Kingman, AZ 3 day KD Clinic, Oct. 18-19-20, 2014

[azmule]

AAR on the way - in the meantime, this is the place for questions, answers, comments, discussion, pictures, etc. for the October, 2014 KD shoot in Kingman!

-------update!

I'm just now getting fully unpacked and caught up - and still smiling!  This was Arizona's second Advanced 3-day KD Clinic, and just like the first, was attended by a great bunch of serious students determined to grow their skill, from California, as well as Phoenix, Flagstaff, and Tucson.  The Instructor crew represented the full tri-state area of Nevada (RangeRat), California (pennys dad), and Arizona (myself).  Having taught Appleseeds in Kingman for several years, I was amazed at how perfect the weather was for this one - just enough wind as to be able to practice windage, but not nearly so much as Kingman usual - i.e. ripping target stands apart, streaming dust across the range like water over a causeway, and requiring shouting to be heard over it.

After a brief introduction, review of our goals for the weekend, and safety briefing, we opened Saturday on the 25M line to verify and record some basic information about each rifle and sighting system.  Followed by instruction in target spotting and range estimation, and a target identifying and ranging exercise, consisting of 8 "out of place" objects among the rocks and cactus up on the rise behind the target berm.

During lunch, we discussed the role that riflemen played to insure Washington's victory in the battle of Trenton, followed by more instruction in ballistic trajectory, come-ups, BSZ, and estimating/compensating for wind.  Then we broke out the rifles to find and record each rifle's exact come-ups for 100 through 500 yards, finishing the day just as the sun dipped below the horizon.

Due to a range scheduling misunderstanding, another group had the 1,000yd bay until about 10:30 Sunday morning, so we started that day in the shade of the clubhouse discussing the previous day's lessons, homework results, review of field positions, and safety briefing, before moving out to the range at 10:30 to post 300yd squares for morning warm-up/zero check, then starting the first AQT of the weekend.

Sunday we got smart and decided to enjoy lunch in the only shade to be found on the 1,000yd bay, the target pit.  Pennys dad treated us to the story of the Battle of Cowpens, and RangeRat presented the unsuccessful British attempt to use Hessian patrols as "bait" to draw out colonial militiamen - referred to as the "forage wars."  Following lunch we managed to squeeze in 3 more AQTs before closing, during which each instructor got to take a turn joining in - congratulations RangeRat on your first official KD Rifleman score!

Sunday night we all had dinner together in town, at a Mexican place whose name I can't recall, but the food (and company) were memorable.

After a brief morning discussion/review, Monday morning began with warm up squares at 300 and 400 yards, followed by an AQT in which was revealed a new Rifleman!  Congratulations Marc!  Lunchtime (in the pit again) history was the tale of two marksmen at Brandywine and Saratoga, and after lunch we finished the weekend ringing steel out to 700yds.

And oh-yes, we have a new Orange Hat, Matthew from Flagstaff, who will be properly introduced as soon as he has a forum name and presence.  All in all a great time, honoring the memory of our founding generation through marksmanship and heritage.

[pennys dad]

Thank you Everyone for a Great KD, I enjoyed getting to teach Wind Correction

Thank You to the the Kingman crew that hosted a solid KD.

[SE]

[SE]

Great KD.  Perfect weather, excellent instruction, and lots of shooting!

[azmule]

I love how the first picture gives some perspective scale on the size of those pop-up backers, then  two and three show just how teeny-tiny those backers (never mind the targets themselves) look from the 300yd line.   

[MatthewMcL]

Matthew from Flagstaff, here. The KD was awesome but I would have done better if I had followed the recommendations provided before the shoot.  I can't wait to do it again, though, and I know just what to practice.

Matthew

[RangeRat]

I had a blast actually getting to instruct at a KD that actually came off.  Last time I tried to run a KD at Kingman it turned into RangeRat clan practice session that we shut down at 11 AM when the range closed due to winds and Sunday the range closed at 0930!

Congrats to those who attended and learned all about "those things we don't worry about at 25 meters".   I saw steady improvement over the weekend and even when things weren't going well y'all hung in there.

And par for the course, I also enjoyed the cross pollination with out of state instructors and the enthusiasm of the students.

Since the range photos have been provided I'll submit some of the local wildlife.

RR