Another great weekend at the MO DAR! I had a great time and would like to thank all the shooters for coming out and persevering through the HEAT. Congratulations to our 2 new Riflemen, well done gentlemen. O0 I'm looking forward to the next one and hope to see you all there with friends.
It was a great weekend at that. Despite the heat and humidity, only the occasional breeze, everybodies spirits remained high.
A number of the shooters were DAD's with their kids. Two ladies who showed up because they wanted to learn.
Even Longshots DAD showed up for a while on SUN. just to watch.
Would like to offer congrats to our two new riflemen, wish I could remember their names. I'm terrible that way. &)
It was good.
When my son and I showed up Saturday morning I thought I could shoot pretty well........until I shot the first redcoat target...(http://www.ar15.com/images/smilies/icon_smile_shock.gif)
So day one was spent finding those positions with a sling. One mistake on my part was not starting out with a familiar rifle.
I was using a borrowed 10-22 with stock sights and a sling. I prepped my son's 10-22 with tech sights, a tapco stock, and a 1 1/4" sling.
I also brought my own 10-22 that was scoped but had no sling. More on this one later.
The sling. What a helpful tool for shooting that has not been taught enough, until now with the Appleseed Project. This was my first time using a sling while shooting a rifle. It was awkward at first in any position, especially standing for me. Now I really see no reason for non-CQC shooting to not use it.
My son really made some progress. He nailed one group to about an inch with the 5th round being a flier out to two inches. That is his best group ever. Before this weekend a "group" for him was in the 12-15 inch range. Granted he is only 10 and has not been out shooting as much as I would like him to. I am trying to encourage and guide him along with out pushing him. He loved the Appleseed Project and is looking forward to making another one. Seeing him show his target to the instructors got a little something in my eyes, even posting this makes them water a bit. I am very proud of him and know he will improve greatly here at home too. He also did so well with all the safety steps that the instructors complimented on how they never had to get after him on making the rifle safe or muzzle direction.
So on with some shooting. Getting down the prone position took some time. It felt weird when I had it right, muscles stretched, elbows hurt, and I felt like I was showing my but to every one. By the end of day two prone felt good and relaxed. Sitting was tough again. More stretching here again. Standing was...standing. The only change was the sling and the chicken wing. It felt very strange to stick my trigger elbow up and out.
We ran squares, a star with your eyes closed, lots of AQT's and more. I learned so much that I am still trying to process it all.
(http://www.palomarpics.net/Appleseed1.jpg)
Getting NPOA. Well I did get it. It took a while, but I threw out some good groups. I was getting some on day one and many more on day two. Started seeing some ragged holes with a couple of rounds in the same spot. A flyer here and there still. I broke out my scoped 10-22 on the start of day two. Got a good NPOA, spotting my shots I see the first two touching. The third round is a BIG flier... I try again and more fliers.
I have come to the conclusion that my 1976 10-22's barrel is done. In fact after cleaning mine and then going to my son's I can feel a difference in the barrel with the cleaning rod....(http://www.ar15.com/images/smilies/icon_smile_sad.gif) Mine is sloppy and his is not. Don't take that out of context please.(http://www.ar15.com/images/smilies/icon_smile_approve.gif)
(http://www.palomarpics.net/Appleseed2.jpg)
So now I bring out the AR-15! (http://www.ar15.com/images/smilies/icon_smile_big.gif)
Getting slung up prone it just feels so right!
I shoot some 1" squares and get my elevation adjusted for a 6 o'clock POA. I was off three clicks was all. I shot my first couple of AQT's with the AR and scored in the 150's.... I was messing it up on the last string of 4 targets at 5 min prone all the shots were grouping high. I kept at it and was getting the same result. Had one of the instructors watch me and suggested a few things. I tried to feel all the muscles in my arms to see if I was tightening any thing. (http://www.ar15.com/images/smilies/smiley_freak.gif) Some more AQT's and squares and I was getting the same results. By this time of the day on Sunday most everyone has gone home. There had been one shooter awarded the rifleman patch so far. I showed up thinking I could get one. I was determined that I was going to get that patch.... By this time my son was done and was just hanging out in the shade. I put the AR away and adjusted his 10-22's sling and stock for me.
(http://www.palomarpics.net/Appleseed3.jpg)
I did a quick sight adjustment on some squares and shot an AQT. I did the same thing as my AR the bottom row was all high...........(http://www.ar15.com/images/smilies/smiley_thinking.gif)
So one of the instructors asked where I had my POA and I was at the bottom of the grey "ghost". He let me know to keep a sliver of light under the ghost since the 3 score was under it. On my final AQT I scored a 216! This was at 4:30 pm with my son's 10-22! (http://www.ar15.com/images/smilies/icon_smile_big.gif)
(http://www.palomarpics.net/Appleseed5.jpg)
I am very happy I attended an Appleseed Project. I spent some time and money and have way more to show for it than anything else I could have done. If you have not been to an Appleseed then GO! You will come away being a better shooter and even maybe a Rifleman!
(http://www.palomarpics.net/Appleseed4.jpg)
A big thanks to you instructors! You all are doing a great job! There is a difference made in each and every one of the shooters there over the weekend. I know I have learned much and my son has the same. I am looking forward to joining your ranks.
Kent
Kent,
Congrats on your patch! I had a feeling you might get there. You have a right to be proud of your son. He's a good kid and toughed it out without complaining through some pretty tough conditions. I look forward to seeing both of you on the line again.
Greg
Another good weekend in the Appleseed program! Congratulations to our two newest riflemen. Having no children of my own, it was a pleasure to see children with their fathers on the line. It reminded me of the days gone buy hunting and shooting with my own father and learning life lessons from him.
Met many new people and hope to see them again in the future. I am proud of all who attended this weekend. It was great to see the rifleman's perservearance come out in everyone, despite the heat and humidity. Everyone stuck it out and never complained, using their time to learn all that they could. As time goes on, the pains will fade, the sun burns heal, but the knowledge that you have gained will never disappear.
TH
Jason
Kent and Skyler (jeez, I hope I spelled that right!),
It was a pleasure meeting you both last weekend. Skyler, you were one of the BEST behaved, well-mannered 10-year olds I have ever had the chance to meet- and what a great shooter you are! You will continue to improve- just keep practicing. I think your dad might appreciate "ball and dummy" weekends at the range! ;) I can only hope that when my son gets old enough to shoot (he's only 2) that he can handle himself with the same kind of maturity that you showed last weekend- and it that HEAT!
Kent, you reminded me of myself last October...I just wanted that patch so badly that I would have kept shooting in the dark! I think what impressed me the most, (aside from your shooting ;) ) was that by staying and not giving up, you were teaching your son that even when the going gets tough (did I mention the HEAT?) the tough get GOING. A Rifleman persists. Even if you hadn't walked away with that patch, you were still a Rifleman in your heart because you never gave up! I'm proud to have you in the ranks, and I hope to meet you again on the Appleseed trail!
I met some great Americans last weekend. Appleseed folks are among the best people in the whole world, and I couldn't be more honored to be a part of something so special. I also couldn't have asked for a better group of instructors to brave through the weekend heat with! You guys are all top notch and I am already counting the days until the October shoot! O0
MB (Kori)