There is truly no better weekend to Appleseed than in celebration of Patriots Day.
Here in Washington, our event took place at the Firearms Academy of Seattle, one of our longest-running host ranges in the state. 19 shooters got to enjoy a very warm and sunny weekend on their carbine range learning all about the history of April 19th, 1775 and why that one day should be so important to us as Americans. These folks got to learn about the long standing American tradition of marksmanship, and then the instructor corps set about turning the Americans before us into Riflemen!
On Saturday morning we had only one shooter who was able to effectively engage the 400yd Hits Count target. More than half of our shooters were effective at 100yds or less! This group was incredibly quick to pick up on the skills we taught them - applying the Steady Hold Factors, NPOA, and the 6 steps of Firing the Shot - and by noon on Saturday nearly everyone on the line was shooting 6 MOA groups.
We taught our students some of the mental tools a Rifleman carries with them everywhere they go: how to listen to what their targets are telling them, and how to Keep Calm and Do IMC. Shooters learned the art and science of smooth magazine changes and how to quickly drop into an stable position with a perfect NPOA the first time. We worked them hard, but these persistent folks were ready for the challenge and applied everything we taught them.
All of this was set with the backdrop of the history of April 19th, 1775. Mike AKA Bandaid set the stage describing the plans for the powder raid and left students with the smell of black powder and blood in the air as the Regulars marched away from Lexington. Jamison told shooters of the heroic last hours of Isaac Davis and the deadly effect of Colonial marksmanship against Regular officers. Doc Sporseen brought it home with the first shots fired of the Revolutionary War at Meriam's Corner (in defense of fellow AMERICANS) and detailed the Regulars' harrowed retreat back across Charlestown Neck. It was history well-told!
Sunday we began with another Hits Count target, and now more than half of our shooters were effectively engaging the 300yd silhouette (or smaller!), with 10 shooters scoring hits on Morgan's Shingle. Then we began the AQT grind!
Returning Riflemen Travis, Kieth (kfritz), and Chris (of FAS) showed that they still know what they are about! Chris challenged himself with using a 3 MOA Red Dot with a 50-yard zero and posted a 211. Kieth (an OR instructor visiting us incognito) posted a solid 225, and Travis scored our only Distinguished Rifleman patch of the weekend with a score of 231 with irons. Congratulations folks, and thanks for proving you've kept your skills sharp!
I am beyond pleased to announce we had 3 NEW Riflemen and I got to award Daniel, Jonathan, and Alex with full color Rifleman patches on April 19th proper. Jonathan scored a 221, Daniel (a new Eagle Scout!) scored a 215, and Alex scored a 210, earning himself a chilly Rifleman's baptism in the ceremonial waters of the North Bridge. Many cheers of HUZZAH were heard in celebration of our new Riflemen.
At 1pm PST we went over the Bloody Butchery poster and did our Memorial Volley to remember the 40 Americans who lost their lives on the first day of the Revolutionary war. BirdDog called out each name, and after a final volley (accompanied by a single cannon blast) we had a moment of silence in remembrance.
We were also able to engage the Parker's Revenge target introduced last year. 3 teams of shooters engaged this target, and our winner was team "Ida Nowe" with a score of 43! Winners were awarded a Liberty Tree button.
Shooters, this was an incredibly fun event for us to run. You were safe, attentive, friendly, and brought a teachable attitude that made this an easy weekend on us. If you didn't earn a Rifleman patch this weekend, remember that persistence is part of being a Rifleman. Spend time practicing on your home range or dry-firing on your own before you join us next and there's a high likelihood you could go home with a patch next time!
Instructors: THANK YOU. You brought the passion and professionalism that such an important weekend requires, and you brought it in surplus. Jamison, Mike AKA Bandaid, Doc Sporseen, BirdDog, and USSRanger: you are some of the best Americans I know and I was glad to spend the weekend with you recounting our shared heritage and improving our fellow Americans.
A special thank you to the Firearms Academy of Seattle! Shooters: if you are looking to build on the skills you learned this weekend, FAS offers huge variety of courses that will challenge you and give you more tools to be self-sufficient shooters both on and off the shooting mat.
And now, pictures!
Group Photo:
(https://i.imgur.com/9Q8J562.jpeg)
BirdDog covers the first 3 Steps of Firing the Shot:
(https://i.imgur.com/rj8tf8v.jpeg)
The Flag Line:
(https://i.imgur.com/xaDkrYI.jpeg)
Jamison tells the Second Strike of the Match:
(https://i.imgur.com/szfzmaR.jpeg)
Doc Sporseen recounts the Regulars' Retreat:
(https://i.imgur.com/smyZyBi.jpeg)
Shooters engage Stage 1 of the AQT:
(https://i.imgur.com/nlAlCbs.jpeg)
Shooters engage Stage 2 of the AQT:
(https://i.imgur.com/TEopy1S.jpeg)
Shoot Boss casts a spell of Liberty:
(https://i.imgur.com/29kXrfW.jpeg)
Instructors check Sight Alignment:
(https://i.imgur.com/CNtXxJW.jpeg)
USSRanger contemplates the big questions during the Rifleman's Nap (AKA Stage 4):
(https://i.imgur.com/cfAmpue.jpeg)
Mike AKA Bandaid keeps an eye on the clock:
(https://i.imgur.com/TEopy1S.jpeg)
Travis earns his Distinguished patch!
(https://i.imgur.com/jT9JYzE.jpeg)
Daniel scores Rifleman!
(https://i.imgur.com/m344DpJ.jpeg)
Jonathan scores Rifleman!
(https://i.imgur.com/Wy7MpiD.jpeg)
Many thanks to the volunteers who put on the event and Firearms Academy of Seattle for hosting it.
I definitely needed this weekend.
Thank you so much for sharing your love of history and marksmanship with us this weekend! I was excited to earn my Rifleman patch, especially on Patriot's Day, and thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of the weekend. From a 207 (that one little guy :wb:) on Saturday afternoon to a 221 on Sunday, I felt like I was consistently improving with each evolution.
All of the instructors were top notch, I will absolutely come train and learn with you again! And I also want to thank our host range, FAS, for being the best neighbors and partners around.
Thank you all for your hard work! It was great working with you all!