Appleseed

Exspiravit

Exspiravit

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Anyone done the two day Appleseed event? I'm eyeballing the one in December in Charlotte but know zero apart from what I've read on the website.

For those of you who have been, what sort of rifle works best? I've thought of the CZ455 due to ammo prices but also debated something bigger.

Did you get anything out of the class? I'm just a casual shooter, but I wouldn't mind being better on irons.
 
I'm signed up for the December on at CRPC. This will be my first one, but I have wanted to go for a long time. Only heard good things so far!
.22's are a favorite, but not required as far as I know. I'm bringing a slightly improved 10/22.

@Yankee Doodle is one of the instructors I believe. He has been very helpful answering all my questions (pestering ;) ).

Couple check lists of potential thing to bring/prepare for event. "Need a rifle, sling and a teachable attitude!"
https://appleseedinfo.org/smf/index.php?topic=101.0

https://appleseedinfo.org/wp-conten...to-Bring-to-an-Appleseed-Shoot_Updated_05.pdf
 
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I would say definitely go, and if you can, set up a 10/22 as a Liberty Training Rifle. If you are already fast and smooth with a bolt, go for it with a 455 but it will distract you from concentrating on learning what they are teaching. There is a lot to learn, a lot to practice, and the pace is pretty fast.

I would also say to plan to shoot 22 at your first appleseed. There is no need to burn lots more ammo money to learn what they teach. It will all transfer to centerfire, but again will make it harder to focus on the basics initially because the recoil will disrupt your position and some develop a flinch from the noise and recoil as well. Successfully scoring rifleman with a semi 22 would be an above average first Appleseed. You can work up from there.

I started with an LTR, then did AR-15 with irons, and most recently a 452 (with target aperture sights). Very satisfying but it would have been difficult for me to start that way. Next goal is to do it with a Garand.

You can certainly start with a scope. That takes one variable out of the equation but I feel like it's more in the spirit of what they are doing to use irons (and be very glad it's a 22 instead of a 1903!).

Just go, learn, and have fun shooting for a weekend. It's great. Then go back with a friend and/or kids!
 
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Heya @charliesgrave !

I'm the State Coordinator here in NC for Project Appleseed, and certainly want to help get you on the firing line at one of our events. I typically instruct in Charlotte at CRPC.

What we teach has something for shooters of all skill levels. We've had folks who purchased their rifle the night before the event and have never fired a shot all the way up to competition shooters who've been shooting for decades.

With regards to your rifle - what we teach can be applied to whatever you bring. That said, our courses of fire during the AQT (Appleseed Qualification Test) are generally helped by the use of magazine fed semi-automatic rifles, as Stages 2 and 3 are timed with only 55 seconds and 65 seconds to fire 10 shots (with a mag change) respectively. It's plenty of time once you get it down, but cycling the bolt will each up seconds here and there.

I have seen shooters qualify as Rifleman with CZ bolt guns as well (2 in Charlotte in April this year).

We can also arrange for loaner rifles fairly easily if you let us know in advance.

Any questions you have, don't hesitate to ask. You can do it here, in a PM, or by email via [email protected]
 
Exile_D said:
Like the one at the top of this page? http://store.rwvaappleseed.com/page13.html ;)
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Got one already! Waiting on my swivels to come in!

@Yankee Doodle
Thanks for the info. I may pick up something in semi-auto or just run with the 455. Not sure yet, but the 455 is my go to 22 for critters and plinking. If I were to get in regular practice cycling and re-acquiring targets with it between now and then would it make a tangible difference or just get in the way of what will be taught?
Also, in your opinion, would I be doing my self a disservice by bringing the 1-4x glass I have on it currently or should I definitely go for Tech Sights/aperture sights?
 
charliesgrave said:
Got one already! Waiting on my swivels to come in!

@Yankee Doodle
Thanks for the info. I may pick up something in semi-auto or just run with the 455. Not sure yet, but the 455 is my go to 22 for critters and plinking. If I were to get in regular practice cycling and re-acquiring targets with it between now and then would it make a tangible difference or just get in the way of what will be taught?
Also, in your opinion, would I be doing my self a disservice by bringing the 1-4x glass I have on it currently or should I definitely go for Tech Sights/aperture sights?
Click to expand...

Ultimately, it depends on your eyes. When I attended my first Appleseed as a shooter in 2012, there were only a few rifles on the line shooting with glass. Now, there are some shoots with a majority of those on the line with optics. We're even seeing reflex and red dot sights on the line these days.

I still shoot Irons (Tech Sights on the Marlin 795 and on my wife's 10/22, as well as on the Garand and M1A) for a few reasons:

  • My eyes are still 37 years young (with corrective lenses). And I get a childlike sense of glee when I shoot mansized pop ups with Irons at 480 yards
  • Psychologically, you see every round impact through glass. With Irons....all I see clearly is the front sight. Every detail of it. The target is blurry - my mind can see where the sights were when the shot broke, but I can't see the hole. I might see the sights not exactly where I want them and think "Damn, I threw that shot." But I don't know it was bad, and I can easily let it go for the subsequent shots in the COF. The glass tells me just how bad the shot was, and it's harder mentally to let it go and make the next ones count
  • Kind of a piggy-back to the last one - must of the softly muttered expletives on the line come from the folks shooting glass
My advice is bring what you know how to use, and we will teach you things that work with Irons or Glass. The technical core of Appleseed is rifle marksmanship fundamentals - we will teach you what you need to know to put 5 rounds in a 1 inch square at 25 yards ( a 4 MOA shooter), which gives you the foundation to reasonably hit any 20 inch target inside the Rifleman's Quarter Mile, be it with Irons of Glass.

If you're wanting to practice something, I would practice Firing the Shot by the numbers: what we can the Six Steps to Firing the Shot.

  1. Sight Alignment- properly align the front and rear sight of the rifle with your eye. In the case of a scope, you want to see a full circle view with no shadow
  2. Sight Picture - bring the aligned sights into the target. With Irons you can shoot either center hold or six o'clock hold. Scopes are always center hold.
  3. Respiratory Pause - most of us were trained growing up to "let out half of your breath and hold it." We teach to Pause at the bottom of each breath, at your natural respiratory pause because it is consistent and removes a variable that will affect shot placement downrange (half breaths will always have different amounts of air in the lungs)
  4. Focus - Focus your EYE on the front sight or crosshairs. Focus your MIND on keeping the front sight or crosshairs on target
  5. SQUUEEEZE the Trigger - trigger should be pulled straight back (you can practice with a clickable Ballpoint pen, the Official Trigger Squeeze Training Device of Project Appleseed)
  6. Follow through - hold the trigger to the rear and call the shot (take a mental snapshot of where the sights were in relation to the target when the shot broke.)
Most shooters, regardless of experience level struggle most with numbers 3 and 6, because those are habits most of us develop over years or decades, and are the hardest to break.

And my experience is that the electrical outlets are the perfect height for practicing all those things with an unloaded rifle while in prone.

That said, the most important thing to bring is a teachable attitude and a willingness to apply the information with an open mind. I had habits I had to break - including stuff my Dad and the military had taught me about shooting. I am a much better shooter having attended Appleseed, and saw my shooting improve tremendously over the course of that first Saturday.
 
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charliesgrave said:
Anyone done the two day Appleseed event? I'm eyeballing the one in December in Charlotte but know zero apart from what I've read on the website.

For those of you who have been, what sort of rifle works best? I've thought of the CZ455 due to ammo prices but also debated something bigger.

Did you get anything out of the class? I'm just a casual shooter, but I wouldn't mind being better on irons.
Click to expand...

No question this was the very best training I have ever had. Not just in shooting. I can't say enough good things about this course.
 
Anyone wanting to go in 2018 - see the Gift Certificate post in the Training Classes subforum to save 40% off the regular price ($36 for Adults, $10 for Youth).
 
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charliesgrave said:
No, my date's still a couple weeks out. Did you do one day or two?
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Oh wait, are you going to Ramseur? I thought you were going to be in Charlotte last weekend, sorry for the confusion.

Definitely would like to hear your impression of the Ramseur range and facilities. I have heard good things about it, but have never been myself.
 
It's actually a really nice range. There's the bay we shot our AQT's on and then there's a 500 yard range for known distance shoots with berms and apparently pop up targets every 100 yards.
In addition, there's camping spots (might just do that during the summer), a small building for teaching skills before you hit the range, and lots of room.

fMwNwNe.jpg


Enough room in fact, that when a guy with an AR started raining brass on my neck in prone position, I just moved over a couple bays. Shot rifleman once I did.

BK3kSak.jpg


Managed a 218 with a bolt rifle, so I guess that answers my question about bolt actions rifles for Appleseed! It can apparently also be done on the first event!

I tried magnification in 4x and 1x and oddly enough shot better on 1x. Aim small, miss small, I guess.

I did some sight in squares with my FAL, and got good groups- I was hoping to hop over to the 500 yard range, but the day was waning on and I didn't have time to fine tune the sights, so I went back to the CZ to shoot AQT's.

One thing of note about this range- due to county ordinances, you can't start shooting on Sundays until after noon. That cuts into your trigger time a bit, but not terribly. We had plenty of time to run through several sight in squares and AQT courses.

Definitely look forward to doing this again. I'd love to shoot the "Winterseed" up towards Boone, but it will probably have to wait until next winter. In the meantime, I want to try this again during the spring or summer, maybe with an AK!
 
Congrats on making Rifleman! Took me until the last two targets on Sunday to get it, lol. Looks like a nice range too. Sucks about the noon shooting on Sunday though. We had been shooting for at least a couple hours at CRPC by noon on Sunday. ;) But if that is the only downside, then it isn't too bad. Looks like you definitely had a lot more room than we did too.

How many folks at your Appleseed? How cold was it there?
 
Actually, my second to last AQT was the one I qualified on as well. The very last one I was so elated I couldn't even shoot straight or I might have scored even better.

I think there were about 8 signed up. 5 adults, handful of kids. Weather wasn't terrible. It was near freezing first thing both mornings but it warmed up enough that I ditched most of my cold weather clothes and didn't use gloves at all. The range is literally in the middle of nowhere, and other than an occasional cow lowing in the distance, until you start banging away, it's super quiet.

Does the range at CRPC allow centerfire?
 
charliesgrave said:
Actually, my second to last AQT was the one I qualified on as well. The very last one I was so elated I couldn't even shoot straight or I might have scored even better.

I think there were about 8 signed up. 5 adults, handful of kids. Weather wasn't terrible. It was near freezing first thing both mornings but it warmed up enough that I ditched most of my cold weather clothes and didn't use gloves at all. The range is literally in the middle of nowhere, and other than an occasional cow lowing in the distance, until you start banging away, it's super quiet.

Does the range at CRPC allow centerfire?
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Exile_D said:
That is a good question. I don't know if it is allowed on the range we shot for Appleseed. I think it is, but I'd have to ask @Yankee Doodle to be sure.
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It is allowed, but only for those shooting the Rifleman’s Score and as long as 3 conditions are met:

  • There are enough instructors to run the Appleseed Line safely with an instructor taking shooters over to the 300yard rifle range,
  • No concurrent events going on at the 300 yard range, and
  • The on duty CRPC RSOs clear it

We try and accommodate it as best we can, but since the weekends in Charlotte are hosted by a range that Appleseed doesn’t run, it takes some coordination to make happen. If you do come to a Charlotte weekend and want to shoot some KD, letting me know ahead of time makes it easier to grease the skids going into the weekend with the range.
 
charliesgrave said:
It's actually a really nice range. There's the bay we shot our AQT's on and then there's a 500 yard range for known distance shoots with berms and apparently pop up targets every 100 yards.
In addition, there's camping spots (might just do that during the summer), a small building for teaching skills before you hit the range, and lots of room.

fMwNwNe.jpg


Enough room in fact, that when a guy with an AR started raining brass on my neck in prone position, I just moved over a couple bays. Shot rifleman once I did.

BK3kSak.jpg


Managed a 218 with a bolt rifle, so I guess that answers my question about bolt actions rifles for Appleseed! It can apparently also be done on the first event!

I tried magnification in 4x and 1x and oddly enough shot better on 1x. Aim small, miss small, I guess.

I did some sight in squares with my FAL, and got good groups- I was hoping to hop over to the 500 yard range, but the day was waning on and I didn't have time to fine tune the sights, so I went back to the CZ to shoot AQT's.

One thing of note about this range- due to county ordinances, you can't start shooting on Sundays until after noon. That cuts into your trigger time a bit, but not terribly. We had plenty of time to run through several sight in squares and AQT courses.

Definitely look forward to doing this again. I'd love to shoot the "Winterseed" up towards Boone, but it will probably have to wait until next winter. In the meantime, I want to try this again during the spring or summer, maybe with an AK!
Click to expand...

What is this Ranseur range? Is it the Carolina Guns and Gear range on 64 by Asheboro, or another one? Sounds nice.
 
It's further down from CGG, out in the country.
 
I think RWVA members can pay for membership yearly.
 
It is the RWVA Home Range. There are field shoots there every month - ranging from Morgan’s Crew Shoots (varying ranges out to 500 yards, with Irons), WWII/Korean War Sniper Shoots, etc.

The schedule is on the Appleseed forum.
 
charliesgrave said:
It's actually a really nice range. There's the bay we shot our AQT's on and then there's a 500 yard range for known distance shoots with berms and apparently pop up targets every 100 yards.
In addition, there's camping spots (might just do that during the summer), a small building for teaching skills before you hit the range, and lots of room.

fMwNwNe.jpg


Enough room in fact, that when a guy with an AR started raining brass on my neck in prone position, I just moved over a couple bays. Shot rifleman once I did.

BK3kSak.jpg


Managed a 218 with a bolt rifle, so I guess that answers my question about bolt actions rifles for Appleseed! It can apparently also be done on the first event!

I tried magnification in 4x and 1x and oddly enough shot better on 1x. Aim small, miss small, I guess.

I did some sight in squares with my FAL, and got good groups- I was hoping to hop over to the 500 yard range, but the day was waning on and I didn't have time to fine tune the sights, so I went back to the CZ to shoot AQT's.

One thing of note about this range- due to county ordinances, you can't start shooting on Sundays until after noon. That cuts into your trigger time a bit, but not terribly. We had plenty of time to run through several sight in squares and AQT courses.

Definitely look forward to doing this again. I'd love to shoot the "Winterseed" up towards Boone, but it will probably have to wait until next winter. In the meantime, I want to try this again during the spring or summer, maybe with an AK!
Click to expand...

That’s damn fine shooting too! Congrats, Rifleman!
 
Was hoping you went to Ramseur since it's way closer to you!
I think Jack still runs the show there...known him since the early 90's.....great guy!
 
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