Miamisburg Ohio - Mini-mini

[slim]

What a great day to shoot in the Buckeye State! If there's anything positive coming out of all this climate change mumbo-jumbo it's that we're getting mid-sixties and clear skies to shoot into November. That's not something we're used to, but we'll take it!

Today three Appleseeders came together on a Sunday afternoon and kept alive the tradition of our forefathers. MeanStreaker invited FiremanBill and myself to his home (away from home) range, The Miamisburg Sportsmen's Association, for a mini-mini.

We started off the day shooting LTRs at sighter squares to get everyone warmed back up. MeanStreaker and myself were fresh from IBC only two weeks before so we fell right back into the groove. FiremanBill shot his first Appleseed at Gibsonburg and quickly showed us the improvements he'd made in the past two months or so. After sighting in some newly installed Tech-Sights (using precise IMC, of course!) his groups shrank and shrank until it was time to shoot an AQT. Right about that time his LTR decided to take a dump and we took that opportunity to reinforce that it was possible to shoot good groups with someone else's rifle. One sighter group to see where the sights are, IMC as necessary (none were really needed this time) and then back to hammering out the AQT.

Since we were down an LTR, I called the line while FiremanBill and Meanstreaker shot. We'd been working prone for quite a while so we started on the bottom and worked our way up. We shot straight through with a minute or two for prep in between each stage but no walking down and checking targets. When the smoke cleared it was revealed that FiremanBill had posted a high 180s score despite the fact there were 5 holes missing from his target and still sitting in his magazine. Quite a feat, especially considering his high score for the weekend at Gibsonburg was in the 120s. Meanstreaker CLEANED the bottom two stages of his AQT so, needless to say, he had a very high score and one of the prettiest (can we call an AQT target pretty?) I've ever seen.

We switched roles and I got to shoot an AQT. This time FiremanBill got off all his rounds and once again posted a pretty impressive score. It wasn't as great as the first one but it was still 50-60 points higher than his first Appleseed and the great thing about his targets were even if the shots were a "miss", they were part of a decent size group that was really close to the target. He hit every single target at least once and all rounds were within 4 MOA of their intended target.

We took what we'd been working on at 25 with the LTRs and headed out to the "big range" to shoot centerfires. Both Meanstreaker and FirmanBill had fresh M1As to sight in while I clanged away with my AR. I didn't get to shoot much while waiting on them because it was truly IMC in action as they shot a sighter group, walked down, measured, converted, and then clicked 'em out. One more group to confirm and they were both spot-on. We moved right into a Red Coat as the sun was setting and the light starting to fade.

Throughout the day (and since this wasn't "officially" Appleseed) there was talk of icebergs - the upcoming election and possible outcomes, things that affect our local area, the numerous reasons why we were going to Appleseeds and why we were there at that moment doing a mini - and it all lead back to the fact that Appleseed training brought us back to what our forefathers did on Sunday afternoons when they were out with their kinsmen and neighbors. They shot, and they shot effectively. They never wanted to use their training, but they were ready to use it if they needed to. They knew that not only could they shoot, and shoot effectively, but they could count on those around them to do so as well.

To cap off the day we did a "team shoot" to really drive home the concept of three Riflemen working as a team, to expand on the effectiveness that we'd worked on throughout the afternoon, and to shape that all into a collective effort. To take it from three guys out on Sunday shooting well to a TEAM of three RIFLEMEN out on a Sunday shooting well, TOGETHER!

We took what rounds we had left in the various ammo boxes we'd come with, designated targets, and shot at Rifleman's cadence until we were out of rounds. There was barely enough light left to see the front posts but once that first shot rang out (pre-arranged signal to start firing... and yes, it was directed at the "officer") there were 13 more shots fired in rapid succession with over 80% finding their mark. It was maybe 15 seconds from start to finish and the three Riflemen were able to engage ALL targets on the sheet successfully.

When we were finished for the day we stood around talking about what we'd done and once again why we were out here on our Sunday doing it. But this time, it was a little different. This time some of the "what if" was replaced by the "now we know what we're about... and not only do I know what I'm about, I know that these two guys standing here with me know what they're about as well.... and they're only a phone call away!"

It's still fun to talk about icebergs... but it's a lot more fun to talk about icebergs when you're not scared if they melt!

[MeanStreaker]

What a great day! 

Great weather.  Great purpose.  Great determination. Great group of guys shooting for over 7 hours. 

What a great day!

Slim summarized perfectly and eloquently, but I also want to chime in to congratulate FiremanBill on his great improvement.  I expect that the three of us will be getting together very soon... and FiremanBill will be shooting Rifleman scores after regularly dry-firing at home.  (Or at least darn close to it!)

I can't wait to ask my co-workers tomorrow what they did with their Sunday and nod while they talk about sleeping in, watching 6 hours of football, and maybe mowing the lawn for the last time of the year...  Then thinking to myself how I practiced skills with friends and ultimately wrung the last moments of twilight out of a perfect November evening to execute a Rifleman Team's centerfire solution to a five target problem. (And then telling those co-workers some of that in different words.)

Looking forward to more and larger Mini's in SW Ohio!

[FiremanBill]

MeanStreaker & Slim,

Boy, I enjoyed the shooting and fellowship out at the range today.  Perfect fall weather for a Mini-AS!

I was really glad to put that dry fire practice to work on the line.  But I don't think it was just some practice on the family room floor - your combined advice, and tips about technique (and the gracious loan of a LTR when mine took a dump), helped a BUNCH. 

I hope the next time we gather for a mini-AS, that I can drag along a few newbies to be exposed to the Appleseed concept.

Let's meet again soon!

Bill

[DaveD]

Great work guy's!!  Man, wish I didn't live so far away 

[Buckshot]

Meanstreaker,

That was you and your permissible guests, right?

You would have to make some other kind of arrangements for more that two people with you?

Same deal we have at my club.

Buckshot

[MeanStreaker]

Yes, although I'm going to talk to the club Pres about making that lenient and to start planting a seed in his head about hosting an Appleseed.  And if all that fails, all I need is another club member to get on board and then my two guests and his two guests will make a nice little mini in the future.

Meanstreaker,

That was you and your permissible guests, right?

You would have to make some other kind of arrangements for more that two people with you?

Same deal we have at my club.

Buckshot