Another Coeur d'Alene Winterseed completed! What a fantastic way to bang in the New Year. I'm sure everyone's open heated space in their home is filled with rifle cases, range bags, mats and outerwear drying out as mine is! As much as I hate preparing for Appleseed Rifle Clinics, I sure do appreciate the mettle of you folks you show up at Rifle Clinics in North Idaho in JANUARY!! The weather was a true Winterseed, Saturday's high was in the 34 degree range and we had 3-4" of snow in the bay. Precipitation ranged from snow and sleet to rain drizzle. Perfect hypothermia conditions. But the shooters persisted and prevailed.
We had 20 shooters preregistered, which is perfect for this range as it leaves sufficient room to handle instruction and demos in the center of the bay's shelter during inclement weather. Unfortunately, there were six cancellations due to illness the night before the shoot.
After the Heritage Prelude and initial safety brief, the first Hits Count target demonstrated we had a very serious group on our line. Seven of the 13 hit the Morgan's Shingle! We got through the five squares by lunch with instruction on slings & prone, six seps/Natural Point of Aim, Talking Targets, and Inches, Minutes and Clicks. Everyone was shooting sub 2" groups and close to a solid zero by a well deserved lunch break in the heated classroom.
Dane (Ambi, retired IIT and new Applecore Volunteer), led off with a solid First Strike, followed by an equally solid Ryan's (AR Gunner) Second Strike. We closed out the lunch session answering questions from the morning's instruction blocks.
Post Lunch instruction included a couple of sets of Standing, Sitting/Kneeling, Sitting from transition with mag changes, and prone from transition with mag changes. After a sample AQT, we took a break for the Third Strike which was presented by lilTom, our newest Instructor-in-Training. Another solid Strike! Incase you missed the above, all the Strikes were presented by Orange or Blue Hats! Big time Huzzah!!
Post break it was time for a "real" AQT. One of our first time attendees, Logan earned his Winterseed Patch, and five others requalified. The sun goes down early this time of year, so I really appreciate everyone's effort in keeping us moving and accomplishing everything that was planned, with 156 rounds fired in a condensed timeframe!
Sunday's weather was similar, possibly slightly warmer, but also wetter, setting the stage for another prime hypothermia day. We started off with a review of Saturday, followed by the NPOA centric drills, and Stage 2 transition drills preparing for the AQT grind to follow! The experienced Rifleman partnered up with our new shooters for the Ball and Dummy (and Calling shot) and Carding exercises. We completed a couple of AQTs before lunch, and after that everyone was ready for a sit-down break in the heat.
The Lunch Heritage was presented by the Shoot Boss Pat (Eert). As this was a winter event it was a prime opportunity to present the 1776 story and how the Revolution didn't come to an end due to perseverance and a refusal to quit in the face of defeat.
Post lunch shooting resumed with Stage 3 speed transition drills to wake everyone up from the heat and food break. Once all were awake we powered through a bunch of AQTs.
By the end of the day Logan repeated 3 more qualifying scores, affirming his Rifleman status from Saturday with a high score of 233! His daughter Bubba, another first timer, earned a Winterseed patch with a respectable 218. I think Wendy was the most surprised new Rifleman when she was called up for a patch with another respectable score of 219. John K. (Bald since Birth) led all shooters in his quest for the elusive 250 patch and shot multiple Distinguished scores with a high of 247! Dane and Big Tom were knocking on the Distinguished door with 239 and 238 respectively. Abby (Puddles) with a high of 236 was not far behind. Kate (K8) popped a couple of 230s. Kay Marie and Outlaw Walt closed out the Clan's list of requalifiers. Ryan (AR Gunner) took a break from Instructing and demonstrated he could shoot a good qualifying score on demand. The Shoot Boss put a mat down, but his new rifle build malfunctioned several times during Stage 1, so the only thing he demonstrated was he had not practiced, and that he needs to practice what he preaches!
In summary, 13 shooters on Saturday, 12 on Sunday (sorry Austin that you had to return home), 3 new Rifleman, 8 requalifying Rifleman, Hits Count Target went from 4 at 400, 7 plank, 2 cleaned on Saturday morning to 7 at 400, 8 plank, 4 cleaned on Sunday afternoon. Sunday's Hits Target count would have been higher, but Kate is working on cleaning this in standing position! All of the newer shooters were paying attention to the instruction and individual input, and the entire Instructor cadre noticed your improvement. Of special note, all three participants that didn't earn a qualifying score were all knocking on the proverbial RM door. Instructors figured Austin was a sure thing on Sunday, but he had to return home (Leavenworth) unexpectantly Saturday night. Kevin, another first timer was running iron sights, so even a bit handicapped, was showing great improvement. Nia, youngest on the line was also getting closer with each AQT. I expect all the above to easily qualify at their next shoot. Progress by all!
Please contact me if you want reduced scale Appleseed Targets for indoor dry fire purposes, or any of the Known Distance info I discussed. If you are local and want to try out equipment or looking for additional practice/training, let my know as I obviously need more range time!
It was great seeing friends again as well as meeting new ones. Thanks to you participants for making my life easy and also making me feel of value in the battle for liberty. Thank you INSTRUCTORS: Wagon (John), AR Gunner (Ryan) and lilTom (Thomas), along with Applecore volunteers Kid RM (Tom) and Ambi (Dane), I couldn't have done this without you my friends and brothers.
Wishing all of you and yours a Happy and Healthy New Year!
https://i.imgur.com/P8qcfzb.jpeg
https://i.imgur.com/53h6eUB.jpeg
https://i.imgur.com/IEco0BZ.jpeg
https://i.imgur.com/wvsw606.jpeg
https://i.imgur.com/UnPSsw8.jpeg
https://i.imgur.com/d7LPP8y.jpeg
https://i.imgur.com/UNTD4cD.jpeg
https://i.imgur.com/P8qcfzb.jpeg
Thanks for a great shooot, Pat et al! :beer:
For a Winterseed, the weather was pretty solid, especially considering what it could have been. Thanks for driving the pace and helping us get in so many AQTs. The pace also helped in trying to stay warm.
I posted a sort of personal AAR in the Idaho forum if anyone is interested in my personal reflections on my shooting and things that I'm thinking about and working on.
Hope to see you all in March!!! :F
Its the most wonderful time of the year!!!
Winterseeds are always such special shoots to me, seeing everyone come together to enjoy liberty in ANY condition is really a wonderful thing. Special thanks to all the instructors and people who came together to make this event possible, any shoot with Eert at the helm is well worth the price of admission.
See you next winter!
This is my first Appleseed and first formal marksmanship training since Army basic in the last century.
I'll definitely be back - made good progress but have plenty more to learn.
Kevin
brrrrrr - congrats you brave souls for not only persisting, but improving so much in that COLD weather!! Tons of improvement made as shown by the Red Coat scores!! congrats everyone!!