Project Appleseed

I am no instructor, but would sign up for an event to see where it all started.

Just wanted to start this thread to see if any Senior Instructors would be willing to run a Rifleman's Boot Camp at the Home Range next year. I attended one in 2012 and I would love to share this experience with my son who is now a young adult

The weather was perfect both days – sunny and not excessively hot.  Ten shooters came out to join us, and we had a great weekend of marksmanship and heritage.   Only having a 50 yard range on Saturday, we covered all of the "Three Challenges of a Rifleman" that day, as well as other topics such as Turret Calibration.  We also were able to get our 50 yard DOPE and shoot both a 50 yard and 25 yard regular AQT, along with a 50 yard Redcoat, a real hit with the shooters, with several clearing it at 50 yards.  It was again eye opening to see how big the AQT looked when you moved it up to 25 yards having just shot it at 50.   Huzza! 

We also were able to gather DOPE at 100, 150 and 200 yards using a simulated target shooting at 50 yards.  It worked very well and significantly sped up data gathering on Sunday.  All of the shooters were impressed with how well the simulation worked.

Sunday was for shooting – confirming DOPE at 50 yards and confirming the simulated data at 100, 150 and 200 yards, as well as trying for Morgan's Shingle.  Three of the shooters hit the Shingle, with one doing it standing.  Then it was on to 200 yard AQT's.  We shoot several and eight shooters scored Riflemen on the 200 yard RKD, three Distinguished (a 48 and two 49's!).  HUZZA!!!

We also got another Blue Hat for the eastern Ohio cadre and look forward to seeing him on our lines in western PA as well.  HUZZA, and thank you!

Thanks to all the shooters, instructors and BVRPC for a great weekend.

Anita, Josh, Tim, Henry, Ben, Mike, Chris, Bruce, Tom and Chuck

Special thanks to the Beaver Valley Rifle and Pistol Club for hosting us this past weekend.  They were very helpful in all aspects of getting ready for our Private Event.  And we are headed back there again next year.

We all had a great weekend of marksmanship and heritage.  The shooters all persevered through the rain on Friday and we saw significant improvement as the weekend progressed.  We worked through the day proceeding from demonstration to practice to live fire confirmation of our marksmanship instruction, combined with history and heritage.  Everyone was very receptive to the course of instruction and history/heritage.

Everyone returned on Saturday, and we worked through more instruction and AQT's. All showed consistent improvement as the day progressed. All shooters demonstrated great groups by applying the fundamentals they had just learned, and we were able to go out to longer distances! Huzzah!

The shooters showed those pesky Redcoats the strength of our cause on both the AQT and Hits Count Targets; with three of the shooters qualifying as Riflemen.  And four earned our PA 1st Riflemen patch for clearing the Redcoat at least once.

Thanks to all the shooters, instructors and the Beaver Valley Rifle and Pistol Club for a great weekend.

Tom, Ben and Mike

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Thank you for stepping up to help.  Welcome to the cadre.  I look forward to meeting you in person someday.

Awesome!!! Welcome aboard Houston! Good shooting!

It was a great mid-week pistolseed.  One of the most beautiful sights of the event was the thermometer!!!  As these people down here talk - it's fall y'all.  Sounds too weird.  The temps were wicked cool - much better.  Although it did get into the 80's by midday each day, it is so nice to have cooler weather for at least a few hours.  Ranger even avoided the downpours that seems to have plagued us each time we hold a shoot here.  The range is getting better and better.  Many thanks to everyone that's given advice for it.

We had 3 instructors and 4 shooters - a great ratio.  These were all repeat Appleseeders/guests to this range.  Centimeter set up the event and gathered all the shooters - thanks!  These guys were mostly locals. 2 were new to our pistolseeds, but all had some experience.   All 3 of us instructors were able to share a Strike with the group, bringing the Red Coats from Boston to Concord and back before the end of the day.  Leadslinger66 and I led the shooters through all the blocks of instruction.  The relays helped keep our shooters from wearing themselves out.  All of their groups got better throughout the day, shaking off a few bad habits.  The women in the group knew they couldn't return the second day, so they requested a second PQT before leaving.  Who are we to deny that?  Centimeter joined in with the second PQT, so he and Houston both requalified - Cm with his first disquinshed score of 232 (iron sights)!  Nice shooting, both of you!

We started our second day sans Leadslinger and two shooters.  We did a quick review.  Cm cycled in and out throughout the day shooting and helping.  The one shooter visiting from up north stated, "I brought 2400 rounds of .22 and wanted to shoot at least half."  Well, we didn't even come close to half, but we did quite a few drills and a handful of PQTs.  All 3, Cm, Houston, and the other shooter, shot Pistoleer scores.  The last shooter squeaked by on Wednesday with a 211. He was disappointed with his score since it was hot out and he really wanted that North Bridge baptism.  I was very happy to oblige. 

We ended the pistolseed and switched to rifles.  These guys are all good friends, so it felt more watching their range day and adding some history stories, safety (of course) and a little structure.  All 3 shot Rifleman scores.  It was Houston's 3rd attempt and he nailed it!!!  I'm not sure if he was happier or we were for him.  He's offered to help out with Appleseed, and immediately took an orange hat.  Welcome to the Appleseed volunteer family - since it was the 4th Appleseed overall, I consider him already Appleseed family.

I apologize for not getting a lot of pictures the first day.  If you have any you'd like to add, feel free. If it feels like the Houston show, it is.  The other shooter on the second day didn't want pictures. 


My only picture of Leadslinger line bossing.  Sorry it's not a great picture.  Leadslinger spent most of the day coaching.


I have asked for a masseuse on the second day for YEARS!  This is at least a step closer.  It helps to have a buddy that is a personal trainer and knows how to help.  We're not all jealous, Houston.


3/4's of the motley crew on Wednesday.


Houston and Centimeter work on Ball & Dummy


Centimeter scores one of two distinguished scores for the event.  Both on .22.  He also qualified with his 9mm and 10mm (get it - Centimeter?)


Houston requalified as a Pistoleer a couple of times.  I believe one was with his .22 and one with a 9mm.


Houston scored a 213!  It's hard to read the note - but he was using his grandfather's rifle on his new stock.
 

Houston has asked to help out as soon as he shot a rifleman score.  Wednesday was the day!  Congratulations and thanks for stepping up!  I'm glad we could fit in a little mini-seed after the Pistolseed.

What a great couple of days.  I hope to see you all back soon.

Thanks for another great weekend, Shoot Boss (and all of the instructors)! 

It was great fun, and all evidence to the contrary, I learned a lot. 

Thanks for sharing all the pics, Smallbore.