At Your First 25 Meter Clinic, What Rifle and Ammo Did You Use?

[Gus]

I went to my first 25 meter clinic in March 2019 at Birchwood, Alaska and I used a Ruger 10/22 Sporter. I had read about Liberty Training Rifles and liked the sound of having one. So I bought a set of Tech Sights and a GI Cotton sling. I had no idea how to use a sling as an aid to marksmanship, but I really wanted to learn.

After installing the sights on the 10/22 I did some ammo testing. March in Alaska is usually cold and I settled on CCI Mini Mags, 40 gr roundnose. In that rifle they were accurate and reliable. I also really liked the sight picture presented by the Tech Sights.

At the tail end of the first day we had just enough time left in the afternoon to get in one AQT. I managed scrape through and scored a 210. The Shoot Boss, "Four Fans", poured some North Bridge water on me to commemorate that.
 
This is me at my first 25-meter clinic. In the picture I'm the guy with no hat and the LTR. I still have the rifle and it shoots as good as I can hold it.
In Liberty,
Gus

[DEH]

Springfield Armory M1A.  Federal American Eagle 150 gr FMJBT.

[mmirate]

To my first Appleseed I brought an AR-15, the upper being from Palmetto State Armory, with some noname reman .223 that constantly jammed it. (Months later, I separated out half of it via a case length gauge.) I'd planned to bring it with a CMMG .22 conversion kit and some Norma Tac-22, but the conversion kit wouldn't feed ammunition from the CMMG gen 1 mags that came with it. (Turns out those mags are junk.)

I scored Rifleman 4 shoots later with CCI Mini-Mags in a dedicated-rimfire AR-15 I built from parts around a BoreBuddy Apogee barrel.

All of the lowers were homemade.

[ProudPapa14]

First rifle event was a Ruger Rimfire Precision with way to much stuff on it.  Was doing ok with it, but I was unable to run the bolt and keep my NPOA.  So then I picked up a 10/22, but my sons used that.  I finally got rifleman with an instructor's loaned 10/22 with a Kidd trigger / mag release / bull barrel / target stock. 

First Pistol event I brought my P365 - was very hot and humid that day and I found the grip got extremely slippery when my palms were full of sweat.  Eventually got Pistoleer with a Taurus TX22.

[Mrs. Smith]

At my first clinic I was shooting CCI Blazer, through a Marlin Model 60 with tech sights. I already had speed loaders made from arrow shafts. The rifle performed flawlessly.

When it came to stage four I had to admit to myself that I was just guessing. The front sight post is darn near as big as the target, and even corrected my eyesight just wasn't getting it done. The best score of the weekend was a 201.

I replaced the tech sights with a budget fixed 4x scope at my next event, and qualified. It's still my 25m platform of choice.

[Oz]

I had an old Marlin 99M1, with an even older Tasco 4x, shooting CCI Blazer. The rifle has a 9-round tubular magazine (not optimal for an AQT), and the scope was dim and hazy, with an unforgiving eye box. 

When we did IMC, I saw the turret knobs were unlabeled.  They had markings, but no tactile clicks (they turned smoothly).  We'd just learned that 1/4 MOA was most common, so I tried that first. I cranked on the calculated adjustment, and on the next string my rounds disappeared from the target.  I took the adjustments right back off the scope (good thing I'd written them down) and started the process of getting to know the equipment.  It turned out those marks each corresponded to 4 MOA, so I'd put on 16x the planned adjustment. 

I went through Saturday and halfway through Sunday morning fighting the old scope (and necessarily giving up rounds on rapid-fire strings) when an instructor convinced me to accept a loaner 10/22, and I qualified with that. 

In a way, I was still "running what I bring"...or at least what I had at home.  My own .22 was a 10/22 with a clear scope, but I'd given it to my 12-year old to shoot, so they could have the best possible experience, and I was using my second-best rifle, which I'd inherited from my dad.

[NJrefugee]

My first Appleseed was in 2013. I had a brand new Marlin 795 Appleseed LTR with GI sling and tech sights. Aside from a rough sight-in session at my local indoor range, this Appleseed was the first time I ever fired a rifle that wasn't a BB gun. It ran flawlessly on Blazer ammo.
I shot a 206 on the only timed AQT on Day 1. At the time, TX events were often one day only, so I shot the Day 2 portion a few weeks later and earned my patch.
That same rifle is still running great over 10 years later. I do tend to use CCI SV, though Blazer is certainly reliable and accurate enough for 25m AQT purposes.

[Cleveland]

At my first Appleseed I used my 10/22 with a cheep Burris scope and Federal auto match ammo. The scope was quickly replaced with a Nikon fixed 4X.

I still use that rifle at 25M events, although the receiver, bolt and a couple trigger parts are all that are left from the original rifle.

[Prescott]

My first AS event was in Billings, MT in May of 2010.  I received no coaching on equipment, so I got a used stock Ruger 10/22 from a pawn shop.  Added a $40 Tasco 3x9 scope with medium rings.  Just picked some random box of cheap ammo off the shelf at the sporting goods store.  I set up the scope sitting at the backyard picnic table, so of course the eye relief was not good for prone position.  I have a long neck, so I struggled all day with eye relief and cheek weld issues.  My high score for the day was 207.   I was hooked.

[MattNH]

In 2014, a Marlin 60SB converted to take the box magazines not the tube with a Simmons 22Mag fixed 4x and CCI SV. The same rifle my daughter used October 2023 and Oct 2024 to qualify, guess it belong to her now.

[Leadslinger66]

I used my 10/22 carbine at my first Appleseed in 2014. As many others have, I experienced equipment issues and took a loaner from Tellico. My 10/22 has had a few upgrades over the years and has served honorably as my personal Appleseed rifle as well as a loaner for countless others through the years.

[desert_diver]

My first Appleseed was in Alamogordo NM in ~March 2014.  I shot a Remington 513T with Redfield sights and a leather sling.  I shot a 211.

I didn't really understand how nice the Remington was when I bought it.  It's still my favorite 22LR; I used the Remington to qualify at a 200 yd RKD last year.  Later, I purchased a 10/22 50th Anniversary edition rifle.  Semi-autos are great, but there's something about a bolt action rifle that satisfies me.

[Smallbore]

I shoot a 513t on a local smallbore team. It's a stupid-crazy accurate rifle, albeit a boat anchor.
I'm planning on running it at my next Appleseed.

First Appleseed my wife and I ran M&P 15-22's.

[Zorak]

I used a 10/22 in a Nordic Components AR-looking chassis that I originally built to shoot with my kid, with an old Leupold 4x rimfire scope on it, and SK Standard Plus Ammo. The rifle was up to the task, the shooter less so.

[ScottInTX]

I bought a plain jane 10/22 carbine, and invested in a set of Tech sights and a USGI web sling.  I zeroed it at 50m (the shortest range my local rifle range had) using CCI SV.  After the instructors helped me to correct two major errors I was making (not firing at respiratory pause and dragging wood) I was able to qualify the second day.  And of note, I was able to earn a rare for north Texas Winterseed patch.

[LadyRimfire]

At my first clinic I was shooting CCI Blazer, through a Marlin Model 60 with tech sights. I already had speed loaders made from arrow shafts. The rifle performed flawlessly.


We brought Marlin Model 60 to our first event too! We bought speed loaders though as they aren't that expensive. Our rifles had scopes.

It was such a hot mess! LOL
I think it was a stage 2 I totally missed the tube with the speed loader and just dumped all my ammo on the ground!

I think we were running Federal ammo, but don't quite remember. This was in 2022.

I'm gonna have to challenge myself and try running my Marlin again. They are extremly accurate and fun to shoot.


When it came to stage four I had to admit to myself that I was just guessing. The front sight post is darn near as big as the target, and even corrected my eyesight just wasn't getting it done. The best score of the weekend was a 201.

I replaced the tech sights with a budget fixed 4x scope at my next event, and qualified. It's still my 25m platform of choice.

[Mrs. Smith]

We brought Marlin Model 60 to our first event too! We bought speed loaders though as they aren't that expensive. Our rifles had scopes.

It was such a hot mess! LOL
I think it was a stage 2 I totally missed the tube with the speed loader and just dumped all my ammo on the ground!

I think we were running Federal ammo, but don't quite remember. This was in 2022.

I'm gonna have to challenge myself and try running my Marlin again. They are extremely accurate and fun to shoot.

the key to a successful AQT with a tube-feed rifle is the same as with every other AQT. Dry fire!

In this case, you're dry-firing your motions and process, so that they become smooth and fast.  Practice it dry with snap caps, until you can do most of the steps without looking (just like those magazine guys.)

The process for the transition stages of the AQT with a Tube-feed rifle has been updated in the IM.  Appleseed has a rule about transitioning with a loaded rifle. And what's that rule? We DON'T.  So where does that leave tube-feed shooters?

The reality is that it may not be possible to get off all your shots on 2 and 3 when you have to load your rifle AFTER the transition. Practice it dry! Under time!  Do it a LOT!  But if you find you just can't, then take the "no transition" option, and stay on the ground, using that transition time to load your rifle. Speed loaders are essential for success in these stages. And do what? practice practice practice.

Let me know how it goes!

[ArmyVet]

To piggy-back on what Mrs. Smith wrote... remember that it is possible to score Rifleman without getting all your shots off in Stages 2 & 3. I often tell people at my events that making good shots is more important than firing all 10 shots. Math in public: what is better - 10x3 or 7x5?

[Charles McKinley]

Stock 10/22, Leupoul 2-7 rimfire scope way to far back, the wrong sling, ammo was probably Blazer

Score has been shot with a cricket.  It is about fundamentals applied to make good shots.

[Pine Ridge Puma]

In 2012 I attended my first Appleseed shoot in Douglas, WY under the guidance of Sam, the area renowned shoot boss, and I brought my model 270 pump Remington .22lr with a cheap scope.  The ammo I used I do not remember, but it made no difference as the competency of the shooter was the factor that lead to a non-qualifying score on the AQT's.  What I remember most vividly about the shoot was the bloody elbows and the miserable second day of the shoot!!!!!!  I do try to suggest to first-time shooters that they do not bring lever or pump rifles to an Appleseed shoot, and that elbow pads are a very necessary accessory.  I did qualify finally on my third seed, but with a borrowed Ruger 10/22.

Pine Ridge Puma

[Gus]

To my first Appleseed I brought an AR-15, the upper being from Palmetto State Armory, with some noname reman .223 that constantly jammed it. (Months later, I separated out half of it via a case length gauge.) I'd planned to bring it with a CMMG .22 conversion kit and some Norma Tac-22, but the conversion kit wouldn't feed ammunition from the CMMG gen 1 mags that came with it. (Turns out those mags are junk.)

I scored Rifleman 4 shoots later with CCI Mini-Mags in a dedicated-rimfire AR-15 I built from parts around a BoreBuddy Apogee barrel.


All of the lowers were homemade.

MMirate: I too learned the value of a case length gauge after my first centerfire KD, September 2021. I was running a Bergara bolt action .308 and several of the rounds were difficult to chamber. Of course the oversized rounds always showed up in stages 2 and 3 when the shooter can least afford it!

Gus

[Gus]

My first Appleseed was in 2013. I had a brand new Marlin 795 Appleseed LTR with GI sling and tech sights. Aside from a rough sight-in session at my local indoor range, this Appleseed was the first time I ever fired a rifle that wasn't a BB gun. It ran flawlessly on Blazer ammo.
I shot a 206 on the only timed AQT on Day 1. At the time, TX events were often one day only, so I shot the Day 2 portion a few weeks later and earned my patch.
That same rifle is still running great over 10 years later. I do tend to use CCI SV, though Blazer is certainly reliable and accurate enough for 25m AQT purposes.

NJrefugee: I too like the Marlin 795. I have two, one completely stock except it's set up as a LTR and the other I restocked into a Model 60 wood stock. The wood stocked rifle has MCARBO replacement trigger springs and a 2-7x scope now. Great rifles that both shoot very accurately.

Gus

[Gus]

At my first clinic I was shooting CCI Blazer, through a Marlin Model 60 with tech sights. I already had speed loaders made from arrow shafts. The rifle performed flawlessly.


We brought Marlin Model 60 to our first event too! We bought speed loaders though as they aren't that expensive. Our rifles had scopes.

It was such a hot mess! LOL
I think it was a stage 2 I totally missed the tube with the speed loader and just dumped all my ammo on the ground!

I think we were running Federal ammo, but don't quite remember. This was in 2022.

I'm gonna have to challenge myself and try running my Marlin again. They are extremly accurate and fun to shoot.


When it came to stage four I had to admit to myself that I was just guessing. The front sight post is darn near as big as the target, and even corrected my eyesight just wasn't getting it done. The best score of the weekend was a 201.

I replaced the tech sights with a budget fixed 4x scope at my next event, and qualified. It's still my 25m platform of choice.

LadyRimfire, I have fumbled quite a few loads and reloads during stages 2 and 3 myself.  At my first clinic, the instructors taught us how to 'build the nest'. But I wasn't very good at it. more than once I'd have to fish around and reach for the mags, or, pick one up and try to insert it backwards. The seconds tick away and before you know it Cease Fire is being called.

I'm a lot better now about building the nest and keeping mags where they need to be!

Gus

[Gus]

My first AS event was in Billings, MT in May of 2010.  I received no coaching on equipment, so I got a used stock Ruger 10/22 from a pawn shop.  Added a $40 Tasco 3x9 scope with medium rings.  Just picked some random box of cheap ammo off the shelf at the sporting goods store.  I set up the scope sitting at the backyard picnic table, so of course the eye relief was not good for prone position.  I have a long neck, so I struggled all day with eye relief and cheek weld issues.  My high score for the day was 207.  I was hooked.

Hi Griff! Nearly my entire life I had my rifle scopes mounted too far back on my rifles. I just didn't know any better. After truly getting into Appleseed riflery, learning about the turkey neck and a properly mounted scope, it was an 'aha!' moment for me. All my rifles that wear scopes got adjustments. In some cases no amount of adjusting would be enough and I'd have to install a proper scope mount that would give me the required eye relief. What a difference it makes!

Now that I'm aware of this issue, when I'm working a 25 meter clinic or a KD, I see scope mount troubles with students at every shoot.

Gus

[Gus]

We brought Marlin Model 60 to our first event too! We bought speed loaders though as they aren't that expensive. Our rifles had scopes.

It was such a hot mess! LOL
I think it was a stage 2 I totally missed the tube with the speed loader and just dumped all my ammo on the ground!

I think we were running Federal ammo, but don't quite remember. This was in 2022.

I'm gonna have to challenge myself and try running my Marlin again. They are extremely accurate and fun to shoot.

the key to a successful AQT with a tube-feed rifle is the same as with every other AQT. Dry fire!

In this case, you're dry-firing your motions and process, so that they become smooth and fast.  Practice it dry with snap caps, until you can do most of the steps without looking (just like those magazine guys.)

The process for the transition stages of the AQT with a Tube-feed rifle has been updated in the IM.  Appleseed has a rule about transitioning with a loaded rifle. And what's that rule? We DON'T.  So where does that leave tube-feed shooters?

The reality is that it may not be possible to get off all your shots on 2 and 3 when you have to load your rifle AFTER the transition. Practice it dry! Under time!  Do it a LOT!  But if you find you just can't, then take the "no transition" option, and stay on the ground, using that transition time to load your rifle. Speed loaders are essential for success in these stages. And do what? practice practice practice.

Let me know how it goes!

I have a tube fed Remington 572A pump action rifle that I've set up as a LTR (Ruger 10-22 front sight and Marlin rear sight). It shoots quite well, but I've never tried it on an AQT against the clock.  I'm officially inspired to get a couple of tube speed loaders and work on it until I can qualify.  A new challenge!

Gus

[Rangerat67]

At my first event, I used a stock 10/22 carbine with a Nikon scope. This was the only rifle I owned prior to signing up for the event. I admit, my wife signed me up with two of my children and I thought I was attending a kid's program. After being signed up, I picked up two more Ruger 10/22's and a couple of Walmart scopes for my two children. The three of us shared a Remington Bucket O'Bullets. The ammo ran as well as you would expect!

On several AQT's I was close to a Rifleman score. Imagine my excitement when the Shoot Boss handed out the targets from the last AQT of the weekend, but he held on to mine. I thought I had a good target. He then called me up front of the group and together we reviewed my target with several extra holes. Instead of a patch, my target was used as an example as to why you have to make sure you are on the right target. The high scores from the individual targets with extra holes were thrown out and I finished with a 204. My two kids were on either side of me and they both were positive it wasn't them    Although guessing who was at fault was a running joke in our household for years, I have to admit, I looked at their targets and they both had the right number of holes. Glad I didn't get my patch, it made me come back to another event and I accepted an orange hat.

[ScubaSteve]

I tell this story at Appleseed events sometimes so I thought I would share in this thread.

I came to my first Appleseed because a longtime friend needed help. He was the regional coordinator and had an April 19th shoot that nobody signed up for. He needed shooters. I did not really have a rifle that fit Appleseed at that range so he loaned me one and said he would give me Ammo if I would just show up. I refused the ammo but used his rifle. It was a 10/22 with tech sights. Just your basic 10/22 with a stock trigger.

Now my plan was to come to the event and show him how good of a shot I was and go home. That said I had been a great shot in the past but had not been shooting for some time. To say the least, I left the event embarrassed. My score was not horrible but I did not make expert and to me that was unacceptable.

By the end of the next week my Ruger 10/22 was ordered. It came and had an issue from the factory so it took me another month or more to get "My" rifle.  It was just a standard 10/22. I added Tech sights and upgraded to the Ruger BX trigger. Its a 22 no way I am paying more than a center fire rifle for a 22. I am cheap!

I went to the range a lot with that rifle and one year after the first event I went to my second Appleseed event. Again an April 19th event with that same friend as the shootboss. The first AQT we shot was in the pouring rain. It was raining so hard that you had trouble clearly seeing the berm at 100 yds. When we finished the AQT the shootboss said something about just leaving the targets out there so we don't get wet. I refused that crap as I knew I made score. I went out in the rain and brought back the entire backer as the target was going to disintegrate.

I made score and went home happy. That was around 10 years ago. I still have that rifle but I haven't shot it in a long time. It is still set up like it was day one. Standard 10/22. Tech sights with a BX trigger. 
Ammo.....Whatever is on sale. Again its a 22.... I don't get picky with ammo until I am shooting distance. If the rifle will run it I will shoot it.   

[Big John]

This is a two part answer.

In early '13, I received a waiver to attend a 1 day instructors and advanced students KD at my home range without being an instructor or an advanced student as I had not been to any Appleseed event. My Colt AR was not sorted out as shooting it slightly right for my part helped mask a pretty large honking mechanical windage problem to the left. For too long, I thought the sling was pulling the barrel. Shoots straight now with the correction, but only got me 17/50 then.

Second part:

My old man has survived several friends' passings, and he sometimes is offered to buy their firearms by their widows. He gave me some of his friend Tony's guns, and I took Tony's "truck" 10/22, with a broken, spray painted stock, put an old wooden stock on it, folded the front sight down, hung a 1x4 Leupold on it, slung it up, and went to my first 25m AS, running CCI Blazer. Pulled a 213 on the first AQT and sat in the low 210s the rest of the weekend. Years later, with the only addition being a drop in trigger pack, it's gotten me to 242. I loan my other rifles out first, but I'll pass this guy to someone on the cusp near the end of the shoot for the last attempt. The nice trigger often calms them down enough to shoot just a little straighter and get over the hump.

[Leadlined]

Marlin 795, bone stock as Dunham's sells them.  Mounted a Simmons ".22MAG" 3-9x scope I got at Walmart in a blister pack complete with rings for the princely sum of $40.  Ran with Federal Automatch. 

By the second Appleseed, it had a diproducts aluminum trigger and guard.  I'm still a trigger snob to this day... 

For pistol, Smith and Wesson victory with hive grips and a holosun optic shooting CCI SV.

[AdmiralKirk]

An old JM Marlin 795 with tech sights & aquila ammo.  Things were going great until the front sight fell off.  Apparently the screw tech sights included wasn't the same diameter as what was on the older Marlins...