Boulder City, Nevada January 17 & 18, 2009

[magillagorilla]

I am impressed with the knowledge and profesionalism of the instructors. I can't wait for the next one, and the next one, and the next one.......  I also want to shout out a huge thanks in advance to all the guys who attended and have taken that elusive seventh step. Yaayyyyy!!

[MOGromit]

Once again I found myself back in Boulder City for an Appleseed.  This range, not even in my home state, has seen all stages of my progression through the program from attendee in Jan. '07, to IIT in Jan. '08 to RH in Oct. '08 and now finally as the Shoot Boss in Jan. '09.

Greg in MO joined me in Phoenix on Thursday and we drove up to BC on Friday and found to our HORROR!!! that the BBQ place wasn't where it was supposed to be?!?!?!   

How was a BC AS supposed to take place? 

After driving out to the range (gate closed) we talked with Magilla and decided to synch up at a restaurant new to us, and lo and behold...... It Was The BBQ!!!!  They had just moved to a different location.

All was now right for the AS weekend 

The weather couldn't have been more perfect, with a high in the mid-60s both day and cloudless skies.  We had an initial showing that had the instructors a bit worried on Saturday morning, but eventually shooters trickled in until we had a full 19 on the (crowded line) by mid-morning.  Mostly 22's, not surprising, a pair of Mosin-Nagant's, an AR or three and a 1903 Springfield filled out the line.  After the welcome, safety and line command review the shooters brought the rifles to the line and Greg In MO set them up for the Redcoat. 

1 sheet of squares was sufficient for this crew to get through the basic points of instruction and then it was on to the different stages.  Lunchtime saw a presentation of the first strike by Greg and the 2nd strike by Gromit.  Then it was back to the line for finishing up ball & dummy and carding the sights.  1 AQT was fitted in before the sun set at 4:15 and we passed out 3 badges, to folks that were at their first Appleseed nonetheless!!!  Congratulations to Kris, Manuel and Eddie!!!  Three Nevadans who really know what they are about.

Saturday's benediction was given as the light started fading from the sky and we all departed to drink water, eat grub and consume ibuprofen (or appropriate flavors of choice).

Sunday's set up was even easier as the target line had been folded in quarters the night before and stashed behind the storage shed on sight, so when our 10 returning shooters were ready to go things were progressing rapidly.  A repeat of the RC target showed some improvement and then 1 sheet of squares was used with a couple of new rifles on the line and to confirm/firm up the details from Saturday.  One new instruction part I've been trying out on Sunday is to have an instructor get into the three positions doing everything amazingly wrong and have the shooters correct the problems.  Seems to help with their self-diagnosing and it's fun for them to get to tell us what to do.  Getting them on the road to instructor status early.

Sunday was a series of AQTs with lunch and bits of history scattered throughout.  Several NPOA drills done as well.  By the end of the day, one more Rifleman badge had been awarded to Jon! 

We wrapped up with a benediction and a instruction to get out and start 7th stepping.  Magilla got lots of contact information from the participants and we distributed flyers for the March 14-15 Appleseed at the same range.

As always, the crew of shooters and instructors were top notch.  Thanks to Pat and Shawn for IITing and calling the line and a big thanks to Greg In MO, who was Greg In NV for the weekend of instructing.

Let's keep the momentum going in NV! 

AZGromit

[Greg in MO]

What a great feeling to be Instructing again after a month off the range...

When I left MO, it was -5 and the wind chill was around -20 I think.  When I landed in Phoenix it was 65 on it's way to 75 or so.  Woohoo!  Boulder City was just as nice if not nicer, as usual.

It was great working with my best bud Gromit.  We have been participants at Appleseeds together but this was our first time with both of us instructing.  I could definitely get used to that!  It was a pleasure meeting Magilla and his family on Friday night.

Saturday morning started off with me shooting myself in 2 fingers with a staple gun while hanging targets  (Oops!).  I was a little worried on Saturday morning when so few of the preregs were there by 8:30, but was heartened by the number of walk-ons.  People kept trickling in all morning and we kept squeezing them into the line.

What a great group of people (which generally goes without saying at an Appleseed).  I knew it was going to be a good one when I saw three or four 4MOA groups on the first square!  The students all paid attention and did what we asked of them, and we saw fantastic improvements by the end of the weekend.  Gromit allowed me the honor of presenting 1st strike, and did an excellent job following up with the 2nd.

Three Riflemen on the first AQT and none of them had ever been to Appleseed before.  That was a new one to me, but fantastic!

Big thanks to Pat who took the orange hat when he showed up Saturday morning and jumped right in to help.  Shawn did a good job calling the line and working with students as well.  Also a huge thanks to Cort who acted as our RSO.  I hope to see an orange hat on his head by the end of the year. 

10 folks showed up on Sunday and were ready to rumble.  With a little more room, we could spread out and work on really good positions.  It paid off as we saw the groups tighten up.  Lots of AQTs including a "sound of liberty" AQT.

Wrapped up with the final Redcoat where we had one shooter clean it and a couple others come within one round.  Quite an improvement from that first one on Saturday.

It was truly my pleasure to come to NV and keep Appleseed going out there.  I expect (and look forward too) Pat and Shawn to be leading a cadre of NV instructors before long.  Kudos to Magilla for stepping up and taking on the mantel of the NV State Coordinator.

Come on Nevada!  You did great this weekend, now take that 7th step!

Greg

[socalserf]

Sound like another wonderful Boulder City event!

Howdy to all my Nevada freinds, and Kudos to Grommit and Greg!