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AAR: Pistol Event Bonfield, IL August 17-18, 2024

Started by SteelThunder, August 19, 2024, 09:59:49 PM

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SteelThunder

August 19, 2024, 09:59:49 PM
THAT.  WAS.  AWESOME.

Seriously, I'm an Illinois native (downstater) that "escaped" 16 years ago.  It is so rewarding to come back to my home state and see that - even with those that are doing their best to suppress it - the spirit of liberty is alive and well in the Land of Lincoln.

11 of Illinois' finest showed up bright and early on Saturday at Illinois State Rifle Association's range in Bonfield.  Great range, great RSO's and the shooters didn't disappoint.  We focused on fundamentals of marksmanship on Saturday and finished with a PQT.  The shooting and the history were hot and heavy...as were the cells of rain that seemed to show up every 10-15 minutes...and we ended the day with 2 new Pistoleer™s...congrats Terry and Alex.

Sunday's weather was perfect (high 70's, light breeze, low humidity) and that seemed to fire up our shooters.  I'm unbelievably happy to say that an additional 7 of our shooters scored Pistoleer™...yup, you heard it.  9 of 11 (that's over 80% in dog percentages!!).  Congrats Keith, Matt, Chuck, Greg, Jeremy, Kaylan, Ryan.  And I want to call out Kaylan particularly...shot his first firearm 2 months ago, only the second time out shooting pistols.  And he absorbed everything and focused...and got over the line.  KT and Peper not far behind.

Of special note, Alex took an orange hat and Peper a blue (and Jeremy??????).

Seriously, one of the better weekends I've spent in a long time.  great job instructor crew, Geek, JHB, Myrradah and WarriorPoet.

Till next time...

Steel...out. 










NRA Patron Member, SAF Life Member
NRA Certified Rifle Instructor, RSO
Warlord of the West

Ultima vox civis
"Learning occurs only after repetitive, demoralizing failures." - Pat Rogers
"Silence in the face of evil is itself evil; God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act." - Dietrich Bonhoeffer
"So live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart." - Tecumseh
"Never attribute to treachery, that which can adequately be explained by incompetence" - Bonaparte, Hanlon, et al

Geek

#1
August 19, 2024, 11:05:39 PM
I want to start by saying, I love this range.  The folks that help maintain it, run day to day operations,  and event scheduling have my gratitude.  They allow camping and even have a place to plug-in. It is worth the drive for this border raider.

What an incredible event indeed.  Having IITs give strikes is one of my favorite things to see at an event.  I got to see 2 at this one.  Well done team.  We had participants with several Appleseed events under their belt, to a first eventer.  Years of shooting, to 2 months after a good introduction to firearms.  With this diverse of a group, everything was still relevant and quickly absorbed. Seeing shooters coach and encouraging each other warms my soul too.  It seems we all made some new friends.<or maybe we found new family members> Getting home after midnight on Sunday and dragging in to work Monday, was nothing compared to the reward of spending my weekend with this fine crew. 

For those that did not reach your scoring goals this weekend,  remember to dry fire and build that muscle memory. Everyone continued to improve all weekend.  I thought we might see a new distinguished Pistoleer™ patch presented at the rate you all were shooting.

A special shout out to our new volunteers.  Towl took an orange hat and is actually an Indiana resident.  Woo-hoo!  I am so glad the timing finally fell into place.  Peper came to his first event in June and caught the Appleseed fever.  Upon returning for his second event, he stepped up taking a blue hat.  I know the program can use more good Applecore folks.  I look forward to seeing you at future events.

Dr. Joseph Warren, in his last letter to his mother, "Where danger is, dear mother, there must your son be... I will set [America] free or die".

Our cause is just . . . our country will be grateful - George Rogers Clark

"This country has been made by the Timothy Murphys, the men in the ranks. Conditions here called for qualities of heart and hand that Tim Murphy had in abundance. Our histories should tell us more about the men in the ranks, for it was to them, more than to the generals that we were indebted for our military victories." -  Franklin Delano Roosevelt, as New York Governor, 1929, at the dedication of the memorial to Murphy

ChuckA

#2
August 20, 2024, 11:30:45 AM
Many thanks to the Instructor Corp for making this event happen, and for making the trek. Also a fund group to spend a weekend with.

This was the first Appleseed I have been a participant since taking a hat, and I was very pleased with the instruction, the pacing, and even the weather. The pacing of the COF was great, it never felt like we had to much downtime, but I also didn't feel rushed or overwhelmed.

I decided going in to intentionally use this shoot to get familiar with a pistol mounted red-dot, as up until recently I have remained staunchly "gun Amish" on my handguns. The dot purchase was largely so I could speak from a position of knowledge at other classes I run, but with the slowly degrading eyesight, I am a fan. The centerfire certainly added a little cost and a little kick to it, but once the NPOA kicked in, dropping 2 rounds of 9mm in practically the same hole proves it works.

Once I can get to a Pistol IBC my days of attending will probably wane ;) , but I can't wait to get more of these in Illinois.  :F

Congrats to all my fellow Pistoleer™s, and our new volunteers.

NRA Training Counselor, Chief Range Safety Officer and Life member

No freeman shall ever be debarred the use of arms. 1st Draft of the VA Constitution by T. Jefferson

Myrradah

#3
August 20, 2024, 08:26:06 PM Last Edit: August 20, 2024, 11:50:07 PM by Myrradah
Good times all!

Weather was awesome, shooters were awesome. well, some rain but I like rain :)

First event this year I havent sweated 5 gallons out of me....

Now, we just need to remove that doopy looking guy in the background of some of the pictures....

Pookie

#4
August 21, 2024, 05:51:15 PM
Huzzzahhh !
During the seventy years which elapsed between the overthrow of the Stuart dynasty and the victory of Wolfe on the Heights of Abraham, the relations between the American colonies and the British government were, on the whole, peaceful; and the history of the colonies, except for the great and romantic struggle with New France, would have been almost destitute of striking incidents. In view of the perpetual menace from France, it was clearly unwise for the British government to irritate the colonies, or do anything to weaken their loyalty; and they were accordingly left very much to themselves. Still, they were not likely to be treated with any great liberality,â€"for such was not then, as it is hardly even yet, the way of governments...

Shep

#5
August 21, 2024, 08:19:42 PM
Great job everyone!
"The constitutions of most of our States assert that all power is inherent in the people; that... it is their right and duty to be at all times armed." -Thomas Jefferson

Paladin223

#6
August 22, 2024, 01:07:27 AM
A big thank you to Steel Thunder and crew for putting on a great Pistol event.  The instruction was spot on and was well received. The phenomenal number of new Pistoleer™s reflected just how the instruction was received. Congratulations to all the new patch winners, your efforts were put to the test and the results showed it.

Great group of instructors and shooters--a pleasure to be part of this group.

JustKim

#7
August 24, 2024, 08:59:44 PM
WOW!!!  9 Pistoleer™s!  That's AMAZING!  Congratulations to all!!

Alex and Pepper - thanks for stepping up!
It's not about perfection -- it's about progress!!

I LOVE this stuff!

"Perhaps you and I have lived with this miracle too long to be properly appreciative. Freedom is a fragile thing and is never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation, for it comes only once to a people. Those who have known freedom and then lost it have never known it again" Ronald Reagan
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