Once a year we have the opportunity to spend a weekend at the Henry County Gun Club's 600 yard range in Puryear, TN for a KD. It is a beautiful range nestled among the trees with a gently sloping valley and we are grateful to the club for fitting us into their busy schedule of activities.
Four different states (MO, TN, KY, AL) were represented among those of us present. One of the best parts of the weekend was making new friends and connecting with existing ones. The only thing that made it better was getting to shoot KD. ^:)^ :---
We started in the classroom on Saturday morning to refresh IMC with an emphasis on longer ranges and to go over the details of trajectory and collecting DOPE (Data On Personal Equipment). Then it was off to the range to put what we had learned into practice. We collected lots of data and got in an AQT before calling it a day. On Sunday morning we talked briefly about range estimation then headed to the range to calibrate our sights and try to get some shooting in before the remnants of Hurricane Laura caught up with us.
One the first AQT of the day we found two men among us who knew very well what they were about. Flintlock54 from MO was a first time KD Rifleman with a score of 41 and Rustygun (TN) requalified with a 44. Both scored Rifleman again throughout the day. We continued our quest for KD Riflemen and found another in CarrollMS, from KY, who earned his patch and wore a huge grin the rest of the day. That turned out to be our last opportunity for a score as the skies opened up and dumped buckets of rain during Stage 4 and didn't let up for almost an hour. Rustygun and Pocketknife went down range and retrieved the targets before they melted off the backers ;D Our remaining shooters, Pocketknife and happydad made huge strides over the weekend. Both were first time KD shooters and were struggling with some equipment issues, but they persevered and gained many skills.
Fortunately there were several steel targets downrange to allow us to practice our ranging skills while we waited for the rain to abate. happydad was on the money in the range estimation exercise and earned top honors for his efforts.
I want to thank each of you that made it out and spent your weekend on the range with us. Several folks had to cancel at the last minute so it was a small group, but we had a great time and got to know each other very well. Of the 5 shooters, 4 were Red Hat instructors and the 5th, happydad, took an orange hat while there. What a great way to end an event. HUZZAH!
Group photo:
Rustygun, CarrollMS, happydad, Pocketknife, Flintlock54, dond, and Google
(https://i.imgur.com/YSjsjtQ.jpg)
Rustygun getting his patch:
(https://i.imgur.com/u3Kbuzy.jpg)
Flintlock54 - with his first KD bar:
(https://i.imgur.com/GAVMgWr.jpg)
CarrollMS receiving congratulations from dond (he got a patch later):
(https://i.imgur.com/5z7HXCt.jpg)
Flintlock54 telling a rousing rendition of Timothy Murphy:
(https://i.imgur.com/RvhP6Cj.jpg)
A view of the gorgeous range over Pocketknife's shoulder:
(https://i.imgur.com/8Zbqhu7.jpg)
Down the line:
(https://i.imgur.com/hFe08cE.jpg)
happydad accepting his shiny new Orange Hat:
(https://i.imgur.com/sAhYfll.jpg)
Under the watchful eye of dond:
(https://i.imgur.com/zzN78UE.jpg)
You never know what will happen when Google and dond get ahold of a whiteboard:
(https://i.imgur.com/rmiij40.jpg)
Juxtaposition:
(https://i.imgur.com/MVXDmiN.jpg)
I think everyone had a wonderful time, I know I did. Very nice range, great group of people. Don d and Google did a wonderful job as instructors a made me feel like a guest at their home. Huzza to Don d and Google.
A really good event at Puryear! Learned some stuff and had a good time. Google did an outstanding job handling everything especially keeping things moving ahead of the rain. Well done! Very good to see everyone and meet Caleb and Flintlock54. A lot of good shooting and strong history from Flintlock 54. Great to be there when Mark got his KD rocker after his persistence! Hope to be back for the next one.
I really enjoyed day 1 even with a lot of equipment problems. The commeraderie in the small group was great and the trips up and down the range to check and move targets was a great opportunity to connect.
Day 2 I woke so sore and tired that I was wishing it was a 1 day event, but I'm glad I went. I feel like the repetition come ups really solidified my understanding of that technique and the information on range estimation is finally something that I think I can remember after spending time in the application rather than just the theory. The fellowship was great day two as well. What a great group of people, everybody investing, giving energy, and helpful. Just a great time.
I"ll get my equipment issues sorted out and I will be back to get a KD patch.
Thanks so much for once again investing your time dond and google.
Almost made it once; hope to get there in the future. Looks like it was a fun shoot I missed.