Ft Lauderdale, FL - Pop's Gun Club - Oct 2 &3, 2010

[ThaiFighter]

It ain't an Appleseed in Florida unless there's heat, mosquitoes, rain  and determined people who can shrug off all three!  We were graced with friends old and new at Pop's gun club this weekend and teachable attitudes abounded!

Zach and Crystal, two peas in a pod that are working on Graduate degrees in Geology came to our line with teachable attitudes and a Mossberg .22 that didn't want to cooperate!   Crystal persevered in style and when finally switched over to a loaner LTR, showed that she'd been paying attention all weekend with some outstanding groups.  Zach joined us on the KD line to observe how varying distances affect trajectory on his (and everyone else shooting .223) rifle.  I have no doubt there is a patch in both of their futures and soon they'll be able to recite comeups, trajectories and calibers as easily as the Moh's Hardness scale and specific gravity of different minerals.

Lex and Holly came as a husband and wife team sporting a .308 and an AR respectively.  Lex was our second rifleman on Sunday and Holly is sure to follow. Both were on our KD line and adapted quickly to the concepts of how increased distance affects the POI of a round.  I'm positive we'll see them both again as Holly gives off an aura of determination.  Her groups at 100 yards were consistently 5 MOA.  Almost there!!! She'll be sporting a matching patch with a bit of regular dry fire practice at home.  

Ozzie and Stella brought their two sons, Nick and Mike, who endured a weekend that tries the patience of adults.   They listened with outstanding attention and excelled in applying the knowledge presented.  

We had a plethora of shooters who were repeat appleseeders and riflemen.   Eddie Returned to us after earning his patch at Myakka earlier this year and proved that he still knew what he was about by scoring expert on the AQT!  He also seventh-stepped to bring us a new rifleman named Andrew who proved that he was very much a man who knows what he's about with a rifle in his hands.  Eddie had him taught up in advance in the art of the loop sling, demonstrating that he has all the makings of a fine instructor in addition to being a rifleman. Andrew demonstrated the grit needed to not only endure the whole weekend, shoot rifleman's scores, but also help with cleanup afterward!  Thanks guys!!!  

Roger came out and again and wowed those around him with his superb rifleman skills. He is also a supremely generous soul who brought his Garand out of the safe with two bandoleers.  I had hoped to get Steve's son Thom  and our new friend Dmitry a few courses of fire in with this priceless piece of American Heritage, but shoot boss responsibilities came first and I was never able to arrange it.  Roger, thank you so much for the offer. I promise you it will not go to waste in the future!  Dmitry got in some good .30 caliber time with a beautiful Marlin 30-30 lever action.   My friend, if you can score rifleman with that bad boy, my hat is totally off to you!  Our good friend Tim, who also scored Rifleman at Myakka came back to work on his positions and showed again that he is a man who knows well what he is about!

Annika and Dawn are charming and very determined ladies that came at the behest of our most delightful IIT Clinnon.  Neither had handled a rifle before this weekend.  Both showed outstanding competence and improvement by the time they left on Sunday.  Dawn especialy stands out as I failed to realize a brand new shooter was nested neatly in with the centerfires!  What a way to develop a flinch in a shooter!  She had about had it before we moved her to the other end of the line where she was more comfortable and showed marked improvement from there out.  Note-to-self -w- cluebat sent for future reference.

Annika joines us as a naturalized American citizen, originally from France.  She told me that she'd received a letter from Ronald Reagan in 1988 congratulating her on becoming an American citizen, but that now that she knew how to shoot she felt she'd become a true American.  I spoke with her of the influence of the French Revolution on the American Revolution and she was having none of it, reminding me that the French Revolution "left everyone equally poor".  OK, fair enough...

I reminded her of the assistance France provided the US in our War for Independence and our common historical talent for shooting redcoats and that got a laugh and agreement.

The most remarkable part...

She shot a 197 on Sunday...

but wait, there's more!!!

She can't assume a prone position due to a neck injury...

she shot stages 3 and 4 from sitting...

and shot a 197!!!!!!!

Stage 4 had groups I could cover with a dime and get change back!  Can we orange hat her up and get her to teach open-legged sitting?  'Cause if anyone is better at it, I haven't met them!  WOW!!!

Mike and his young son Will came out to show us how it was done!  Both were outstanding, but I have to especially recognize Will for his maturity and competence.  I noted his youth early on and had my instructors keep an eye on him as one so young can be a hazard.   Will acquitted himself in an exemplary fashion and never once presented a safety issue.  He endured hot brass, hot weather and a tough course of instruction that had adults waning by the end.  All the instructors noted this and felt this bespeaks an exemplary young man with excellent guidance from his dad.  You are both welcome back on our line any time!

Niel is a returning shooter form our last Appleseed at Pop's and was a pleasure to work with as always.  Jonathan brought along his SKS and his groups showed a marked improvement over his last outing at Appleseed.   Get that elbow under the rifle a little more bro!  

Brandon came to us as a new Appleseeder and put in two days of hard work and a good run at the KD line.

All told, this was a fantastic group of shooters that were a pleasure and a challenge to work with.  I look forward to seeing you all again soon!  

 

[Heimdhal]

Thanks again to everyone for coming out.  Hope to see yall in November.

[RickB]

Sounds like a wonderful time!

RickB

[Sly223]

I feel as though this is a hot bed for future AS'rs. The event was an absolut Grand slam! We need a venue in this area,Unfortunatly,I think and hope we can do better the Rm is !!!?? Scary enough that I have not yet decided to work there again. I'm torn and feel I should put cause over personal discresion.Not that i'm gods gift to IIT's w/ in AS.Just my opinion, having worked the last event there.

[nukeofhazard]

Big thanks to the instructors, Wiley, John, Clinnon, Doug, Rick, and Eric.  I know there were some challenges during the event, but you all handled them like pros.  The shoot was simply excellent.  The weather was beautiful for nearly the entire duration.  Even the downpour on Sunday was kind enough to hold off until we had finished posting targets for the last AQT. 

Planning for Myakka in November

- Ed

p.s. Wiley, pm sent.

[Heimdhal]

I know a change of venue has been discussed.  I talked briefly with the people that run the Okechobee Shooting center in Okechobee.  They have a 250? yard rifle range, a 100 yard and a trap, skeet and five stand area as well.  Might be worth having Eric send them an email or call em up and talk them up more about appleseed if Pop's somehow doesnt work for us in the future.


I gave a small presentation at the last Second Amendment Coalition of South Florida meeting this past tuesday and handed out about 20 fliers.  I ran into a couple of the members at the Fun Show  today  and one gentleman (a very accomplished shooter and 'Nam vet) said he planned on bringing about 5 or 6 people with him in november.  I didnt know what day we were planning the shoot though and I dont htink its up on the site yet, so hes just waiting on that.  He was very impressed with the idea of Appleseed and many others were talking about coming as well, having heard of us but not attended.

Maybe we can give Pop's another shot and try the Oke. Shooting Center in December or January and see which one is more palpable for Appleseed.  I'd hate to see us lose our south Florida venue when so many locals seem to be coming out for AS.