Project Appleseed

Todays post by Massad Ayoob caused me to pause and think for a minute about the choice an instructor makes when selecting a firearm to use at a class.

Excerpt: 

QuoteWhen I'm teaching, I switch to a Springfield Armory 1911, usually either a Ronin 9mm or a Range Officer .45. Why? The SFT9 sells for around three grand.

When you're teaching a shooting class you don't want the students thinking "Yeah, he can do that with his three thousand dollar gun, but..." 

Using a pistol that doesn't cost more than the tuition for the class shows what you're trying to get across to the class: It's not about the gun so much as it's about the shooter, and it's not even about the shooter as much as it's about consistent application of the proven techniques you are trying to teach them.

Full article:  https://www.backwoodshome.com/blogs/MassadAyoob/geezer-guns


Title of this post has been edited to provide more clarity regarding the intended thought experiment.

You posted this as a question what firearm should the instructor use.   I learned something many years ago about management and it works for instruction as well.   As soon as you start working you stop managing. Same goes for shooting as soon as you start shooting you stop teaching. Sure you can show them you can do it or show them how a real shooter does it but are we really teaching anything or just having fun.

I say teach. Then when the line is tired or you just have way, too many instructors requalify with whatever you want. If you want to show what you can do requalify with a Garand (rifle) or a sub compact pistol (in Pistol).

Just my two cents.

Quote from: eaglescouter on June 09, 2026, 02:13:01 PMWhen you're teaching a shooting class you don't want the students thinking "Yeah, he can do that with his three thousand dollar gun, but..." 

Using a pistol that doesn't cost more than the tuition for the class shows what you're trying to get across to the class: It's not about the gun so much as it's about the shooter, and it's not even about the shooter as much as it's about consistent application of the proven techniques you are trying to teach them.

Full article:  https://www.backwoodshome.com/blogs/MassadAyoob/geezer-guns
[/quote]

Greetings All,

Back in the 80's and 90's, when I shot a lot of competition in the form of handgun metallic silhouettes, this same observation was posed by shooters who did not have a custom bolt action (.5 moa capable) Remington XP-100 for the Unlimited class: "If I had that pistol, I could shoot perfect scores too".

Well...., maybe, but probably not.  Not until you have the skillsets down in the form of (and where have we heard this before?): solid position, npoa, knowing your come-ups and going through the six steps to release one well-aimed shot at a time.

But, for some shooters, there is that perception out there and it's common to see most people looking at the various rifles on the line and comparing them to what they brought.

So, for these reasons, whenever I get the chance to requalify at an event, I typically use one of two stock ruger 10/22s: one with tech sights or one with a low power scope. If nothing else I want to convey to the shooters on the line that it is indeed the archer and not the bows & arrows that puts holes in the five-ring.

Lastly, for what it's worth, when there are openings on the line, it's late on a Sunday, and the shoot boss says it is ok, I think it is a fine idea for instructors to get out there and re-qualify.


Gus

Some what relevant

https://www.cabelas.com/p/ruger-10-22-carbine-semi-auto-rimfire-rifle-with-threaded-barrel

$270. Add an auto bolt release and call it a day.

MAHA

It appears I framed the thought experiment poorly.

I don't need advice on a firearm purchase.

The author of the article points out the value of using an 'affordable' firearm when he teaches classes.  Much akin to the concept of any rifle will do if you do your job.

I'd have to agree with ScubaSteve.  Teaching isn't participating.

To extend that, I can't imagine anything good coming out of an Appleseed instructor using a live firearm in the course of instruction.

We use dummy rifles and inert pistols.  So odds are pretty good that dummy rifle is going to be the cheapest "rifle" present.   

And, in my opinion, if you're going to requalify at an event you're working, I won't stop you from using the tricked-out "instructor rifle", but I'd love to see you keep the spirit of the program and use a rack grade rifle and surplus grade ammo.  Even when we're not actively instructing, we're still representing.

I think any chance we get to requalify, we should take regardless of firearm.  Most instructors in the SE region that I know try to requalify at least once a year.  Usually it's on Sunday afternoons when we're either instructor top-heavy or have shooters sitting out an AQT/PQT.  I've heard loads of instructors say that once they start teaching, they stop shooting.  It's a perishable skill.  Grabbing either that rack grade rifle or tricked out piece of perfection is still teaching by example.  It would send a stronger message to shoot the rack grade with crap ammo.  You might get a lower score, but that's not the point.

BINGO!!      

Quote from: UpACreek on June 10, 2026, 01:41:30 PMI think any chance we get to requalify, we should take regardless of firearm. 

Grabbing either that rack grade rifle or tricked out piece of perfection is still teaching by example. 

It would send a stronger message to shoot the rack grade with crap ammo. 

You might get a lower score, but that's not the point.

Quote from: UpACreek on June 10, 2026, 01:41:30 PMI think any chance we get to requalify, we should take regardless of firearm.  Most instructors in the SE region that I know try to requalify at least once a year.  Usually it's on Sunday afternoons when we're either instructor top-heavy or have shooters sitting out an AQT/PQT.  I've heard loads of instructors say that once they start teaching, they stop shooting.  It's a perishable skill.  Grabbing either that rack grade rifle or tricked out piece of perfection is still teaching by example.  It would send a stronger message to shoot the rack grade with crap ammo.  You might get a lower score, but that's not the point.

And I'd agree with every word of that.