I just finished participating in the Appleseed shoot in Douglas, WY. OMG, what a great weekend.
First, it was in WY. What's not to like?
Second, it was well run, great instructors. Top instruction in marksmanship, brought back a lot from when I was a kid, plus lots changes in techniques.
Third, met a bunch of interesting people. Nearly 60 shooters and instructors on the first day. Fred of Fred's M-14 stocks - and also the founder of the Appleseed program - was there. So was Boston T. Party, author of Molon Labe and Boston's Gun Bible.
A number of the attendees won the coveted Rifleman patch - I did not. Highest score I got was 186, needed 210 to win the patch. First day, I had equipment failures - the front sight post on the new Sig 556 sight from Samson would not lower sufficiently, so my groups were windage bang on, but 5-6" too low. Went to the AR, sights were off, could not even get the sight tool to engage with the front post, so that was out.
Second day (today) I used the Ruger 10/22 I rescued from the pawnshop. Sights were perfect and with the instruction and an accurate rifle, scored the 186. No sling, though, and that hurt my score. Lots of misfires (2-4 per 50-round box of Remington) but that just reinforced the discipline required. Rain, wind, sun, heat and today in the forties - hey, Wyoming in September.
Bottom line? Great time, top notch instruction, active participants in the gun culture. My bad in causing the equipment problems by bringing untried and un-aimed rifles, frustrated me no end. Next time I will get the patch, and will have fun again too.
Punch line? The youngest participant, Mara, got her patch with a 236. She is 10!
