It was the middle of a Texas monsoon, and all told there were 13 brave souls who risked life, limb, and poorly draining streets to attend the first Known Distance event at the Midland Shooters Association (http://midlandshooters.com/) range in Midland, Texas. Students and instructors came from all over to join us, including folks from Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Alabama, and Florida. I gotta tell ya, I was one lucky Shoot Boss! There was an awful lot talent out there, students and instructors alike. They made me look so good!
Despite the rain, the range was fairly free of mud and standing water. The Texas earth was so thirsty after months of draught that it just soaked all that water up like a sponge. Here we were, with very little mud, 4 fixed target lines, a fixed, SHADED firing line, and motorized transportation onto the range to check targets. John K and the staff at MSA really know how to make folks comfortable! Can you say "SPOILED?"
The students were attentive and engaged during the points of instruction and the History presentations. Some really good observations and discussions came following the War of Regulation/Battle of Alamance and the Battle of King's Mountain. Blocks of instruction, including the Three Challenges of the Rifleman and Ball & Dummy, were well-received, notes were taken, and coaching implemented. And it showed in the targets! We had SEVEN shooters qualify, or requalify, as KD Riflemen! Each earned the one of the last of the Texas Known Distance Rifleman patches. Everybody wanted one, and there are precious few remaining! They've been retired, so when they're gone, they're gone forever. As a fella I know says, that's it and that's all. This weekend's Riflemen included Josh L, Colin, Scott, Jay, Natalee, and Josh A.
On Sunday morning, while the world was still cool from the previous night's rain and the sun was hiding behind a layer of cloudcover, these intrepid students attempted to make their mark on a Morgan's Shingle place 250 yards afield. It blended pretty well into the background, so this shingle became a test not just of steady hold factors and trajectory, but of target detection. There are SIX new additions to the Roster of Morgan's Riflemen! (https://appleseedinfo.org/smf/index.php?topic=59673.0) They are Kathryn, Scott, Natalee, Shannon, David, and Colin! Huzzah!
Ghostring stepped up and rounded out the weekend with a truly remarkable fire and brimstone benediction that left not a dry eye in the house (literally.)
Weekends like this only make me even more proud to be a small part of this organization. To be surrounded and engaged with such a wonderful group of genuine patriots warms my heart and gives me hope for the future, and the futures of our posterity.
Our deepest appreciation goes to the fine folks at the Midland Shooters Association for being gracious, generous hosts, and enthusiastic supporters of Project Appleseed.
On behalf of myself and the Instructor cadre of Midland 8-22, it was our honor to spend this time furthering our liberty, improving our marksmanship, and immersing ourselves in our remarkable history.
Humbly in Liberty,
Mrs. Smith
Because :pics:
I know someone got photos of the Day 1 riflemen out on the target line. I'd be most grateful if you'd post them!!! Or send them to me and I'll post them ;) There was a fair bit of picture-taking in general, so you folks know what to do!
Group photo
(https://i.imgur.com/ZQmOb5L.jpg)
The MSA range with four target lines!
(https://i.imgur.com/HzGYncr.jpg)
KD Riflemen
(https://i.imgur.com/u9D2fip.jpg)
The last of an era
(https://i.imgur.com/LONo1cI.jpg)
After hours
(https://i.imgur.com/UZriy9W.jpg)
KD patches
(https://i.imgur.com/YEfL9wL.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/VvW0hl5.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/oVPWakh.jpg)
NPOA drills
(https://i.imgur.com/SrgvWcS.jpg)
Morgan's Shingle with the creators of the patch & target
(https://i.imgur.com/3mVX7Ei.jpg)
New Morgan's Riflemen
(https://i.imgur.com/Y6FwE0v.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/joG6noz.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/3K40hRT.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/54Awizw.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/6lBPl3u.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/JnKEkp0.jpg)
Range Estimation
(https://i.imgur.com/oFw06E0.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/mRaE6Lg.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/vfBhgQ0.jpg)
Coaching on the line
(https://i.imgur.com/NUi2N2m.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/QnPT6as.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/fDxEj1N.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/I5uMVLq.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/HErG0KD.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/jxdGT21.jpg)
Shoot Boss checking that data is written down
(https://i.imgur.com/eJzezUV.jpg)
Our trolleymaster, Tejas
(https://i.imgur.com/LyoE12G.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/NnDb6Qg.jpg)
Checking targets
(https://i.imgur.com/5ltACP9.jpg)
Happy shooters
(https://i.imgur.com/jxHD4sv.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/CIV3PVg.jpg)
Ball & Dummy
(https://i.imgur.com/Zbx2vJA.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/yhEb2m8.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/ZEsRV4B.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/VujVP6T.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/N5J5EuH.jpg)
Captain as line boss
(https://i.imgur.com/B4SSatR.jpg)
What a great looking event. Wish I could have been there. Maybe next year. O0
Wreck
What an amazing event! It proves that the skills, knowledge, and fundamentals learned at 25m really do translate to distance.
Mrs. Smith did a terrific job as Shoot Boss, and having so many knowledgeable and experienced instructors (including 4? gray hats) at one event truly was privilege and a blessing. I received several great tips from several instructors, including one piece of advice in particular from Maximum Ordinate that I attribute to part of the reason for improving from 40 and 39 on my first 2 AQT's to 45 and 45 on my last 2 AQT's.
The instructors did a great job at explaining trajectory, wind, range estimation, etc. Ghostring's benediction was powerful, and Maximum Ordinate's speech pointing out how rifle marksmanship is good for the body, mind, and soul was a new way to view it for me.
Thanks again to all of the volunteers/instructors, and especially to Tejas, John, and the Midland Shooters Association for the great facilities and all of the hard work and preparation that made this Known Distance event happen!
-JoshL
It was an awesome event. As a person who has mainly focused kn hold-over, I especially liked the come-ups part of this weekend. I avoided it, but admittedly once I tried it, it worked. It went a long way to building confidence in the process.
I think if I were to say anything, it would be to close Saturday with a short discussion on moving between the ranges. Meaning, if you're zeroed "what do you do to get to 400?", or 200, or from 400 straight to 100. I think it's straight forward if you know it and/or have great notes, but for newer shooters it's worth gold.
I had a great time! The Range offered great hospitality! Thanks to Mrs. Smith for being an awesome Shoot Boss. Thank you to the instructors for their patience and great tips.
I struggled a bit with adjusting my scope at different distances. I brought what they taught me home and studied. Now my confidence with working my scope has grown. Thank you all!