thanks to the Founders who shed blood and sacrificed their fames and fortunes so we could be free men and women.
May their flags fly proud and remind us always of this fact.
We will never forget!

The sun sets on another  Project Appleseed event at the NRA WhittingtonCenter.