AAR - Ramseur, NC March 12-13

[iron pony]

What a weekend at Ramseur......
Without a doubt, this was one of the best Appleseeds I have ever attended.

Saturday morning started off a brisk 30 degrees but quickly warmed to an afternoon high of near 70. Sunshine was the order of the day and the shooters in turn made the most of it.
With a final count of 34 shooters, a quarter of which were under 16, our first redcoat was fired at 9:15 am.  As is typical of a group of this size, the red coat humbled most with 13 of 34 shooters effective at at least 100 yards.
400 - 2
300 - 4
200 - 4
100 - 3
HS - 7 (a high number but even the students joked that was probably luck)

We got right into instruction and sighter squares which lasted till lunch. Alan did a great job calling the line while Hawkeye, Robert, Toshbar, BBQ and I did our best to work through all the normal early morning Appleseed issues.  The students continued to make progress and it ALL had great attitudes toward instruction.  Groups tighten up and more than one or two students had AHA moments after NPOA and IMC instruction periods.
During lunch, Robert gave the first strike which was enjoyable and succinct.
Rested, we moved right back into instruction covering the various positions, transitions and mag changes. As in the morning, the students soaked in all we through at them and continued to stay focused and teachable.  Over the next three hours, we finished the POI including one practice AQT with breaks for the telling of the second and third strikes. Following the third strike, we shot our afternoon redcoat. Clearly, the attendees had been paying attention with 24 of the 30 shooters who partook in this course of fire scoring three hits in at least the 100 yard target.
400 - 4
300 - 6
200 - 7
100 - 7
HS - 9 (This time, everyone was confident they had what they were aiming at)
We also had one shooter, a rifleman, clear the Redcoat and 4 students miss by 1 round.

Needless to say, the entire group, instructors included, was impressed with our overall progress so at 4:00 pm we started in our first and then second official AQT. With both light and strength fading fast we called the line cold for the last time and started scoring targets....
... once again, the students didn't disappoint and four new riflemen were added to the ranks.  

Ned x2  - high of 227
William  - 221
John - 216
David - 214

During benediction, Ned accepted an Orange hat as did another attendee Chris who was already a rifleman and had come to event to hone his skills further. Welcome guys to the trail; be on the lookout for someone to contact you shortly to get you plugged in as new IITs.
As we prepared to hand out t-shirts and head home, we asked how many would be back on Sunday. Nearly 80% of the hands went up.

Sunday started off in the high 50's with Hawkeye giving an M1 breakdown class at 10:00 and review and dry fire instruction starting at 11:00.  To our delight, 22 students, including two walk-on's joined us on the firing line. Additionally, Lawson and Keaton joined us as instructors with one each assisting on the 25 yard and KD range. After a quick review of safety and line commands, we got the students down in prone and had them card sights and work on NPOA.  We also answered specific questions on Saturday's instruction points and got everyone ready for the AQT grind.  At 12:05, we sent our first rounds down range. Our redcoat numbers for Sunday demonstrated the students had retained the previous day's instruction. Including the two walk-ons, first time students, 18 of the 22 shooters who partook in this course of fire scored three hits in at least the 100 yard target.
400 - 5
300 - 7
200 - 2
100 - 4
HS - 7 (a rate of 30%)
Two targets cleaned both by rifleman; one brand new, the other a IIT3.

After a quick break, the AQT grind started with persistence being the word of the day. Throughout the afternoon, every student who desired to, shoot full distance. I was manning the 25 yard line, so I will defer to the RH's on the KD to post their AAR for that.  I can tell you that it was ALL SMILES as students returned to the 25 yard range to keep shooting AQTs.  We shoot around 10 AQTs that afternoon with a 20 round star thrown in to break things up. In the end, five more riflemen were made, two of them with bolt action .22's.

Doug - 234 (this shoot's high scoring AQT with .22 bolt action)
Kale x2 - 229
Matt - 214
Zach - 212 (our other .22 bolt action)
Jennifer - 211

We had several shooters in that didn't make it this time but shot above 190 consistently. Keep working on the six steps, steady hold factors and your NPOA. You will get there.

With both lines combined again, we handed out patches and another orange hat to Jennifer.  North Carolina has their second husband wife instructor team. Way to go Alan and Jennifer. Kevin gave a few final words and we broke ranks and headed home.

Thank you to everyone involved in this weekend for making it another great Appleseed.

[jknitts]

Thanks to all the AS instructors for their dedication and willingness to pass on their knowledge!  I had a great weekend with my daughter & brother in law.  I'll be back soon with a new group in tow.

John

[riceroni]

Thanks for the AAR Iron!  I think it was Zach and me (Doug) who were shooting the Savage MK 2 bolt actions.  I couldn't hit the broadside of a barn before I came (and not even a 100 yard redcoat) and I really appreciate all of the instruction.  I will be dragging many of my friends along in the future and I know they will love it as much as I did.