Oct. 25-26 Gibsonburg, Oh after-action report

[Blindman]

Shoot boss, Posterboy
SBIT         Blindman (writing)
Instructor    Cadence, Kendrick, Dangerous D (sun only)


A fine weekend for shooting with bright sun and temperate climates, with just enough breeze to emphasize the lessons of day-2 on the famed Gibsonburg 500-yard line. We began the weekend with seven shooters, three youths (one teenage girl and twin boys of nine). All displayed safe gun handling skills and eager learning attitudes.
Appitites whetted by the first Redcoat of the day, shooters discovered their zeroes and embraced the lessons of NPOA as groups shrunk. After the introduction of AQT's and the stories of our herritage unfolded in the three strikes, closing day one with a benediction by yours truly.
  Day two opened with one shooter (the aforementioned teen girl) unable to return because of scheduling conficts with church volunteer activites - a fine, safe shooter, she was missed. AQT's became the order of the day as our shooters settled into "the grind". Then, after lunch and a fine presentation of the Dangerous Old Men by Cadence, the shooters took centerfire rifles in hand and put their new skills to the test on the 500 yard known-distance range, returning to AQT's before finishing the days with a one-minute Zombie shoot, carving Jack-o-lanterns at 25 yards with rifle fire.
  While there were no Rifleman patches awarded this weekend, it was not a sad parting because our shooters promised to return again to Gibsonburg,or another Appleseed, again. One shooter, Nick of time requalifiying as a rifleman and taking the orange hat, and a second shooter knocking upon the door of his passing score but unable to complete the task.....this time.
   I was impressed with the safe habits of our shooters, particularly wiht our twin boys who had benifitted from the assistance and careful attentions of their mother and tuteledge of their Grandfather, an army veteran ("Thompsons and BAR's were what we had, none of this new stuff"). WIth a Grandpa like this, I know these boys will grow up fine.
   I hope all my shoots are as good as this one..... Thanks to all, shooters,