AAR Socorro, NM June 5-6, 2010

[Devnull]

It all began Friday evening. I was late getting into Socorro and meeting with some of my instructors due to the excessive heat causing my truck (Which was pulling my old travel trailer) to play dangerously close to overheating.

The following morning we began setting up the range. It was already just about 90f.

We had 11 shooters on Saturday. Four of which were under the age of 15!

I was trying to work slowly through the COF so as to give everyone plenty of time to hydrate in between each course, but I'll be darned if they weren't pushing to go faster! On and on we went through the course of fire like it was the water they were drinking by the gallons! Lo and behold we ended up doing 3 (or was it 4) AQTs on SATURDAY in 110f heat! FANTASTIC group of Americans to work with! Not one person complained about the heat!

Sunday we lost two shooters who had a previous engagement. We ran through the last major POI, Ball and dummy. Since we were ahead of the curve we spent quite a bit of time getting rid of those pesky jerks, bucks and flinches. Then the grind began.

Once again I tried taking it easy, but they just weren't having it. Onward we pressed through the grind. What's that? You got a 210? Let me see that...

Congratulations to Roy, our first rifleman of the weekend! A 210 and a baptism in much needed cold water! Way to go! He ended up shooting a 223 or was it 233? Well he was consistently shooting a rifleman's score!

A few more went by. We taught the Rifleman's Bubble, how to tango with your target (Rifleman's dance) and even an intro to long distance shooting. (No one had their centerfires so we just discussed it.) Wait, what did you say? A 210? Let me see that!

Congratulations to Darrel! He actually had a 212! (Barely avoiding a much needed soaking I might add.) Way to persevere!

We continued onward as the rifles litterally became too hot to hold from the sun. After moving some cover over the line and some clouds finally blowing in and letting us get some relief from the 108f temps we did some more AQTs. Suddenly a young kiddo named Jonathan came running up "I got a 210! I got a 210!" Really? Let me see that!

Congratulations to Jonathan! 8 years old and the youngest I think I have ever given a rifleman's patch to! Way to go! Next time though were taking the sand bags away so you had better be practicing! 

I would like to thank Jimi, duc-dog (aka Milt) and K98AL (Al) who came all the way down from Oklahoma to work this shoot. You all put your heart and soul into helping these shooters. Fantastic job!

I would also like to thank everyone who came out. You all endured the worst that NM can throw at you, and you threw it right back into the berm! A fine bunch to work with. I hope to see you all again on the Appleseed trail! Now go and hydrate! 

There are some pictures that should get posted here soon.

[Precisely Advantageous]

Sounds like another quality Appleseed by our fine instructors. Great job guys! I wish I could have been there to sweat it out with ya'll but school was calling. Also great job to all those who showed up in the heat you guys bring a new meaning to sunshine patriots!

Take Care,
PA

[TaosGlock]

Another great weekend of Appleseeding in Socorro, NM!
We just passed thru there a few hours ago from Raton.
You guys are making Lady Liberty proud of NM.
Congrats to all of you and a good job done!

[Jimi]

  I did a calculation Chris, the Shooters and Instrctors put down over 65 gallons of water the 2 days. Was a fantastic shoot, and thank you for letting me help with the History lesson of April 19 1775. Was 103º yesterday and 106º here in lakewood today. Still guzzling water.
Jimi

PS did you get any snail mail from me?
Jimi

[Jimi]

PS, Babtisinf with water bottles that had been under ice for 4 days was fun....

[oladcock]

Congrats to the new rifleman and instructors under tough conditions!..O.L.   

[BobABQ]

I heard that Roy from the Za Rifle & Pistol Club finally attended an Appleseed!

Good for him! I talked up the program to him and he seemed interested at the time.

Glad to see he went and shot Rifleman!

Congratulations Roy!

[Devnull]

Yes indeed! He had the highest AQT score by the end of Sunday if I remember correctly.

Does he work for the range? I remember him saying he shot there but I didn't know if he was a board member or not.

How have you been man?

[BobABQ]

Roy, like me, are just members there at Zia. Our paths have not crossed for a couple of months so I didn't know he intended to attend an Appleseed until I saw him today.

He was VERY enthused about the whole Appleseed experience when I spoke with him this morning. 

[WindRider]

Strangely enough, when I was in Sportsman's Warehouse this morning (an hour and a half from my home) I heard someone in the checkout line talking about "shooting by the numbers".  It was Roy and another fellow I didn't know.

The beat goes on...

[BobABQ]

Strangely enough, when I was in Sportsman's Warehouse this morning (an hour and a half from my home) I heard someone in the checkout line talking about "shooting by the numbers".  It was Roy and another fellow I didn't know.

The beat goes on...

I was probably the other guy.

[Gideon]

I can't say enough about the Socorro AP and the instructors.  I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.  It was hot and the AP instructors were really dilligent about everyone drinking plenty of water.  Ironically, I brought a rifle with a black synthetic stock.  It didn't take long to figure out it needed to be covered from direct sunlight!  I was completely unaware of the baptism and thought they removed my hat for the photo.   

The program was well presented, both the rifle training, and the pieces of history presented by the instructors of the day we became Americans.  I enjoyed the sense of reality presented to us through the stories and the historical replicas of April 19, 1775, the tie in's to the freedoms we currently possess through the courage and sacrifices of our forefathers, and the sense of patriotism they revived in me.  Some guilt too.  They made me painfully aware I'm not nearly enough aware our local, state and national governments.  With that said, I was provided with, and have read, the Declaration of Independance and the Constitutionof the United States.  It was my first time.   

I enjoyed each of the instructors.  All of them were patient and encouraging.  I would like to thank Jimi for helping me out by providing me with a loaner sling and the inginuity to attach it to my rifle (I remember Jimi, "follow through..."), to Milt for letting me shoot his iron sights rifle (which is the rifle I shot the 233 with   ), to Al for his patience with my questions regarding NPOA.  A special thanks to Chris for running an event that everyone felt welcome at, and which was run with integrity and enthusiasm.

I can't say enough about the Socorro AP and the instructors.  I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.  It was hot and the AP instructors were really dilligent about everyone drinking plenty of water.  Ironically, I brought a rifle with a black synthetic stock.  It didn't take long to figure out it needed to be covered from direct sunlight!  I was completely unaware of the baptism and thought they removed my hat for the photo.   

The program was well presented, both the rifle training, and the pieces of history presented by the instructors of the day we became Americans.  I enjoyed the sense of reality presented to us through the stories and the historical replicas of April 19, 1775, the tie in's to the freedoms we currently possess through the courage and sacrifices of our forefathers, and the sense of patriotism they revived in me.  Some guilt too.  They made me painfully aware I'm not nearly enough aware our local, state and national governments.  With that said, I was provided with, and have read, the Declaration of Independance and the Constitutionof the United States.  It was my first time.   

I enjoyed each of the instructors.  All of them were patient and encouraging.  I would like to thank Jimi for helping me out by providing me with a loaner sling and the inginuity to attach it to my rifle (I remember Jimi, "follow through..."), to Milt for letting me shoot his iron sights rifle (which is the rifle I shot the 233 with), to Al for his patience with my questions regarding NPOA.  A special thanks to Chris for running an event that everyone felt welcome at, and which was run with integrity and enthusiasm.

Gideon

P.S. David, thanks for taking time out of your shooting time at the range to tell me about the AP.  It was good to see you in Sportsman's Friday.  I hope to see you out at the range again soon.

P.S.S.  We need a minuteman smiley.

[Gideon]

Hmm...  Obviously, I had some cut and past issues... 

Gideon

[BobABQ]

It was great to talk to you again and I'm glad you found Appleseed to be such a rewarding experience.

[K98Al]

Thank you for the enthusiasm, Gideon! Sounds like you're "off the couch"!  If you'll talk to the folks around there, I'll bet they can find you a nice orange hat.....

[Devnull]

Thank you for the enthusiasm, Gideon! Sounds like you're "off the couch"!  If you'll talk to the folks around there, I'll bet they can find you a nice orange hat.....

Were working on it actually 

Gideon, it was our pleasure I assure you. We do these shoots because we see what America can be again. What it once was. We see and have hope to rekindle the strong American spirit that lays dormant in most of our society today. Someday we will have a nation awakened to their civic duty and the true cost of freedom. Someday...

Well, enough of that. Distracting from bailing. Time to find some more ranges! 

[BobABQ]

Were working on it actually 

I think Gideon would make a fine addition to the Appleseed Project.

[Jimi]

It was a pleasure Gidion, and all. I had too much fun, as always, 

Chris, where are the photos?
Jimi

[Jimi]

  Opps, Gideon, my bad........

[Gideon]

Thanks to everyone for all the encouragement.   

Gideon

[Johnnyappleseed]

Soccorro
Another good one for New Mexico
JA

[Devnull]

It was a pleasure Gidion, and all. I had too much fun, as always, 

Chris, where are the photos?
Jimi

You took them. I thought you were going to post them.

[Jimi]

You took them. I thought you were going to post them.

I cant even get my own picture posted to my profile. I would appriciate it if you could post them because I dont know how.
Jimi

[BobABQ]

Jimi,

Open a Photobucket account and load the photos to that account.

When you are looking at the photos in your Photobucket account you should see four different options/Codes for lack of a better term: Email & IM, Direct Link, HTML Code and IMG Code.

To post the photos reply to a thread and cut and post the information from the "IMG Code" line.

That should put the photo in the thread.

If you want, you can e-mail me the photos and I'll post them.

[Jimi]

Bob, can you e-mail me at jimi@hdc-nm.com and I will send them to you.
Jimi

[Jimi]

Bob, did you get the e-mail with the photos?
Jimi

[BobABQ]

Jimi,

I sure have not gotten your E-mail.

davidabq2001@yahoo.com

[Jimi]

I have sent them to you twice. I know Chris has them. Maybe they are waiting to be approved or somthing. But I never got a failed to deliver notice.
Jimi