Pelham NH Sept 14 & 15, 2013

[Luigi]

Everything came together on this shoot -  great end-of-summer New England weather, a wonderfully supportive host range, and most of all an inspiring group of shooters with a great attitude!

Weather was partly or mostly sunny with a high in the low 70s, and a mild breeze - perfect for spending the day on the firing line.

21 shooters from 3 states showed up for Saturday, including several families.  After the introduction and the safety briefing we got into shooting the first redcoat.  Our soft sandy ground proved to be but a temporary challenge for two young men in wheelchairs - some plywood sheets laid end-to-end "paved the way" and they were soon on the line putting holes in paper.

After a morning filled with lecture, demonstration, and shooting, where we learned prone, sitting/kneeling and standing positions, the use of a sling as a shooting aid, the 6 Steps of Firing the Shot, Natural Point Of Aim, and how to adjust your sights or scope using the IMC method, we repaired to the Clubhouse for an excellent lunch prepared by the Boy Scouts and to hear the First Strike of the Match - the history of April 19th, 1775.

After lunch we practiced safe transitions through our positions, then segwayed into the AQT or Army Qualification Target - rapid fire style.  Everyone got to try out being an instructor for a few minutes as we did the Ball and Dummy drill.

By the end of the day we had two new Riflemen and one new Riflewoman- one of whom did it on their first Appleseed (congrats to Joshua, Brian and Sabrina - well done indeed!).  We also had a tired bunch of shooters, who had  heard the 2nd and third Strikes of the Match, shot the PM redcoat, and participated in our parting benediction and awards. 

Sunday was another great shooting weather day.  Six returning shooters and one Sunday-only made 7.  We shot a Sunrise AQT, a redcoat, and more AQTs (one of which was the stage-by-stage variety for well, variety), and a Buddy Finger drill.  Lunch was once again provided by the Boy Scouts - THANK YOU guys you are awesome for doing that.  We heard a lecture on Known Distance (KD) and then got to do it at 100 and 200 yards.  We wrapped things up with more history - Dangerous Old Men and Women.

It was a pleasure meeting and instructing all of you - I hope you enjoyed the experience and learned one or two new things about shooting, and about our heritage as Americans.  If you liked what you saw and heard, please come back - and please bring a friend family member, or acquaintance.  We grow this program by word of mouth, and we ask you to help us grow!

Stay Safe, Luigi (Lou) 

[Conrad1775]

Having some technical issues uploading the photos, so I will have to do it in small batches.  Here is the first set. -Conrad

[Conrad1775]

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more photos... sorry for the overwhelming # of replies, I can only upload 2 at a time.

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photos 10 and 11

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18... last one

[NH-GP100]

Yea, A little late here but wanted to chime in

I was there with my daughter (we were the pair on the far right), I was shooting a brand new Ruger American Rimfire, her my old (older than her even) 10/22. Only did the Saturday session (walkins) as Sunday just didn't work for us.

General impressions:

Wow. I have been shooting for ~40 years and in 8 hours learned more that I could ever retain after one session. Some I knew, some (ESPECIALLY how to properly use a sling) I did not, some was stuff I learned and lost, some was bad habits I have acquired over time. I came away a much better rifleman for it.

We will both be back for more (me more than her due to her schedule). I intend to get AQT w/first the 10/22, then the RAR (both scoped), then the same with irons. Then do the same thing with my Mini-30 once I think I can justify the cost of ammo (can only run brass cased Boxer primed in that, runs me $11.99/20rd for the Fiocchi, which is my go-to for that gun).

As for her, I did work with her on and off growing up but she really drifted away as she got older. Recently she has expressed renewed interest and I was looking for a way for her to learn traditional skills (better than I could teach).

She went from "All on paper" to "Dammit, my groups are still to open".  'Nuff said. She will be back as time allows.

I was mostly shooting the RAR. There was no way I was going to make AQT with that in the time I had, but the way I was shooting I may have been able to make it in 5 (vs 4) minutes. That said, I *WILL* make AQT with this gun in time.

I also missed AQT by 2 points with the 10/22.

Twice.

We had an excellent time, the training was top notch, and the weather was glorious. All in all a very good day.

I want to also say that the young guy (Conrad / Conrad1775?) in training was super-helpful. He was the first guy I approached when I got onsite and peppered him with questions and worked with us and the other folks on that end of the line a lot.

Great Job, and see you all again, I hope.

[Luigi]

Nice!  That's the kind of feedback we instructors live for.  Appreciate the kind words and the time you took to post them.  We hope to see you and your daughter at another Appleseed event real soon - and if you can help us grow the program by bringing some new folks along with you that would be extra awesome! Thanks again.