Appleseed shoot

[Chemist45]

There is one in Fredricksburg at the end of May.
I'm thinking about going.
Anyone ever been?

What range are the targets at?
Is a scope recommended?
Any advice?

[74novaman]

No idea, but this is a tag so I remember to check this topic. I'm interested in finding out more as well.

[PBratton]

Here's the May schedule:

http://www.appleseedinfo.org/search-sta ... name=Texas

May 2011 Corpus Christi, TX - May 14-15

San Angelo, TX - May 14-15

Smithville, TX - May 14-15

Davilla, TX - May 21-22

Dallas/Fort Worth - Quail Creek Ladies Only, TX - May 28-29

Fredericksburg, TX - May 28-29

[LikesShinyThings]

There is one in Fredricksburg at the end of May.
I'm thinking about going.
Anyone ever been?

What range are the targets at?
Is a scope recommended?
Any advice?

The one in Fredericksburg is shot at 25 yds, and they sight in using 1" black squares at that distance. One of the contact folks suggests that you have decent sights and decent eyes, you can probably do ok without a scope. But when I mentioned using a Ruger 10/22, he implied that the factory sights are usually not satisfactory. He doesn't know my skill level, and didn't push HARD for it, but he seemed to think generally it would be more fun with a scope. Says over two days, the shooters each put between 400 and 500 rounds down range.

[Greybeard]

The Appleseed clinic is an event that everyone needs to experience at least once. And you will quite likely want to do it more than once.

My first one provided a lesson in humility, but we had a lot of fun and learned a lot. And yep, the man is right: Ruger 10/22 sights will work, but you will likely be much better off with a set of these: http://www.tech-sights.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Or a scope, preferably one that will allow focus adjustment for the 25 meter distance. And ya will likely wanna invest in some elbow and knee pads (as about 50% of the shooting is done from prone).

[Mike1951]

When I went, back in 2004, we shot at an Army AQT target scaled down for 25yds. It was supposed to relate to the full size AQT at normal range.

The bottom row of targets was small enough that, with my vision, I could only aim at the portion of the paper where I thought the target would be.

I was using my M1A with aperture sight. And, no, I was never able to qualify.

[LikesShinyThings]

When I went, back in 2004, we shot at an Army AQT target scaled down for 25yds. It was supposed to relate to the full size AQT at normal range.

The bottom row of targets was small enough that, with my vision, I could only aim at the portion of the paper where I thought the target would be.

I was using my M1A with aperture sight. And, no, I was never able to qualify.

I found the targets online, and I was starting to suspect that last row would be looking more like specs than targets. When one person told me they "simulate 400 yard targets" I think that started tipping me to the "maybe I want a scope" side of the thought process. Thanks for the confirmation that it will be money well spent.

Background: I have a couple rifles, but no auto .22 rifle. For the number of rounds we'll be shooting, I know anything bigger than a .22 will get 1) tiring/uncomfortable and 2) expensive. So we're going to go get me a Ruger 10/22 for this. I won't regret owning that rifle, so this is the perfect excuse to pull the trigger on that purchase.

[TGIF]

We went last September at the College Station shoot. My dad (71) and brother went with me and my daughter (15). It was hot and it rained on us a while on Sat. but WOW, what a great time. The instructors were great and really took time to give personal instruction and they ran a tight line. We all shot 10/22s with scopes (they make you crank them all the way down to min magnification) and it is tough. Shot nearly 500 rounds and we were exhausted by Sun afternoon but we are going back. My daughter even said she wants to do it again...Yee Haw!! My dad could not get down on the ground for prone or kneeling/sitting so they let him bring a small table out Sun to shoot from. He could not qualify for the patch but he could enjoy the history lessons, fellowship and shooting. I try to tell everyone I can to go to one even if they are experienced shooters/hunters. My father was on a pistol team in the army (way back) and several other shooter were ex-military shooters and all of them commented on the teaching we received as excellent. Some said they had been in the service for 4 years and never received the quality of training. We had several female shooters and a couple of young teenagers. You can't beat the price...it was $70 for me and kids under 21 and ladies were free for the 2 days. I believe it changed a little this year. Something like $5 or 10 for kids and ladies. In summation I would just say...GO GO GO !!

TGIF

[LikesShinyThings]

Yup. My understanding is that, at least for the May Fredericksburg shoot, the price is the same for men (sorry guys). Women are $10 non-refundable registration fee for the weekend, and kids are $5. Women and children are half that price for one day, best as I can tell. There's also a $5/day/person range fee. Obviously this is a no-miss option for me. My husband is fine paying the $70 to attend, which is awesome because it's more fun when he's with me. I'm really looking forward to it.

[TGIF]

I forgot to mention. You would be well advised to practice dry firing in the prone and sitting/kneeling positions about 5-10 minutes a day for about 2 weeks just prior to the event. My daughter and i did a little and we paid for it....talk about sore..... We also started "practicing" loading rounds in some mags for about 2 weeks before the shoot. Kept a couple of mags and rounds handy and daughter and I would unload and reload them each day to get fingers toughened up. She was glad we did. 500 rounds is a bunch of loading. Take lots of sun screen, water, bug juice, hat,...... We took some of those pop-up canopies for a little shade and it helped some.

Targets are at 25yds to and sized to simulate 100yd shot for sighting and technique training. The AQT targets are sized to simulate 100yd - 400 or 500yd shots if i remember correctly. You will shoot it from standing, standing to kneeling/sitting (transition), sitting and I think we went from standing to prone (transition). There are also required mag changes during the course of fire....2 shots in one mag...change and shoot 3 more, etc.

Have Fun!

[CJATE]

i don't mean to hijack (but how often do you say that and not know you are about too)

I'm interested, really interested, but the web site and forum seems to have quite a bit of propaganda. I probably agree with them, but I'm not interested in hearing anyone preach at me while I'm waiting for my turn to shoot. I grew up shooting and from a bag, can put three in the same whole with my 22-250. can keep them under a quarter under 50 yards with my 22 w/ open sights. but I do think I'd learn something.

am I off base? or is this loaded with political dribble (even if I don't disagree, it's all dribble to me)

is there a pistol version? I can not keep 10 pistol round under a quarter

[TGIF]

The only "preaching" if you want to call it that is that they strongly urge people to get involved in our governmental process...vote at the least. Mostly though, it is a really neat history lesson on April 19, 1775. A story telling style of the event of that day. You shoot and train on a position or two and take a break while one of the instructors shares a part of the tale. Do some more shooting/training and break for lunch and another instructor shares another part of the events of that day in our history. They share things we never heard about in school and tell about lesser known individuals and their roles during the struggle that unfolds. if you look on the site, I believe they tell the name of the book much of their information comes from. We actually found it at the local library. We appreciated the breaks in the shooting to sit down and listen (in the shade ). I believe nearly all of our instructors grew up hunting and thought it would be a piece of cake when they first took the class but found it was not the case. One of our leaders was even an Olympic trainee for marksmanship and shot in the military and became an instructor because he was so impressed with the program. All the instructors are volunteer and do it because of a love for Country, shooting and teaching. My brother had a friend who came but had to leave early Sat. and one of the instructors went off to the side with him during a break and gave him a crash course on what he would miss. It really impressed him that they would go out of their way like that.

PS. If you are really that good, you can get a great deal. From what I remember, if you can shoot a qualifying AQT score from the get go, your weekend is free. Course they might ask you to become an instructor.

TGIF

[Greybeard]

Quote/question: "am I off base? "

Very possibly. Some of us who have attended believe the little "history" segments are top drawer, something that every AMERICAN needs to know. And decide thereafter, how and where they do or do not want to exercise their LIBERTY.

[rwi862]

A friend, my wife and I attended the Appleseed shoot at Quail Creek last month and I highly recommend the program. As stated in the previous comments, there was no political ideologies put forth; they just encourage you to be active in your community. The "lectures" consist of the history of the Revolutionary War, and set the stage for the development of the American Rifleman. The talk during lunch on the second day was a good review of ballistics and known distance shooting (I think this was a bonus, not necessarily part of the normal course). The instructors were all top rate.

I thought I was a pretty good rifle shot (one-shot-one-deer every year), but I learned ALOT. I didn't come very close to the rifleman's score (210/250) on the AQT, but had alot of fun trying. My wife, who has very little shooting experience had a good time as well. The instructors went out of their way to help her and the other novice shooters.

A few suggestions for anyone planning on attending:
-Bring some elbow pads. Several of us had raw elbows after the first day. About half or more of the shooting is from the prone position.
-If you think you need a scope, use one. I was using a 10/22 with stock sights and the 1" targets at 25 yards were pretty hard. Most of the people who shot a rifleman score were using scopes. I'm hardheaded enough that I'll try again with open sights, but may eventually put one on the gun.
-Try the GI sling that Appleseed suggests. I got a loaner from one of the instructors, and now have them on all my .22's.

My 2 cents is that this is a good program, and I'll attend again to improve my skills and get the Rifleman patch.