Columbiana, AL AAR - Apr 27-28, 2019

[Mixed Metaphor]

A glorious weekend to celebrate Liberty and Patriot's Day! We had 4 highly motivated Americans for the Project Appleseed event at the Shelby County Sheriff's Office Training Center range.  A great big thanks goes out to the Shelby County Sheriff's Office for once again hosting us.  We are looking forward to many more events at this fantastic venue.  A special thank you and hardy HUZZAH to Tracey Lawley for his support! 

We began the day with a welcome speech on Saturday morning, then covered safety.  We started our history presentation with Leadslinger66 telling Strike One and the massacre on Lexington Green, and then it was time to bring rifles to the line.  Our first thirteen shots of the day were at the famous Red Coat targets, helping to establish a baseline that we could compare to after a full day of instruction.  We then jumped into the instruction.  We did a variety of drills to practice these skills and broke for lunch.  The Second Strike was told by AH1Tom, ending with the battle at the old North Bridge in Concord.  We continued drills and instruction on how to use Inches-Minutes-Clicks to efficiently zero our rifles.
Just before 3:00 pm we stopped and learned how the Revolutionary War broke out in earnest at Merriam's Corner in the Strike Three story.  AH1Tom gave us allergy eyes with his Third Strike.  Then, we talked about our Memorial Volley.  The Bloody Butchery Poster excerpt was read and we went to the line.  The Memorial Volley was conducted, ensuring that none of those brave Patriots who fell will be forgotten.  Patriot's Day patches were issued to all shooters.
The shooters were fantastic!  There was great improvement across the board.

Sunday morning came with great joy and excitement.  We did a very quick review of the instruction covered on Saturday, then shot a few squares to warm up.  During lunch we heard stories about several Dangerous Old Men (and brave Women).  After the history, we had a taste of what an Appleseed Known Distance event is all about.  Finally we were ready for more AQTs.  To break up the AQTs we had a flag tour conducted by Google.  Leadslinger66 taught us about Rifleman's Dance and Rifleman's Bubble.  All of the shooters continued to improve throughout the weekend.  Remember, a rifleman persists.

Shooters:  Google, AH1Tom, Leadslinger66 and I thoroughly enjoyed the time we spent with you.  Please think about the instruction we gave you and remember to practice your natural point of aim as often as you can!  Also, think of our founding generation and the high price they paid to preserve Liberty for us.  We honor them by remembering them.  Don't let their struggles be in vain.  It is up to us to preserve Liberty for our posterity as they did for us.
We hope to see you again soon at another Appleseed, and bring a friend!  In the meantime, please spread the word with your friends and family about your Appleseed weekend.

(If you have pictures from the event, please post them.  I will add some soon.)

[Leadslinger66]

An awesome weekend of history,heritage, and marksmanship! We had fantastic shooters as well as instructors.  I was honored to be a part of it all.

[Google]

It was indeed a fantastic weekend.  Thanks to the shooters for coming out and working so hard throughout the weekend.  It was a pleasure to work with each of you.  There are definitely Rifleman patches in your future!

Here are a few pics:


Aubrey


Steven:


Bill:


leadslinger66 and AH1Tom teaching sling use:


AH1Tom telling the second strike of the match:


leadslinger66 talking about Rifleman's dance:


Mixed Metaphor rocking his new Green Hat:

[Gator0246]

First off congratulations again to Mixed Metaphor on his well deserved Green Hat. It was a great weekend of shooting, history, and instruction. I felt all the instructors did a fantastic job on the Three Strikes and the course of instruction. Thank you Mixed Metaphor, Google, AH1Tom, and Leadslinger66 for the great weekend.

[Google]

Glad to hear you had a good weekend.  You were "this close" to getting that Rifleman score several times.  Riflemen persist!

P.S. You were always so quick up off the mat that I couldn't even get a picture of you 

[AH1Tom]

I always enjoy spreading the seeds of Liberty. It was a great weekend all the way around; group of instructors, facility, weather, and shooters. Although I did miss not having one particular blue hat with me.