Project Appleseed

One Word to Describe this KD Event – Speechless!!!

    We were fortunate enough to have a KD Event at the Central Texas Silhouette Association range in New Braunfels, TX this past weekend.  Typically, these events are under threat of cancellation due to inclement weather, but this past weekend the weather was perfect!  We had 11 shooters from the surrounding areas and a few out-of-staters come and take advantage of the opportunity.  The range configuration basically limits us to a maximum of around what our student number equaled, so we had a fully sold-out event.  I was happy to see this and at the same time a bit nervous since this was my first opportunity to teach a Known Distance Event by myself.  The logistics of smoothly conducting a KD event with a full line can be quite intimidating.  Luckily for me, I have had a wonderful group of mentors (PaleRider, Ghostring and of course scuzzy) in my past to help guide my KD teaching and event organization methodology. 

    The first day started with initial discussion of the additional challenges a Rifleman faces when shooting in the real world, Target Detection, Range Estimation and Making the Shot.  Our primary focus on the morning was first addressing what it would take to actually Make the Shot during our course of the weekend.  The addition of gravity and wind influences on the projectile path were introduced.  Methods for compensating/correcting for both were also provided to the students.  It was pointed out well in advance, a compensating method needed to be chosen personally by each student based upon equipment, general ease of use and overall expected accuracy.  Once students felt comfortable with the outlined correction method, we proceeded to do a detailed sighting-in exercise at 25 and 100 yrds.

    Once our detailed sighting in was completed, our students did dual exercises of Trajectory Data Collection and actually shooting the accompanying stages of the AQT at each increasing distance.  We slowly worked our way from the 100 yrd – Stage 1 to the 400 yrd – Stage 4.  At each range the Trajectory Data Collection the students undertook showed either the trajectory spread associated with a 25 yrd zero and Battle Sight Zero or the trajectory deficit associated with a 100 yrd zero and Come-Up methodology.  By the time we were finished with our first full AQT one student, Conrad, had already made Rifleman – Known Distance with a score of 235!

    By the time we finished up our first AQT it was already, 3:30 pm and the Central Texas sun was well on the decline.  Our students wanted to knock out one more AQT before the day finished.  They gathered up ammo, water and snacks and began dropping AQT stages at a rather impressive rate.  When we finally returned to the target line I was in shock!!!!  Kathryn who had been chasing her KD Rocker for some time finally made it with a score of 200!  Way to go ma'am!!!!  Two returning KD Riflemen, Josh and David, were able to both prove themselves once again as KD Riflemen.  Way to go gentlemen!!!  Zack was able to earn both his first Rifleman score and his KD Rifleman score with a numerical score of 207!!!  Way to go Zack!!!  As I continued down the line, my excitement kept growing seeing how many high scoring students we already had.  This excitement peaked when I reached Conrad's newly completed AQT – a perfect 50 hits / 250 numerical score AQT.  I was SPEECHLESS!!!!!!!   A true perfectly completed AQT without a single dropped point!!!  Conrad was way too humble and way too calm about the entire ordeal!!!  His shooting skills are on an entirely different level!!!  Congratulations Conrad!!!!

    We finalized the day with a quick discussion on what was to be expected for the remainder of the weekend and what everyone should do with their rifles to prepare them for the next day of KD AQT activity.  Saturday's events wrapped up with a ton of positive feelings and great anticipation for the upcoming day full of KD AQT opportunities.

    The second day started giving our students a chance to prove themselves as one of Captain Daniel Morgan's Rifleman by taking a single cold-bore shot at target replicating a cedar shingle at 250 yrds.  We had three students brave enough to try doing so in a standing position, as was done by the candidates the morning Captain Morgan filled his ranks with the best riflemen of the time during the Revolutionary War.  Morgan's Shingle is always intimidating and can best even the sharpest shot.  Out of our 9 students only one, Scott, was able to make a successful hit.  The best part is, Scott did so from the Standing Position!  Way to go Scott!!!!!

    Once again, we allowed our students to do a quick detailed sight-in at 25 and 100 yrds.  Afterwards, our AQT relay began.  The students were very efficient with their time and movement from stage to stage.  Each AQT took roughly 40 minutes to complete, score and post new targets.  The first AQT of the day proved yet again Conrad is an amazing marksman by knocking out a 50 hit / 248 numeric score target.  After cycling through another AQT, Kathyrn was also able to reconfirm her KD Rifleman status, this time by nailing a 40 hits-count score.  Way to go Kathryn!!!!  And of course, Conrad continues to impress with a 50 hit / 249 numeric score!!!  Way to go Conrad!!!  By this time, a lunch break was calling everyone's name.   We gathered up, ate some grub and listened to a few rousing history stories.

     Instead of jumping right back into AQT's, we took advantage of everyone's rested mental state to learn a bit about Range Estimation.  As always, Range Estimation involves a few simple equations, a few simple concepts, but can be tricky if you start trying to think about things too hard.  We provided four objects downrange for our students to calculate theoretical estimated ranges for.  The object sizes were given to the students as theoretical sizes so they were forced to use measurement means to provide the estimated range as apposed to a basic relative range estimation based on placement on the shooting range.  Josh was able to provide the closest range estimation for all four objects.  Way to go Josh!!!!  He certainly knows how to make good use of his optics!

    The afternoon session on the second day saw a few students leaving the event early, so our firing line slowly diminished in count.  Peter, who is also an Appleseed Instructor, was once again able to hit a KD Rifleman score of 219 once his Trijicon ACOG was again secured to its base, hahahaha.  Way to go Peter!  We wrapped up our last AQT of the weekend, around 4:00 pm, with only one student on the line and one Instructor knocking out an opportunistic KD score.  There was certainly ample time to do one more AQT, but everyone was fine with stopping at this point.

    The weekend was a great time to test everyone's skills, learn new things and learn a bit about the historic figures who helped the American idea become reality.  I felt honored to share the story behind "The Star Spangle Banner" and the brave individuals who died fighting for a symbol of Freedom.  Also, I shared the story of Billy Dixon who changed American history with the longest shot in wartime with iron sights (over 1000 yards!!!).  Similarly, we heard the story of Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain Boys who changed history without ever having to take a single shot in the Battle for Fort Ticonderoga due to their audacious surprise attack raid.

    It was wonderful to have so many students who came to the event with an open mind and willingness to put in such a strong effort to improve.  I hope we can have more events like this in the future!  Thank you to everyone who attended!

Chad Stovell – GenX Minuteman

Event Cadre
Shoot Boss: GenX Minuteman – Chad
Instructors:  Gus – Mike
              Buster Scruggs – Gray
              Twinkle Toes - Jerry

Chad you were an awesome shoot boss! What an amazing way to spend a weekend. You, Mike, Gray, and Jerry made it fun and worthwhile.

Congrats to everyone who attended! We all learned a lot.

Dang - now that's an awesome shoot - one of the best.

QuoteAs always, Range Estimation involves a few simple equations, a few simple concepts, but can be tricky if you start trying to think about things too hard.

You got that right. I remember when Jim did the range estimation and I was totally confused due to overthinking things.

And we're open for business for 2025 scheduling if you'd like to add some dates.

This was a great event. it went smoothly and we had a good mix of shooters.

I was Line Boss most of the weekend. After several shooters dropped out for the last AQT I was able to get my rifle to the line and have a go at the course of fire.  My thanks to GenX Minuteman and Katherine for that opportunity!

I truly enjoyed all the KDs I've been to this year.  Looking forward to more next year!

In Liberty,

Gus

@mrs smith, didn't you lose a custom earplug? Was it purple? I found one today at CTSA.