AAR Pelham, NH April 20-21, 2024

Luigi · May 01, 2024, 03:58:26 AM

Five motivated shooters attended NH's 2024 Patriot's Day shoot on a typical Spring New England weekend. That is to say, some rain, some sun, some stiff wind gusts, some chill, some warmth. At least there was no snow, nor a repeat of the Great April Washout of 2023!

After setting up our gear under canopies and rain-proofing the target stands, we kicked things off with our introductory talk including the First Strike of the Match - the telling of the first portion of the original Patriots Day in 1775, and posing the Four Questions.

our safety brief followed, then rifles came to the line. We discussed ammunition difficulties and line commands, and checked everyone's equipment. At last, we got to shoot! The Redcoat target was subjected to 13 rounds, one for each of the 13 colonies. We took a group score, with the prediction that things would noticeably improve when we repeated this target at the end of the day.

We spent the rest of the morning and into the afternoon in instruction - Eye dominance, sling use, the prone position and it's steady hold factors, the six steps of firing the shot, Natural Point Of Aim, talking targets, Inches Minutes, Clicks, Many demos. including one focused on proper trigger control. Opportunities were had to practice the instruction, with special mention of the importance of dry firing to build skills.

We continued, after hearing the Second Strike during lunch, with Sitting /Kneeeling positions, the standing position, safe position transitions, magazines changes, smoothly easing into the Army Qualification Target. We practiced an NPOA drill, heard the 3rd Srike, did another AQT.

We paused the normal instruction to participate in the 4pm Memorial volley, an Appleseed tradition on every Patriots Day shoot. The names of 43 patriots who made the ultimate sacrifice for our independence and liberty at Lexington, Concord, and along Battle road were read throughout the volley while across the United States from Maine to Hawaii, every shooter at every Appleseed that day was at that moment doing the same - annually the largest coordinated volley in the world, according to the Guinness Book of Records. it was quite moving.

A break followed, then another AQT, and we wrapped up for the day with the evening redcoat where, as predicted, results significantly improved from just a few short hours earlier. Through the weekend, we heard some Dangerous Old Men stories - ordinary folks who did exraordinary things thst fateful day.

Sunday's weather proved more stable and enjoyable. After our safety brief we reprised the redcoat, then on to AQTs, interspersed with drills. Lunch brought a lecture on Known Distance - how to extend what we learned at 25 meters out to the Rifleman's Quarter Mile: 500 yards. We broke camp to move to the 100/200m range where we saw the effect of gravity and how to compensate for bullet drop. Nothing like seeing it to understand it!

We moved back to our original 25meter range, shot a few more AQTs, and finished up with our last Redcoat. Results were impressive. Oh, and two new riflemen were made, and one new Orange Hat! Huzzah!!

Our instructors and I want to thank you all for choosing to spend your weekend with us learning about our common heritage. You were safe, receptive, and a pleasure to work with. Come back soon, and bring friends! And remember, a Rifleman persists!