Nampa, ID August 23 - 24, 2014 AAR

[Nero]

Placeholder

[Nero]

A small but dedicated group of Americans turned out for our August shoot at Nampa's Rod & Gun Club.

We had beautiful sunny weather and reasonably moderate temperatures for the shoot, though the combination of swirling winds and dust became challenging at times.  A gusty 15 mph crosswind is not so nice when you're trying to learn standing, and every rifle had at least one problem during the weekend due to blowing 'talcum powder' getting in the actions and mags.

Two father / daughter pairs turned out for the shoot:  Justin and Lizzie, and Jan and Jessica.  The instructors were:
Tim (Nero)
Pat (American Amazon)
Mike (scoob)
Also previous shooter Gary came out for Sunday afternoon armed with his spiffy digital camera.  He gave me a thumb drive loaded with pictures, so look for some of those appearing here soon.  Thank you, Gary!

With the families' interest in heritage, we not only told the 3 Strikes of April 19, 1775 and the Dangerous Old Men, but added in Lizzie Zane, an interview with Levi Preston, and the history of our American gun rights.

Everyone persevered through the weekend, soaking up the instruction well.  The redcoat targets told the tale - no effective ranges on Saturday AM (we all got bayoneted    ) but 3 of 4 by Sunday PM. 

We also did a late Sunday 'fun shoot' competition - sniping prairie dogs.  Justin took away the prize with 11 points, but everyone took down their 'dog' - the garden is safe once again!

After the shoot on Sunday, we brought out the 'big dogs' - an M1A and ARs in .308 and .223.  Everyone who wanted a try got to put some rounds down range, and see for themselves how the steady hold factors work with centerfire power.

Jessica - I'm giving you the 'most improved' award for the weekend.  Going from not hitting paper to a 3 minute of angle group on your last Redcoat is pretty amazing.  Once you've grown another inch or so, that CZ bolt gun will fit you better.  We hope to see you again.

Jan - thanks for signing up, not only for the shoot but as a fellow American.  Get some dry practice on those rifles and come on back with the other kids.  Remember - no happy finger!

Justin - you're nearly there with that 10/22.  It may seem a long way from 120 to 210 points, but you've got all the basic skills now.  Get out to the range and practice your cadence - no fussin' the shot! - and come on back with the rest of the family.

Lizzie - you did a great job, having to load each shot by hand.  You stuck it out with the sling all the way on Sunday, even though you were getting tired.  You've got the spirit of another Lizzie - Elizabeth Zane!  Keep it up!

Finally, thanks to both scoob and Dan Hawkins of HawkTech for donating bricks of ammo for the shooters.  How often do you go home from the range with more ammo than you started with!  Huzzah!

We're back out at the Nampa range in October, so we hope to see some of you again soon.  And bring some friends!

Pictures to follow soon...

[HappyFinger]

Thank you all again for the wonderful weekend!

Our experience exceeded our expectations by mile. Jessica and I were having blast and we will be back.

Thank you again for your time and for your continues patriotism.

God bless you all!

HappyFinger 

[Nero]

I am still sorting through the photos - almost 300 of them, thanks to Gary, even after I dropped some near-duplicates.

If you are willing to plow through the whole thing, the album is here:
https://picasaweb.google.com/114208333789247233986/Nampa814
but I will post a smaller selection of them here by tomorrow evening.

[scoob]

Yeah, holy cow, that's a lot of pics!  Many thanks to Gary!

It's sad that we had such a low turnout, but the caliber of folks that made it - more than made up for it!   

Lizzie - You're a trooper and an amazing young lady.  Thank you for the card - It's the first 'thank you' card I've ever gotten for being an instructor.  Keep at it, memorize those 6 steps, and practice with your dad, and you'll make that Cricket do amazing things.

Jessica - Watching your targets go from 'no holes' to 3-inch groups is truly inspiring.  Instructors live for seeing that kind of improvement!

Justin - You have a rifleman in you.  We spent more time on the fundamentals than the polishing (AQTs), so your inner rifleman didn't get a chance to prove himself.  You get it though.  You shoot like a natural, yet you focus that teachable attitude on learning more.  I look forward to handing you that well-earned patch soon!

Jan - Despite rifle fit issues and magazine problems, you persevered, and learned how to shoot a rifle.  Thank you for bringing your teachable attitude and for bringing the next generation with you (Jessica).  Though you've been in America for many years, I really enjoyed hearing your perspective of coming from the eastern bloc, and how it relates to the freedoms that we Americans should hold more dearly.  I look forward to seeing you again, and I know there's a rifleman in you too.

I also want to thank Dan Hawkins of Hawktech Arms in Boise, ID.  Dan is a patriot, a friend of the program, and our local supplier of all things 10/22 and more.  I didn't ask him to donate the brick of 22LR ammo.  He just told me to come down to the store and pick it up, because we're doing a good thing.  If you stop in, or order something from him, tell him you heard about him through Appleseed.  One of these days, we'll get him to a shoot! 

Finally, this wouldn't be a complete AAR if didn't thank those that helped me along my path to instructor, since I was presented my red hat on Sunday.  Thank you all!

[Nero]

Pit 12 at Nampa Rod & Gun Club, scene for our shoot and scoob's home on the range.  Also featuring our shelter / wind tunnel.  Blowing dust was in the forecast for Saturday and on Sunday afternoon.



Jessica and Lizzie were the young Patriots at this shoot



scoob receives his well-earned Red Hat on Sunday AM




Steady Hold Factor review on Sunday


Down in the dirt - Ball and Dummy drill time


Grit got into everything; cleaning off Jan's bolt


A rare moment of calm


Story time!


Standing review


It works better without 15 mph cross winds!


Shoot boss goofing off maintaining proficiency!


A nice father/daughter shot


Flat part of the arm, forward of the knee!


Let's give that a try


We might as well leave the rod by the Cricket - dust + tight chamber = trouble



The loneliness of the line boss - and classic Western sky


Time to move Jessica to a smaller target!


A little coaching on the sidelines and...


Jessica's on to an AQT


Let's practice transitions!


Break time!


Reviewing targets


Time for some fun targets!


Those prairie dogs never had a chance!



The shoot boss goes after a Redcoat - nothing like a muzzle brake, dust, and a wind in your face!


T-shirt time!




Time for a little fun with centerfires!

[Eljay]

Glad to see you've settled into your new area!

[Nero]

Glad to see you've settled into your new area!

Come up and visit some time!