Greenwich, CT June 29-30, 2013

[CaptMac]

Day 1 of the First Appleseed in this corner of Connecticut went well.  We are about 1/2 hour outside of NYC, using a 50 foot indoor range, with targets further reduced from the size used at most Appleseeds. The distance is different, and so are a few other things;  we are not out in the rain, blazing sun, etc; we start and end later in the day, but the electric light bulbs allow us to shoot past sun down, we have an air-conditioned ready room to which we can retreat for some instruction, and with mechanized target carriers, we don't need to head down range to change or check targets.  We had six safe and fine shooters on our line yesterday, four of which help with the junior program at Cos Cob Revolver and Rifle Club, the host club.   The junior program instructors, like many in the Appleseed instructing corps, coach and teach and don't shoot rifle very often.  So, we were shaking off some rust, as well as covering some different items, and we had a lot of fun.  Back to it shortly. 

Thanks to CCRRC for allowing us use of the range for this event. 

[CaptMac]

6 registered shooters showed up at the Cos Cob Revolver and Rifle Club on Saturday afternoon, and four of them came back Sunday to complete both days of this first Appleseed at CCRRC.   Both of the two who did not return had other commitments.  We had only one no show, but his mother was on the line and explained why he was not there.   

Of the four shooters with us both days, two shot rifleman scores.  Paul, who shoots with the CCRRC's junior program did it first with a 222 with our first AQT on Sunday.  Peter, his father, broke through with a 217 a little later in the day. 

Near the end of Sunday, sore elbows kept Nicolle from using a prone position, but she shot stages 3 and 4 seated.  Her best score was a 204, and she only got off 8 rounds during the 55-seconds permitted for the Second Stage.  In other words, her marksmanship was good enough to allow her enough to break 210.

Donald missed cleaning the final Red Coat on Sunday evening solely because his missed the "250 yard" shingle shot, commemorating Daniel Morgan's Riflemen.   In other words, his marksmanship skills were good enough to allow him enough to break 210.

For our first Red Coat on Saturday, we had only two shooters that had all three rounds in any of the silhouettes.  Mostly, I think this was because the shooters were all using loaner rifles AND were a little rusty, having spent much more time recently instructing than practicing. 

Venus and Alex who were unable to attend on Sunday also showed improvement.  Venus shot 195 on an AQT Saturday, and she probably would have broken 210 if she had been able to return for Sunday.  Alex is a pistol shooter with little rifle experience, and he was improving rapidly Saturday. 

We covered all three strikes on Saturday, from the comfort of an air-conditioned ready room, and did the same for DOM on Sunday.  All of the shooters seemed to enjoy  both the shooting and history, and I had a wonderful time instructing at this event that simply had no safety issues. 

Please post comments!  Unfortunately, there will not be many photos.  No photos are permitted in the range due to the Club's rules.