Project Appleseed

Well, we just wrapped up our first Memorial Day shoot in WV, and what a wonderful 3 days of Heritage and rifle marksmanship. The weather reports were threatening rain for Sun and Mon, but we were blessed to end up with a rain-free event.

Our instructors--Matt and AZWildcat2001--arrived Fri evening and assembled their "base camp" for the event. What a tent! Actually, it reminded me of a scaled-down cabin...3 "rooms" that a person could walk around in without having to hunch over.  ;D

We had a total of 10 shooters show up on Sat, with one couple who drove all the way from Harrisburg, PA. There was another group from OH, and Barry-WV brought two of his family visiting from GA. Our newest WV recruit--Spanner--was the first to arrive.

There was one gal (Melisa from PA) who never held a rifle before, but by Sun evening you would never have known better, there were groups on her target! Just shows what a "teachable" attitude and a good team of instructors can do.  O0


Matt and AZ did a wonderful job of covering "all the bases" and the students looked like they were getting into the groove by Sat afternoon.


Come mid noon, the sun was also getting it's groove, as the heat level eventually shot up to 90 degrees.


Everyone endured for the most part, a few had to take a break to cool off, but I was impressed with the persistence level of most...true Rifleman form!


The day was topped off with a couple AQTs and the "3rd Strike". Although at the end of Sat most were wore down from heat stress, their spirits remained high and the smiles belied the physical discomfort.


Jeff, a very nice WV gentleman who is on the Executive Committee of the state Constitution Party, allowed me to sit in on a CP conference call meeting Sat night, as he and I discussed Appleseed with the other members of their group. I feel a solid relationship between Appleseed and the CP was forged that night, and I look forward to working with Jeff and the rest of their Party, for the advancement of both groups.

Sunday's tally was 6 less than Saturday's, which allowed more individualized instruction for the remaining students. It always seems to be the trend that several people don't return for Sun, but it is really a positive for the one's that do return, for the reason I mentioned previously.

Sunday's participants were also rewarded with a somewhat cooler and breezier, rain-free day. I had other obligations to tend to, so I will let someone else fill in the details of what went on that day. I do know that the sound of M1-A rifles was heard just before dark.

Some friends came over later that evening to do some fishing, and AZ got to see a 20 lb. Channel Catfish get reeled out of the pond. That's why if anyone plans to Appleseed at Stinson, you might as well bring your fishing gear too, there's some 40-50 pounders waiting to be caught.  8)

Things ended Mon afternoon without any Rifleman patches handed out, although Spanner was very close with Jeff not far behind. Both of these guys are Riflemen in spirit, as far as I'm concerned, and that's what matters most to me.


Getting a patch is one thing--we've handed out 3 already--but it's an individual's commitment level to the Appleseed program that I'm looking for...the marksmanship will improve with time. Spanner is coming to our RBC next month, so his patch will be awarded then, and possibly an Orange Hat to go with it, since he wants to instruct too...love ya man!  ;D Jeff is trying to get his work schedule rearranged so he can attend as well. What was your boss's phone number Jeff?  ^-^

I want to thank Matt and AZ again for taking the time to run this event, and a big thanks to all who came out on this holiday weekend to honor our Founding heroes, by perpetuating the Heritage.  O0

I was very impressed with the quality of students we had - all dedicated to learning what we came to teach. There was definite improvement with each student on every day, and if we had continued into Monday afternoon I feel certain we would have handed out some patches.

Spanner gets the Secretariat endurance award for the weekend. In the 1973 Kentucky Derby, Secretariat ran each quarter mile faster than the one before - that is, he was still accelerating at the end of his race. Spanner shot his first AQT on Saturday in the low 100s (feel free to correct me, Spanner) and by Monday shot a 176, 180-something, and 191. He's right on the cusp, and I will be shocked if he doesn't earn his patch at the RBC.

One word of warning, for both instructors and students headed to Stinson for the RBC - bring shade and sunscreen, you will need it.

A great big thank you to The Machine for putting together a great 25m range, and to the students for performing so well. You raise the bar for students yet to come!

This was a great AS, Matt and AZ were both great also.

The Machine was very helpful bringing cold water out to the line and
sharing it with all the shooters.  I saw another shooter (Jeff) bring out a case
of water and announce all were welcome to help themelves to it.

Another shooter was seen to lend 2 magazines to another shooter who forgot
his magazines at home.  There was a great sense of common purpose at play.

Great training which I highly recommend to all serious rifle shooters.  The hospitality of the Machine and his Mrs., beautiful countryside and camaraderie of like-minded people made this an event to remember! - Tony

SA, thanks for the kind words and it was a pleasure to meet you and Melisa.  :)

I hope both of you continue practicing and building off of what you learned at the AS. Please notify me when one of you get your Rifleman patch, OK? You are now part of the Appleseed "family", so don't be a stranger, now that you have a 2nd "home" in WV.  O0

Great report.

Thanks for posting the pictures. It looks like you all are getting it done out there in Stinson.  O0

~SS

This Appleseed Shoot was truly terrific.  My favorite part was the people who were there; thank you!  The participants, the Instructors (Matt and AZ), the host (Herr Doktor Professor Das Machine ;))... everyone was a pleasure to be around and it was great to meet you.

Matt the Shoot Boss was very personable and extremely helpful.  I will always remember Matt as my "Appleseed First Impression"... and that first impression couldn't be more positive. 

wvmmfalcon and I stopped at a local diner after the AS, and, as obvious Appleseeders, were treated very well indeed!  (reminder: if you attend an AS for two days, they give you a CLEAN SHIRT!  It really helps with those transitions back into "civilization").