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Toccoa GA March 1-2, 2014

Started by Morpheus, March 03, 2014, 09:06:51 AM

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Morpheus

March 03, 2014, 09:06:51 AM
It was glorious weather for the Toccoa GA shoot this weekend. A slight chill greeted 16 shooters Saturday morning but the sun quickly made its presence felt and was a welcome companion throughout the weekend.

We started Saturday with the welcome,  the 1st Strike of the Match and the safety briefing. We then proceeded to the line to shoot the first Redcoat target. 7 of the 16 shooters were able to keep the Redcoats at bay from 100 yards or greater. So it was time to have the shooters start their drinking from the firehose of Appleseed instruction and learn how to keep those hard-charging Redcoats at a more comfortable distance.

The pillars of marksmanship were presented to the shooters: sling use and steady hold factors in the prone position, natural point of aim and the 6 steps of firing the shot. By lunchtime we were seeing remarkable improvement in the group sizes of these persistent shooters and it was time for a well deserved break.

During lunch we heard the 2nd Strike of the Match and then it was time to return to the firehose of instruction. After learning and practicing the seated positions we took a brief rest to hear the 3rd Strike of the Match. Then the standing position was introduced along with the first AQT target of the day. When the dust settled after the last shot of the AQT, one returning Rifleman (Scott Q.) turned in a target with a re-qualifying score of 222! -- and with a bolt action! Huzzah! 3 shooters had to leave before the last Redcoat but of the remaining shooters, nine were able to keep those pesky Redcoats to 100 yards or greater. A satisfying improvement for this instructor!

At the end of the day I presented some words in my benediction from Patrick Henry and some fine young shooters received their Luther Blanchard patches and a round of "Huzzah"'s from the others. Thank you to Maggie D., Ray R., Joshua T., Sammy R. and JB. Because of the likes of you, our posterity, we have hope for a future of continued Liberty in this land. HUZZAH!!

Sunday dawned a little warmer and the 13 returning shooters were smiling and eager to continue the path toward becoming Riflemen! The GMSA range in Toccoa has an agreement with the folks near the range not to fire rounds before noon on Sunday so we spent the morning reviewing what was learned on Saturday, heard a brief intro to long distance shooting and then took an early lunch when we heard the stories of some Dangerous Old Men and some Gallant Women and Children.

At noon we had each shooter pair up with another and we started the live fire portion of our day with the Ball and Dummy drill. Another Redcoat target was engaged and more sighter squares. We then started the AQT Grind and many shooters were seeing some fine improvement in group sizes. Congratulations to John T. for turning in not one, but two targets in a row that well exceeded the standards of a Rifleman. Well done Sir!

About 2:30 I took four shooters to the long distance range where we shot sighter groups at 100 yards and applied our come ups. The shooters then got to experience the satisfying ringing of the steel targets at 100, 200 and 300 yards.

The weekend closed under the pavilion with the presentation of the well earned patch to our new Rifleman and a brief benediction to remind the shooters of the 7th Step of a Rifleman. It was most rewarding to this instructor to receive so much great feedback and compliments from these shooters. Thank you to you all! Remember, we are there for you and your attendance at Appleseed. Liberty needs a champion, and Appleseed is a champion for liberty. The best thing you can do for Appleseed is 7th Step your friends, neighbors, co-workers and relatives. Bring them with you next time and persist!!

"The liberties of a people never were, nor ever will be, secure when the transactions of their rulers may be concealed from them." Patrick Henry
"We have to pass the bill so you can find out what is in it." Nancy Pelosi (and Paul Ryan, kinda)

Agrivere

#1
March 03, 2014, 06:42:52 PM
All in all it was a great weekend!  The weather was great, the instruction was great, and the heritage was great!  I have been to several Appleseeds (brought my daughter to this one - her first), and I though this was the best I've been to!

The instructors were so amazingly patient with Maggie (at 10 years old some of the things we do were difficult for her), and by the end of the weekend she was shooting great!

Huzzah!

Agrivere
"The great body of our citizens shoot less as times goes on. We should encourage rifle practice among schoolboys, and indeed among all classes, as well as in the military services by every means in our power. Thus, and not otherwise, may we be able to assist in preserving peace in the world... The first step � in the direction of preparation to avert war if possible, and to be fit for war if it should come � is to teach men to shoot." -Theodore Roosevelt

Roswell

#2
March 04, 2014, 12:11:47 PM
As always, we had a great event at the GMSA range in Toccoa led by the unflappable Morpheus.

Saturday began the morning with a wonderful telling of the First Strike by RedNiva...


(Sorry, no pictures from the morning once we started shooting as I was running the line. And during lunch I also had other priorities, but Goose told a bang-up Second Strike)

After lunch, we were treated to an excellent presentation of IMC by Fabricator...


Soon after we took a hydration break and listened to a rousing telling of the Third Strike by Jambo...


Then were back to the line for some AQTs...






Saturday ended with the presentation of the Luther Blanchard patches to 4 future Shoot Bosses (JB had to leave early, but already earned this particular patch a couple times, God bless him)


Sunday was another busy day of review, AQTs and ringing steel. Best of all John T. proved he was a man who knew very well what he was about. (Pictured below with Jambo on left and Goose on right)


Huzzah!

Known Distance Qualified: Talladega, AL 12-3-16 - 45/50; Distinguished 49/50 - Talladega, AL 12-8-19
Instructor Boot Camp: Toccoa, GA 7-13, 8-15; Pelham, TN 2-14, 2-16; Columbiana, AL 2-15; Canton, GA 2-18, 1-19, 2-20, 2-21, 3-22, 2-23, 1-24
Shoot Boss Boot Camp and Liberty Seminar: Toccoa, GA 8-14 & Canton, GA 1-19

Pistol Instructor Boot Camp: South Huntsville, AL 5-20; Canton, GA 1-21, 2-24
Pistol Qualified: Spencer, TN 4-10-21
Charter Pistol Instructor Boot Camp: Antioch, TN 2-22 & Canton, GA 1-23

goose

#3
March 06, 2014, 05:22:57 PM
check out the video on the main page (http://www.appleseedusa.org/), and you'll see NDRifleman Jonathan's event video.  Huzzah!
"The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out for himself, without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, and intolerable..." - H.L. Mencken
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