We held a great, sold out event in Beaver Falls, PA this weekend.
The facility was beautiful and had an indoor meeting room (helpful during Saturday's downpour), restrooms, and a delicious breakfast/lunch for sale. The club President, Ev, was a pleasure and went above and beyond to ensure that all Appleseeders were comfortable and taken care of. Thanks Ev!
I rolled into camp fairly late Friday night. Not only did folks help me set up my tent and get squared away, but they had already set the target line and prepared the range. We were ready to roll!
We had 32 shooters on Saturday and 23 were able to return on Sunday. Saturday was filled with all "building blocks of marksmanship" and the Three Strikes of the Match which were told at lunch (along with a great period rifle demo by Cowdog), and during 45 minutes of an afternoon thunderstorm. About the time that we were describing the beaten Redcoats barely crawling back to safety... the skies cleared and it was time for more shooting.
We hung one AQT on Saturday and it produced our very first Rifleman. Congratulations Arienne! Welcome!
Arianne had incredible groups all day. We're talking 3 MOA or better most of the time. Walking back to the line one time, I had to ask, "Do you compete? Where did you learn to shoot like that?"
Her answer?
"I shot some in 4H in high school, but I haven't touched a rifle in about four years before this morning."
:o
Not only did she score a 217 on her first QDAQT try..... She did it with iron sights........... on a bolt-action rifle.......................... that accepted 7-round magazines..................................................... and she only had one mag!
O0
She still got all shots off on Stage 2. I watched her do it. Unbelievable skills. Way to go, Arianne. :~
On Sunday, we went into the AQT grind and polished off five QDAQTs, along with some Greencoat Classification AQTs, Carding Sights, an "Eyes Closed" NPOA drill, a Riflemen Team drill, some necessary review, and of course more history lessons.
We welcomed three additional Riflemen. Congratulations to Jim, Chris, and Lee (Arianne's father - also with a bolt action). There were several folks knocking on the door. I saw at least four 190's. And two additional folks were above 200. One scored a 206. I imagine the next Shoot Boss at Beaver Falls will need to bring a healthy supply of Rifleman patches.
I spoke with Jim for a bit. He has attended multiple Appleseeds and understands our Program's mission. I offered him an Orange Hat during our closing talks on Sunday and he accepted. PA, as well as the rest of the country, will be well served! Glad to have you aboard, Jim.
In talking with the club President, she is ready to schedule additional follow-on dates. I look forward to returning.
A big thank you to Chainsaw, arpjoe, Birdman, and redman1 for your hard work.
To the students - It was an honor to share this fine weekend with you.
Safe shoot.
Good shooters.
See you at the next one.
Meanstreaker and team,
Thanks for your efforts. I had a great time. My only regrets are that I could only shoot one day, (and some problems with my beloved old Marlin .22 :()
Meanstreaker---I like the way you tied the Acton men into your own small town during the story telling. O0
Could somebody speak to Arienne about becoming an instructor in training?
Fabulous report. Inspiring story of Arienne making RM score with a bolt and only one magazine. O0
Quote from: SavageShootr on July 27, 2009, 06:10:58 PM
Fabulous report. Inspiring story of Arienne making RM score with a bolt and only one magazine. O0
only one
seven round magazine :o
Quote from: Cowdog on July 27, 2009, 05:57:36 PM
Could somebody speak to Arienne about becoming an instructor in training?
I will absolutely be keeping in touch with Arianne's family. I think if they would be interested, they would all make great instructors. :) I did not think it was appropriate to bring up the opportunity as I believe I heard that she is enlisting in the Armed Services tomorrow... so they probably have a lot going on at the moment.
Another great Appleseed! And here are some pictures to prove it:
(http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j39/Birdman40_photos/1MikeShootBoss.jpg)
Shoot Boss Mike tellin' us the good stuff
(http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j39/Birdman40_photos/2Cowdoghistory.jpg)
Cowdog flintlock demo
(http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j39/Birdman40_photos/5TheLineProne.jpg)
The line prone
(http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j39/Birdman40_photos/8Adrianne.jpg)
Rifleman Arianne
(http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j39/Birdman40_photos/9Jimmy.jpg)
Rifleman Jim
(http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j39/Birdman40_photos/10Lee.jpg)
Rifleman Lee (Arianne's DAD!)
(http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j39/Birdman40_photos/6TheConnerSquish.jpg)
This is Connor. Ok folks...who else can do this?
(http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j39/Birdman40_photos/11Chris.jpg)
Rifleman Chris
(http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j39/Birdman40_photos/7NoStarLeft.jpg)
Awesome Rifle Team. No star left!
(http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j39/Birdman40_photos/12NewOrangeHatJimmy.jpg)
New Orange Hat Jim, a man who very much knows who he is about.
Thanks Jim!
I had a great time and thoroughly enjoyed each and every appleseeder I met. Thanks Ev and Lee for allowing the use of your great facility and for setting up the camping area for us. It was truely above and beyond anything we could have expected. I am anxious for next year already!
Thanks also to MeanStreaker, Chainsaw, ArpJoe, and Redman1 for another great shoot. You guys ROCK.
Thanks Meanstreaker, Chainsaw, Arpjoe, Birdman, and Redman1! I had a great time & it was *WELL* worth the 7 hour drive from Michigan! Hope to see you guys at another Appleseed soon.
What a great weekend. It was an excellent group that was there to learn, coupled with a top notch shooting and camping facility.
Thanks to Loyd for bringing that giant canopy and for the use of his camp stove.
Cousin's early morning seranade on the bagpipes was COOL, I love the pipes!
Cowdog, neat demonstration and thanks for all the work you're doing out there in W PA.
As for the club, you can tell that promoting shooting of all kinds is in Club President Ev's blood, it really shows in all the work she does. To the club members manning the kitchen that toiled tirelessly for our benefit, thanks.
Extra special thanks to the regiment of quarter sized wolf spiders that kept our shooters safe by ceaselessly patrolling the line, the rifles, and us. If we had any arachnophobes on the line they didn't show it, way to persevere!
How about team 16 that TOTALLY OBLITERATED their star target. 5 ordinary Americans, working as a team, GET IT DONE!
..and congrats to our new Rifleman! Well done!
Appleseed trainers, educators, and all involved: thanks for a challenging and eye opening weekend! Special thanks to Joe Arp and Ev for figuring out how to let a few more of us participate (originally the program was sold out).
I'd like to point out that I've been shooting for many years (primarily trap and a NRA pistol league with a red dot) and I was humbled by what I did not actually know in regards to iron sight shooting (in other words, I cannot talk "SMACK" at my buddies until I'm in possession of that Rifleman's patch!).
I will admit that I truly believe in the saying "Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it", the problem is I really do not know all that much about our history and I truly appreciate even the few factual stories Chainsaw, Cowdog and Meanstreaker shared with us.
Overall it was a fantastic and enlightening experience and I'm already promoting to other friends.
Congrats to all that succeeded in obtaining the Rifleman status. Good job!
Thanks, Trevor Schnupp
Welcome to the forums, Trevor!
It was great meeting you last weekend.
What a great time. Thanks again to all the instructors and Shoot Boss Mike. O0
I had attended the Appleseed on 4.7 @ Allemans, PA earlier this year. There were a lot of shooters (75+) and I did learn much but, having a lower instructor to student ratio helped out at Beaver Falls. I thought it was pretty cool when Cousin Wayne starting playing the bagpipes the first morning. CowDog's demonstration of the Blackpowder Rifle was a unique treat. What an addition to an Appleseed it would be if you could get a shot at bucket at 250 yards with a rifle like that!
Arienne's shooting was amazing. I'm sure she'll drop some jaws with her skills in the military.
I'm looking forward to getting more involved in the Appleseed Project. As I told Mike, attending my 1st (and 2nd) Appleseed was one of the most fulfilling Liberty/History/Patriot events I've attended since waking up. I was humbled have him ask me to take the next step.
Thanks again to everyone. :)
For Liberty,
Jim
I am glad I was able to be at the first Appleseed Shoot at Beaver Valley Rifle & Pistol Club. Ev was wonderful. She arranged camping for us at Brady Run Park, was there to help setup and coordinate everything for us at the range thoughout the weekend, and was able to provide cardboard for the target backers. Thank you Ev for your dedication to make this a great shoot. Thank you members of BVRP Club for hosting an Appleseed Shoot at your range.
Meanstreaker did a great job as Shoot Boss for this event. This was his second Shoot Boss assignment in two weekends any very much appreciated by this IIT. My fellow IITs were marvelous. The team ran a smooooooth shoot. O0 Glad to have met IIT4 Chainsaw for the first time who traveled from Scranton, PA to attend. Welcome to Jim, who volunteered as a new IIT. Birdman, thanks for posting the pictures too.
And I always meet the greatest people at Appleseed Shoots. All hungry to learn marksmanship and the heritage as defenders of Liberty. Lots of positive responses to what they experienced last weekend at the BVRP Club Appleseed Shoot. I was told by some that I will see them at the Slippery Rock, PA shoot Aug 15-16. This is going to be the first Appleseed Shoot for this new Designated Appleseed Range called the Tim Murphy Memorial DAR hosted by Cowdog. (Cowdog did the muzzleloading rifle demo for the group at BVRP Club.) Don't miss it if you can help it.
A very great thanks to MeanStreaker, Birdman, Chainsaw, Arpjoe, and Redman1. This was my first Appleseed and I will certainly be returning for more. If things work out I will end up as a local range coordinator for my home range to host an Appleseed or three. :)
I am saving the round which failed to feed and jammed my magazine on my LTR which kept me from firing 3 rounds at the 300 yard target on my score of 206 as inspiration. While it is frustrating, I still feel incredibly pleased with what I learned and how well I did. It has been less than six months since I first fired a rifle. It certainly is amazing how many bad habits I had formed in so little time. It is also amazing how most of my bad habits were not difficult to correct, yet some I will be struggling with for a while.
I find myself with a lack of adequate words to describe how much I enjoyed the weekend. Thank you everyone! See some of you in Slippery Rock, I will be registering for that event soon!
Mike
Good meeting you Mike and welcome to the forum. Do some dry firing every day and you will SMOKE the AQT in Slippery Rock.
...then you can put on that orange hat and join us on the trail!
Chainsaw
Quote from: Edheler on July 28, 2009, 09:42:44 PM
I am saving the round which failed to feed and jammed my magazine on my LTR which kept me from firing 3 rounds at the 300 yard target on my score of 206 as inspiration.
Dude, that malfunction killed me as well once you showed me the round. I have no doubt you'll get your patch soon! Keep persisting...
Looking forward to seeing Appleseed back at BVRPC. Thanks to Meanstreaker and the instructors for putting on a great event, and making it look easy. I'm sure the Club officers and members who came as spectators were impressed. I sure was. Also thanks to the participants for coming (from Grand Rapids!!!).
Next time I bring a semi. ;)
GOOD NEWS!!!
Thanks to everyone who helped make this a great event. I wish I could have been there. I will reach out to Ev and see when she'd like to set up another AS.
Mooney
Mooney, feel free to PM me so we can talk there or on the phone and I can relay the info of what Ev would like to do.
Letter I received from the Beaver Valley Rifle & Pistol Club:
Appleseed Project
We hosted our first Appleseed Project this year, but it won't be the last. Our members want them back! Experienced shooters at the event said that the instruction given was "top notch". The youth said, "We want to do it again." Several of those who attended serve on the gun club board, are competitive shooters and NRA trainers. They've seen many instructors at a variety of shooting events, but none more professional, dedicated and fun than the Appleseed staff.
Ev Gower, President
Beaver Valley Rifle & Pistol Club
Really nice after action discussion, liked the formal report, the pictures were great and make everyone reading this feel like they were there. Thanks, see y'all on the trail, the range and our future.