We had four shooters on Saturday, two couples trying Appleseed for the first time. On Sunday, all four returned to be joined by three repeat Appleseeders.
The pre-regs were 4 2-days, 2 Sat-only and 3 Sunday only. The Sat no-shows were one paid Sat only, one free sat only and two free 2-days. We had two 2 day walkons one free/one paid.
So this was a nice cosy shoot with beautiful SoCal Fall weather, not too hot, not too cold, breeze but no wind and can it be, Piru with no dust!
We settled in for the usual Saturday program, reveled in the Heritage for a long lunch and ended with two AQTs. At the end of the day we were set for some successful polishing on the AQT Anvil for Sunday.
On Sunday, Brian and Steph and Paul and Barb joined us again, raring to go. Patrick and Bob who had shot previously at Piru joined us together with Dennis who shared that he had shot 7 AS at Corona and was still seeking his Rifleman score.
We polished AQTs with a brief break for some mental confidence building exercises, NPOA trust and volley fire cadence, on the Star after which everyone's scores dramatically improved. Our first Rifleman was Brian with a 220 followed by a 216.
Our next Rifleman was very interesting. Dennis was shooting a dedicated 22 upper AR with a CQB tactical rig sling, flashlights, etc, etc. He was peaking out at 180. All three instructors during the say tried to get him to try a loop sling and modify his position but, commendably, he wanted to shoot the rig he runs as well as he could.
On the second to last AQT, after Brian's score, Dano finally persuaded Dennis to try a loaner sling, a $5 M-16 GI recycled sling that I got from JB at the IBC. Not impressed with it in standing, not helping much in sitting. "Hey, it really feels different in rapid prone". Slow fire prone, "Hey, I think this might help" Score on that AQT?
230... Paraphrasing the subsequent discussion.. "No... I got a $180 dollar sling and that $5 piece of recycled junk gets me from 180 to 230?" So just for grins he shot another rifleman on the last AQT.
Dennis stepped up and accepted the offer to take an Orange hat. Brian is thinking about it and both he and Steph will be attending another AS at Piru with the kids.
Paul and Barb were shooting LTRs all weekend and showed terrific improvement over the weekend. I'm sure they will be back to put all they've learned into their own centerfires.
Patrick was shooting his centerfire again, with the factory sling as a Hasty. He's now convinced to fit a GI sling and try loop next time. Bob was back shooting his mini 14 for practice and improvement and got both. And man, that thing flings brass almost as far behind him as it flings lead down range! Kept the instructors on their toes down than end of the line!
On the instructor side, Jacques was presented with his Red Hat on Saturday and looked very good in it all day Sunday. Congratulations Jacques. And Dano was again exemplary on the history and heritage and is now an IIT4. As always its a pleasure and a privilege to work with you guys.
Can you believe we get to do this stuff? What better way to spend a weekend than in the company of American Riflemen? Thank a founder - everyday.
V
No blowing dirt at Piru. You sure you guys REALLY shot at Piru? ;D
"that $5 piece of recycled junk gets me from 180 to 230?"
What y'all don't know is that Birdman dips each and every sling he sells in real, genuine water that passed beneath the North Bridge and from the stream at Merriams Corner so they're not "ordinary" slings. ^-^
Congrats to Dano and Jacques on the upgrades! Thanks for the hard work and dedication out there. JB
No Dust!! Having camped there afew times this summer, enduring that heat and fine powder like dust that gets into every nook and cranny, the recent rain had absorbed into the ground just enough so it was not muddy or dusty. The usual camp spot looked like it had become a swimming pool though. It has cooled down a bit also, so it seemed it may have only reached 80-85!!
Dennis snatched that hat from V eagerly. He will take off running. Too bad the gang in Corona could not give him the hat, that is where he did all his other AS's. They will have a good addition down there to their team.
This was a good AS. As the AQT grind continued into the afternoon, the heat, wind and fatique set in and several shooters decided to sit down and take a break. Barb, struggling most of the first day with position, sling adjustment, figuring how to operate the rifle endured on to the very end. I was very happy to see this. And by the end, seemed to have it all figured out. A ton of progress there.
CONGRATULATIONS JACQUES!!!! You have earned it.
Congratulations also to Dano on the upgrade.
Great report V.
Congratulations to Brian for making the score.
Congratulations to Dennis for making his score and taking the orange hat, welcome aboard. O0
Congratulations to all of the shooters for making it through the weekend.
First of all I would like to thank all of the instructors at the range this past weekend. We had hoped for a good group of people and were not disapointed. A bit of history and a challenge is all it took to set the hook. Detailed instruction, persistance and determination was what it took to achieve Rifelman on my first try... and the use of Dano's rifel with tech sights... To that I owe a debt of gratitude to all involved and a deep understanding of where the lessions come from. We are looking forward to the next Appleseed in November and hopefully dust free conditions again at Piru.
Thanks again from the Cunningham's
Well Brian, those Owls certainly didn't bring any bad luck, did they?
Glad to see your on the forum Brian. It was great appleseed weekend congratulations to you and Dennis. And all the others for hanging in there!
I have some pictures that I took of the awards but I cannot post them. Does any one know of a reason why a 2k photo will not upload? Never had the problem before?
Dano
Sounds like a good shoot indeed, as if there are any bad ones ;D. New Riflemen and Orange Hats are always good.
Congratulations to Jacques on the Red Hat O0. What are the most important two words of 3rd Strike?? ;)
What a great weekend!
Great weather,
Fine group of shooters,
Instructors with unlimited patience,
And a very persistent LTR shooting wife.
What more can one ask for! (a rifleman's badge)
Barb and I are looking forward to our next Appleseed event.
Hey,
Whats with the single letter names? You'll have everyone trying it...
Welcome "T" and Barb. I look forward to handing you both a patch at your next Appleseed, practice the positions, transitions and six steps dry firing at home and you'll be good to go.
Cheers
V
Quote from: T on October 21, 2009, 12:15:27 AM
What a great weekend!
Great weather,
Fine group of shooters,
Instructors with unlimited patience,
And a very persistent LTR shooting wife.
What more can one ask for! (a rifleman's badge)
Barb and I are looking forward to our next Appleseed event.