AAR Brighton, CO April 17-18, 2010

[Sheepdog]

This is where to read the news of Brighton, Colorado's Appleseed. Sign in and add your thoughts, comments, experiences and reactions.

More to come upon conclusion but today ROCKED! I have high expectations for our shooters on Sunday that we are going to award some Rifleman patches.

IITs are fantastic. We literally have decades of instructional experience and centurys of shooting experience brought to teach this 235 anniversary shoot. What an honor to be part of this program. Thank you Fred (the helpful) et al, for keeping this train on the tracks.

Very productive instructor meeting. Nitro45 showed up and was heaven sent. (He was at the shoot too, not just dinner)

For the first shoot to sell out, nationwide, two months before the event, all I can say is Colorado has some real hope.

Thanks for this great country and for those people stepping up to provide a heritage for those that follow.

Sheepdog

[Sheepdog]

AAR Brighton, CO April 17-18, 2010
We had a great shoot. Shoot after shoot the quality of people that this program attracts amazes me. A person with character, integrity, a willingness to learn and step up to a higher standard both in their skills and contributions to others describes our shooters, IITs and instructors. Everyone contributes to the success of this program overall and specifics of the weekend's events at our shoots.

Thanks to everyone who signed up. If you are reading an AAR for the first time this is where the SB reports the nature of the shoot and anyone can add a line or two. So, chime in give us your thoughts, good, bad, or well if it's ugly...send me a PM

There was a herculean effort to make this weekend work. Many, many people worked behind the scenes for countless self sacrificing hours to make this a historic weekend both successful and very honorable. Thanks to every one of these unnamed servants.

Much appreciation as well to our hosts, Cy and Juan and the Colorado Wildlife Shooters. These are some true friends of Appleseed and I personally look forward to a mutually beneficial relationship with a couple real 'stand up' guys.

Here is the summary for our time in Brighton.

Friday-
Overcast and slight wind for the placement of downrange hardware. Cy, Skid, RF, Lilmac, Franktown Kid all showed up to set the stage. All systems go for the next two days. Skid will do his PC for Instructor this weekend.

Saturday-
Our shoot was sold out two months before the event and was the first to sell out nationwide. We had some walk-ons and a good heads up by Franktown Kid to be prepared to stretch some. We didn't want to turn anyone away if we could accommodate them. We had 40 shooters on line.
Weather cooperated in the morning. Noticeable steady wind from the south. Light rain started about 1330. The rain continued and when the ground started getting greasy and the shooting mats had puddles I made a command decision to call the shoot at 1500. We were in the final stages of getting shooters prepped for an AQT. Instruction stayed on course of the AS COF with shooters responding well, noting self improvement as we progressed. We got 3 strikes in on Saturday. We called the roll of those made the ultimate sacrifice 235 years ago and fired a volley for each. I think many of our shooters were stirred by the thought of participating in an event that was taking place nationwide, by thousands at the exact same time. Wow!

Here is a breakdown (sort of, some rifles came and went) of the equipment we had on line...22- 10/22s, 1-22 lever, 4-22 bolts, 4-marlins(auto loading) 4-ARs, 1-Sig5.56, 1-HK45, 1-SKS, 1-M1A, 1-1903A3. No major equipment malfunctions. We saw some sights and scopes shoot loose providing a valuable lesson.

Instructors met for debrief where promotional material was reviewed and progress-course of action was discussed. We had some great groups on squares Saturday giving us lots of promise for Riflemen. I went as far to predict a 20% Rifleman rate.

Sunday-
We assembled at 0730, instruction to begin at 0800. 29 shooters showed up. For those of you that made it Saturday but not Sunday, we missed you and hope you can make another shoot soon.

Skid was promoted to RH after passing his PC and demonstrating the ability to shoulder the next level of responsibility.  Thanks much Val for stepping up, making the commitment, and for being the boots on the ground for Brighton. It was seamless due to you.

Starting early made a big difference. We made up what we lost the day before and put the time monkey in a cage. Foggy morning burned off about 1000 revealing bright blue skies and that high altitude sun. We had good ground even after Saturday's deluge. Most there were wearing tee shirts by early afternoon.

Instruction resumed getting to a couple AQTs before lunch. More history and 7th step at noon. We had a raffle for some prizes and using those playing cards was genius! More instruction on NPOA, carding, ball and dummy, more AQTs and a team shoot. Go Cougars! Then a few more AQTs.
We were 'hammering out Riflemen on the anvil of the AQT' (JB)!
Brad-210
Danny-216
John-211
Mike-210 (rattlesnakes in dry creek. We didn't throw him in...we need him!)
Congratulations to all of you. Thanks for demonstrating persistence and perseverance to your fellow students, all of us.

We had two of our Riflemen, both Appleseed trail veterans, step up and say they want to help. Danny and John thanks for your willingness, grab a bucket, we'll be in touch.

In recognition of the team of instructors....
Skid-Best wishes with your new hat. Great job of running and teaching at this one.
Nitro45-Thanks for being here both days. You're a Rock Star!
RF-Your experience and ability to present are priceless!
Cora- Nice job on history. You are a great instructor. I look forward to your potential and enthusiasm as you turn into one of the best rifle marksmanship instructors on the planet.
Lilmac-I only got to see you one day. You are another it will be exciting to see grow as you 'take up the cause.'
And last but not least....
Franktown Kid- You are the rock of Colorado! Thanks for the trailer full of the hardware and you dedication to go anywhere/anytime. Thanks for what you do behind the scenes.

Thanks to team Florida for a fitting tribute to Jacquline. Those who recieved the special patch were honored, while we were all humbled by her service.

This team gelled and I'm looking forward to Appleseeding with all of you again.

[Sheepdog]

OOps, Brad scored a 230 not 210. I stand corrected.
Mike

[Colorado Pete]

Danny made it! Congrats Danny, I've seen you come so close in previous shoots, glad you took the hat! Be seein' ya at another shoot!

Congrats Skid on the Red Hat!! Rich and I are next in line...

[zombiehunter]

Wow! Nice work Colorado!  Brighton's become a Rifleman and IIT factory.  Congrats Skid, glad to hear you're wearing red now.  I missed you guys and Colorado this weekend, but these Nebraskans have been making me feel welcome and they've been stepping up to the challenge of the Orange Hat, too.

Zombie

[Old Glory!]

Check this out.......

http://sensiblyprogressive.blogspot.com/2010/04/april-appleseed-event-in-brighton.html

[Sheepdog]

Very Nice. Thanks for sharing. Hey to the Cat.
Sheepdog

Check this out.......

http://sensiblyprogressive.blogspot.com/2010/04/april-appleseed-event-in-brighton.html

[StephenW]

Thanks for the kind words about my blog post. I had a great time at the Appleseed ... though it did remind me I'm not a very good shot (yet). Hopefully I can come to the next Appleseed and correct that!

[Cora_Munro]

I had a great time taking the Time Monkey by it's tail and throwing it way off into the distance while calling the line during the AQTs.... That Time Monkey will never get on my back or my team's back when I'm there!  

It was a great shoot and I couldn't have asked for a better team.  I loved how big the line was, it provided a great challenge and kept us on our toes!

Sheepdog- you rock as a SB!!! I want to be  just like you

[Cora_Munro]

Oh and Skid! CONGRATULATIONS on getting your Red Hat! I almost cried, and had to contain myself from jumping up and down with giggling joy for you.  I enjoyed dishing it back to help you "Move More Quicklier!"

[Erebus]

It was a great shoot.  I'm glad I finally scored Rifleman.  The work you folks put into helping us figure out NPOA shifting was what finally did it for me.  I can't thank you enough.  Cora- awesome job with your piece of the history section.  I almost don't want to admit it, but the "Take good care of the children" bit made my eyes well up just a little bit, thinking of the impossibly hard choices they had to make that day, knowing what they would have to give up, and that they all decided to do what was right anyway. 

I've already gotten a spare Marlin 795 to loan out at the next event I attend!