Project Appleseed

With beautiful weather on Saturday September 13, 2014, 22 Americans turned out at the world-famous Knob Creek Gun Range near West Point, KY to learn more about their heritage of rifle marksmanship.  On Sunday, 14 shooters returned.  We also had 3 instructors from Illinois, 2 from Indiana, and 3 from Kentucky.  We started out with a thorough safety briefing before bringing rifles to the line.

While a few shooters started out very well, overall, the Saturday morning Redcoat targets showed that great opportunity existed for improvement.  Shooters then proceeded to shoot 1" squares targets to refine fundamental skills in the prone position as we built a "house", starting with the foundation (Steady Hold Factors), the walls (Six Steps to Firing the Shot) and the roof (Natural Point of Aim).  Once most of their groups were down to about 6 MOA, we proceeded with IMC (Inches Minutes Clicks) instruction, which they applied to move the center of their groups (POI - Point of Impact) to coincide with their POA (Point of Aim).  Then, instruction in the seated and standing positions was given and an AQT (Appleseed Qualification Test) was completed.

On Sunday Jim scored a 224 on an early AQT to take a Rifleman patch!  Congratulations! Also on Sunday, Jeff was just shy of a Rifleman score with a 205, and Bill was knocking on the door with a high of 198.  Overall we saw tremendous improvement as evidenced by the Sunday morning Redcoat.  This Shoot Boss forgot to write the scores down and the above scores are to the best of my memory, so instructors and shooters please correct me as necessary.  Also, we need the name of the shooters who cleaned the Saturday and Sunday Redcoats.

On Sunday morning we had a review of safety and all the points of instruction from Saturday, after which we shot a Redcoat target to warm up and then commenced with some drills; Carding the Sights and Ball and Dummy.  After a couple more AQT's, we proceeded with KD (Known Distance) instruction, followed by one final AQT and then KD shooting at Greencoats to illustrate Rifleman's Trajectory, and then practice IMC, Rifleman's Dance and holdovers/holdunders.  And thanks to Instructor Mutti, we finished with a rousing session of ringing steel at 64 yards.  We had several shooters hit steel 5/5 and several more who hit 4/5!

Please attend another Appleseed clinic and bring at least two new people with you.  Here is the remaining 2014 Kentucky schedule:
http://www.appleseedinfo.org/search-states-display.php?qstate=KY&statename=Kentucky

Also, we have a KD shoot coming up at Camp Atterbury in Indiana in October.  See the Indiana schedule for details: http://www.appleseedinfo.org/search-states-display.php?qstate=IN&statename=Indiana

An RWVA Instructor would be happy to come and speak to your club or group and present the Three Strikes.  We call these non-shooting events "Libertyseeds".  Here is the website for more information: www.libertyseed.org. You may use the site to request a Libertyseed event, join the RWVA or make a donation.

An Rx for all attendees:
Get a copy of Paul Revere's Ride here: http://store.rwvaappleseed.com/page11.html
Get a GI web sling here: http://store.rwvaappleseed.com/page13.html
Lots of dry fire practice, by the numbers, making sure to first go through your Steady Hold Factors.
Practice finding, shifting and verifying your NPOA.
Practice Inches Minutes and Clicks.

Help Project Appleseed:
Promote Project Appleseed on your Facebook page.  Kentucky's page is: https://www.facebook.com/KentuckyRifleman 
If you have shot a Rifleman score (210 points or greater on the AQT test), become an RWVA Instructor in Training (aka Orange Hat).  If you have not yet shot a Rifleman score, join Applecore (aka Blue Hats) and help at shoots with check in, range safety and other duties, or help behind the scenes with promotional efforts.  We will find a place for you if you volunteer!

A few ideas on how to help your community, state and nation:
First, start at home: Be a good spouse and parent. "Take good care of the children".  Make sure your household is prepared for natural disasters.
Then, get involved in your community: Be a good neighbor and watch out for each other. Become a block captain for your neighborhood. Organize a neighborhood watch program.   Build wheelchair ramps for the disabled, and meet other special needs in your community.  Attend school board and town council meetings, or better yet, run for a position! 

Volunteer to help those in need:
Kentucky Changers: http://www.gocrossings.org/missions/ky-changers/
Kentucky Heartland Outreach: http://www.khohome.org/
Christian Appalachian Project: http://www.christianapp.org/
Mountain Outreach: http://www.ucumberlands.edu/mountain-outreach/
Reach Work Camps http://www.reachwc.org/

Get informed on the issues of the day:
A compilation of public notices published anywhere in the state of Kentucky:
http://www.publicnoticeads.com/KY/  (A public service by the members of the Kentucky Press Association)

Learn about Liberty:
Online Library of Liberty http://oll.libertyfund.org/

Register to vote and then go vote, AFTER you research the candidates and issues you will be voting on!
Project Vote Smart http://votesmart.org/

Keep an eye on your representatives; keep them accountable! 
Congress.org
http://congress.org/congressorg/megavote/
http://www.govtrack.us

Special thanks to Shooter Ben K. for a heads-up on this iPhone and Android app called Capitol Bells:
http://www.capitolbells.com/splash/

Kentucky
Secretary of State:
http://sos.ky.gov/elections/

Kentucky State Board of Elections:
http://elect.ky.gov/Pages/default.aspx

Kentucky Legislature
http://www.lrc.ky.gov/

Impartial real-time legislative tracking service designed for both public citizens and government affairs professionals
www.legiscan.com/

Write letters and make phone calls about issues that concern you.  I have been informed by people in the know in Frankfort that when the capitol switchboard gets 1 telephone call for or against a certain issue, they multiply that by 14,000!  That's about the same as the number of militia that turned out by April 20, 1775!  And this is for the little ol' state of Kentucky.  Imagine what multiplier they use when you call Washington, DC!  You can be an army of one simply by voicing your concerns and opinions to your lawmakers!

It is every American's birthright to own a .30 caliber battle rifle: Here is the CMP Garand sales page:
http://www.odcmp.com/Sales/m1garand.htm

An interesting CSPAN interview with Dr. David Hackett Fischer, author of Paul Revere's Ride:
http://www.booknotes.org/Watch/58074-1/David+Hackett+Fischer.aspx

An interesting Sky & Telescope article about the moon and tides on April 18, 1775: 
https://digital.library.txstate.edu/bitstream/handle/10877/4038/fulltext.pdf

An interesting video about the forensic evidence related to Dr. Joseph Warren's body: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdggCICMnkU

Thanks to each and every one of you for coming out.  Everyone is invited to post here about your Appleseed experience.  Long live Liberty!  Long Live the Republic!

What difference can one person make?  More than none.

UL

Hello All,
This was my first borderraid into Kentucky. Let me just say, my first experience was so awesome, I would do it again in a heartbeat! I had the pleasure of working with some truly epic Instructors, from all over. And the students? Such a teachable and wonderful group.

Holly, I'm sorry about your shoulder. I wish you could have come out to be with us Sunday, however thank you for attending, I hope to see you on the line again.
Sherry, you were a pleasure to work with!  You have such a wonderful, bubbly, positive attitude. I cannot wait until I can work with you again. 
Jeff...Oh yes, I will remember you for sure. I definitely see another Appleseed in your future. And maybe even a Rifleman's Patch.
Courtney I know how those 795 mags can be a pain. Practice dropping mags until it becomes a smooth, natural action. I guarantee you will see some drastic improvement on your AQT.
Mary, you persevered throughout the weekend, even with that tricky rifle of yours. You are a wonderful lady.
Ben, I would definitely work on getting into the Hasty Sling. I know it is really, really, really, hard to resist getting into that sling by wrapping your arm around. But a nice, proper Hasty Sling, just might have bumped you past that 202. 

I know I am forgetting people. Not faces per say, just names at this moment. I really do remember each one of you. 

Instructors......
Our awesome Shoot Boss, Unbridled Liberty. Thank you SOOOO MUCH! You opened your home to us crazy Illinoisans. You and Mrs. Liberty are such kind and good people. I hope to have the honor of working with you again.

Rayne: From what I have heard from the forum I was sort of worried about you. Obviously my fears were unfounded. You are a very good Instructor and also a very patient lady. I enjoyed meeting and working with you. Please have tons of fun at your Ladyseed.

Mutti: Your energy and positivity brought a sparkling light to this shoot. Thank you! I cannot wait to work with you again..........

boadicea You gave an excellent Sam Whittemore! Knocked it right out of the park. Thank you for coming down to work with us.   

Big John: What is the word I am looking for........ahh yes. You are Epic (yes that is right , with a capitol E). You kept going, steadfast. Are there things you can work on? Yes. However I believe you have a good, solid, foundation. I truly look forward to working with you again.   

GooseGun: A very nice History presentation Sunday. You are a exceptional Blue Hat, and I enjoy every second that I work with you. A very mature young man.

Skywalker: You bought a special something to this shoot. A youthful, amusing, and positive attitude. Oh yes, and a good line voice as well....Keep up the good work.

And RiflesnReins.....oh wait. That's me. Duh!

Thank you all,

RnR

Holly had a great time, and I had (with the help of several instructors - thank you) convinced her to come back on Sunday. We put a 3x fixed scope on her rifle and she seemed pleased with it in dry fire practice. As we got up and ready to go on Sunday we got a call from our babysitter informing us that she was not going to be able to make it. Holly will attend another event for sure and she is interested in finding a Libertyseed near us that we can attend as a family as well. She asked me to convey thanks to all the instructors but a special shout out to Unbridled Liberty, Rayne and RiflesnReins. She is considering the Ladyseed event and my have some co-workers to bring with her!

The weather was great, the instructors were all fantastic. Thank you all for a well run Appleseed.

Dan is one of the shooters who cleared the Red Coat on day one.

I was shown, once again, that the skills taught are perishable. I did not re-certify. I see lots of dry fire practice in my future. I also found that I am not a fan of the analog rear sight on the Ruger 10/22 anniversary edition. Over correction in the windage adjustment during sight in frustrated me and the elevation adjustment left a lot to be desired for precision. Perhaps I am just spoiled by tech sights. I will most certainly put a scope on that rifle for the next Appleseed shoot. I still intend to shoot a Rifleman's score with my bolt gun: Ruger American Rifle 22. I came so close on several occasions in Georgia under Morphious' teams mentor ship. Soon... maybe even a Winterseed? We shall see.

Thank you very much to the entire team. We had a great time.

I was assured before we traveled over to Kentucky that it was beautiful. At 70 mph in the dark, I cannot speak to the landscape    but the folks assembled on that Lower Range down a gravel road no wider than parts of the Battle Road were some of the most Beautiful folks ever.

With my spirit refreshed from this Event, I look forward to traveling the path of Liberty carrying a piece of each of you with me -

Thank you.

Photos (more as time allows here)

THANK YOU TO ALL THE INSTUCTORS! I absolutely had a blast! I shoot a lot and typically a pretty good shot so I was highly disappointed with myself in how poorly I shot. I have 30+ years of bad habits to break and feel with all of your guys great instruction and getting comfortable with proper form I'll be a much better marksman. With the poor form and bad habits I have/had I was probably about as good as I would have ever been. With proper form shown and the breaking of my sloppy shooting habits I think I have WAY more potential...haha  My AQT improved by 69 points (155-best) and that makes me very happy. I will DEFINITELY be back for more and will be a much better shot. I promise you that! I have already ordered "Paul Revere's Ride", a couple slings, rings and lots of targets...haha  I really really enjoyed the history and all of the instructors stories, enthusiasm, instruction, and most of all, heart! One of the most fun, informative, history filled weekends I've ever had. I'm going to do my best to make the one in Crittenden in Nov. Once again, THANK YOU ALL!   

The drive down was long but well worth it. Saturday and Sunday started cold but it warmed later on in the day.thanks to all the instructors things went well all weekend long.
A very nice range, and a very nice weekend weather wise, this was my first shoot in Kentucky and hopefully not my last because the crew is great.

See you on the trail.

GooseGun over and out.

Good shoot. A lot of folks showed much persistence in the face of challenge. Both Mary and Sherri put on very inspiring efforts to pursue Rifleman. Enjoyed working with new instructors and ones I have worked with before.

I had a much bigger reply, but the photos wiped it out and I have to retype it. Here are some photos (I don't have the photoshop skills of the Illinois crew). If you want any of them in the original size (much bigger), PM me.

Thoroughly enjoyed my first Appleseed weekend!!!  Learned a lot and have a good foundation (and rest of the house...) to practice.  Some significant adjustments to make and work on.  The passion, knowledge, and teaching of all the "hats" was an outstanding example, (to begin with: just to drive for hours to share their expertise...but that's only part of it).  I'm sure that example is typical of the entire Appleseed program.  I'll definitely be back...maybe make Rifleman next time.  Thanks, guys.

DnD