Bellevue, MI - March 16-17, 2013

[Rascal21]

Geat Weekend, photos coming soon 

[Graywolf]

We had a fantastic weekend at Bellevue.  We had excited shooters, a group of outstanding instructors, and the weather (while cold) was great.  Congratulations to Ron and Dave for shooting rifleman!  Ron shot 210 and received the baptism of snow from the North Bridge.  Dave shot a 230 with a pump .22 that is a family heirloom.  Quite and emotional event!

Ray, Richard, Ken and Mike all are knocking on the door as well - very nearly busting it down acctually.  Hope to see you guys come back!  A rifleman is persistent! 

To all the instructors: well done.  We did a lot of experimenting this weekend and you carried the job off wonderfully.  I am grateful for your willingness to step outside the box and for your dedication.  Well  done!

Now, given that this thread is worthless without pictures..... post 'em if you got 'em.

[Rascal21]

All photos are posted here:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.349235895186586.1073741825.240556109387899&type=1&l=56bceb5103


And some videos with the Brown Bess here:

http://www.facebook.com/MichiganProjectAppleseed


Please like our main page in order to receive any updates


Previews :-)






















































This is what happens when you score a 210 and there is snow :-)

[D.S.S.]

I have to say that this was a VERY fun weekend!!  I am blown away at the camaraderie, sportsmanship, competitiveness and attention exhibited by all shooters in attendance.  Everyone, regardless of their marksmanship experience, paid close attention and applied what was shown.  Ron and Dave, CONGRATS on shooting Rifleman!!  Ron, please get a higher score next time...that snow-baptism looked COLD!     Dave, I am in awe of the skill you demonstrated with that BEAUTIFUL pump-action rifle!!     Ken, Ray, Mike and Richard: I KNOW that the next time you shoot at an Appleseed event you'll earn your patch.  Don't give up!  As Graywolf stated, a Rifleman is PERSISTENT!!  I loved watching the friendly competition and support that all of you displayed.  Better yet, everyone on the line exhibited outstanding safety by expertly making your rifles safe after each SOF with only an occasional minor infraction.  Please remember that the safety & marksmanship are important but, equally important, I would encourage each of you to think about the history that was shared.  What happened on April 19, 1775 was done for US.  Remember and pass it on... 

It's my honor to have shared your weekend with you.  Thanks for what you did to uplift me and encourage me to bail just a little bit harder.

DiamondSharpShooter
DSS
(Brent)

[D.S.S.]

Myki, PLEASE FORGIVE ME!!  I had such a fun time watching you shoot.  I'm very impressed with 1) your ability to handle your rifle in such a safe manner and 2) your ability to listen and apply what all of the instructors say.  You were able to tighten up your groups to the point that we made some sight adjustments to your scope and get you closer to the center of the target.  I'm very proud of you!!

DSS

[MichiganFlyer]

I want to thank all the instructors for the leadership and guidance over the weekend.  A special thanks to 3-Dog for loaning me his mat and then letting me stick it in the mud.  I got up this morning to head to the office, and I have to say, I am still sore and moving a bit slow but, the best part, it is a 'good sore'.

The weekend was cold, yet, it was a great time with family and now some new friends that I would like to get to know better.  We shared many laughs, learned many new skills, and learned more about history and our heritage (and I love history).

I have shared the experience with many people, and I am moving around my schedule so I can get to the April 20th meet in Fenton and I think I have a couple new people that want to come along.

Thanks again----
PS... let 3-Dog know I put in an order to Midway for a mat and sling.

Ron (MichiganFlyer)

[rlandhc]

What a great weekend of Family, New Friends, Instructions, Shooting.  I left this weekend with a renewed sense of our countries founding, and an improved ability to shoot!  Dead Eye, many thanks!  I appreciated your patience, advice, and instruction over the weekend..... I will promise to stop dragging wood.  DSS, while I didn't recieve 1on1 instruction from you I did learn a great deal from your "group" instructions.  In addition, you added to the overall "comaraderie" of the weekend.  The added ability to shoot the M1 Garands was awesome.  Many thanks to the selfless actions of those who offerred up their M1's.  I will be back with Mike and my other son, Tony, who wasn't able to join us this past weekend.  I will upload some of the pictures I took over the weekend.  Again, a Big thanks to all who made this weekend possible, I do not mean to slight anyone by ommission. 

Ken (rlandhc)

[rlandhc]

Greywolf, I forgot to get the "form" to allow me to order an M1 from the CMP... how can I get one?  Ken

[rlandhc]

Who can tell me how to post pictures..... more importantly how to "compress" photos.  If I read the attachment section correctly, it says the pictures cannot be over 10000kb.  My pictures are ~3.2mb

[Rascal21]

rlandhc,
There are a couple of ways to post the photos. The easiest way is to put them on either a facebook/flickr kind of web site, and then you can use the URL for the photos.

When in a new post if you look for the [arrow] button above the text box (second row, all the way to the right), click it, that makes it easier.

Once you turn that on, for each photo you want to add you just need to click on the mona lisa icon (second row, first icon) and it will bring up a box for the URL and will post the photos the same way they show up below on my post.

If you just want to attach them, you can do that as well under the attachments + below the text box.

It's kind of hard to type it out, I am adding a photo with the correct buttons circled to make it a bit easier. :-)

Rascal

[Deadeye]

I'd like to say that I enjoyed this weekend more than any Appleseed so far!! As an IIT, I got a new perspective on the entire shoot, and learned first hand the dedication and persistence required to prepare and put on a shoot. Thank you everyone for your unselfish help when I needed it (which seemed to be quite often!!!). I have to admit, that I've never enjoyed being thrown under the bus so much as I did this weekend. I also relished the opportunity to teach some newbies... what better way to cement the knowledge into your mind than toy  instruct someone else step by step?  Every person who attended this shoot (instructors and students alike) should be proud of yourselves for the comradery, ability, professionalism and willingness to give so selflessly to others. I am very proud and honored to have been asked to be a part of this great organization. Thanks so much for letting me be a part of it!!!   

Deadeye

[wingwrench]

  A great big "Bless You, Thank You" to ALL the instructors!! You all had something to help me with skills and / or understanding. Everyone else there also modeled something I found to be helpful. The loaned shooting mat was a blessing also, soggy Carhartts get REALLY cold!

  The upcoming event in April is the big one for the year commemorating April 19th, yes?? The youngest girl has a rather unfriendly work schedule; what can I use as bait to entice her to come then??

  The oratories giving Revolutionary War accounts were EXCELLENT!! My mother was a British War Bride, so shooting the Redcoats just has a different feel to it..... Dads side of the family is reported to have arrived in the Americas in 1651. It seems there was a war between the Brits and Scots. Brits won & sold the insurrectionist and their families to the American colonists as indentured slaves; so yes, I do shoot the redcoats...... I can to a degree understand the internal tension some had to have felt at that time!

  Thanks again; I hope to get some help & get pics from phone to this thread....

Be Well

[Rascal21]

Wingwrench,
     Firstly, thank you for coming out and spending time with us. It was a true pleasure!

     The April 20-21 shoot is our big one for the year. As for your daughter, there are quite a few "incentives". The big boy rifles being one of them. She has a chance to fire something that she may never have even seen before. There will also hopefully be quite a few female instructors there, if that helps.
    If you need help with posting the photos, send me a PM and I will do what I can to help

Rascal (Stacy)

  A great big "Bless You, Thank You" to ALL the instructors!! You all had something to help me with skills and / or understanding. Everyone else there also modeled something I found to be helpful. The loaned shooting mat was a blessing also, soggy Carhartts get REALLY cold!

  The upcoming event in April is the big one for the year commemorating April 19th, yes?? The youngest girl has a rather unfriendly work schedule; what can I use as bait to entice her to come then??

  The oratories giving Revolutionary War accounts were EXCELLENT!! My mother was a British War Bride, so shooting the Redcoats just has a different feel to it..... Dads side of the family is reported to have arrived in the Americas in 1651. It seems there was a war between the Brits and Scots. Brits won & sold the insurrectionist and their families to the American colonists as indentured slaves; so yes, I do shoot the redcoats...... I can to a degree understand the internal tension some had to have felt at that time!

  Thanks again; I hope to get some help & get pics from phone to this thread....

Be Well

[wingwrench]

Rascal;

  Thank you for the info! I will pass it along, it certainly will not hurt...........

[3.Dogs]

Well I apologize for the lateness of my reply I've been experiencing some computer issues. 

I would like to say Thank you to all of the shooters who braved the cold an came out.  It was a pleasure to meet all of you and to help you all become better marksman as well as share some of our nations history.

As far as the loaner shooting mat goes,  Anytime.

3.Dogs

[wingwrench]

A great big THANK YOU to the person(s) -or- group(s) supplying the copies of The Constitution at the end of the weekend. The quotes by John Adams and Benjamin Franklin on page v are looking to be hauntingly truthful at this present time.......... As I remember, Steel Thunder had the box containing the booklets; THANK YOU!!

  I need a tune-up check, please correct me if not verbatim: Magazine out, bolt back, safety on, flag in.

  Always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction, do not load until given the load command, keep your finger off the trigger till your sights are on the target, make sure everyone else follows the safety rules.

  How did I do??

[Rascal21]

Hey WingWrench Pretty close!!!

Verbatim:
Magazine Out
Bolt Back
Safety On
Flag In
Rifle Grounded
No one touching the rifle

Always keep the muzzle in a safe direction
Do not load until given the load command
Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on the target
Make sure those around you follow the saftey rules.

[wingwrench]

Peachy!! Copied, and passed along. The more she has down pat, the better she can focus on improving shooting skills as well as paying attention to what is currently being said as the day progresses, -not- mulling over what ought to be memorized. THANK YOU!!

[Rascal21]

I take that as you are coming back to join us sometimes soon WingWrench? and bringing others?

[SteelThunder]

Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on the target

We Shoot Bosses are an anal bunch

Keep your finger off the trigger until your THE sights are on the target

[Rascal21]

Thank you Steel.

[wingwrench]

Rascal; The goal is to work with the youngest girl as outlined in the handout supplied with the March shoot. Item # four on the page titled "Learn To Shoot In Four [Easy] Steps" is very clear. I hope to drill the "Must Memorize and DO automatically!!!" items into her now, as well as work on her getting into the shooting positions comfortably. Do the homework on firing the shot, then get her to the Saturday portion of the April shoot (work scheduling on her part) and see how it works for her in unfamiliar surroundings with different people. She would have to do the Sunday portion another shoot. At least that's the plan.

  SteelThunder;

  Some people in the general public would need to be told "Keep YOUR finger off YOUR trigger till YOUR sights are on YOUR target"

  Oh my goodness; did I just say that out loud??!! 

What aggravates me most is that I am a people too......