Mechanicsville, VA December 5-6

[crashkid2k]

Saturday morning dawned cold and drizzling, with the promise of more rain to come.  This was the kind of weather that keeps a lot of Appleseeders at home, and we didn't have high hopes for attendance.  Shooters trickled in one or two at a time until we had 10 or 11, which I thought was a good number.  At almost exactly 0830, the rest of the shooters poured (pun intended) in, for a total of 23!

After covering introductions, safety rules, etc and posting targets, we all trudged out into the rain to shoot the redcoat.  Instruction on the prone position, NPOA, six steps, and IMC followed the redcoat, all taking place under a roof.  Then it was back out into the rain...

A much heavier rain, with the threat of snow, had arrived by mid-day.  All of the shooters have their rifles out in the pouring rain, on the wading pools formerly known as shooting mats, and there's not a complaint to be heard.

17 shooters returned for a clear and cold Sunday.  After history and a review of Saturday's instruction, it was time to shoot!  We showed significant improvement on the redcoat, and were shooting AQTs shortly thereafter.  The short winter day only afforded us 3 hours of shooting, but I think we got 4 AQTs in, after reviewing the positions and transitions.  Sunday got us 2 new Riflemen: Mr. McCoy with a 214, and Mr. Runey with a 218!

This was one of my all-time favorite Appleseeds, and it was all because of our shooters.  Everyone ignored the nasty weather, and focused on shooting.  They left their rifles and gear in the pouring, near-freezing rain, assumed the prone position in puddles of cold water, and never lost their "can-do" attitudes.  Great job, shooters!

[gpreid]

I shot in my first Appleseed on the cold, wet Saturday in Mechanicsville, and I had a blast! And as much as Crash is cheering on the Shooters for showing up and toughing it out, I think the real troopers that day were the Instructors. Us Shooters paid money to lay around on the cold, wet, windy range, but the Instructors were all Volunteers - they did not have to be there. All of them stuck around until the end on Saturday (I only signed up for Saturday) and they were right beside us on the line for every shot. Talk about no one complaining, these guys were cheerful, helpful and supportive. I can't wait to do another Appleseed, though I think I will try one in weather a little more conducive to shooting!

A big thank you to Crash and the rest of the Instructors for everything!

[FiremanEd]

What Crash said and more.

I can't say enough, how tough the shooters were, especially on Saturday. When Crash refers to the wading pools, he understated the depth of the frigid water the shooters were having to lie in and not one single complaint. It actually turned to snow/sleet about 4pm when we finally called it for the day.

Sunday proved again how tough the shooters were when all but one of the Saturday attendees, who were scheduled to return, returned and she'd come down with a fever during the night, but sent her husband anyway! What a trooper!

I think everyone had fun, as much as you can in 35F rainy weather, and all learned a lot. We finished the weekend with only 2 Riflemen patches but most everyone showed great improvement. Several shooters were in the 200 area, in that weather. They'll make it next time for sure.

Like Crash said, I was proud of every shooter who showed up and shot on Sat and Sun, it show's their dedication to learning the skills and about their Heritage. This was about as bad as it gets, 33F and pouring rain/snowing/sleeting by 4pm.


FiremanEd

[VAshooter]

I would like to thank all the Virginia Instructors who worked this Appleseed. Crashkid2K, FiremanEd, smwwoody, and jmdavis all spent the weekend running a very wet and cold firing line. We did the history under the range shelter but I don't think that had anything to do with the rapt attention the shooters gave to Mike Davis as he spun  a tail of history, choices, and heritage.

Thanks guys for another great Appleseed year.

VAshooter