Abbottstown, PA Pistol Clinic 9/30 - 10/1, 2023

[EZ3]

This was another wonderful event hosted by York - Adams Game & Fish Association.  We're very grateful for their enthusiastic support of Project Appleseed!

The weather was great, and ten patriotic Americans came out to share a weekend of Marksmanship and Heritage.  Saturday morning we launched into setting expectations for the marksmanship and heritage aspects of our course of instruction.  Then we fired our initial Hits Count target to get a baseline on the student's current skill levels.  The results were encouraging, with 70% of the students proving themselves to have an effective range of at least 44 yards.  One student, Derek, made all thirteen shots count, including Pitcairn's Button!

Then we embarked on a series of lessons and drills designed to increase the student's skill levels.  In the afternoon we ran the Big Dot/Little Dot drill to demonstrate the importance of the balance of speed vs. precision.  Yankee Peas, Derek and Sumner demonstrated that they understood that balance very well, finishing with the three shortest times for the exercise.  We shot our first Pistol Qualification Test (PQT) of the weekend, which showed that Yankee Peas (247), Derek (236) and Donald (225) 'know very well what they are about" with a pistol.  The day ended with another Hits Count target, and sure enough all the hard work had paid off.  Amy G., Derek and Yankee Peas made all 13 shots count, 90% were proficient at least out to 44 yards, and half the class hit Pitcairn's Button!

Sunday morning our opening Hits Count target showed that the students had retained what they had learned Saturday and were ready to press on.  After some review we fired another Big Dot/Little Dot drill.  The scores were generally better than previously, with Amy G., Amy and Yankee Peas showing the greatest improvement.  Then we began on  the quest to improve our skills, and therefore our PQT scores, with Derek and Yankee Peas posting multiple Pistoleer™-caliber scores.  Lunch break featured the story of the development of the modern pistol (aka the "Sam & Sam" story) with period-correct visual aids!  The third Big Dot/Little Dot drill of the weekend featured Yankee Peas (who else?), Sumner and Milo shooting their best runs of the weekend.  Our final Hits Count target showed that fatigue had become a factor for many of the students, with scores generally trending down.  But Amy G. and Yankee Peas made all thirteen shots count.

Thanks to a great bunch of students who brought teachable attitudes and were very attentive to the safety rules.  Also thanks to wickedworx, Yates and BBQ_Bob for coming together into a great instructor cadre.