Talkeetna, AK, Rimfire KD Sept. 11-12, 2021 AAR

[ItsanSKS]

Exhausted.  Exhilarated.

Those two words, in equal parts, sum up how I feel about this weekend in Talkeetna.

The Upper Susitna Shooters Association range in Talkeetna, Alaska hosted Project Appleseed for a two-day Rimfire Known Distance Clinic.  This course was specifically designed for rifles chambered in .22LR, and the students engaged targets from 25 meters to 200 yards.  A great deal of fun was had by all, and much was learned.

Specific topics that were covered in depth this weekend included the following:

• Familiarity with Ballistics Tables
• How the .22LR trajectory compares to .308
• How to gauge and compensate for Wind
• How to estimate range without a laser rangefinder
• What information is necessary to record in a rifle data book

The above is by no means an all-inclusive list; MUCH more was covered.  Everyone enjoyed themselves, and everyone learned a ton. 

Two of our students earned their Rimfire Known Distance patch, scoring a 44/50, and following it up with a 45/50 on the 100yd AQT.  Congratulations Gus & Nathaniel!  (they both shot the same scores;  father/son duo who knows WELL what they are about!)

While they may have been the only two riflemen to earn their patches at KD this weekend, the other students all walked away from the event with a better understanding of the tasks required for engaging targets beyond 25m, and have a plan for what and how to practice. 

We finished out the weekend with a steel redcoat challenge - Three targets were placed at 100yds; the largest is the full size of a 25m AQT stage 1 target, including the 3-ring.  The second target was the a 25m stage 1 silhouette, with no 3 ring.  The third, and final target, was just the 5 ring of the 25m stage 1 target.  Mind you, these targets were scaled for use at 25m; when placed at 100 yards, they are the equivalent of the stage 4 target.  The course of fire required 1 magazine, with 10 rounds; three rounds on the first two targets, then four rounds for the last silhouette.  Prone position.  The first miss ends the challenge.

509Gman was up first, with his M16-A2 clone in .22LR (IRON SIGHTS) He knocked down a respectable 8/10.

Rifleman Gus knocked it out of the park, with a 10/10

Nathaniel also scored an 8/10. 

All others (myself included, I must admit) missed with their first shot, and so were awarded 0/10 for the challenge.

I had an outstanding time, and am looking forward to next weekend's centerfire Known Distance at the same range. 

[Ramblin' Wreck]

Eric,
You were Shoot Boss at the first KD I ever shot in September 2011 in Manchester, TN. I enjoyed it so much that I've run/worked 45 since then. I hope we get the chance to share the line again sometime. Sounds like you're still knocking it out of the park. 
Wreck

[509gman]

I post pictures

[509gman]

Now that I have that figured out…

[Gus]

The weekend was fantastic in more ways than one.  First the weather was super: 50s/60s and very few bugs!  Next the people we shared time with were outstanding!  And of course the shooting was fun and satisfying. Learned so much (read: range estimation) and I've been burning powder and sending projectiles down range for over 50 years!

Can't wait for tomorrow and shooting the big bores this weekend. And I think the weather is going to cooperate again for us.   

Gus