Another great event at the ISRA Range in Bonfield.
Many thanks to our accommodating hosts, who were able to get us on the schedule with only 2 weeks' notice. :-[
17 shooters came out to join us for the weekend. Lots of fathers and sons. Everyone came with positive, teachable attitudes.
Congratulations to new Rifleman Josh, and to repeat Riflemen Alex, Jeremy and Terry.
I'll get some pictures up shortly.
Thanks to the instructor crew - Pookie, jayshoneybunny, cheriesgeek, and tbone4.
We received a wonderful flag tour as part of the event. ITB did an awesome job.
Thanks to ISRA for hosting this Appleseed Rifle event.
Even after participating in a number of these events, I am amazed at the level of instruction available. The instructors are able to use to format of the Appleseed system and adapt it to the individual shooter. I appreciate the fact that these people take time out of their lives to teach marksmanship and the first hours of our country's history. My hat's off to all the instructors.
It is especially heartwarming to see the young people give up a weekend to learn this history and marksmanship. They are our future and with persistence and practice with become new Riflemen.
Congrats to Josh and the repeats for their Rifleman scores.
It was a bit of a hot one, but the instructors did a good job of reminding/strongly suggestion/ordering students to keep hydrated. I know I did a good job with hydration but still pulled myself off the line for a couple of relays Sunday as I was getting a little unsteady. Even some of the young guys took a break at times.
Short version- This was basically my first real Appleseed (attended one day with my daughter years ago and spent most of my time with her).
I'm already signed up for my next Appleseed (Watervliet Aug 19/20, 2023), and I'm looking at squeezing in one or two more before the end of the year. So yes, I had a great time, best time I've had at the range in years.
And the Instruction was great, as always just like trying to drink from a fire hose, the Instructors provided the fundamentals now it's time to keep putting them into practice.
The first thing I need to work on is safety, as I was dismal failure, forgetting to put my safety on multiple times and even forgetting to remove the mag once over the weekend. A truly pathetic showing and exactly why I encourage people to watch each other at the range, at times you need other people to catch your mistakes, especially when tired.
So say it with me-
1. Magazine out
2. Bolt locked back
3. Safety on
4. Chamber flag in
5. Rifle grounded
6. No one touching the rifle
Really, you can do better. Lets hear you loud and proud, like you mean it, by the numbers-
1! 2! 3! 4! 5! 6!
Ok, that's better, but keep practicing on your own.
But seriously, my biggest issue was that I wasn't going by the numbers. The times I finished shooting and unloaded/safed the rifle by the numbers I performed correctly, when I didn't run by the numbers is when I would miss a step. So while it may seem foolish it really does work to talk to your self. Not just for the safety but the shooting fundamentals also.
The first fundamental I need to work on is sight alignment. I was having plenty of issues keeping a consistent sight picture, some of my worst misses on my AQT were called flyers or at least not surprising as I didn't have the most stable sight picture at trigger break. Then why did I fire then you ask. Good question, tired and impatient I guess.
Of course I need to work on all the fundamentals, and make some equipment changes (trim butt pad and build up cheek riser).
And the best part of the weekend for me was that I could actually see my front sight. I just started wearing progressive glasses and this was my first time shooting with them. They worked wonderfully, I wish I had gotten them years ago. I have been having issues focusing on the front sight for years now. So you more 'experienced' folks out there make that trip to the eye doctor and get some newer lenses, don't be stubborn like I was.
All in all I highly recommend taking an Appleseed to anyone interested in learning how to become a better rifleman and just have a fun weekend at the range.
Matt