Project Appleseed

Location: Maynardville TN - Private Range
Date: April 17&18 2010
Shoot Boss: txpirate
Instructors: Carolina Gal and Karl 2500

The Patriots Day shoot at Maynardville TN was a fantastic shoot. If went off without a hitch, once we got there (Karl2500 and I learned how to remove and replace a water pump on a Cummins in a Food Lion parking lot) You could not have asked for more beautiful weather or more beautiful a setting. Grasshopper, the land owner, was the most gracious host, and made this Appleseed one of my favorites!!

Saturday morning started off with 21 shooters showing up, several of which were repeat Appleseeders. After the welcome intro / safety briefing the shooting commenced with a redcoat target. Karl2500 provided excellent instruction all morning, while your's truly modeled. When it came time for lunch, we all gathered in the shade for the 1st strike of the match. Although the Tennesee mountain air was a little chilly in the morning, it was quite warm when we started up with some CAQTs after lunch. We got through one AQT and broke at 3:00 for some rest in the shade and the 2nd strike. At the end of the second strike, the shooter's weren't satisfied with having to wait to hear the end so I went ahead with the 3rd strike. This timed out perfectly, as soon as the 3rd strike was through, we posted redcoats and launched our nationwide volley. After two more AQTs we wrapped up the day, full of the American spirit, with some explanation about the 7th step of firing the shot. We had several rifleman scores turned in on Saturday, each of which had scored rifleman previously. Grasshopper had us up to his house for supper, and it was so good I nearly ate myself sick.  

Seventeen shooters returned for Sunday. Before we started Rock Man, one of the rifleman, approached me about becoming an IIT. I was happy to provide a shiny new orange hat and he even got his feet wet as an RSO on Sunday. Sunday morning consisted of a review of the previous day's instruction, and some Ball and Dummy drills to fix some flinching bucking and jerking. The shooters all persevered through the AQT grind, and the majority were on the sharpshooter level by the end of the day. I'm sure they'll be coming back with their eyes on that rifleman badge.

Everything went really smooth all weekend long. We ended up with a round count of 550. There were no new riflemen, but a lot of alive, awake Americans. Thank you, once again to Grasshopper for the amazing hospitality. What a wonderful weekend. If you ever have the opportunity to go to an Appleseed in Maynardville, I suggest you take it.  

texpirate - pm sent. A great time in M'ville. Quite a few were close to Rifleman. Way to go instructors. Any pictures grasshopper?

A big thanks to the Intructors for giving us their best. I was sore for days afterwards and had this big old grin on my face for the whole week. It was very heartening to see so many young people on the line. Thank you Craig (grasshopper) and Janis for such wonderful hospitality. I got to meet some very fine people and Im ready for the next AS. Thank you AS for wakening this American.

Don Z.

MAYNARDVILLE WAS A SPECTACULAR SUCCESS!!!!
What a gift that Appleseed again has produced and sent such a fine and professional shoot boss and instructors. We had a great group of shooters from first time shooters, to having already shot rifleman, I'm proud to say Rockman shot his rifleman at our last AS and came to this one and got an ORANGE hat, way to go!!!!!
We also had some radio personalities from "1470 am truth radio" come and shoot, they had an interview with our shoot boss Matt , "txpirate", on the Thursday before the shoot. A Knox county commissioner also came by to check  us out, and will promote AS, and try to get to our next shoot.
All in all the weekend was great, hats off to the shooters and to Matt , shootboss, Karl2500 Karl instructorand last but not least Carolina Gal, Kyde, instructor.
Janis made a super good Saturday night dinner, and we had lots left over, next time nobody leaves without a doggie bag. She is a pretty good shot but will remain an ex cellant cook, maybe pick up rifleman too.
Those that live in area are welcome to come and practice, Don DKZ comes to shoot and not only is it fun to shoot, but made a friend also.
I was very happy to have had our daughter, son-in-law and grandson come shoot and "wake up" as they want to shoot again and get new rifles.
Yes there are pictures and will get them sent out asap.
Till the next shoot, shoot straight and be safe.
Thanks and GOD'S blessings to all.
Craig (grasshopper)  & Janis 

Some observations from a great weekend:
1.  The teaching was excellent.  Although a lot of information was presented, it was clearly presented and the learning atmosphere was positive and encouraging, even when I did something dumb like shoot the wrong target.
This is a great place to learn and improve, not matter what your skill level. 
2.  My thirteen-year-old son David and I had a great father-son day.  We both left with much improved rifle skills and safety awareness, and we both thought we were pretty good before the AS.  We are now more realistic.
3.  This is harder than I thought, and I have new respect for what it means to consistently shoot "rifleman" scores. 
4.  Grasshopper and his wife were terrific hosts.  If I go back again, we won't bring lunch with us on Saturday, but will eat the meal there.  I still got to try the pickles and dessert. They really made us feel welcome and went way above and beyond to help make it a success. 
5.  I enjoyed meeting the other people at the shoot. All were pleasant and were there to learn. 
In summary, Appleseed is a wonderful way to spend the weekend with your family.  Just make sure the kids are old enough to practice good gun safety, and can handle two long days of intense learning.
6.  We want to do it again and are looking at the three-day-format and camping out next time.

Finally, thanks for Matt, Karl and Kyde for giving their time and resources to make the shoot a success.
My son and I came home and ordered Paul Revere's Ride and will enjoy going deeper into April 19, 1775.
Don and David

I had a GREAT TIME AT THE APPLESEED SHOOT! Thanks so much to the wonderful instructors, and to the wonderful people who provided such a great place for us to learn and have fun.

I got a little frustrated the second day when my shooting with my .22 seemed to get WORSE than the day before. Come to find out, when I got home for cleaning, the front sight nearly fell off. Turns out there was a defect with my new Marlin Papoose that the hole for the front sight screw was drilled off center and canted, causing the tightening screw to pull the front sight off center and loosen up on repeated shooting. I've since sent it back on Marlin's dime for a full replacement. A good and easy company to work with!

I loved shooting the larger caliber .308 too, even though the cost of its diet makes me sad. I'm looking forward to my first NRA High-Power shoot at my local club, BIG thanks to the instruction learned at this event!

I've told a LOT of people its the best education I've ever received, and for so little money it was SO WORTH IT.

Thanks again, folks. I'll be back for that rifleman patch next time