Just gettin' things started....
The National Weather Service has officially endorsed this WinterSeed with a Winter Weather Warning. We have just over six inches of snow so far, and at least another inch or two on the way. Drive safely, take your time getting to the range. We'll still be there!
Mogs
That is the kind of thing that will make you long for a mild, 30 degree southern Indiana day.
I think we ended up with a total of 7" at the club. Temps were about 25 and dropping through the afternoon. Interesting contrast to the June Appleseed we had here at La Crosse when temps were in the 90's and it was sunny. After getting to clubhouse this morning at 7 a.m. through the snow and getting the fire started, we sat there wondering if anyone would show up. Everyone made it OK.
It was a tough shoot thus far but still fun...I'm looking forward to tomorrow.
Who the heck would want to shoot in freezing temperatures with seven inches of snow on the ground? That's crazy. ;D :---
B5
Who indeed? ;D
All in all, it was a great day. Thanks to the LaCrosse Rifle Club for letting us use their excellent range and clubhouse -- perfect for a WinterSeed. Special thanks to Professor Gun and Blue Five for getting the fire going and then helping me setup the target line and shovel the firing line until Cooper arrived! Couldn't have done it without you!
We shot two AQTs and finished all Three Strikes before the light gave out at around 4:15 PM or so. Lots of good shooting today; just a matter of bringing it all together. There was, however, a rather marked silence on the KD line...
Pictures follow:
(http://i840.photobucket.com/albums/zz324/abootes/016.jpg)
(http://i840.photobucket.com/albums/zz324/abootes/027.jpg)
(http://i840.photobucket.com/albums/zz324/abootes/022.jpg)
(http://i840.photobucket.com/albums/zz324/abootes/031.jpg)
And finally, Minnesota's most unusual Orange Hat: Jackie the Rifledog. Yes, she is wearing her hearing protection! You'll have to ask Cooper how she made that happen...
(http://i840.photobucket.com/albums/zz324/abootes/032.jpg)
Mogs
How many people will be doing Ful Distance tomorrow?
Don't know for sure. But the KD line is set up and ready to go. I think Joe Z shot a 210 today. And it's a really, really, nice facility. So dress warmly because we're looking at 0 degrees tomorrow AM. But it's really not an opportunity to be missed.
Nice warm clubhouse w/ a fire, coffee, cocoa, and cider... Seven or eight inches of fresh snow. It's beautiful out there right now!
Mogs
I'm hoping I'll be able to shoot long distance if I get the ok from Mogget and JoeZ...but first gotta work on that 10/22 work on AQT's... :)
Quote from: fepowered on December 04, 2010, 10:20:47 PM
How many people will be doing Ful Distance tomorrow?
Six other Minnesotans have made plans to come for KD.
edit------I just realized I had posted in the AAR and not the event thread------edit
It was good to see so many out to shoot the longer distances of the KD. I learn something at every Appleseed I attend.
Thank you to all instructors for my introduction to Known Full Distance Winter-seed.
The balmy 20-25 degrees presented many unique challenges that I appreciate knowing about.
I have always had a personal desire to enjoy a wide range of activities no matter what the weather does.
Thank you Appleseed for making that possible!!
FV
This was a great Appleseed; I am very glad I was able to attend. Many thanks to Mogget, JoeZ, Dragonfly, Colin, and all the other instructors who ran this event. This was my second Appleseed and first "Winterseed", and I still learned plenty.
Despite the cold weather and snow, I had a lot of fun and thoroughly enjoyed it. Now I just need to fix my AR-10 and get a lighter scope for it and try KD in March... O0
B5
Any attempt at snow angels would have resulted in missing Appleseeders... the day started at a crisp 14 degrees.
some Icescicle KD
More than a few hit Payice... Our Winterseed KD Riflemen:
AdamT
Whisker
George63
And repeat Rifleman with a twist of Winter, Michael
Those Winterseed Rifleman patches look cool, or is that COLD! ::) We haven't seen them in Washington yet, but California keeps sending their warm air our way (NOT!). ;)
Other KD'ers successfully avoiding the camera included JoeZ, Sparks1, FreedomV and probably several others that I missed while calling the 25m range...
It was so cold that Jackie the Rifledog abdicated her throne and wool blanket on the line and insisted in staying in the heated clubhouse after reviewing the shooters with the "alternating the paw in the air and off the snow" march.
And I missed the other Mike being hammered into shape on the anvil of the AQT:
Nice pictures, Cooper! Multitasking a bit on the line I see ;)
Quote from: Cooper on December 05, 2010, 10:08:54 PM
Any attempt at snow angels would have resulted in missing Appleseeders...
Ha! :)
Sorry, MeanStreaker:
I'm a native Michi-gander and couldn't resist trying to get your "goose" ;D
As a current Minnesota resident, I also harassed the Wisconsonites about the endless layers of clothing and Carhart's they were wearing as I suffered silently in my shooting jacket and Appleseed T-shirt.
Janelle
Wow ---- I am impressed with the mindset of every RH IIT and Future Rifleman at this Ice seed O0
Well done Wisconsin ...
JA
Hello all,
The weather was great. The shooting jacket over my 2 wool layers was plenty. No bulky winter jacket so I feel like I cheated getting a Winterseed patch.
What a great club. Thank you so much professor gun for helping us out.
Mogs, well done as usual.
To all the crew that came out, good to meet you or to meet you again.
One thing is for sure. I should of practiced shooting from the sitting position in Carharts before coming for KD. I have a hard enough time getting into that position with out extra layers of stiff clothing.
It was fun shooting the long ball. I have yet to attend an Appleseed and not learn something important. It is a great range and well worth the drive. My hats off to the LaCrosse Rifle Club and the instructors, granted my hat is not off for long because well it is cold outside :) O0
From this I learned that I need to make my own range card for my rifle and loads, practice shooting from the other sitting positions and to shop around for a really good anti fog.
Great winterseed WI. O0
Thanks for all the compliments for the La Crosse Rifle Club. We are always happy to host a group like this who promotes firearms safety and marksmanship; the membership has been very supportive of us having Appleseeds at our range. A year ago the primary concern of our members when I proposed the first Appleseed was safe conduct at the range; some of our members came out to the first Appleseed in June just to observe and make sure this was a safe group. Watching the Appleseed instructors run the range in the manner that they do alleviated all concerns and won over those few members who might have been resistant.
The Appleseed instructors who conducted our two appleseeds so far have been extremely safety conscious and uncompromising on expectations of safe gun handling (as they should be) by participants. They are also very knowledgeable and are able to effectively share with participants this knowledge.
I have learned a lot of good information at the two appleseeds I have attended. They have also inspired me and my family to do effective practice with our rifles that help improve our skills.
What a GREAT weekend!
I owe a big thanks to Mogget, JoeZ, and Dragonfly for giving me the chance to shoot KD. Those 25-yard AQT skills really DO translate to the KD AQT! It was the first time in my life shooting a rifle over 200 yards and definitely the most fun I've had shooting a rifle ever!
And a big thanks to JoeZ for not only loaning me a front sight tool, but also loaning me a whole FRONT SIGHT for my AR-15 to use when mine was to tall to zero properly! :bow: O0
I didn't get to take many pictures since I was shooting so much, but I did get one of the beautiful KD range:
I did not feel the temp of 14 (leaving it was 11 F ) or the 7 inch "dusting" of snow should qualify for a winterseed - even if this would have been a full blown BLIZZARDSEED in a southern location (like Ohio) but Fred said the SB makes the call and I reluctantly accepted the icicle patch. This is an outstanding range for KD with a relay taking as little as 40 min to shoot and 20 min to score and a very nice building, many thanks to the range members - for any KD that I can make it to at LaCrosse I will offer our host members a rifle and ammo for a round of AQT + I do hope to have a chance to make it so
Nice work crew and students!
That does look like you all had a grand time!
Not sure what we're in for this weekend. Frozen mix is on the horizon though presently we have 18 inches of compacted snow on the ground.
Quote from: Earl on December 05, 2010, 10:39:46 PM
Those Winterseed Rifleman patches look cool, or is that COLD! ::) We haven't seen them in Washington yet, but California keeps sending their warm air our way (NOT!). ;)
Earl,
I feel your pain. WA and ID have had five Winterseeds, but no patches to give out. WR got a promise from Fred that they will be on the way tomorrow. She gave him tdow's mailing info and yours along with ours.
Hopefully they get here by Friday morning.
TT
M.R.C.! Yeah, that jump to KD is a great experience. For all that a Rifleman has confidence that the skills will translate, actually experiencing how smoothly it comes is really amazing.
Mike T. and Blue Five were both ready for KD but had some rifle issues. Mike T. eventually got to ring some steel at 300 yards and we've saved a spot on the KD line for Blue Five in March.
And George63 brings new insight to the expression "shoot boss discretion," I think. It now includes that idea that if you shoot well enough the shoot boss can make you take a patch home! ;D
Finally, if anyone hears from Kyle please direct him here. I gave him my personal email so I could link him up with some targets but haven't heard from him yet.
Mogs
I'm still kicking myself in the teeth for not being able to make it down there. :kick-in-the-teeth-smilie:
:wb: :wb: :wb: :wb:
But I'd have only spoiled the fun!
Congrats to all!
Aftermath
Quote from: Mogget on December 06, 2010, 08:12:09 PM
Mike T. and Blue Five were both ready for KD but had some rifle issues. Mike T. eventually got to ring some steel at 300 yards and we've saved a spot on the KD line for Blue Five in March.
We're going to be working on that AR-10 this week to get it fixed and I'm going to be investing in a smaller scope so it's not so heavy ;)
I'll be ready for KD in March...after I get my Rifleman patch than ;D :---
B5
Thanks Wisconsin crew.
First the La Cross range is top notch and everyone should try and make it there at least once. I was able to shoot a KD course for the first time and thanks to the great instruction of JoeZ and Dfly, I managed a 205 and received a Winterseed and a Full Distance Rifleman patch. Thanks Mogget for running a great shoot.
I will be sure to tell AFTERMATH that the riviera of the north can be a brisk vacation spot.
Thanks again and hopefully I will see you guys soon.
AdamT.
Great to see you again, AdamT.. and Sparks and FreedomV and Whisker and vmt193...
Come visit Minnesconsiowa again soon!!! ;D ;D ;D
Coop
Quote from: Cooper on December 05, 2010, 11:48:52 PM
Sorry, MeanStreaker:
I'm a native Michi-gander and couldn't resist trying to get your "goose" ;D
As a current Minnesota resident, I also harassed the Wisconsonites about the endless layers of clothing and Carhart's they were wearing as I suffered silently in my shooting jacket and Appleseed T-shirt.
Janelle
Cooper, you are many things: a wit, a wag, and an asset to AS among them. But silent? Only, perhaps, on the subject of the temperature...
;D ;D ;D
Mogs
Cooper
You caught me at a bad angle in that photo. Those Carhartts make my butt look big. **) **) **)
vmt
Quote from: vmt193 on December 07, 2010, 12:58:51 PM
Cooper
You caught me at a bad angle in that photo. Those Carhartts make my but look big. **) **) **)
vmt
Can't say I've heard that one before, vmt.
Quote from: vmt193 on December 07, 2010, 12:58:51 PM
Cooper
You caught me at a bad angle in that photo. Those Carhartts make my butt look big. **) **) **)
vmt
But it makes the targets look that much smaller..... JK ;) I am glad that I some how avoided being in any of the pictures. The Carharrts did no favors for me when in prone either.
It was a great shoot surrounded by great people.
8)
Great job all of you.