Another weird question... indoor AppleSeed, Evening Appleseed

[rboatright]

I had a phone discussion with Paul the other day, and he didn't shoot this down in flames, so here I go with question 2. 

I want to run it past the rest of you before I go talk to range owners.

Winter is _not_ a good time to be recruiting people new people you've never met before to go shoot in the Kansas cold. 

On the other hand, Kansas is blessed with an abundance of indoor ranges.  We have an indoor range here in Topeka whos owner is very receptive to having groups use the range. 

BUT.....

Weekends are his big money-maker.  Taking over the range for a weekend just feels like a non-starter. 

So, there's two parts here....  work with me.  Part one is indoor appleseed.  Paul tells me that this has been done at least occasionally.  Part two is "evening appleseed" -- the program done in four or five four-hour sessions.  One strike per night.

The Topeka indoor range is closed on Mondays.  It's possible we could get it pretty cheap on Monday evenings in the winter...

Of course, that would mean finding instructors for a Topeka range for four successive weeks,  etc etc etc...  but it could grow into something.

Has anyone done the appleseed program OTHER than a day-long event that anyone knows of?  If so, there are indoor ranges in Topeka, KC, Wichita, Ogden, Salina...

Or, perhaps this idea is TOO creative at this stage of the growth cycle of the program. 

[B9]

Indoor Appleseeds have been done. We have special targets scaled down to 50 foot if the indoor range is not 25 meters.
Some targets and info can be found here... http://appleseedinfo.org/smf/index.php?topic=11086.msg94294#msg94294

Appleseeds have been done the traditional Saturday/Sunday, Sunday/Monday and as one day events. I can not see why a 3 or 4 day evening indoor could not work.

[4bfox]

I KNOW we're being encouraged to hold shoots during the winter, which has been "off" months for us. An indoor range would seem to be a great way to handle this, then move outdoors in March or April....

I dunno. We're scheduling our first ever "Winterseed" on Dec 4, but a climate-controlled range sounds good to me! Maybe 2-3 hours per night for four nights?

[crak]

I used to run weekday night minis every other week.  You can get a lot done in 2-3 hours.  No good reason why you couldn't stitch together several of those, make sure everything gets covered (do safety again at the start of every night) and call it a full appleseed.

[rboatright]

OK, I will approach Kevin and see what he says might be arranged.  

KVGC is 25 yards.  

[ksuguy]

Can you shoot with the positions there?   We've got a nice range in wichita,  but you have to use the bench on the rifle range and shoot through a window.  On the pistol range there is a counter and windows in the way too.   

[Fred]

    Sure, rboatright, no problem and a good idea.

    But, climate-controlled? I'm thinking it'll be the regular Rifleman Badge which you'll be giving out to qualified shooters, and not the new "Winter Rifleman Badge".

    That will be reserved for the hardy souls braving the snow, sleet, and cold.

    That's not to be a "downer" on your idea - it's a great one - making lemonade from the lemon life deals you - but your shooters who qualify in the heated indoor range aren't gonna want a badge which connotes doing it the hard way - outside, in the cold...

[4bfox]

   Sure, rboatright, no problem and a good idea.

   But, climate-controlled? I'm thinking it'll be the regular Rifleman Badge which you'll be giving out to qualified shooters, and not the new "Winter Rifleman Badge".

   That will be reserved for the hardy souls braving the snow, sleet, and cold.

   That's not to be a "downer" on your idea - it's a great one - making lemonade from the lemon life deals you - but your shooters who qualify in the heated indoor range aren't gonna want a badge which connotes doing it the hard way - outside, in the cold...

"Winter Rifleman Badge"?! Ohh... yeah, I want one of those....is there a pic available yet? If not, maybe you could have a contest to come up with a good design.....like a white (or blue) snowflake for the badge outline, etc.?

[ksuguy]

Yeah, that does sound good.  Hopefully it comes in arctic themed colors.   I'd definitely try and get one if that is possible.   

[rboatright]

Winter Rifleman Badge is not for first-timers who are uncertain about the whole thing.... 

    Sure, rboatright, no problem and a good idea.

    But, climate-controlled? I'm thinking it'll be the regular Rifleman Badge which you'll be giving out to qualified shooters, and not the new "Winter Rifleman Badge".

    That will be reserved for the hardy souls braving the snow, sleet, and cold.

    That's not to be a "downer" on your idea - it's a great one - making lemonade from the lemon life deals you - but your shooters who qualify in the heated indoor range aren't gonna want a badge which connotes doing it the hard way - outside, in the cold...

[rboatright]

Can you shoot with the positions there?   We've got a nice range in wichita,  but you have to use the bench on the rifle range and shoot through a window.  On the pistol range there is a counter and windows in the way too.  

Kaw Valley Gun Club has open space below the "bench"

Therefore, you absolutely can use the regular firing line and shoot from it standing, sitting, or prone, however, what I would do if I was shoot boss at KVGC is set up the firing line in FRONT of the benches so that the walls between the positions were not hiding the rifles.  

And since Kevin hosts indoor IDPA and bowling pin shoots and full auto and etc there, I'm pretty sure he would be ok with that, but I have to go over and chat with him. But he regularly hosts events where shooters are out past the bench on the floor of the range.


admittedly, that would change the range from 25 yards to 23...   but since "rimfire only" 50 foot target pdf's are available as quoted up-thread, that's hardly a problem.  We draw the firing line 50 feet from the backstop and that gives us 25 feet back to the shooting benches as "safe area" for setup, classes, etc. 

Since KVGC lacks classroom space, that 25 feet becomes important.   That's the format used by the indoor IDPA folks as well. 

[rboatright]

Can you shoot with the positions there?   We've got a nice range in wichita,  but you have to use the bench on the rifle range and shoot through a window.  On the pistol range there is a counter and windows in the way too.   

I know, I know, answering the same question twice in different ways. 

If you wanted to do an indoor appleseed there, the thing to do is to discuss it with the range owners and set the 50 foot firing line INSIDE the pistol range, ignoring the bench.

LOTS of indoor IDPA is done that way.  No reason as couldn't be too. 

[Gramma Goats]

Are these WinterSeed badges gona be ready for our Dec 4-5 shoot here in MO ?

GG

[ksuguy]

Can you shoot with the positions there?   We've got a nice range in wichita,  but you have to use the bench on the rifle range and shoot through a window.  On the pistol range there is a counter and windows in the way too.   

I know, I know, answering the same question twice in different ways. 

If you wanted to do an indoor appleseed there, the thing to do is to discuss it with the range owners and set the 50 foot firing line INSIDE the pistol range, ignoring the bench.

LOTS of indoor IDPA is done that way.  No reason as couldn't be too. 

It would be tough to get range time there.  The place is usually packed on the weekends.  During the week they are either running classes or leagues.  Of course I haven't been in there as much since the new guy bought the place.   Maybe the schedule has changed. 

[rboatright]

Bullseye or Bullet Stop?  Wichita has two indoor ranges.

Bullseye's schedule isn't as full as it might be, someone ought to check with them.

Bullet Stop has very few events listed on their calendar, and they have a nice 15 lane 15 yard range, my favorite in the state.

Someone from Wichita ought to go talk to them. 

Of course, the easiest indoor range to do an appleseed on is doubtless the Bullet Hole in Overland park.

They have two open ranges on the lower level that they rent out at $20 per hour.  In addition, the lower level has a classroom for training and other special instructional purposes.

So, for the pittance of $250, an appleseed could have one of the lower level ranges AND THE CLASSROOM for an entire saturday. 

Has anyone approached them?  Is anyone here a member of the Bullet Hole?  Do you guys have a list of your to-date kansas or Missouri AS alum's who might already BE members there? 

Can you shoot with the positions there?   We've got a nice range in wichita,  but you have to use the bench on the rifle range and shoot through a window.  On the pistol range there is a counter and windows in the way too.   

I know, I know, answering the same question twice in different ways. 

If you wanted to do an indoor appleseed there, the thing to do is to discuss it with the range owners and set the 50 foot firing line INSIDE the pistol range, ignoring the bench.

LOTS of indoor IDPA is done that way.  No reason as couldn't be too. 

It would be tough to get range time there.  The place is usually packed on the weekends.  During the week they are either running classes or leagues.  Of course I haven't been in there as much since the new guy bought the place.   Maybe the schedule has changed.