The Laramie Rifle Range is incredible! This range always goes the extra mile to ensure Appleseed can have some fantastic events. We had use of the clubhouse (and showers), camping on the range and two of the most fantastic "ranges" anywhere; including the amazing "Canyon Range" where we held this year's Known Distance event. We enjoy a great amount of support from the club officers as most of them are also Appleseed volunteers. Board member and Appleseed instructor RegularGuy came out again and shoot with us for the entire weekend. He was instrumental in setting up and running this event - thank you!
Altogether, nine of us spent two incredible days on the "Canyon Range" learning our rifles and using them to test our skills against the Appleseed Qualification Test and the extensive steel out to 1300 yds. Wyoming has a reputation for high winds and this weekend's forecast called for some storms and high winds all weekend. Amazingly, the winds seemed to lay down when we were shooting, and we had light breeze on Saturday with just a little more on Sunday. All in all, just a perfect weekend with some fantastic Appleseed folks.
Okay, let's talk about the shooting. Jon came up from Colorado to attend the preceding Pistol Clinic on Friday. He was still working on fundamentals for the rifle but decided to stay for the KD event. He was able to get some individual attention from expert shooting coach Ridge Walker and made some terrific progress on Saturday, getting hits out to 300 yards. On Sunday, he decided he would get more from practicing all the skills he had learned so far and decided to head back to Colorado and get signed up for the next 25m event. His shooting was already showing solid improvement and I look forward to seeing him back out on the KD line.
The other shooters were all Appleseed volunteers, a few already qualified and several others shooting their first KD. Wow! 100%! Of the five shooters who shot AQTs, they ALL qualified! Four out of five, hit Morgan's Shingle with a cold bore shot and 2 earned their distinguished patch! And these guys didn't just get one qualifying score, but almost every AQT was over the line. Lead Sled didn't have a single AQT with under 40 hits. More than that, none of them stopped trying to improve.
The history presented by CodeFogey and Lead Sled was enjoyed by all when we finally took a break. Even those who had heard the stories before, learned something new about Timothy Murphy and Patrick Ferguson. We also had the chance to share little tidbits throughout the weekend to keep our purpose in the forefront of our thinking.
Sharing some heritage from the founding, getting together for dinner, camping and shooting - just a perfect Appleseed weekend. You never want to miss a KD in Wyoming!
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Group photo from Sunday afternoon (missing Jon and Ridge Walker)
It does not take a majority to prevail... but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men.~ Samuel Adams
Exceptional shooting, gentlemen! General Percy would no doubt state that the CO & WY patriots have men amongst them who know very well what they are about! :snipersmi
That was some darn fine shooting. It was a privilege to spend the weekend with you all camping, shooting and talking about liberty. Thanks to Laramie Rifle Range and RegularGuy for some excellent hospitality. The Canyon Range was one of the most unique and well equipped ranges I've ever been to. I would encourage anyone on the fence about attending an event there to go. You won't regret it!
This was really fun! Always learn something and it was great to see some good friends really have a safe, good time at this event.
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"The Canyon", getting ready to rock
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1st shot on the "shingle", HIT!
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Morgan's Riflemen
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Men who know very well what they are about!
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Home on the Range
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Rifle Art: Butterfly on Rifle