Castro Valley, CA Dec 15-16, 2012

[Nero]

Placeholder.

Looks like we may be in for some rain, so bring appropriate gear and something to cover your rifle.

If the forecast is for drizzle/sprinkles or short showers, we'll go ahead and set up the firing line in the open as usual.

If we're in for heavier or more continuous rain, we will set up on the covered firing line (we have free-standing target frames than can be positionied at 25m).  There are fewer firing positions under the canopy, due to the support posts, so we might have to shoot relays on Saturday in that case.

See you all there!

See http://appleseedinfo.org/smf/index.php?topic=23542.0
for information on Appleseed-friendly activities at the Chabot Gun Club, including target downloads.

(http://bit.ly/UjpSl2  links here)

[Nero]

The good:  42 shooters on the line!     Most of them new to Appleseed, and a fair number to shooting.

The bad:  The drizzle that was supposed to start at 4PM, was instead a steady cold rain beginning at 1PM.     

The (possibly) ugly:  Attempting transitions on slippery mud and mats.  We decided to cut the day short in the interests of safety, and we'll take on that AQT tomorrow.  We got in the full story of 4/19/1775, and look forward to a dryer tomorrow.  (Is there a crossed fingers icon here somewhere?)

[gazedrop]

I want to say a great big huge thanks to the people who worked so hard to make this shoot happen, you guys and gals rock!!!

Dennis(?): Drop me a line; maybe I can help you get your Savage/Stevens rifle, well, as reliable as they can be!

Best regards to everyone,

-Gazedrop, a.k.a. Hamhock, a.k.a. the 'Tuber with the iron sights.

[Nero]

Day two was a better story.  26 of our shooters returned, even after the Saturday drenching, to take on the time monkey and the AQT.  We started a review of SHF, 6 steps and target diagnosis and sight adjustment.  Then a ball and dummy drill to smoke out some gremlins.  We reviewed sitting and standing while shooting our first AQT, including instruction on transitions.  Well done by all - no turtles on this line!  Meanwhile the skies stayed partly cloudy and the mud of Saturday was drying.

We took our lunch break and heard some stories of Dangerous Old Men, and then a Christmas special - a telling of the story of Washington's Crossing by yours truly.  Then back into the Grind, a couple more AQTs with breaks, and then straight through.  Meanwhile, the skies darkened and began to threaten rain once more.

And the Riflemen began to step forward.  First Mike L put up a 210.  On being warned about about our quaint customs with North Bridge water, he bettered it with a 218 and was spared the baptism.   

Who says 'tubers' aren't good for Appleseed?  Erik (Hamhock) just above brought out a lovingly restored classic tube fed rifle and scored a 218. 

Dylan at first had some 'assistance' from his neighboring shooters, but when they relented he posted a 212 to join the corps of Riflemen.

Chris C got his score fairly early, but the evil shoot boss hid his targets, just to see what else he could do.  He topped out with a 224 - well done!

Drew also got his score early and repeatedly - 226, 225, 226 - how's that for consistency!  Then just to show it wasn't a fluke, he swapped rifles with his wife and posted a 212 with iron sights.  Huzzah!!   

With the short day we didn't have time for our usual 'fun shoot', but we did try some experimental AQT targets that were sent our way by Fred and were made available for any shooters who wanted.  About 2/3 tried them, and about half of those like it well enough to do a second.  You can see them in the pix that I'll post soon.

The threatening rain did just that and didn't turn into very light mist until our final AQT.  We got the line cleared before it got serious, and did our awards and final words in gathering gloom.

This one was a real 'improvise, adapt, overcome' shoot, but we came through it safe and with a lot of learning.  My thanks to the instructor team who kept it all going, and to the shooters who persisted through our own little 'mud march'.  We hope to see many of you again - keep practicing, and pass the word!

Pix to follow...

[Nero]

And now, some pix!

Saturday AM, and the firehose of instruction is turned on


Workin' on slings


Any questions on what state we're in?  That's going to come in handy shortly...


So much for that weather forecast.


Hard decisions - put your tarp over the supplies, or under your behind?  Either way, you get to dodge the mud puddles.


The uniform of the day


Our slightly damp but happy posterity


Sunday morning, much nicer!


The jackets are off - for now


56Huck's family and friends, plus the southpaw contingent


Kelvin's rifle blew an extractor, but he was doing good work with a loaner


It must be ball and dummy time!


Which is about the only time the line boss gets to relax!


The instructors have this little 'coolest footwear' contest.  What do you think?  The classic cowboy boot?


Or the day-glo sneakers?


Is the line clear on the right?


The skies are getting a little threatening again


A local advertising blimp checks us out - now there's a new promo idea!


A little sling refresher between AQTs


And here are our Riflemen!  (It got a little dark...)  Mike L!


Erik!


Dylan!


Chris!


And Drew with 3 of his 4 qualifiers.  How do you like that group on Stage 2?  Five rounds, one big hole!


There are lots more in the full album.

If anyone else has pix, post 'em up!

[American Amazon]

Nero's "Christmas special" was a story of the Battle of Trenton - Christmas 1776.  Washington had only 2400 men, many of whom had no shoes or socks, who left bloody footprints in the snow from the bloody rags around their feet - they hauled cannons up and down any ravine the horses couldn't manage - they went out to fight, in a snowstorm - they'd been defeated too many times to count, and many of them were going to go home when their enlistments were up at the end of the year.  Yet they endured, and they fought, and they won, and they re-energized the Patriot cause.  We all owe a *tremendous* amount to those 2400 men.

It rather put into perspective our own situation: sure, we were all wet and cold.  But it wasn't snowing, we *did* have shoes and socks, and there weren't any Hessians shooting muskets or cannons back at us.  Our discomforts were nothing, compared with that.  (We did have to do a lot of adapting the POI on the move, but we managed to IAO - and our persistence let us find 5 more Castro Valley Riflemen.