####NRAWC Jeff Cooper Range: Precision Rifle Course Aug. 4-5, 2018

[TaosGlock]

NRA Whitington Center, Jeff Cooper Range.  Precision Rifle Course.
A pilot course for a possible future course.

This was a private shoot for the great guys over at AR15Armory.
They have an AAR too. It is here:
http://ar15armory.com/forums/topic/186520-project-appleseed-armory-shoot-nrawc-cooper-range-aug-4-5-2018/

It was 10 years ago next month that BlueFeather and I attended our first Appleseed.
It was the first Appleseed in our state. And it was right here  at the Whittington Center.

Huzzah to all Appleseeders who are helping us turn America into "A Nation of Rifleman"

Sadly, Americans today predominately choose to remain myopically focused on what precious liberties we have left.

This group of shooters heard the story of April 19, 1775 and realize how much Liberty we have lost over
the past 2 centuries since the founding of our Nation.
Has the vision and sacrifice of of the Founders been lost to ignorance, laziness and apathy? We'll see....

The history of  "Democracies" is but two and half centuries at most.  If that is true, then time is short and
we have a Nation to save. Can we restore the Republic? Do we want to even restore it?

Project Appleseed reconnects folks to their heritage and instructs the fundamentals of marksmanship
offering a variety of courses. The standard heritage portion was a huge part of this course and at a
minimum includes what we call the Three Strikes of the Match.

It is the Rifleman who will answer the call and repeat those famous words of
Capt. Isaac Davis on April 19, 1775:
"I have not a man who is afraid to go".

This particular long range course was a blend and a variation of our already popular Unknown and Known Distance courses.
And naturally the standard POI of a standard 2 day Appleseed were included with the additional instruction
of bipod prone position.  This course is for distances beyond the standard 400-600 yards most sport shooters use.

While 10 shooters were ready to come from across the US, only 4 finally made it.
They were law enforcement, military and from the civilian world.

A Rifleman knows that to let down the next generation, is to also let down every
American generation which preceded him.  Those who bled and died to pass on Liberty, did so for naught, if he lets them down.

The solid group of Patriotic Riflemen below is:
L-R: Steelborn1, newbe, BlueFeather, TaosGlock, Casper and redbarron06

We started with the all the usual standard safety briefings. We shot a square at 25 yards.
Shooters were within 2-3 MOA! Then we did sling and all the positions including bipod prone.

Then we shot another square and did the 6 steps to firing shot, NPOA, Cadence. Then we shot another square.
We did IMMC (inches, minutes, mils and clicks). Then we shot another square.
We made final zeros on the rifles then moved to 100 yards. We shot at 100 yards for group and then adjusted
the scopes.

One of our weakest points, our deplorable marksmanship, poor fire discipline, failure to zero rifles periodically and insufficient time on ranges.-Cpt. Michael Ekman, Company Commander, 173rd Airborne Brigade, Vietnam 1967
This group suffered none of the symptoms of the above quote!

Next we shot again to verify POA/POI  Now we have our baseline 100 yard zero. Then we set our zero stops or
adjusted knobs to have a reference point for dialing up and back down for the various ranges.
Most of these rifles were shooting 1 MOA or less.
The odd flyer is due to many things, shooter, ammo, gear or any slight change in position....

Next we "shot the box" to confirm the accuracy of the scope clicks.  Top elevation knob got 3 mils up (30 clicks).
Side windage knob got 3 mils right. Top elevation knob got 3 mils down. Side windage knob got 3 mils left.
We made a note of how many moa/mils it was off if any. Most were spot on.

In this course, as we have increasingly seen in most of our KD/UD classes all scopes were in mils so we all
spoke the same language. MOA was taught as usual and discussed in relation to mils. 
DOPE charts were in mils and updated on the spot. Having an airport nearby allowed density altitude to be
plugged in thus fine tuning the DOPE charts.

Elevation at the Cooper Range is about 7000 feet while the Density Altitude was 9000 feet.
The two were compared and noted as to the change in mils/moas.
Thanks to redbarron06 for having a handy reference to the airport data!

We printed up pre-made standardized charts for the 223R/308W/6.5C, the 3 most popular cartridges today for the average Rifleman.
These were printed up beforehand using set points from the Whittington Center based on average conditions we
have experienced. We had two 6.5CM's in a Ruger Precision and a Savage Long Range type bolt gun and one custom bolt 308. Shooters were handed these charts out only as a starting place.

Below are some of the 100 yard groups




Then it was on to 200 yards. We had a discussion on trajectory and used the aforementioned come up charts as
a starting guide to determine how many mils were needed to come up from 100 yards. Here we simply used a
2x3 MOA square steel to quickly get a 200 yard data point for our come up chart. All shooters hit the steel on the first round.

Then it was rinse and repeat to 500 yards, 645, 800, 1045 and 1300 yards. The mile target was a challenge but each shooter was able to get a data point for his range card.
NOTE: Target size for the 1045 and 1300 targets were 16" recycled repair circles from the White Buffalo.

History is replete with examples to prove that:

Mountainous terrain held by Riflemen who know what they are about 
cannot be militarily defeated-Buppert's Law of Military Topography.

A Rifleman situated in the middle of a square mile can command all 4 compass directions
with about 880 yards each direction.

With an accurate rifle, ammo and optics system that will hold 1-2 MOA or less, man size hits are possible at these distances
The rifles shown below fall into that category....more on that later.

Because of the vast terrain here at the Whittington Center we had distances to 2000 yards.
Steel was at 200-500 yards, 645 and 800 yards and at 1045 and 1300 yards.
A large rock at 1710 yards provided the last aiming point for data acquisition.
All shooters connected close enough (within a mil) at 1 mile to add a rough but positive data point.

Below BlueFeather helps spot calls on the distant 1300 yard steel on day 1. One nice thing about having a spotting
scope in mils is that an exact correction can be relayed to the shooter.




This is the terrain that Buppert refers to in the above quote.

The historic peak to the top right is Red River Pk. It was a landmark for the old Santa Fe Trail.
It is 1745 yards from the firing line. The small bump above the pack on the skyline is nearly 2000 yards.
We had shade at the Cooper Range and could move around to stay somewhat cool.

newbe, Casper and redbarron06:

Dialing up from your baseline zero of 100 yards is the key to fast and accurate target acquisition as you go to range.
Having zero stops on your scope makes this easier.

The first duty of a Rifleman is to get your rifle sighted in and know how to use your sighting system,
and what it's limitations are.

Casper shown below dialing his scope turrets.

[TaosGlock]

On Day 2 day we warmed up by shooting at 100 yards to re-check our 100 yard baseline zeros as the
previous day was spent dialing up and down at the various ranges. Once
that was finished, we then immediately dialed up to
500 yards using our previous days come ups for that distance.

Oh lookie, we lost our black marker but we have purple!
BlueFeather makes some 1 MOA squares for 500 yards.


This time we shot a 5 shot group at 500 yards on paper (not the 2.5 MOA steel).
We made some 1 MOA squares, shot a couple groups and measured it and noted what if any adjustment was needed in mils.
Then we shot it again, after we made any adjustments to confirm the POI was centered.

Then we made notes in our "field book". Most rifles these days will shoot as
good or better at the ‘Rifleman's Quarter Mile' as the precessional velocity of the bullet has decreased.
Shooting groups at 300 yards is vastly more productive than at 100 yards due to erratic bullet gyrations.

Shown below. Good mastery of the fundamentals at your baseline sight in range translates to accurate hits
down range at 500 yards or what is known in traditional military terms as 'The Rifleman's Quarter Mile'.


500 yard groups at 'The Rifleman's Quarter Mile'



Check out that group at 500 yards that Casper shot. All  groups were good, but this one is a testimony to a
Rifleman's skill and an accurate rifle and load with a superb optic.
The steel measures about 2.5 MOA



Naturally BlueFeather is all giddy with the excellent results these men produced this weekend.


Next we shot a Long Distance AQT. This is where we place our standard AQT at 100 yards,
Then we shot a sighter group on the upper right sighter target of the AQT to confirm our zero
as shooters had dialed up to 1 mile. So we dialed back down to 100 yards. Zero stops rule!
Then we shot each stage from bipod prone. We only did one shot per silhouette. 

The ranges for the 100 yard AQT calculate out to
400, 800, 1200 and 1600 yards.


As always, when we have shot this, it proved vastly more difficult than it looked.

[TaosGlock]

We used a bunch of steel at the various ranges for initial range data.
We started out with large steel and went to smaller steel as the weekend progressed.
The large AR500 placed at 300,400 and 500 measures about 4, 3 and 2.4 MOA respectively.
The smaller one allows the shooter to fine tune a data point.
They measure about 1.6, 1.25 and 1 MOA in regards to the yardages above.



Steel saves tons of time and give a hit or miss confirmation.

This one spun sideways from the previous shooters hit.
Next shooter up was redbarron and he hit it on the second try! 3/8" at 400 yards!

[Ramblin' Wreck]

Those targets look familiar.    This looks like it was a great event. The NRA Whittington Center is the ideal location for this kind of shooting because of the terrain and having 33,000 acres to hide your targets. Dan's approach and methodology to teaching long distance shooting is excellent. Someone should consider asking him to contribute a couple of sections to the KD manual.


I hope to make it back out there as a shooter for one of these one day soon.


Nice going BlueFeather and TaosGlock.


Wreck

[Quinncannon]

Outstanding, we shoot a lot of steel in Arkansas too. We have a KD target set at 500, we shoot it often slinged up, always thinking of the "Rifleman's Quarter Mile"!

[TaosGlock]

Fred sez..."Your job as a Rifleman involves target detection, range estimation and firing an accurate shot-in that order of difficulty. If you can't see the target, you as a Rifleman can still hit it, but if you don't detect it, you never fire the shot."

As Master Gunnery Sgt. of the 1st Marine Div., Guadacanal 1942 said "Teach them to look in the air and trees and to learn where the enemy likely will be."

Present day doufous americana has little experience looking for anything except a remote.  It is no wonder many of the best shots in the military came from folks who grew up hunting and exploring the woods...vs today's cyberspace warriors.  Our rural life of field and woods experience as handed down from father to son peaked by the Viet Nam war.

Col. Merrit A. Edison, C.O. 5th Marines and Metal of Honor winner said, "There must be training in difficult observation which is needed for the offense. Only 5% of men can see while observing.

The targets used were fairly easy to see for this course. Data acquisition was the big focus.

Looking back South to the Cooper cabin which is in the center of the pic. This is from the 1300 target.
Note that the vast terrain of northern' New Mexico's NRA Whittington Center is perfect for this type course.


The 1300 yard 16" target ready to shoot. Inches divided by yards is minutes so yes it is small. Aim small miss small.
Plenty of splash zone around the target to spot misses.
The changing light of the day often made it disappear.
Just above it is some cactus and some bushes above that. Above that is a tan blob of rock.
That is 400+ yards away and is actually the 1700+ yard target.


This pic is from the 500 yards berm looking to the location of the 1 mile target. Above the end of the road are some trees.
Go up from there to a small triangular opening with a light tan cap of rock.
It is 1200 yards from this spot. Official target will be just below the cap of rock in the darker open area for a
splash zone to help call the shot.


And here is the same pic from back at the firing line. Taken during a Boy Scout shoot. 
It shows how many shooters the Cooper range will accommodate.


Meanwhile back down in the thick air, this is the view towards the circular target above.
Group pic at the 500 yard targets.

[Mike AKA Bandaid]

I am hoping to make it out to one of these in the future! I need to do more work on my long distance game first though! 100-400 is one thing, but 1750 meters?!?!?!

All y'all that made this happen, thank you!

[TaosGlock]

A neatly organized mat makes for safety and efficiency. Impending rains necessitated keeping the cases nearby.
Later we got a half inch of rain and hail:



Comradery. 
There is something about a group of Rifleman who get together for a weekend of shooting and sharing knowledge.

[TaosGlock]

We head off to the famous 1000M White Buffalo.

Time to get back to our Rifleman roots. Two rifles Project Appleseed was initially built around 12 years ago.
Open sight service rifles. A rifle, a snack and the shirt on your back.
We pull out two of the finest battle rifles ever:
The M1 Garand and the M1A. I check initial zero then pass it on. We did all the standard positions at 1000M.


And a Rifleman can do it and even in a variation of standardized traditional position.
Note: All ammo was mil-surp!

The Garand in full recoil with redbarron06:


newbe standing with the M1A:


Casper prone with the M1A:


Steelborn1 prone with the Garand:


BlueFeather prone Garand.

Yes, we all made hits regardless of what position we used!

Lord Percy wrote after April 19th, 1775: Whoever looks upon [the militiamen] as an irregular mob will find himself
much mistaken..They have men amongst them who know very well what they are about.


Or as the Bradford Brothers, who owned a printing press in Philadelphia would write to warn King George III said:
This country has raised over a thousand Riflemen. The worst whom can put a ball in a mans head at 250 yards. Before departing England, tell your officers to have their affairs settled.

"Make no mistake, when you cheer for the people of the American Revolution, you are cheering for traitors and criminals.
They broke the law, because liberty is always illegal"- Larken Rose


This group of shooters would strike terror in the heart of King George III, Lord Percy and his Redcoats.
Remember, the Battle of the North Bridge of Concord tells us that we not only knew how to shoot, we knew who to shoot.

A Rifleman knows that the percentage of Americans who will actually do anything to preserve his nation is so small, that
it is too small to measure. However, a single Rifleman equals over 1000 normal dead beat Americans. 
Thus the efforts of one Rifleman can lead to results which are seen as impossible.

[TaosGlock]

Inside the Cooper Cabin:
Ultimately what our shooting is all about: Diligentia, Vis, Celeritas means Accuracy, Power, and Speed.


A perfect blend:


The flags of our Founders.
I did a quick tour of the flags for everyone. This country was founded on the principles of effective marksmanship.
Back then, words like:
"Live Free or Die" or Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death" were not just fancy words bandied about
like present day bumper stickers.  They were words that defined the American Revolution,
which was not the same as the Revolutionary War.


A Rifleman knows that his children, grandchildren, and generations to come, are relying upon him to pass on a better America than the one he inherited.

A Rifleman knows that to let down the next generation, is to also let down every American generation which preceded him.  Those who bled and died to pass on Liberty, did so for naught, if he lets them down.

[Ramblin' Wreck]

I assume the old shoot boss showed them how it's done on the buffalo. I watched him go 5/5 with an M1A and even hit it with an SKS. 


Wreck

[TaosGlock]

That old Russian girl will really surprise ya!

[TaosGlock]

The Second Amendment is the supposed ‘final guarantee' of American Liberty.

It is routinely violated in jurisdictions across America. Meanwhile, many gunowners sit inert and stupefied by
a diet of alcohol, processed foods and hundreds of channels of infotainment and sportsball mired in despair at
their own dimly acknowledged impotence. It is this apathy that has enabled the oppressive State to stand glowering
over the entire world, morally and financially bankrupt.  It's omnisurveillance equipment recording all that is said and done.
It is supremely confident in it's ability to tolerate or destroy by remote any pittance of rebellion its pathetic citizens
might muster up.

When all is said and done, more will be said than done, as talk is cheap because supply exceeds the demand.

There is hope, even in today's world of 24-hour news cycles, changing technologies, and push-button gratification. 
It is a challenge to stay connected to the values that our great country was built on. Ideals like integrity, commitment,
and personal responsibility are what our founding fathers relied on to win our independence and to then make America a great nation.
At Project Appleseed, we're dedicated to keeping these timeless values alive. We promote civic responsibility through the
teaching of colonial history and the American tradition of rifle marksmanship. Even after all of these years, there is much to be
learned from our forefathers' examples of perseverance, commitment, and civic virtue.

Keep in mind, there is more to civic responsibility than merely voting once every four years and flying a flag on holidays.

Remember:


And lastly, it is not over till we say it is over.
Project Appleseed aims to restore pride and confidence in all American citizens from all walks of life.