AAR - Azusa, CA Feb 15-16, 2014

[pennys dad]

If it wasn't for our drought this weekends weather would have been perfect!
We had plenty of sun and comfortable temperatures in the 70's and a nice range to learn on.

First of all I need to recognize a 7th Stepper extraordinaire Ronald aka Gasmask (if there was a hat for 7th stepping he would have one).
Ron has come to many Appleseeds and always had kids and parents with him. This time Ron stepped up his game a bit and brought 9 teenage boys from ages 13 to 17 and he had them squared away. I have not been called Sir that much ever 
Everyone always had eyes and ears on, pens when going down range, fluids and head cover. They came to learn and listen which made the day go smooth. Safety was pretty darn tight and the energy was high! 

Sunday was a bit toned down in one sense but high speed in another.
We had 4 adult students on the line, two returning from Saturday, one returning to re-qualify and on the hunt for the patch.

Del hit the mark for his patch, Jim re-qualified his patch and our two returning from Saturday got to experience life in the AQT rinse, wash, repeat lane and a bit of KD 
Pictures will follow.

Thank you Everyone for Coming and I hope to See You all soon!

[Rocket Man]

Yep, we had a great one to kick off 2014 at Burro Canyon. 

Our nine youngsters were so attentive and squared away, you'd think we were in an old-fashioned one-room schoolhouse!  Several of them had never shot a rifle before, but all of them were making holes in paper where they belonged, some knocking down quite nice groups indeed.   

Sunday was more relaxed, and yet more intense.  Our four returning students were all qualifying (if not cleaning!) the Redcoats and grouping nicely on squares, and we got some fantastic scores on AQTs.  We ran traditional AQTs, the ever-popular Rapid Fire AQT ("With FORTY rounds, load!"), and even an impromptu Known Distance Rimfire AQT, and the targets were saying "ouch" with regularity.   

We had a great discussion of history, the kind that should be in schools...  hey, maybe kids would be more interested in school if we taught important things there?  You think?  Worth a try, I says.   

I have to give a special thanks to GasMask, who seventh-steps like crazy -- over the years I think he's brought more folks to Appleseed than anyone else in my area.   

And Del!  Finally broke through the magic 210 barrier!  He's been literally a gnat's sneeze away from it before, more than once, but this time there was no doubt.  On a Rapid Fire AQT, no less.     Persistence is the key.

We'll be back at Burro Canyon for the big April 19th weekend!  Until then... dry practice!

[Rocket Man]

My pictures from the shoot.  Not so many this time since pennys_dad and I were a little busy.  I know some of the parents took some pictures, feel free to post up what you've got.


Here's the group on Saturday.  Focus is an essential skill for a Rifleman, not to mention in our daily lives.  This bunch has it.


Our group of nine youngsters -- near adults, really! -- receiving the special Luther Blanchard award, for their attention, persistence, and unswerving commitment to safety.  You can't ask for a better group than this.


And here we are on Sunday.  With the basics under control, we turn to fine-tune our students into accuracy machines.  Here student Rolando takes a turn with the "Laser Blaster" and refines his steady hold factors.


Congratulations to Del, our newest Rifleman!

[GasMask]

[GasMask]