AAR: Sunland, CA 12-13 Feb 2011

[Rocket Man]

Appleseed returned to the Angeles Shooting Ranges this weekend, one of the largest and best-known parks in LA county, and for those of you who missed it you missed a spectacular weekend to be on the line.    Highs in the 70's and low 80's, calm winds, the gentle sounds of steel gongs ringing in the distance...  I don't know what y'all are fussing about Winterseeds, I could do a hundred of these!   

A total of 13 students, one for each Colony, turned out to try their hands at the preferred sport of our Founding Fathers, and to learn a little about what made them so great in the first place.  We had a really interesting mix of nice folks -- young and mature, boys and girls, left-handed and right-handed and three (almost 25%!) cross-dominant, and previous experience from veteran shooters to braaand new.  But all got along just fine and made a great team.  Special thanks to new IIT The Eagle Scout for raising the call to muster and inviting so many students.   

By the end of Saturday it was clear we were making serious progress.   Groups were centered and shrinking, even those who wrestled with loaner rifles and unfamiliar sights, and the Redcoats didn't stand a chance.  It was just a matter of time before someone made the last mental leap and made a Rifleman score...  But who would it be?   

So that was the stage set for Sunday.  And on our very first AQT, we found ourselves in the presence of not one but TWO new Riflemen!  Jim, a very serious shooter who'd been to a few Appleseeds before, finally put together the last few pieces and put down a sweet 215.  And on the other end of the line, Ty who'd originally planned to attend on Saturday only -- but changed his mind after just missing out -- skated past the North Bridge baptism with a 211.    Neither gentleman was done, either.  Before the day was over Jim printed a 214 and Ty scored a shoot-high 224.  Nice work, gang.

Those who didn't get the patch this time are well on their way.  There was Luke, bedeviled by gremlins at AQT time but cleaned his final Redcoat.  Jolene, consistently in the 40's on Stage 1 and good enough on the rest that Jim sometimes thought it was his target...    Juli in solid sharpshooter territory and getting steadily better, until being distracted by equipment issues   Our brand new shooters only able to attend Sunday were able to catch up, and went from nuthin'  to some solid hits at 400.  Also had some great shooters on Saturday only that had a definite shot at the Rifleman patch -- maybe see you at the next one?

Only two things wrong with this shoot:  First, that we all had to leave and go home...  and Second, your dumb shoot boss forgot his camera!  Sorry 'bout that.  If anyone wants to post their own pictures, please go right ahead.

So... how was your weekend?   

[jcwliu]

Thank you Rocket Man and all the instructors at the shoot yesterday.
After three single day Appleseed events and hours of dry fired pratice, it was nice to go home with the "Rifleman" patch.
See you all at another event.
Jim

[Johnnyappleseed]

Congratulations Jim ^5 the Rifleman score now allows you to do the fun part
Welcome aboard Sir

[TheEagleScout]

I had to restore my phone and lost the photos i took!!


but it was a very good appleseed!