Project Appleseed

The event in Pelham on November 1-2 was a great success. Over half the line we started with on Saturday morning had shot a qualifying hits-count score by the time we quit shooting on Sunday.

This is the second KD event I've run this year where we didn't limit it to holders of a Rifleman patch or even previous 25 meter attendees. As it turned out everyone on the pre-reg list was a previous attendee so we had a lot of experienced shooters on the line.

We started promptly at 8:30 on Saturday with the 3 tasks of a rifleman, Target Identification, Range Estimation and Making the shot.  We covered TI although we didn't dwell on it because we couldn't put it into practice at this beautifully maintained range. I also delayed range estimation until Sunday morning when the schedule called for practicing range estimation skills in preparation for the "Top Shot" event we'd planned.   We spent the bulk of our time from 8:30 to noon just focusing on trajectory and wind effects. We thought we'd need to adjust for wind because the forecast called for 30mph gusts.

Every shooter was asked to bring a trajectory chart for their rifle/ammo combination and having measured their sight height above the bore.  We took time with each shooter to make sure they understood  where their holes SHOULD BE at 100, 200, 300 and 400 yards based on the zero they'd chosen at 25 yards. We discussed holdover/under at each distance and emphasized the importance of establishing BSZ for their rifles.

When we moved to the line the preparation time we spent started paying off. The question at each distance was "are your holes where you expected them to be?"  Most shooters required minimal or no adjustment. When we totaled the scores after stage 4 we had minted 5 new KD Riflemen with Geoff B. as the high score with 49/50. He spent the rest of the shoot lamenting the 1 inch he'd missed that 50th shot out of the scoring. 

Day one qualifiers were Chris B. - 46, Geoff B. - 49, Paul G. - 45, Matthew - 43 and brand new OH David "Crockett" W. - 46.  HUZZAH!

Saturday night we did something I'm not sure has been done before. We had a joint instructor meal (everyone pays their own check) with instructors and some shooters from both the Pelham shoot and the nearby Manchester 25 meter event converging on a Mexican restaurant 15 miles away in Manchester.  We had 2 State coordinators, 3 dSBs, 5 Red Hats, 4 Orange Hats (I think), 1 Blue Hat and 1 SI.  Including shooters our group was 24 people. Great fellowship with fellow patriots. They love Appleseed weekends at that restaurant. 

Sunday in Pelham began with about an hour of range estimation class before moving to the line for shooters to zero another rifle or reconfirm the one they'd shot the day before. We lost a few shooters who could not attend day two so with a shortened line we began another AQT.  By the end of the AQT we had one additional KD Rifleman, Instructor "Cokeguy" who manage the 7 holes on stage 4 he needed for a 40. HUZZAH CokeGuy.

We took a break to eat in the beautiful weather (high 50's) and heard the story of the Battle of King's Mountain where a group of patriots using "indian tactics" defeated the arrogant Major Ferguson who had threatened to lay waste to their land if they didn't submit to the king. Moral of the story, don't threaten a bunch of people who just want to be left alone.

After eating we saw we were going to lose daylight too early (fall back makes dark come early in the Central time zone) to complete the "Top Shot" event so the shooters took the option of shooting more qualifying rounds instead of the TS contest. The last AQT was done straight through from 400 to 100 and left time to clean up in daylight.

After giving up on his SKS the day before, new IIT Ivan "Cossack" A. was persuaded to take a loaner rifle to shoot this last AQT. With only two sighter groups at 400 and 300 under his belt he proceeded to shoot a qualifying 43 and become the last rifleman of the weekend. I think Cossack was under the pressure of knowing the rifle he was using belonged to my wife "WriteOnTarget". He had to be able to qualify with a girly gun and he did. 

This was a highly successful event in my opinion and the format used seems to work well.  I'm looking forward to scheduling more KD events in Pelham and several more at ranges in the Tennessee Valley in 2015.

Thanks to the instructor crew of Tellico, Cossack, and Crockett for helping make this event a success.

Ramblin' Wreck

Quote from: Ramblin' Wreck on November 02, 2014, 08:16:14 PM
Placeholder. Great weekend. Seven new KD riflemen out of 15 shooters. Post pictures if you took them.

Wreck

Yes it was really solid. I have met a score of good men and learned some good shooting information. Sorry but i have no smart phone so I will let someone with more gadget smarts to post pictures. Luckily we had Lucky Gunner taking a bunch of shots.  Over all great experience. Glad to be part of it.

Ben, it was a great event. Thanks again for all your effort. Looking forward to the pics! Learned a lot about my scope...one, I may go for a 12x!  My hold over was about 2 feet rather than the 13" that the chart said for 400 yards...but I, thankfully, did get the 7 holes I needed for the "40".
Sorry I had to duck out early and not help with the clean up...my wife had left me a message that the snow had downed multiple trees across our driveway and that I would not be able to get to the house.  So, I had to park down the hill and walk up last night, then play Paul Bunyan this morning to clear the drive so we can now get out.

Quote from: CokeGuy on November 03, 2014, 10:08:04 AM
Sorry I had to duck out early and not help with the clean up...my wife had left me a message that the snow had downed multiple trees across our driveway and that I would not be able to get to the house.  So, I had to park down the hill and walk up last night, then play Paul Bunyan this morning to clear the drive so we can now get out.

Ouch. Sorry to hear that. Wished I lived a bit closer I would come and help you out. Thank you for the company and all the help . (oh and for trying to trip IIT with your safety off )

It was good to see y'all at dinner in Manchester... lots of smiling faces coming from the chilly KD range! 

Well done to all the qualifiers!!   

First I want to Thank Ben for all of the help. I had a great time this weekend. Weather was cold and windy on Saturday but pleasant on Sunday. As always it was great to spend time with like minded Liberty Loving Patriots.
I was really proud to have my buddy Anthony make the road trip with me and come back to Project Appleseed after a long absence. I keep telling him that he got me in Appleseed and now I'm gonna get him back in it .
I did learn 2 things this weekend. First...I need to practice more, and Second...BDC scopes aren't all that accurate . 
I really enjoyed the supper Saturday night. It was great to see everyone again and to make some new friends. I'm very proud of Andy and Eddie and their new RED Hats.
I will attach all of the pictures that I took. I apologize I didn't get more time for pictures but I was busy shooting  and like everyone else I was chasing that patch.
Enjoy the pics and I hope to see everyone again soon.

In Liberty,
AR-Mike

Great pictures as always Mike. 

Great event and a solid group of shooters.