The 'Ol Fat Man is attending an Appleseed event next month. April 14th and 15th at the Elstonville Sportsmans club. I'd welcome friendly company... and there is room for more to sign up. Come along, and I will make you a promise.... you won't be the worst shooter there (g).
15 comments:
I just got back from one and for what its worth here is my humble 2 cents worth.
Take a shooting mat and/or a rug remnant for you to lay on. If you don't have a standard GI web sling for the rifle, get one. Take plenty of snacks, the range was not close to any type of fast food, plus they give a history lesson during lunch. Take extra magazines.
They use a custom target called the "Quick 'n Dirty AQT. To get your Rifleman patch, you must score a 210 on it. Range: 25 meters. Course of fire:
1) Standing, 10 rounds in two min. on the largest target.
2) Start from standing with 2 rounds loaded. Fire command, drop to sitting, fire two shots at the left target, reload with 8 rounds, fire 3 at left target and remaining rounds at right target in 50 seconds. This one is a killer!
3) Start from standing with two rounds loaded, drop to prone, fire two rounds into the left target, reload with 8 rounds, fire a 3rd shot into the left target, 3 rounds in the middle target, 4 rounds into the right target in 60 seconds.
4) Starting from prone fire 2 rounds each on the right side targets, then 3 rounds each on the last two targets in five min.
Targets from top to bottom represent from 100 yards to 400 yards.
Take some Advil!
Good luck! I had fun, it was great instruction and I scored a 144 on the final.
Keads, Thank you! Excellent advice, and the run down on the course of fire will be invaluable. I'll be printing some of those targets this afternoon and beginning practice.
Carteach0
I'm an Appleseed instructor and the advise that Keads gives is pretty good. It might have been a while since he went but the COF changed a few years ago. Stages 2 and 3 no longer have you transition with a loaded rifle...now your mags are on the mat and you drop, load and fire. As a result, Stage 2 is 55 sec, Stage 3 is 65 sec. That's plenty of time if you learn the Rifleman's cadence (e.g., the shooting part should only consume ~30 sec).
Only other things I would add to the good advice above is
1) bring a teachable attitude. Even though you might have "been doing it this way for years", try our techniques.
2) Bring a folding chair for the breaks
3) Bring plenty of water - dehydration is the cause of most issues
4) Dress for the weather
5) bring a small notebook to take notes, record target info
Good luck! You'll have a blast! I'll be teaching that weekend up in MI.
Kris
Oh, one more thing. If that AR you show in the picture is the rifle you're using and you have any sight issues at all, I'd HIGHLY recommend replacing that EoTech on the AR with a 4X scope. If you can see the irons, great, use those. Red dots aren't ideal for the kind of shooting we do (especially the 300M/400M strings.
Kris
Oh, I'm approaching 50, I would really recommend at least elbow pads and optionally knee ones. I am sore today!
I would like to shoot the event with aperture sights, exactly as I do at the local rifle matches. If attending Appleseed gains me skills that help there, I will walk away thrilled.
One day I will be forced to switch entirely over to optics, as my bifocals hint now... but not yet. I can still shoot a 400/500 on a good day.
This afternoon I pulled the Eotech and re-installed the BUIS A2 sights. I put 40 rounds down-yard, and managed a fair group.
As for all the advice... thank you very much indeed! I will put it all to good use.
Good luck, Appleseed is on my "bucket list". Looking forward to a full report.
Kris corrected me on the COF as far as loaded magazines during transitions. He is correct. My bad!
Kelly
No issues Kelly! Glad you enjoyed your experience and hope you come back as soon as the Advil kicks in. A Rifleman persists!
Cateach0 -- I think shooting irons would be brilliant. Especially since you're concentrating your skills for the local rifle matches. We teach field shooting so that should blend well with what you're focused on. I shot Rifleman last October with an A2 AR15 and irons so it can definitely be done...even for us old guys.
Yep, it's worth the time! And open sights WILL be a challenge... And concur, take a GOOD shooting mat or a rug!
NFO,
I have a decent shooting mat. It's got a few years wear on it, but it serves.
I'm up for the challenge of shooting 500 rounds through aperture sights over two days. Blink. Blink.
Everyone gave you all the needed advice, I echo their good wishes, I have only one thing that has always bothered my personal choice of rifle, the magazine that will touch the ground or get in my way when I shoot. I was so glad when they started demanding ten round magazines for M1As, but I purchased an M1 anyway. I am so cheap and believe that if I am seriously worried about surviving incoming fire that I need to get as low as I can.
Keads: Bad link.
I also am an Appleseed IIT and its all great advice. All I would add is be sure to bring a backup rifle and some alternate ammo. AS really gives your gear a workout and sometimes the gear is not up to the task. Good to have a backup rifle in case something happens. Also, I have found that my AR 22lr upper is fussy on ammo depending on conditions so I bring several different brands. I think you will like the weekend. It is time well invested.
Corvette,
I plan on taking a couple spare rifles. Another .22 and probably an AR as well. I've been advised to take along the M1 just for the red coat shoot at the beginning, and I very well might. LOVE shooting that rifle!
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