What a pleasure meeting so many great Americans, many for the first time.
Saturday was a beautiful, if windy day. Waiting at the range was Doc Bob, a Rifleman who upon hearing we were short-handed for the shoot, agreed to accept a hat. Coming along shortly afterwards was Luminous Rabbit, who also volunteered to show at the last minute.
Shooters started coming in about 8am, filling out waivers and helping out with getting things ready.
On the first day we had eleven shooters, all but two who were new to Appleseed. None of them had scored Rifleman to date. Three family groups were present, and three of our shooters were under eighteen.
As the instruction commenced, Luminous Rabbit set a brisk pace which the shooters seemed to thrive in. As the shooting commenced, groups started going from big to smaller quickly.
One shooter who made quite an impression was Gerard. In his 70, and dealing with some real physical challenges, he seemed to be the high scorer in the morning. He was assisted by his son Jerome, who was also shooting. In Jerome, we saw a lot of the qualities we like to see in instructors, and hope he returns.
Ryan, a younger teen who was there with his father, Joe, seemed to be struggling. It seems his rifle, which was no doubt a fine hunter, was not quite up to target shooting. We put an iron-sighted loaner in his hands, and immediately saw his shot groups shrink to about one third of previous. This lends credence to our claim that we train riflemen. It's also a reminder to instructors that less-than-perfect shooting isn't always the shooter not paying attention. If a shooter is consistently performing poorly, ask if you can put five rounds thru the rifle.
Our other two younger shooters, brothers Bryson and Brandon, were struggling with the limitations a Marlin Model 60 (tube fed) imposes. That is a reminder to me to get off of my kiester and get my other loaners up and running
At lunch, the shooters stoically endured their narcoleptic and ADHD shoot bosses long-winded attempts at teaching the first strike.
The winds were brisk, with flags at 3:00, but fortunately blowing from 6:00. The worst of it were targets dancing and a few mats with rifles moving around. Doc Bob got busy staking down mats that could be, and weighing down others.
By the end of the day, we had one veteran shooter, Steve, whom despite severe chronic injury, managed to score Rifleman on the one AQT. The same persistence led him to accept a hat.
Sunday started with tragedy before the shoot even started. Captain, a new IIT, heard we were short-handed and drove up from Colorado Springs twice this weekend.
After he arrived at the range, he let his lab puppy out to play and pee. The puppy, Max, ended up cutting himself badly on a small culvert, and Captain had to bring him to the vet for surgery. Max's condition is uncertain. Our prayers are with him and Captain.
While Max was in surgery, Captain rejoined us and stayed the remainder of the shoot.
Sunday morning, the nine returning shooters helped set up again. Shooting and history were the order of the day.
More than a few shooters were sunburnt from the previous day. And most were dealing with dehydration to some extent.
The morning was overcast, with threatening clouds that eventually cleared up into a nice day in the 70s. …until about mid-afternoon, when a thunderstorm came in and temps dropped into the 50s. Some shooters left immediately when lightning flashed, others leaving whenever over time.
Jokes were being made about a Winterseed when hail came down.
Except for a brief halt when lightening was dancing, the shooting continued. The wind being brisk, and the rain having dampened us, it was getting cold. Still, five shooters remained, determined to shoot as many AQTs as possible.
We ended up shooting eight AQTs, plus a four minute AQT. One of our veteran shooters, Dan, and a new shooter, Casey, were knocking at the door with scores in the 200s.
Bryson and Brandon were still wanting to shoot when we finally secured the firing line around six. Those shooters remaining stayed to help tear down the range. Once packed, we had an instructor meeting and then left.
The things I saw this weekend did nothing but give me hope for America's future, a welcome feeling when in the Kalifornia of the rockies.
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I had a great time and am so glad I was able to finally qualify and take a hat at my sixth (!) Appleseed. I look forward to helping out however I can. Thanks to our shoot boss and everyone else who helped out.
One thing I neglected to mention as I was wrapping up the report around 2am; our host range, Great Guns at Nunn.
What a nice facility! The shotgun facilities up front looked like a cross between a fancy golf course and Disneyland. Scads of bays, including what a little birdie told me was a 1000yd bay in the works. A sweet office / clubhouse with classrooms, a dining area, and civilized bathrooms with running water. A rifleman in Nunn is spoiled.
Pearl, who works the front desk, was most helpful. And the gentleman (name unknown) who was keeping an eye on the bays checked in with us periodically to make sure all was good. Thank you for being a great host, and truly earning the name of Great Guns.