Canton, GA - Trail Life Event - 25m - 11-13-22 - AAR

[Roswell]

Sunday morning began COLD! During set up, it was 33 degrees, but felt like 22! You'd have to be crazy to come out in this!  Well, we were greeted by 13 crazy-eager attendees.  And as always, big shout out to Frank Reynolds and the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office for allowing us to use their range and especially their warm classroom. 

After check-in and Introductions, we jumped right into the First Strike of the Match as told by Captain John Parker, leader of the Lexington Training Band. While still huddled in the warmth, we went over safety. Then we retrieved our rifles and met on the line for our first target, the Red Coat Target.

Then we began with the firehose of instruction.  We started with Eye dominance. Then Sling Use and the Prone Position.



Then we did the first 3 Steps of Firing the Shot. Followed by a Natural Point of Aim, or NPOA, exercise. After that, it was back to the mats to do a dry-fire exercise as Instructors fit rifles to students and helped with Slings, their position and performed the NPOA exercise.

Next, we reviewed steps 1-3 and covered steps 4-6. This was followed by a Trigger Training Exercise. Finally, the shooters were rewarded as we went live on their first square of the day. (and a couple more). 

We grabbed our Squares targets and took them to lunch with us. At lunch, Upacreek kept us all entertained with an excellent telling of the Second Strike of the Match. ScubaSteve followed her up with Talking Targets and letting us know what our targets were telling us. He followed it up with Inches, Minutes, and Clicks so, we after correcting our errors, we could get that tight group on target. We cleaned up, headed out and shot a couple squares to reinforce and adjust for what we had just learned.

Now that we were on target, it was time to move on. Literally. By this time, the shooters had pointed out that Instruction in the sun was, just as good if not better, than in the shade.  So, now in the sunshine, we worked on all 4 seated positions.



After figuring out which seated position worked best, we covered Rifleman's Cadence, how a Rifleman trusts their NPOA and fires one shot per breath.  We then worked in Magazine Changes, Target shifts and the time monkey.

The last position was standing. Then we moved inside for a touching end to the story with the Third Strike of the Match by ScubaSteve. The last instruction we covered was transitions as moved our way through not one, but two Appleseed Qualification Tests, or AQTs. We then headed inside for my Instructors to score targets and for all of us to hear the story of Timothy Murphy and how One Person Can Make a Difference.

When the whit smoke of hundreds of .22s cleared we saw a total of 4 New and Re-qualified Riflemen! 

Fisher came back and showed he knew what he was about. He re-qualified TWICE! 211 & 222!


ScubaSteve jumped down during the second AQT and shot it cold for a score of 232!


Dad Jay shot a 236 at his first event!!!


New IIT Aimbot, aka Tate shot 2 AQTs cold and turned in not one, but two quailifying scores! Both Distinguished!!! 241 & 243!


We also had 7 Trailmen earn the William Diamond Patch and the Road to Rifleman Certificate! (I apologize for no picture, but I know others got it and hopefully they will post).

I hope to see each of you again next year (if not sooner). Remember, a Rifleman persists! Keep practicing the perfect way to do things and you'll get there.



In Liberty,

Roswell



BTW Photo Credits above to Overmountain.


Thank you sir! If anyone has any others, please post them. Thank you!




NOTES:

• Thank you to my amazing Instructors!!!
• Thank you to the NRA, whose grant gave us much of the ammo and many of the rifles used by the youth.

[Trailman]

Fisher Bryant

[Trailman]

Tate Bryant

[Trailman]

William Diamond Patch and NRA THANK YOU!!

[Roswell]

Thanks so much for the pics Trailman! Those are some mighty fine young men you are raising. Congratulations to all three of you. 

[upacreek]

Trail Life two days in a row.  This is a pace I like.  Great families again on Sunday, with some that I recognize from last year. A couple orange hat volunteers had double duty with Trail Life and working.  Roswell's pictures proved that wasn't an issue for them.  Geez - nice job!  I hope my next Appleseed as a shooter can have you guys giving me tips. Sunday proved a little tougher because of the cold.  ScubaSteve needs to keep that stuff in Florida where it belongs.  Trail Life shoots have been a highlight for me the last two years.  The excitement from the kids when you see they understand and make those smaller and smaller groups and the encouragement for them from their dads is awesome.  I hope to see you guys at a full weekend Appleseed soon.


What the heck!!! 34!?!  I blame the shoot boss.  Get a handle on this weather.  At least it didn't rain.


Roswell giving another great rendition of the First Strike as Captain John Parker


Leadslinger shows Step 5 of Firing the Shot with the official high tech Appleseed Trigger Training Device


Shooters try out photosynthesis every chance they got with no luck.  Did I mention it was bitterly cold out?


ScubaSteve teaches IMC with the shooters all helping out with the math parts.


ScubaSteve is ScubaCold casing up the rifle.


Better safe than sorry.  Overmountain clears a barrel after a shooter suspects a squib.  Thankfully, it was a false alarm.


Shooters get help with the seated position.


ScubaSteve giving a terrific Third Strike to a bunch of shooters who had been asking for the rest of the story <---That's a great sign!


Roswell preps them on the first of TWO AQTs!




Cokeguy watches as they carefully practice transitioning to the seated position.


Many hands make light work.  Thanks for all the help with the clean up!