Project Appleseed

We had a great KD event this weekend at Meeker Sportsman Center near Marion, Ohio.  Eight motivated shooters showed up ready to work on their Marksmanship skills at full distance. The weather on Saturday was beautiful.  Sun, mild temps, and no wind to speak of. 
 
The shooters all arrived on time which was great and we set up the range for the event.  After the normal welcome and safety briefing, we moved on to a review of KD fundamentals, review of IMC, review of come-ups  and the two approaches shooters can choose for the weekend.  (Adjusting elevation for each stage vs. establishing hold overs for each stage). 

Rifles were brought to the line and the first thing that we did was to have all the shooters confirm the MOA values of their scopes or front sights against measurement sheets posted at 25 meters. 

We then moved on to shooting sighter groups.  Zeros were confirmed or established first at 100 then at 200, 300 and 400 yds.  Multiple groups were shot to allow shooters to get good feedback on their rifles and ammo.

At lunch we presented a more in depth presentation on Paul Revere's life and accomplishments.   
We finished the day with our first AQT. 

Boy did we have a great group of Riflemen and Riflewomen.  We had our first new Rifleman on that first AQT.  Congrats to Naga for shooting a 43 on his first full distance AQT.  More impressive was that all our shooters scored 30+ and several were very close.  Manik-37, Aliquippa-38, Griffin-36.

Sunday dawned overcast  but dry.  We reset the target line and got ready for the day.  After a safety re-brief, we shot a sighter group at 100 yds to reconfirm zeros and to let the shooters warm up.  We then moved to our Sunday AQTs. 

On Sunday morning, we completed three AQT's and we had more folks shoot the score.  During the morning, we had others who earned their KD patch.  Naga reconfirmed his patch two more times with two scores of 40. Aliquippa passed over to the group of KD Riflewomen with a 42. Manik also joined the list of KD Riflemen with scores of 43 and 44. 

It is also important to note that both Naga and Manik were shooting ARs with open sights.  Huzzah to both of them.  They can be in my squad any day.   
   
Others were so close.  Slowbutsure struggled with mechanical problems with her rifle on Saturday and finally had to retire it and use a loaner.  It took a couple of AQTs to figure out the come ups but on our last AQT before lunch Sunday, she was well on her way to shooting the score.  Unfortunately, she had failed to post a fresh target at the 400 yd line on the prior AQT as she was so engaged in analyzing the 400 yd target that she had just pulled.  When we went to score the 400 yd target there were way too many holes in the black to score it.  I know she would have made the score had she posted a new target.

Riflemen persist and I know that Slowbutsure has the skills to shoot the score.  On the prior AQT she had nine of ten shots in the black at 400 yds.  I was sick that I didn't notice that she forgot to post a new target. I am sure that when she joins us again, she will earn her patch.

Overall, here is a summary of scores:
Naga (N)  43, 40, 40
Manik (N)  43,44
Aliquippa (N) 42

We broke for lunch just as the rain started to move in.  After lunch we returned to the line in the rain and did a range estimation exercise from under the cover of the shoot house.  As the weather forecast was for rain the rest of the day, the shooters made the choice to end the event early.  This was probably the right decision as our target backers were not rain proof and they would not have lasted long in the rain we were experiencing. 

Our thanks also to Meeker Sportsman Center for hosting our event and my thanks to Cadence, cwcdl79, Black_bird, AKA,and  Meadow  for helping work the line at this event.  We look forward to our next KD event at Meeker next year.       
       
Corvette

Shooters,

When we packed up on Sunday, we found a sling that was left behind.  It is black with quick disconnect swivels at both ends.  If you are missing a sling, let me know.  We can then work on getting it back to you.

Corvette

Huzzah! What a great weekend. Not sure why ya'll didn't want to shoot in the monsoon though...
Great work from everyone; a very productive weekend.
Glad I got to meet manik, Naga, springbok,  and griffin!

Thank you for another great event Corvette!  This was my first KD event and you set a high bar for anyone to follow.  Of course, thank you to Meeker Sportsman Center for hosting.  There can't be a lot of ranges with 400 yards available for a shoot like this.

The only complaints I could possibly have was being rained out of more AQT's and shooting between two muzzle brakes but I'd do it all again in a heartbeat so long as I don't think about current ammo prices   

Hopefully I'll see you all at event again!

Great group of KD shooters.
Glad that everyone had the opportunity to experience the great instruction from Corvette.

to add to the great Meeker location and facilities was the supper & leftovers.  thanks Dom and all that contributed.

Black sling: yep, it is mine from the Springfield bag.
It will catch up with me as we gather together.

Thanks to Corvette for an interesting, frustrating (for me personally), educational (in sooo.. many ways - how many empty cartridges can one back side hold?) and fun (eventually it was fun and funny accumulating more malfunctions in one day than I have over many years of learning).

A benefactor produced a working replacement for my suddenly broken carbine (which had worked flawlessly the previous 10-14 days while testing loads and getting zero's and come ups).  All the adjustments to make my carbine fit me just right (scope riser, cheek riser, super cool Luth-Ar carbine buttstock with 3 ways to adjust to give me good eye relief and prevent a sore neck) were thrown out with the Saint I was loaned.  Despite struggling to get a good cheek weld and clear vision though the scope I was able to put together a string of 8 hits (100 yds), 8 hits (200 yds), 10 hits (300 yds) and 9 hits (400 yds) with the Saint.  It's just a shame they couldn't have all been on the same AQT

The food was amazing, the participants were amazing and the range at Marion is an incredible place to spend the weekend with like minded patriots - a mix of young adults and old farts who love America and love practicing and improving the skills that have served Americans well since 1775.

Thanks to all who attended - hope to have the pleasure of sharing another weekend with you in future

Another outstanding event at the Meeker Sportsman's Club outside of Marion, Ohio
Although the weather wouldn't fully co-operate for the entire weekend, the 8 shooters made the most of the time available to hone their skills at a long distance event.

After spending all Saturday morning and part of Saturday afternoon confirming come-ups at the various distances, Naga showed he knew very well what he is about by scoring a 43 on his the first long distance AQT with an AR-15 with open sights. HUZZAH! 

Congratulations to the other shooters who earned their Long Distance Patches: Aliquippa, and Manik.

All the other shooters performed very well with everyone posting scores in the 30's all weekend long.
Thanks also to the Meeker Sportsman Center for hosting our event and my thanks to fellow instructors cwcdl79, Black_bird, AKA, and Meadow for helping.

I can't close without giving a special shout out to our retiring State Coordinator - Corvette.
We had some special surprises for him on Friday night before the event. Chevyshooter presented him with a special cake that had the "Ode to a Rifleman" printed on the cake. For those that haven't been to a Corvette event, Steve will use the "Ode to a Rifleman" as a closing on the Sunday call to action.

Cactus Jack presented a special wooden replica of the Betsy Ross flag with special Appleseed engravings.
Cactus Jack and his cousin Pat make wooden replicas of the American Flag with custom engravings to give to servicemen who have cancer and present them free of charge to the recipients.

Thanks Corvette for your time, efforts and leadership. You will be missed.

 

I know there are others who have photos

Part of the mystery regarding the recalcitrant carbine last weekend has been revealed - the gas key on the BC was loose - poorly staked, both screws loose.  I've been accused before of having a few screws loose!

Tightened and performed better.  Planning to replace the screws and improve the staking.

No logo or brand on the on the BCG.  M16 profile.

If I find any additional issues will update.

Congrats to my fellow instructors who managed to join the ranks with IRON sights. If only I were ten years younger...I'd still be ten years too old to shoot with iron. Well done to Naga and Manik.

The only way I managed to shoot the score with my eyes (produced in the twentieth century)  was with a scope .
I'll take it.

Aliquippa,

I can relate.  I can't see anything any more.  It is all scopes for me at this point. I was so pleased that you shot the score at Marion, Huzzah.   Corvette