AAR TO FOLLOW...
SLCFSA in Quarryville hosted the last APPLESEED weekend event for 2022. This was to replace a postponed October weekend event.
15 students signed up, and 12 showed for the event. 7 adults, 5 youth. We jumped right into it Saturday morning, went over the four rules, range safety, safe rifle, firing line commands, set up our first aid responders, 911 callers, and runners. We shot an initial redcoat target after going over how to uncase rifles. We then proceeded to go over steady hold factors for prone, sling use, steady hold factors for seated and standing, as well as NPOA, the 6 steps to firing the shot, and practiced zeroing, IMC, NPOA, Cadence, carding the sights, etc. We practiced transitions, ate lunch, learned about our nations history as it relates to the events of April 19th, 1775, shot an AQT, and a final redcoat for the day.
Sunday dawned a little gray, but cleared up nicely with a little breeze. We went over all the safety aspects as a refresher from the day before, and also went over the positions, sling use, and the 6 steps. We ate lunch, told the third strike of the match, told stories about some dangerous old men and women, and at noon, we were ready to fire our first redcoat. After that, we did a quick zero and sight adjustment target, and went into the AQT grind. We shot one rapid fire AQT, which all the students seemed to enjoy!
We finished with a redcoat, a letter from John Adams ("Posterity"), and range restoration.
Questions were answered, and all left with a better sense of how much our forebears sacrificed for our freedom, and how to apply the fundamentals of marksmanship in shooting a rifle with precision out to 500 yards!
BBQ_ Bandit Retelling the 2nd strike of the match. Bob has really come into his own with a masterful retelling of the history!
Well done, Bob!
Wickedworx with his son, Jack, and a demolished Redcoat target!
A proud papa Tom is, and of right, ought to be!
Even better, Jack's grandfather was able to witness him clearing that target. 3 generations of men, plus Jack's mother was there.
A family that shoots together, stays together, and is a powerful ally to our nation!
Demonstrating the finer points of the standing position.
That's Yankee Peas demonstrating the position. He drove nearly 3 hours to come down and start his IIT progression.
Way to go, Bruce, and excellent job!
Seated practice.
That's your ever-loving shoot boss on the ground, offering some tips on trigger control. 3 of the youth students shot man sized modern muskets, AR-15's, and they all did splendidly. Proud papa Rhein, the 3 boys father, musta spent a whole lot of money on ammo for his boys, but he was rewarded with ear to ear grins, competent, safe rifle handling, and pretty good scores on the targets.
These 3 young men demonstrated superior skills all weekend, and I was impressed with their go for it attitude!
I must admit, when it's your last turn at bat, it sure is nice to go out with a home run.
The Nov 05-06 Appleseed weekend marks the end of Mr. Painless shoot bossing for the program.
It is a bittersweet departure, as I truly believe in the mission, and I think it serves a vital purpose in the health of our nation.
However, other duties and responsibilities call, and I must attend them.
I would be severely remiss if I did not mention the wonderful cadre that carried me on their shoulders, that gave me inspiration, strength, and renewed vigor, when I was tired, or weak.
David(Tex), Tom, Bob, Bruce, James, Mal, Alex, and Gary- I am truly in debt to all of you. You have made me a better instructor, shooter, man.
I will never forget all the fun we had, all the spirited conversations, and how we shaped Riflemen.
I will still be joining you for breakfast on Sunday mornings, and I plan to be in touch regularly, because you bunch of guys are just way too interesting and neat to be away from!
To the estimated 500+ students who came through the SLCFSA facility for Appleseed over the years, I thank you all for your patience and diligence. It is for all of you, that we do what we do! You are the future of our Nation, and I am 100% sure that I am leaving it in capable and caring hands!
I thank you all!
Your Servant.
Mr. Painless