News:

We need volunteers in sales, marketing, PR, IT, and general "running of an organization." 
Maximize your Appleseed energy to make this program grow, and help fill the empty spots
on the firing line!  An hour of time spent at this level can have the impact of ten or a
hundred hours on the firing line.  Want to help? Send a PM to Monkey!

Main Menu

San Jose 9/29-30 'KD / Veterans Only' Planning Thread

Started by Nero, August 23, 2012, 07:26:43 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

Nero

We don't usually do this, but this time I'm taking a page from the Midwesterner's book and putting up a planning thread.

We're going to be on a new range (  ^:)^ ) and doing a rather unique shoot, under time pressure.  It'll make it easier if instructors and students know what's going to happen, so everyone can pitch in without confusion.   Some pertinent facts:

We can get on the range at 7:30 each day.  First shots at 8:00, and we must be off the range, including tear-down and policing up, by 4 PM.  If we want to get in the maximum  :~ we need to be efficient.

Everyone out there will be either an instructor or a previous Appleseeder, so you can and will be expected to help with set up, tear down, and policing.   ~~:)  We are expected to remove our brass and trash.

This is a 200 yard range.  We will be setting up target frames at 25m, 75y, 100y and 200y.  We cannot use the existing target line, which must be taken down and restored when we are done.

There are 22 firing positions on concrete under a canopy.  There are two additional positions that can be added in the open, on gravel.

We can probably get away with as few as four instructors, but I'm encouraging all locals to turn out:  If we get enough, we will be able to rotate instructors onto the firing line so you can get in some KD trigger time.  (Sorry, you get the gravel spots.    >:D )

Details of the setup will follow below, and eventually the COF outline.  As we get closer, I'll be sending out an e-mail to shooters in advance, with details and expectations, and pointing them here (Eventbrite permitting).
"Those who profess to favor freedom, and yet depreciate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground. They want rain without thunder and lightning. They want the ocean without the awful roar of its many waters." —Frederick Douglass

Nero

Item #1:  Target frames.  Here's the generic frame, I've built 14 of these:



These are 6' wide, meaning they fit in the bed of my truck.  The frame area is 24" high, so they can take our standard coroplas backers.  With legs to allow ground clearance, 40" high.  These will be screwed onto 2' flat foundation stakes placed at each end.  Since part of the range was excavated, we can expect to have some 'fun' placing and removing the stakes.

(The lumber for these was donated by the Chabot range, it's scrap from their target line.  Hardware from the same source, and a bit from my junk box.  Attachment wire scavenged from the Brookings shoot.  Cost so far:  $0.  We will have to pay for the foundation stakes, but they should last for a while.)

These will be set up in three standard configurations.  The backers will already be attached, in the right quantity for the Saturday layout.  Flavor #1:



25 meter set up, with 3 AQT or red coat/squares combos on the same number of backers.  Uses the usual pushpins.  Eight of these for Saturday = 24 positions.

Flavor #2:



Two full size AQT repair centers, mounted on 4 backers.  Targets stapled, with reinforced edges.  These will be repaired with tape/marker during the shoot.  Top of frame is color coded.  Two each at 100 and 200 yards for Saturday, probably double that for Sunday (cannibalized from the 25m line).  These frames will probably take some hits, but I'll have repair material on hand, and - hey - it's scrap to begin with!

Flavor #3:



Four 'D-6' "Stage 1" D targets, one per backer.  Mounted with pushpins and will be replaced.  One each at 75y and 100y on Saturday, probably double on Sunday.  Color coded to match shooter's corresponding full size targets.  These get the oldest and nastiest backers - they will be taking concentrated centerfire hits.


"Those who profess to favor freedom, and yet depreciate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground. They want rain without thunder and lightning. They want the ocean without the awful roar of its many waters." —Frederick Douglass

Nero

Here's a base map for the range, from Google Earth:



If you print this out to fill a standard 8.5x11 from top to bottom (plus margin), then the scale is about 1mm = 1 yard.

The covered firing line is 100 feet wide.  There are 5 full sized bays, separated by support posts, that will take 4 shooters each, and a small 2 shooter sized one on the right.  Plus we can put two shooters onto the gravel at right for overflow / instructor space.

The setup may not cause rounds to impact the side berms.

Albert (Han Solo) did an experiment for me, and verified that 22LR rounds fired from prone position at a 25m target posted at the height allowed by the target frames above will hit the ground before reaching the 200 yd target line.  We may need to take advantage of this...
"Those who profess to favor freedom, and yet depreciate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground. They want rain without thunder and lightning. They want the ocean without the awful roar of its many waters." —Frederick Douglass

Nero

Tentative setup for Saturday:



The first four bays on the left are for 25m shooters with any caliber.  The next full bay will be used for both 25m and KD, see below.  The final 2 shooter bay is for 25m as are the 2 overflow positions on the gravel.  These last four are rimfire only.

At the 25m line, set up 6 frames = 18 backers from the left edge to up to the sight line to the 75y frame.  About 20 yards available, the frames will take 12y total.

At the 200 yd line, set up two frames = 4 full size targets at the extreme right.

At the 100 yd line, set up two frame = 4 full size targets, plus one frame = 4 D-6 targets (in that order) with the rightmost clear of the sightline from the KD bay to the 200 yd frames.

At the 75 yd line, set up one frame = 4 D-6 targets, with the right edge clear of the sightline from the KD bay to the 100 yd frames.

At the right of the 25m line, set up two frames = 6 backers so that fire from the gravel positions will not hit the 100 yd frames.  200yd line may be vulnerable to shoot-throughs, so rimfire only here.

For the AM, the two left positions in the 'KD bay' can be used by 25m shooters.  The two right positions will be available for instructors to get their KD come-ups, if we have enough turnout.  For the PM, all positions in that bay are used for students to work on their come-ups, they will rotate out of the AQT Grind.
"Those who profess to favor freedom, and yet depreciate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground. They want rain without thunder and lightning. They want the ocean without the awful roar of its many waters." —Frederick Douglass

Nero

Setup for Sunday.  This assumes the maximum number of shooters want to shoot KD.  This setup allows 8 KD firing positions, running relays, with 6-8 positions available for 25m AQTs / zeroing.



At the 25m line, tear down all but one frame (= 3 backers) at the extreme left, and one at the right.  If necessary, reposition the one at the right so that shoot-throughs will miss the 100yd and 200yd frames on the right.  If more than 6 25m shooters, cram another backer onto each, makes 8 shooters.

Add one additional backer to all removed 25m frames, put 4xD-6 targets on two of them, and 2xD-25 on the other four (have these frames color coded in advance).  Build the 200yd, 100yd and 75yd lines from left to right as a mirror image of those on the right from Saturday.

The first bay on the left is 25m shooters, rimfire only since the shoot-throughs will be aimed at the left 200yd frames.  The second bay is four KD positions, for the left target banks.  The center two bays are empty - may be used for spotters.  The next bay is KD, just as for Saturday.  The right two positions plus the gravel are for 25m.  Position so that shoot-through do not impact the 100yd or 200yd target banks.  Centerfire OK here; this is where those with new rifles on Sunday can get their 25m zeroes in the AM.

KD AQT shooters will shoot paired relays.  Those not shooting can spot.  25m shooters should be able to shoot all COF.  If we need more than 8 25m positions we can take down one frame at each of 200 and 100 yds, leaving 6 KD positions and giving 12-16 25m positions.

"Those who profess to favor freedom, and yet depreciate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground. They want rain without thunder and lightning. They want the ocean without the awful roar of its many waters." —Frederick Douglass

Nero

What to bring:

In addition to your usual gear, shooters (and instructors) planning to shoot out to 200 yards ('known distance' or 'KD') should bring:

A small notebook for recording come-ups and current sight settings
Masking tape for patching targets
Black magic marker for coloring the tape
A pair of work gloves for setting up / tearing down target frames (lots of splinters and other pokey things)

In addition, if you have the following please bring them, it'll speed things up to have more:

Spotting scopes and tripods
Battery powered screw driver or drill with screw driver bit, Philips type
5 lb or better sledge hammer
FRS walkie-talkie type radios

And if anyone has a laser rangefinder, that would be awesome.
"Those who profess to favor freedom, and yet depreciate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground. They want rain without thunder and lightning. They want the ocean without the awful roar of its many waters." —Frederick Douglass

Nero

OK, we've got four instructors signed up - myself, BoxesOfLiberty, Han Solo, American Amazon - so if we can get more, we'll certainly be able to get at least some KD trigger time for our 'hats'.  Meanwhile, an informal outline of the draft POI - my usual PDF'ed spreadsheet will appear before the shoot.



Saturday AM
0730 instructors arrive, 0800 shooters arrive, 0830 latest start
Range setup as above; redcoat + squares at 25m, plus 2-4 KD spaces, depending on attendance
Safety rules, safe rifle, ammo safety, line commands - in full
Shoot AM redcoat
Pull and score redcoat, post front sight measure
Prone SHF, 6 steps - review
Shoot square
Talking targets - review
IMC - in full, plus discussion of front sight measure
Use front sight measure, shoot square
Sight adjustments
NPOA, cadence - review
Shoot square
Sight adjustments
Ball and dummy drill (plus shoot final square for sighting if needed)
[KD line available for instructors to get come-ups, must work target changes/repair around the above]

Pull squares, post AQT (check targets between stages, shot real-time for score)
Standing SHF - review
Shoot Stage 1
Sitting/kneeling SHF, transitions - review, one practice transition
Shoot Stage 2
Prone transitions - one practice
Shoot Stage 3
Shoot Stage 4
A second AQT before lunch if possible, in stages or straight-through, depending on shooter progress
[KD line available for instructors continued sighting, or shoot KD AQT]

Lunch break - 3 Strikes, alternate tellings?



Saturday PM

Ballistics, come-ups, windage instruction
Get list of shooters wanting to do KD, make PM schedule for rotation to KD line for come-ups
If needed, relocate shooters to free up further KD spaces to maximum of 4 for afternoon
Afternoon - AQT grind, rotating shooters to KD line to get come-ups in parallel
[Any spare KD spots available for instructors to shoot KD AQT]
Evening redcoat
Determine number of shooters desiring KD AQT on Sunday
Benediction, awards and off the range by 1600



Sunday AM
0730 - shooters and instructors arrive
Reset the targets for more KD slots per Saturday PM plan
Post squares or QDAQTs on remaining 25m backers, per shooter preference
Safety rules, safe rifle review
KD AQT procedures instruction
Assign relays
Start AQT Grind with 25m and KD in parallel
(KD shooters with new rifles go to 25m to get preliminary zero, then to KD spot for come-ups.)
[Instructors get into KD AQT relays on a space-available basis]
Grind until lunch
Lunch break - DOM and/or new stories




Sunday PM
Range determination instruction
Range determination exercise / fun shoot
Resume Grind until 1500
Benediction, awards, tear down and off range by 1600
"Those who profess to favor freedom, and yet depreciate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground. They want rain without thunder and lightning. They want the ocean without the awful roar of its many waters." —Frederick Douglass

Nero

This is the note that is going out to all registered shooters:

-------

Shooters, listen up!

You're getting this e-mail because you are signed up for the KD - Appleseed veterans only shoot at the Field Sports Park in San Jose on September 29-30.  (And if you aren't going to make it, PLEASE cancel on Eventbrite so someone else can have your spot.)

As you may have guessed from the event's name, this will be different from the usual Appleseed shoot.  The purpose of this message is to let you know what to expect from us, what we expect from you, and how to prepare.

First, there is a publicly accessible planning thread on the Appleseed Forum at:
http://appleseedinfo.org/smf/index.php?topic=31381.0
Please give it a visit, once you're done reading this, and ask any questions you might have.

What You Should Expect

All of you have been to an Appleseed before.  Some of you are already Riflemen.  Some of you are looking to 'Grind' at 25 meters and get your score, some of you want the opportunity to shoot at lomger distances.  We will do our best to accomodate all of that.  Here's the plan:

If you want to shoot at 'known distance' (KD) past 25 meters, we recommend you bring a centerfire rifle.  If you want to try KD with a rimfire, we suggest you bring high velocity ammo - 1400fps or better, for instance, CCI Stingers - pray for light winds, and plan on doing a lot of cranking on your sights.  In any case, if you have a spotting scope, bring it.  Bring a small notebook and pen for recording sight settings, and a roll of masking tape and a black marker for patching targets.

Plan on 3-400 rounds of ammo if you are centerfire, to be safe.  Rimfires bring 4-500 rounds, you will be able to shoot more AQTs.

On Saturday morning, we will set up most targets at 25m, and a few stands at 75, 100 and 200 yards.  Saturday morning's instruction will be the same as a regular Sunday morning.  We will get sighted in on a set of squares while reviewing basics, and shoot our way through a 25m AQT while reviewing SHF for the positions.  And hopefully another AQT before lunch.

After lunch we will have an instructional unit on ballistics, sighting in and getting 'come ups' for various ranges.  For the afternoon, while we continue an AQT 'grind' at 25m, we will rotate shooters who want to do longer distance to the KD line to get their zeroes and come-ups.  (If you already know how to do this, let us know early and we'll get you set up in the morning.)  By the end of Saturday, everyone who's going to shoot KD should have their sighting-in done.  At the end of day, we'll get a show of hands of who wants to shoot KD vs. 25m, so we can plan the range setup for Sunday.

Sunday morning we will reset the targets, so we have more available for KD, but we will still have a 25m line for those who want to continue to work on scores.  We will then go back into a 'grind' with the 25m and KD lines firing side by side.  It is almost certain that KD shooters will have to shoot relays - we can't fit as many KD setups onto the range as 25m targets.  Hopefully just two relays, and those not shooting can spot and police brass.  Rimfires will probably be able to shoot every relay.

After lunch, we'll teach a unit on target ranging and battle sight zero, and do a fun shoot for a little variety.  Then back to AQTs until we run out of ammo or time.

Yes, we will be doing history.  We will be telling the Strikes on Saturday, some by instructors doing it the first time - give them your support! - and some alternative tellings you won't have heard.  Sunday, we'll do some stories you probably haven't heard before at a 'seed - some of what happened after 4/19/1775.

What We Expect From You

Arrive on time.  We have short hours on this range.  Please arrive between 0730 and 0800, we will start as soon as we complete setup.  Late arrivals may end up shooting on gravel instead of the nice covered firing line!

Help us set up, tear down, and police the range.  We have to be off the range, including tear down and clean up, by 4PM each day.  Bring work gloves, and expect to be put to work setting up or tearing down targets, or policing up and disposing of brass and trash.

Bring some tools.  If you have any of the following, please bring them, it will help speed things up:  3 or 5 pound sledgehammer.  Battery powered screwdriver or drill with Philips screwdriver bit.  Spotting scope.  FRS walkie-talkies.  If you have a laser rangefinder, you're my hero, please post it on the planning thread!

Quickly please!  We have a short day.  You are all experienced shooters, so help us get through the safety and marksmanship reviews quickly.  Save the chit-chat for when you are the 'off' relay.   The less talking, the more shooting.

Give us feedback.  This is our first time on this range, and the first time with this particular program of instruction.  We've made this a 'veterans only' event as a 'thank you' to our supporters, but also because you can tolerate a few bobbles, and are better equipped to critique the program.  Expect to be asked for feedback several times during the weekend, and please participate in the After Action Review so we can do better the next time.

How To Prepare

Review your safety rules, steady hold factors and other marksmanship.  Get this stuff back in your head, so we can spend time on the KD teaching and learning.

Dry practice.  If you can't hit the range, get into your positions and refresh your body's muscle memory.  Get your sling set up for the rifle you will use, in each position.  Hey, get that trigger finger off the wood!

Practice your transition moves and mag swaps.  Note:  We are NOT going to allow transition starts with the muzzle behind the firiing line!  Plan and practice accordingly.

Get your rifle zero'ed.  If you have the chance, get a 25m zero on your sights.  If you have a centerfire that you're only using at KD, get a 100 or 200 yd zero, it'll speed things up.

We're looking forward to seeing you again.  Now, please visit that planning thread at:
http://appleseedinfo.org/smf/index.php?topic=31381.0

Nero / Shoot Boss
"Those who profess to favor freedom, and yet depreciate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground. They want rain without thunder and lightning. They want the ocean without the awful roar of its many waters." —Frederick Douglass

Nero

(This is specific to the range setup, as a reference for future shoots  - I'll be posting in IAARs re the POI.)

The target frames took fewer hits and soaked up punishment better than I anticipated.  No repairs necessary during or after the shoot.  Having experienced shooters on the line may have helped there.

One foundation stake trashed by a .30-'06 round and one nicked by a .308 - attrition rate 1/28 = acceptable.

Some frames were mounted to stakes with 14" zip ties when the screw supply got mislaid.  This worked acceptably, but I'd be a little bit worried if the wind was higher than it was.  Those mounted with two zips looked more stable.  It does have the advantage of not putting screw holes in the frames.

Just mount four backers to every frame at the start, it's a hassle reshuffling them on Sunday AM.  Plus four / frame = four shooters / bay.  It looks like the frames can soak up rimfire hits well enough, as not to worry too much about the 4" overlap on the outside backers.  Ask centerfire shooters to pick backers in the middle of the frame. 

Color coding the KD target frames worked OK, but should be brighter.  More paint, both top and bottom.  Colors were a bit confusing when the frames were at 25m, since there were 3 backers, four colors.  Going to four backers for all frames will fix that.

Putting the nastiest target backers downrange on the KD frames was a bad idea.  It's a lot longer trip to fix up a flapping target at 200yd than 25m.  Put the nasty ones on 25m frames and have a couple spares if they get too awful.  Use new ones for the KD backers.

Look into a quick detach backer design for the big D targets, so it would be easy to swap them out rather than having to patch downrange.  This would speed up KD AQT relays.  Has to be something fast, sturdy and reasonably cheap (it will get shot!)

One shooter suggested just selling extra D-26 targets to the shooters who wanted to avoid patching and keep theirs for analysis.  They are now priced at $1 apiece at the store, this might be a reasonable option!

"Those who profess to favor freedom, and yet depreciate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground. They want rain without thunder and lightning. They want the ocean without the awful roar of its many waters." —Frederick Douglass

Nero

This is the actual range setup used on Sunday:



Two left bays used for 8 25m shooters.  Next bay used for 4 KD shooters.  Next bay blank.  Right full sized bay 4 more KD shooters.  Small bay used for spare rifles for KD shooters.

Two frames fit just fine on the left, as long as they were aligned so splashes cleared the 100yd frames.  No apparent interference with the 200yd frames. 

Starting from the Saturday setup:  one 4 position frame at 75 yd, flush left to the existing 75yd frame.  Set 3 100 yd frames to clear sight lines on the 75yd - 'big D' targets to the right, one 'small D' frame to the left.  Set 2 200 yd frames to clear sight lines on the 100 yd - both get 'big D' targets.

This setup let us get 8x25m shooters and 8xKD shooters, and most of the 25m shooters had full shade.  We could take this to 12x25m shooters by adding one frame to extreme right, and filling in the small bay and putting two shooters on the gravel.  There are piles of railroad ties - not evident on overhead photo - that will intercept the shoot-throughs on the right before they get to 200yds.

Based on this:  Increase range capacity to 24 for the next shoot.
"Those who profess to favor freedom, and yet depreciate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground. They want rain without thunder and lightning. They want the ocean without the awful roar of its many waters." —Frederick Douglass

Nero

Just so we don't have to chase down this form again in the future.  Each shooter has to sign the form attached as a PDF, unless they already have a 'waiver card' from the range.  These waivers need to be turned in to the range office with the range fees.  Any shooter who wants can take the form to the main office himself, and will get 'waiver card' that lets him shoot for a year here without signing another waiver.
"Those who profess to favor freedom, and yet depreciate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground. They want rain without thunder and lightning. They want the ocean without the awful roar of its many waters." —Frederick Douglass