South Huntsville, AL (HISR) Winterseed March 12, 2022 AAR

[Google]

When life gives you lemons ... or when Mother Nature gives you a winter storm, make snow cream.  Figuratively at least.

A winter storm passed across the south last weekend prompting the cancellation of a Ladyseed scheduled at Hobbs Island Shooting Range in South Huntsville, AL.  The range was still available though and several of us in the (typically) warmer parts of the country hadn't had an opportunity to attempt a Winterseed patch, so we hurriedly put a Winterseed on the schedule for Saturday.  HISR is always supportive of Appleseed and was so happy to see us come out that they waived range fees for the day.   

Six hearty souls from Alabama and Tennessee gathered to put our equipment and our skills to the test.  The storm had brought a couple of inches of snow, temperatures below freezing, and winds gusting to at least 15mph.  The sun was a welcome addition.  We had 5 shooters on the line to start with Maximum Ordinate, who had already earned the coveted blue patch, serving as line boss.  After the first AQT there were 3 among us who qualified.  Equipment malfunctions plagued some of the others, but a 4th pushed over the Rifleman score by the time we finished. 

Those of us who don't often have the opportunity to shoot in cold weather had a good lesson in the effect on equipment and shooters alike.  It was a great day spent learning with fellow Appleseeders.  What more could we ask for a beautiful saturday?   

Group Photo


Forever Booney


Never enough hot cider


Willociraptor's patch


Booney Stomper's patch

 
Tennesee Beast's patch


The Shoot Boss qualified, too!


Willociraptor's Rifle

[gunjunkie]

I'm impressed!  Way to go!

[JustKim]

I'm a little jealous!  Way to go Y'all!

[Charley]

Nice job to all!! Little buddy and I were happy to share some snow and wind for y'all 

Looks like all had a great time   

[Captain]

Well played Alabama! That's the way to work the weather to your advantage.

[Overmountain]

Well done all!  I wish I could have joined you, as that patch certainly doesn't come around often here in the South!

[Tennessee Beast]

I had a GREAT time!   Thank you for putting this on!   

[Willociraptor]

Not usually one to toot my own horn, but I'd like to share my success story about adjusting on the fly. I hit some unusual obstacles with this event, but improvised adapted and overcame. For those encountering similar hardships, I'd like to share the story and offer some encouragement. A rifleman persists!

I had intended to shoot my 10/22 for this Winterseed event. It is hands-down my best rifle for Appleseed, and I knew that my best likelihood of getting the blue patch involved shooting the 10/22. But when I opened my safe to grab it, I found it in unserviceable condition. "Uh-oh.. this is.. um.. problematic."
Well, I couldn't change my situation, but I could adapt to it. I shrugged, IMPROVISED (packed up my AR instead), packed up ammo and magazines, and figured I'd hit my groove with it at some point during the day. After all, I only had to shoot a 210 or better, and I only had to do it once to get that super cool blue patch. I know that I usually shoot in the 220's or 230's, and I shoot in the 240's when I'm really in the zone, so I was convinced that I could accomplish that goal before the end of the event.
Thankfully, there was opportunity to shoot some squares before the AQT grind. After shooting a couple of groups, I had an idea of what my adjustment should be and was able to ADAPT my improvised solution to the problem at hand. But then I adjusted left instead of right and felt like a dummy. No big deal - undid my mistake, applied the correct adjustment, and shot another group. Satisfied and ready to move forward with the day.

Started the first AQT going from stage-4 to stage-1, to avoid altering our sling configurations from shooting the squares.
Went into stage-4 and was shooting consistently a little (maybe 2 MOA) high. Guessed at a sight adjustment in the middle of the stage, made the adjustment (ADAPTED AGAIN), and got back to work. Did okay.

Stage-3 happened, and the results showed me that I had made an effective adjustment in the middle of stage-4, but I was still not putting rounds where I wanted to. It was frustrating and perplexing, but I knew there had to be an answer. My rifle was doing exactly what I was telling it to do, and I just had to figure out how to align "what I was telling it to do" with "what I wanted it to do." A rifleman persists! A rifleman knows their equipment! A rifleman is smart! A rifleman can make this work!

While preparing my magazines for stage-2, I mentally replayed my stage-3 performance and realized that I had been "dragging wood" on the trigger, pushing my hits off to the left just before breaking the shot. Going into prep time, I quickly established my NPOA and built my nest so that I could make a concerted effort to dry-fire and focus on my trigger control. Squeeze that trigger through space straight to the rear. ADAPT AGAIN.
Stage-2 happened, and I managed to execute much better trigger control, but was still experiencing some vertical stringing. I was mentally rushing myself and exercising my respiratory pause inconsistently.

Stage-1 happened, and I was generally very happy with it. Room for improvement, but 47 out of 50 points is a good thing.
I wasn't ashamed of my performance, but I certainly didn't expect to break 210. Scored it purely out of curiosity, and was happy to find that everything added up to 213. Yay! I had OVERCOME.

I finished building this rifle in October 2019, but 2-1/2 years later, this was my first time shooting an AQT on it. Didn't expect to be using this rifle at this event, but made it work. In sub-freezing temperatures, and facing problems along the way. I can do it, and so can you!

New problems for this event:

• New-ish rifle (never before used on an AQT)
• Unfamiliar ergonomics and trigger, all being dealt with under time pressure
• Showed up to the event with a scope that wasn't zeroed
• Roughly zeroed before the AQT, and had to refine my zero on the fly

Solutions to the problems:

• Know how to do IMC's! Know it well enough to understand how to do this on the fly.
• Understand how your targets talk to you.
• Learn from your mistakes! (only possible if you're calling your shots)
• In order to make a good diagnosis, have the three legs of the stool in place: Solid position, Natural point of aim, Six Steps.
• Trust your NPOA and shoot at rifleman's cadence

Equipment hardships are aggravating, yes, but keep your head in the game (that is to say, PERSIST) and you can overcome your obstacles. Improvise a solution. Adapt it to your problem as many times as it takes. And overcome.

Thanks to everybody who helped teach me these things over the past few years.

[Ramblin' Wreck]

I found out about this event within minutes of it hitting the schedule, and it wasn't that far away as Appleseed shoots go, about an hour from my house. It was definitely closer than the drive from Georgia to almost Michigan (nearly 600 miles to Liberty Corner, Oh) Maximum Ordinate and I made a few years back on our quest to earn the patch the first time. That time I managed to eek out a 217 score on my 3rd AQT with a 10/22 while dressed like Ralphie's little brother from the Christmas story movie. After thoughtful consideration of about 2.8 seconds I decided I didn't need to re-qualify for a Winterseed patch.

Congrats to all the hearty Patriots who braved the cold here in the deep south to earn the patch. Looking at Willociraptor's shooting jacket, he has a patch I have yet to earn. My best to date is 247 with an AR15 but I keep practicing. 
For Liberty.
Wreck

When life gives you lemons ... or when Mother Nature gives you a winter storm, make snow cream.  Figuratively at least.

A winter storm passed across the south last weekend prompting the cancellation of a Ladyseed scheduled at Hobbs Island Shooting Range in South Huntsville, AL.  The range was still available though and several of us in the (typically) warmer parts of the country hadn't had an opportunity to attempt a Winterseed patch, so we hurriedly put a Winterseed on the schedule for Saturday.  HISR is always supportive of Appleseed and was so happy to see us come out that they waived range fees for the day.   

Six hearty souls from Alabama and Tennessee gathered to put our equipment and our skills to the test.  The storm had brought a couple of inches of snow, temperatures below freezing, and winds gusting to at least 15mph.  The sun was a welcome addition.  We had 5 shooters on the line to start with Maximum Ordinate, who had already earned the coveted blue patch, serving as line boss.  After the first AQT there were 3 among us who qualified.  Equipment malfunctions plagued some of the others, but a 4th pushed over the Rifleman score by the time we finished. 

Those of us who don't often have the opportunity to shoot in cold weather had a good lesson in the effect on equipment and shooters alike.  It was a great day spent learning with fellow Appleseeders.  What more could we ask for a beautiful saturday?   

Group Photo


Forever Booney


Never enough hot cider


Willociraptor's patch


Booney Stomper's patch

 
Tennesee Beast's patch


The Shoot Boss qualified, too!


Willociraptor's Rifle

[Rustygun]

Looks like a large time was had by all!

[Crazyduckhunter]

Congrats to all for the cool blue patch. Especially there in the south. Glad to hear that you had the opportunity for it with the weather.

Now when will there be a swamp patch for the events in the south. Last year I assisted at a kd event in Florida. It was late may and I was dying with the heat and the fellow instructors just laughed at me. That was harder for me than the cold.

Check out the aar from the rim fire kd at Orwell Gun club in Ohio last month. We shoveled about two foot of snow Saturday am to clear the firing line. The pistol ibc in January? That was pretty impressive especially for the ones that came up from way south to run it.

CDH

[HardHolder]

Great Job everyone!

I'm like Wreck, I had no desire for the cold at my age.

I've done the cold in Germany at Wildflecken and Grafenwoehr.

If I ever need to be a minuteman I will come whatever the weather.

Looking forward to the next AS event!