San Angelo, TX May 15-16, 2021 - AAR

[GenX Minuteman]

    Ok, I will just start by saying I was certainly not prepared for an Appleseed event with so many amazing students coupled with so many wonderful Instructors present.  The combination truly turned into an event I will never forget!!!
   
    The weather offered us no opposition to having a wonderful and fun event at the San Angelo Gun Club Shooting Range.  The morning introductions showed we had students travel as far away as Katy, TX and as close as Christoval, TX (relatively close to San Angelo).  The student's dedication to attending the event was equally matched with our Instructor cadre's willingness to travel long distances simply to spread the word of Freedom and make this Appleseed event a success.  We were lucky to have Jim (Ghostring) and Suzanne (Evee) who traveled all the way from Houston just to help fill the Instructor ranks.  To add to the all-star cast, Marshall (Don'tFix1776), Ron (A-Lister) and Roger (Two-Wolves) also attended.  Caryn (Kawgirl) topped of the roster with her ultra-level dedication by coming from Florida!!!!
   
    The early morning Red Coat target showed we had a promising group of shooters attending the event.  Nine of the fifteen attending shooters were able to place all three rounds in the 100 yrd target.  Of those nine, five were able to do the same with the 200 yrd target.  The numbers quickly reduced to only four able to complete the 300 yrd target followed with only two able to properly engage the 400 yrd target.  This, plus, we had five shooters hit Morgan's shingle.  Not too bad for no instructions!!!
   
    Our group of shooters were very quick to absorb the information and put the teaching points into practice quickly.  This was wonderful to see!  We had the students well worn out coming into the lunchtime period and regaled them with a rousing story of "The First Strike of the Match".  Our shooters were eager to continue with more instruction afterwards and quickly completed sighting in their rifles well ahead of schedule.  This provided us with an opportunity to test their skills with further challenging shooting positions and NPOA challenges.  Surprisingly, everyone adapted quickly!!!
   
    The shooter's first AQT was posted, described in detail, and addressed in short order.  This is where the rubber met the road.  There were lapses in obtaining NPOA, missed rounds, failure to address the proper target, everything expected on the first AQT.  Luckily, this gave the Instructor crew a lot to work on with the promise of quick improvement.  The students had done so well on conserving time, a second AQT was posted and shot.  Now, this is where the unexpected occurred.  A first-time shooter, Chris Dachniwsky, made Rifleman with a score of 211!!!!  Congratulations Chris!!!!  Not a bad way to end the first day.
   
    The Saturday ending Red Coat target reflected the level of improvement the students were able to make with only a single day's instruction.  11 of the 15 were able to complete the 100 yrd target, nine completed the 200 yrd target, and five were able complete the 300 yrd target.  The best part was the fact eight shooters hit Morgan's Shingle.  This was a clue the following day was certainly going to be interesting!
   
    After an evening of well deserved rest and relaxation the shooters returned for more insight into rifle marksmanship.  A quick review of the previous day's key instruction points got the shooters on the same page and put everyone on a proper path for the AQT grind!  Everyone confirmed their rifle's zero quickly and proceeded to face the challenge of the day, AQT after AQT after AQT!
    Shortly after lunch on the second day, the Rifleman Damn broke loose!  Kat Dachniwsky, Chris's wife, was able to put up a great score of 223!  Way to go Kat!!!!  This was after a few stray shots may have landed on her previous AQT target from another shooter (cough, cough, Chris, cough, cough)!  This was followed with two of our Russian shooters, Alex and Ivan, requalifying as Rifleman with some impressive mid 220's scores.  Next came a requalifying of Distinguished Rifleman with iron sights by Bill Rosenthal with a score of 235!!!!  Way to go Bill!!!!
   
    In order to help break-up the day a bit, Jim had the shooters do a quick round of "Five Round Hit Count" on the Red Coat target.  This was a game of strategy, skill and knowing your competition.  Two of our esteemed instructors decided to participate in the fun as well.  The result was a tie in score between one of our Russian shooters, Alex, and instructor Suzanne (Evee).  They both were able to put five rounds in Morgan's Shingle without a single miss.  This is where things got ludicrous!  Jim decided a tie-breaker must be done to settle the score.  He proceeded to produce the "Heart Breaker" target and explain the rules.  The "Heart Breaker" is a sheet with targets, the size of a dime, randomly distributed on paper.  With five rounds, address any of the five targets.  If you fail to hit a target, you receive zero points and fail.  Hit the Heart inside the target and receive 10 points.  Hit inside the target, but not the Heart and receive only 5 points.  Alex and Suzie got their game face on and hit the mat.  Upon the "Fire" command the five rounds were loosed from each competitor.  Alex was the first to concede an claim a missed target.  Suzie on the other hand nailed all five targets, with three "Broken Hearts"!!!!!!!!!  Way to go Suzanne!
   
    This kicked the competitive spirit into high gear!!!!  Alex rallied back and proved his skill by obtaining his Designated Rifleman with a score of 241!!!  Way to go Alex!  Of course, Suzanne was not about to let the title of high score for the event slip from her hands, so she posted up a requalifying Designated Rifleman score of 243!!!!  Damn fine job Suzanne!!!!  And just to prove you cannot top the Russians, Alex posted up the same 243 score on the very next AQT!!!!  Just amazing skill!!! 
   
    During this excitement there was also a point of seriousness which the shooters were confronted with.  One shooter experienced an out of battery discharge of a rimfire cartridge which completely obliterated the magazine in the rifle.  The shooter and all of those around him were properly protected and remained uninjured.  The cartridge failed to enter the chamber and became kinked in the receiver causing the rim to absorb enough energy from the bolt to initiate ignition.  A quick teaching lesson was done on the importance of personal protection on the firing line.
   
    The final Red Coat target of the event showed the level of improvement this group was able to obtain through only two days of instruction.  10 at 100 yrds, 8 at 200 yrds, 6 at 300 yrds, and 4 at 400 yrds!!!!  On top of this there were 8 shooters who hit Morgan's Shingle.  This meant 4 shooters completely cleared the final Red Coat!!!  The best part of this was the fact two of the shooters, Aaron and Abrahm, were only 11 years old and 8 years old respectively!  They did a wonderful job of listening to instructions and putting everything into practice.  Great to see a fitting end to a wonderful event with such great students!
   
    It was a true honor to be able to present our stories and marksmanship guidance to such a wonderful group of students!!!!  Thank you!!!!

Chad Stovell - GenX Minuteman

[A-lister]

Wow what a great shoot for young and old! Well done Chad! Your enthusiasm and dedication to Appleseed and the message of Liberty is amazing! It was an honor to be involved in such a great weekend.  The commitment and dedication of our instructors is so evident in their willingness to travel and support Appleseed is wonderful. And I stood speechless after hearing Ghostring's impassioned speech at the closing. Huzza! Huzza! Huzza!  Also a big thanks to the San Angelo Shooting range and their allowing us to use an amazing range! looking forward to going back.

[KawGirl]

Picts Part 1 - Sunday only

[KawGirl]

Picts Part 2 - THE PATCHES - Sunday only

[KawGirl]

Picts Part 3 - Sunday only - found a few more

[KawGirl]

TO SUZANNE..... MY FIFE IS 16".... HOW LONG IS YOURS?

[Don'tFix1776]

In all my shoots,l; granted, only a couple of years worth, that had to be one of the best with both productivity and talent. Ron and Roger, it was great to see y'all... I really hope y'all make it to the November KD. Chad, well, as far as shoot bossing goes: shoots like that are the cream of the crop, you got a great shoot there! It was a great time â€" healed the soul it did.

[RusskiTexan]

That was an awesome(as always) event. My forth appleseed and it still amazes me how passionate and knowledgeable instructors are. Here to many more!  Huzza!

Ivan.

[Captain]

Looks like Texas had another great event in San Angelo! Sorry I missed it!

[scuzzy]

Nice. Real nice.

[Alex rushin']

Thank you for your dedication, Appleseed instructors! It would be much harder to persist if we were not given such a bright example.

See you on the KD in Temple,TX in the few.

[Don'tFix1776]

Alex, Ivan It was great to have you both out, once dialed in you both were a force. Alex, if you like the KD in Temple, keep in mind there is one in November in New Braunfels â€" please repeat if your ammo permits. I was telling Ivan, steel case is welcome at the events. It's a great range.

[Rustygun]

This is the most awesome picture I've seen in quite some time! Great job down there!