Another successful Appleseed was held in the beautiful high country of northern New Mexico!
15 Americans were signed up for the Constitutional Day Shoot.
This was the final shoot of the year for the AS Project at the NRA Whittington Center and what a great group of shooters!
(http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/350/wc33.jpg) (http://img225.imageshack.us/i/wc33.jpg/)
Soon, the trophy big game hunts will close the range to rifles. High country seasonal weather will then cause the range to be open a minimal time.
Packed and ready to go, from the base of the Sangre de Cristo's in Taos, NM, BF and I hit the road.
(http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/6563/ws28.jpg) (http://img525.imageshack.us/i/ws28.jpg/)
BlueFeather recruits 2 young does to help string the backers while below, Dad looks on just yards away.
(http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/7059/wc19.jpg) (http://img338.imageshack.us/i/wc19.jpg/)
(http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/8051/wc20.jpg) (http://img35.imageshack.us/i/wc20.jpg/)
Early morning shooters were rewarded with the usual beautiful sunrise in the "Land of Enchantement".
Temps were in the low 40's. Early one morning we heard the sound of bugling bull elk.
(http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/3308/wc2nm.jpg) (http://img27.imageshack.us/i/wc2nm.jpg/)
These cow elk quickly finished their breakfast and then dispersed to the edge of the forest away from the firing line.
(http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/9792/elk.jpg) (http://img27.imageshack.us/i/elk.jpg/)
The many cabins at the NRA Whittington Center get washed in the early morning sunshine as we head down the road
to our dedicated range, the Coors Range. It's cheaper to stay here than in the sterile motel rooms in Raton just 15 minutes away.
(http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/1742/wc12.jpg) (http://img32.imageshack.us/i/wc12.jpg/)
(http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/7461/wc0.jpg) (http://img508.imageshack.us/i/wc0.jpg/)
BlueFeather readies the Instructors Bench before the shooters arrive.
Here we keep extra slings, water, tools, first aid and other supplies to run a successful shoot.
(http://img121.imageshack.us/img121/4783/wc29.jpg) (http://img121.imageshack.us/i/wc29.jpg/)
These deer tread carefully by the flags of our founders.
(http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/824/wc23.jpg) (http://img15.imageshack.us/i/wc23.jpg/)
Devnull gave excellent instructions on prone, one of the most stable of the field shooting positions.
(http://img188.imageshack.us/img188/6889/wc25.jpg) (http://img188.imageshack.us/i/wc25.jpg/)
Nitro45 line bossin' while devnull watches and instructs the line
and instructing the 6 Steps to Firing a Shot.
(http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/1224/wc15.jpg) (http://img59.imageshack.us/i/wc15.jpg/)
(http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/8678/wc16.jpg) (http://img16.imageshack.us/i/wc16.jpg/)
Students card sights during the Ball & Dummy drill. Students detected and cured shooting problems early on.
"Learn today teach tomorrow". Their tomorrow actually began that day.
(http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/7458/wc8.jpg) (http://img42.imageshack.us/i/wc8.jpg/)
Nitro45 discusses "talking targets" at the target line with students on the rim-fire end.
"How big is my group and where is my group?"
(http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/7402/wc9.jpg) (http://img180.imageshack.us/i/wc9.jpg/)
Prone shooting on the centerfire end. One of the most stable field shooting postions.
(http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/8031/wc7v.jpg) (http://img401.imageshack.us/i/wc7v.jpg/)
Standing stage. This is often the hardest stage, but one of the most commonly used in the field.
Many shooters often shot their best groups when standing. Here, devnull gives excellent pointers.
(http://img121.imageshack.us/img121/1663/wc10.jpg) (http://img121.imageshack.us/i/wc10.jpg/)
(http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/7349/wc30.jpg) (http://img338.imageshack.us/i/wc30.jpg/)
The challenging seated stage requires shooters to try various styles to get stable.
(http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/5337/wc6z.jpg) (http://img17.imageshack.us/i/wc6z.jpg/)
History/heritage was taught indoors at lunch. Here shooters arrive for lunch/heritage.
(http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/7884/wc18.jpg) (http://img27.imageshack.us/i/wc18.jpg/)
Lady Liberty is proud of The AS Projects nationwide honoring of our founders.
That was truly a weekend "where marksmanship met history and the heritage began".
John Adams said: "Well, posterity, you will never know what it cost us to preserve your freedom. I only hope that you will make a good use of it. If you do not, I shall repent in heaven that I ever took half the pains to preserve it."
Some of the fiercest battles on April 19th were around water holes, as desperate men quenched their thirst.
(http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/6373/wc1c.jpg) (http://img27.imageshack.us/i/wc1c.jpg/)
After lunch we started on the the AQT's. Devnull explains the course of fire and gives helpful hints.
(http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/8110/wc14.jpg) (http://img142.imageshack.us/i/wc14.jpg/)
Scoring the AQT's. Are you a "cook" or a "Rifleman"?
(http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/8478/wc5.jpg) (http://img101.imageshack.us/i/wc5.jpg/)
Nitro45 coaches Jack with his M1A Scout.
(http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/8664/wc17.jpg) (http://img17.imageshack.us/i/wc17.jpg/)
These antelope twins caused a "Ceasefire".
(http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/9903/wc21.jpg) (http://img410.imageshack.us/i/wc21.jpg/)
Young Jack proudly shows his Redcoat target. The British Regulars left en masse.
(http://img121.imageshack.us/img121/3002/wc13.jpg) (http://img121.imageshack.us/i/wc13.jpg/)
Next day, late afternoon we get ready to go full distance for those shooters who were willing and ready.
BlueFeather gets the shooters set up while two of the local antelope decide now is the time to "quickly" leave.
(http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/8269/wc4.jpg) (http://img410.imageshack.us/i/wc4.jpg/)
This shooter was going on a trophy elk hunt at San Antonio Mountain, North of Taos and sighted his 30-06 at 25-200M
under Nitro45's watchful eye.
(http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/5244/wc31.jpg) (http://img28.imageshack.us/i/wc31.jpg/)
This AR shooter finishes the 200M portion and shot well within 4MOA. He proved the 25/200m sight in works!
(http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/4522/wc3q.jpg) (http://img14.imageshack.us/i/wc3q.jpg/)
By the end of the day horrendeous "full value" winds (see the spruce below) and finally a loss of daylight signaled the end of
another perfect Appleseed.
The aspens are turning gold in the hi- country as the winter winds start to bring snow/rain clouds from below the high peaks.
(http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/6664/99696578.jpg) (http://img8.imageshack.us/i/99696578.jpg/)
And of course a huge thanks to the shooters who made it all possible.
All of them stepped out of their comfort zone and came to learn the Rifleman's skills.
What you missed another Appleseed event?
Our next NRA WC Appleseed event is scheduled here for April 17-18th, 2010.
See you there!
(http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/516/wc11.jpg) (http://img89.imageshack.us/i/wc11.jpg/)
It looks like you guys put on another great Appleseed event!
Once again Bluefeather and Toas glock and company put on a great shoot is a great location. For those of you who have not been to the Whittington Center--GO. It is an AWESOME facility, and beautiful as well.
Good Job TEAM New Mexico. Greetings to all. Happy seasons end.
For those who have not yet scored rifleman....Practice, practice..NPOA, Six Steps, Practice practice. You will get there if you persist. And please don't forget to tell your friends, groups and newspapers if you had a good time.
al smith
roaster/appleseeder