We had a great event in Dubuque. While all of the participants were first timers, they showed they have the grit and determination to become riflemen. On Saturday they endured temperatures in the low to mid 30's, gusting winds between 10 and 20 mph, and numerous snowfalls up until we left the range around 6:00 pm. Even though we only had minor snowfalls on Sunday it seemed colder because we never saw the sun until around 4:00 pm. In all of this they showed great enthusiasm and I never heard any of them complaining about the weather conditions. Most youth today would have been chased off by the weather to go home and play with their video games or phone, but our guys kept on going with cheerful attitudes.
Everyone showed great improvement in their marksmanship skills. Adam-1 shot a 203 and a 206 with his bolt action rifle while leaving five rounds in his magazine on stage 2. I'm confident he will earn his rifleman patch at his next Appleseed clinic. Adam-2 shot a 186 with iron sights on his 10/22. He says he'll be back with optics so he can get a 210 on the AQT to earn that coveted patch as well. Instructor "AppleseedDad" re-qualified by shooting a 236 with iron sights.
While I am very happy with how everyone's marksmanship skills improved, I am equally pleased with how everyone engaged in the history of April 19th, 1775. Several indicated they will be coming back with family and/or friends. Their enthusiasm regarding the history gives me hope we can turn our country around.
Many thanks to the Dubuque Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of American for hosting our event. And many thanks to "AppleseedDad" and "IowaMark" for driving 4.5 hours to help instruct. It was my great pleasure to work along side them for the cause of Liberty.
Here are some pictures from our shoot. If you click on them they should expand. Click on them again and they should collapse back down.
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Here is our group on Sunday. Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of our whole group on Saturday.
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Iowa Mark presenting the first strike
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Jim adapting to a bad back
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Adam-2 shooting his 10/22 with iron sights
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Adam-1 shooting cross ankle with his bolt action rifle
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Matthew showing us what a .30 cal M1 can do!
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Shooting squares on Saturday morning
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John just after the first snow started falling
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Rifles and matts after the first snowfall
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Adam-2's rifle after the first snowfall
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Bryan and Tom kneeling
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Adam-2 shooting stage 1 on the AQT
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Wow! Snow on the ground in April. This looks like such a fun shoot. I hope I can be a part of it next time!