Montpelier, VA October 29/30 Rifle Clinic AAR

[misawa]

We had a fantastic weekend in the Commonwealth of Virginia at Cavalier Rifle and Pistol Club.  20 shooters, 12 of which were under the age of 16, braved the chilly starts to come out and further their skills with a rifle.  The first red coat target of the weekend gave the following results:

	Shooters	100 Yard	200 Yard	300 Yard	400 Yard	Shingle	Cleared
Saturday AM	20	10	1	1	2	4	1

Shooters then began with the basics of rifle marksmanship instruction as we demonstrated the proper use of a sling and building a solid prone position.  The 6 steps to firing a shot were covered and then the shooters got to practice this using the cross-legged trigger drill.  After some further instruction the students took a lunch break where they heard the first part of the history, ending with the events of Lexington Green.  During the afternoon the shooter learned transitions to seated and prone before wrapping the day with a final red coat.

Day one also included an in-person visit from the local delegate John McGuire.  One of his staff members was a shooter on our line and he wanted to come out and see what our program was about.  This was a great time for shooters to get to see that they can indeed interact with their public servants.

There was a bit more instruction to begin day two as we introduced the shooters to the standing position before we began shooting AQTs.  At lunch the events of the second strike of the match were told, leaving the shooter hanging for what would come next after the skirmish at the north bridge in Concord.  We engaged another AQT before practicing our NPOA with the VA version of carding the sights, the Natural Point of Oreo drill.  12 shooters were able to shatter their cookie showing they trusted in their NPOA to make the shot; a revenge volley was fired, sights unhindered, by those that were not able to get it the first time, and cheers were heard up and down the line. 

The final red coat of the day tells the tale of what these shooters were able to absorb and apply:

   

	Shooters	100 Yard	200 Yard	300 Yard	400 Yard	Shingle	Cleared
Sunday PM	19	19	13	6	3	6	0

ALL shooters engaging the final red coat were in the 100 yd target!  Vast improvements seen in other areas as well!

We concluded instruction with some discussion around KD, somewhat led by the youth shooters due to SB leaving his notes at home.  This was followed by the final piece of history resulting in the sun setting on day one of the Revolutionary War.  At the end of the day, 3 shooters earned the honor of being called Rifleman - Darren, Earl and Jonathan.  Huzzah!

This being Darren's second shoot and having shot a Rifleman's score (again!), he felt the call to join the cause and has agreed to take an Orange Hat!  We look forward to working with him at future events!

[V-Ring Circus]

Sounds like a great and successful weekend.  I love hearing about so many youth shooters on the line - bless their parents and sponsors.  Someone please refresh my memory, what is the cross-legged trigger drill?

[misawa]

Someone please refresh my memory, what is the cross-legged trigger drill?

This was a new dry fire drill introduced to instructors at a recent Instructor Boot Camp (IBC).  The shooter sits cross-legged with the rifle laying across their lap, muzzle downrange.  The instructor coaches the shooter on breathing and trigger control, specifically looking for squeeeeeeeze at the bottom of the breath and follow-through; once the "click" has occurred, the instructor racks the bolt to simulate the action cycling while the trigger is still held back - then the shooter finds the reset point and holds the trigger there while breathing in, then out and everything repeats again.

I attribute this drill done on Saturday as the reason I did not see as much trigger bouncing on Sunday.

[V-Ring Circus]

Alright, a little interactive dry fire, I dig it.  I could see this getting at, and driving home, how the 6 steps are all being simultaneously executed during a string of fire vs. executed sequentially as they're taught.  I've always thought it's a difficult leap for students to get from 6 steps to full blown rifleman's cadence.  Talking about cadence is one thing, but feeling the fluidity of all 6 steps working harmoniously together is something more.  I could see this drill starting to bridge the gap.

[Monkey]

 

[misawa]

Picture time! More to come!

Such a beautiful weekend for the campers!  A little chilly of a start called for a fire.


Teaching the shooters how to engage the red coat target


Teaching through the 6 steps


Just a picture of a homeschool mom teaching her kids (and others nearby)


SB's kids tackling the ball and dummy drill


It's a beautiful time in VA!

[BrotherPilot]

A few more pics:
 

[Jooky]

Another fantastic event! Was great to see so many young shooters on the line. Can't wait for another event and an opportunity to give back to this organization.

A beautiful day on the firing line


One-on-one w/ SB


Getting closer to achieving that coveted Rifleman patch.


Great to see so many young participants!

[The Wolfhound]

more pics

[The Wolfhound]

more

[mr6actual]

WOW! LOVE the strong showing from the youth crowd. Did you have enough William Diamond patches!!??

[misawa]

WOW! LOVE the strong showing from the youth crowd. Did you have enough William Diamond patches!!??

Just barely!