[Warp]

Went to my first Appleseed shoot as, basically, a complete newb to rifles. Unfortunately I cannot make it to Sunday and it was a slow start (how hard is it to be on time people?!?) so I only fired a little over 200 rounds and shot 2 AQTs. But then as many of you probably know good instruction doesn't require many rounds downrange, especially dealing with groups and starting from a novice level.

I took an iron sited (tech sites) 10/22 with swivels and a GI web sling, nothing more, and fed it CCI Mini Mag 40gr CRNs.

I did not do as well as I had hoped, mostly because I just can't consistently get a comfortable, natural, steady prone position. I really need to get to a damn outdoor range where I can fire from prone to practice.

This was my first "Redcoat" target, shot at the beginning prior to any marksmanship instruction and without a real time limit. It was pretty darn close to being a "300 yard" target and I got the headshot. Due to an ammo related stoppage I dropped a round (and then switched from automatch, which was used for that target, to mini mags for the rest)



This was my first AQT. It started out awesome, and then my prone was beyond terrible.




This was my second/final AQT. I screwed it up all kinds of ways for all kinds of reasons I won't get into. The score improved, though, despite screwing up and holding a round on the second phase where I was shooting well.






I will absolutely be going back. I will probably sign up for at least one more (and a full weekend) before the night is out. Great people.

[Warp]

[UneasyRider]

Originally Posted by Warp

How many yards were you shooting? I love to shoot my 10/22 standing like a hunter at 100 yards. Great weapon, sounds like a wonderful time.

[Warp]

Originally Posted by UneasyRider

How many yards were you shooting? I love to shoot my 10/22 standing like a hunter at 100 yards. Great weapon, sounds like a wonderful time.

Appleseed quals are done at 25 yards. The really small targets are to scale to the equivalent of longer range. This is beneficial in that you only have to walk 25 yards to get to the targets, .22lr's can be used, and almost any outdoor range can be used.

The downside is that you can pretty much ignore windage, which is an important thing to figure out for true range shooting, obviously.

This range has a known distance out to 300 yards but I didn't shoot it...I don't think anybody did today, but probably tomorrow some will.

[UneasyRider]

Originally Posted by Warp

Appleseed quals are done at 25 yards. The really small targets are to scale to the equivalent of longer range. This is beneficial in that you only have to walk 25 yards to get to the targets, .22lr's can be used, and almost any outdoor range can be used.

The downside is that you can pretty much ignore windage, which is an important thing to figure out for true range shooting, obviously.

This range has a known distance out to 300 yards but I didn't shoot it...I don't think anybody did today, but probably tomorrow some will.

Sounds like an excellent time! I am very pleased with a 22LR up to 100 yards but have never tried it any farther than that so I will be interested in how you guys do, especially at 300, I envision a large verticle adjustment.

[Warp]

Originally Posted by UneasyRider

Sounds like an excellent time! I am very pleased with a 22LR up to 100 yards but have never tried it any farther than that so I will be interested in how you guys do, especially at 300, I envision a large verticle adjustment.

Oh...the 300 yard range would be done with centerfires. There were several centerfire shooters there and some of us, such as myself, had a centerfire in the car that could have been brought up.

I intend to shoot a Rifleman's score with the .22 before bringing out the Garand, though. Even if that means I put a scope on to help see those tiny freaking bottom targets.

I just signed up for another next weekend. I will do both days this time, and I think I might put my 4x scope on the 10/22

[lawman800]

I did my first Appleseed last year and had a great time. I was sore as all heck after the day was done but my rifle shooting improved 1000fold. I was used to the tactical type carbine shooting which had nothing to do with true riflemanship and marksmanship.

[Warp]

Originally Posted by lawman800

I did my first Appleseed last year and had a great time. I was sore as all heck after the day was done but my rifle shooting improved 1000fold. I was used to the tactical type carbine shooting which had nothing to do with true riflemanship and marksmanship.

I am realizing the soreness now. It was on gravel and my shooting mat was a cheap rug from Walmart, I had no kneepads and I only used my elbow pads half the time. My knees, elbows, hip bones are sore with some bruising...some sunburn...marks on my shoulders, some abuse to my upper arm from the loop sling...will probably feel it even more in the morning.

[lawman800]

Originally Posted by Warp

I am realizing the soreness now. It was on gravel and my shooting mat was a cheap rug from Walmart, I had no kneepads and I only used my elbow pads half the time. My knees, elbows, hip bones are sore with some bruising...some sunburn...marks on my shoulders, some abuse to my upper arm from the loop sling...will probably feel it even more in the morning.

That's one thing I was glad I didn't skimp on. I bought the deluxe super sized luxury shooter's mat from Midway and it was long enough to keep me off the dirt and had a lot of padding and a pocket for a notepad for my notes, which I didn't take any.

I also wore my padded kneepads and elbow pads which helped a lot with sustaining the prone position. Found that I liked the sitting position the best.

[Warp]

Originally Posted by lawman800

That's one thing I was glad I didn't skimp on. I bought the deluxe super sized luxury shooter's mat from Midway and it was long enough to keep me off the dirt and had a lot of padding and a pocket for a notepad for my notes, which I didn't take any.

I also wore my padded kneepads and elbow pads which helped a lot with sustaining the prone position. Found that I liked the sitting position the best.

Same.

In fact, on my first AQT (posted above) I scored 5s on 10/10 of my seated shots.

[UneasyRider]

Originally Posted by Warp

Oh...the 300 yard range would be done with centerfires. There were several centerfire shooters there and some of us, such as myself, had a centerfire in the car that could have been brought up.

I intend to shoot a Rifleman's score with the .22 before bringing out the Garand, though. Even if that means I put a scope on to help see those tiny freaking bottom targets.

I just signed up for another next weekend. I will do both days this time, and I think I might put my 4x scope on the 10/22

My 10/22 is scoped and it rocks. You can hit a tennis ball at 100 yards. An AR15 with irons will keep you in the paint on the 100 yard range too. I'm envious of your learning to shoot rifles, it's a really fun time in life, enjoy it all you can.

[lawman800]

Originally Posted by UneasyRider

My 10/22 is scoped and it rocks. You can hit a tennis ball at 100 yards. An AR15 with irons will keep you in the paint on the 100 yard range too. I'm envious of your learning to shoot rifles, it's a really fun time in life, enjoy it all you can.

I wanted to bring my 10/22 with red dot, but ended up using my AR-15 with the EOTech. With irons, the AR actually is sighted for 200 meters, no? Not very familiar with the AR family, unfortunately, more familiar with the Mini-14/30 family.

But yeah, shooting rifles was more fun and fulfilling than standing there punching holes with a pistol for some reason.

[UneasyRider]

Originally Posted by lawman800

I wanted to bring my 10/22 with red dot, but ended up using my AR-15 with the EOTech. With irons, the AR actually is sighted for 200 meters, no? Not very familiar with the AR family, unfortunately, more familiar with the Mini-14/30 family.

But yeah, shooting rifles was more fun and fulfilling than standing there punching holes with a pistol for some reason.

Sighting distance is up to you but the AR15 has a slight lift (an inch or two) during travel so sighting at 200 yards makes good sense to me. Also much more than 200 yards and you need to compensate for drop so I am dialed in at 200 yards.

I like red dots for quick aquisition but I like a real scope for for really accurate distance shooting myself. That said I have red dots on my AR15's.

It's great that we have all of the choices that we do.

[M1A Shooter]

never done an appleseed shoot but as far as ar15 irons go, with the difference in sight height over the bore centerline, i zero mine in at 50 yards and then confirm its on again between 200 and 250. mine coms back on at 225-230 yards. that was with the federal xm193. need to reconfirm my new ammo choice though.

[quake]

Originally Posted by UneasyRider

...I like red dots for quick aquisition but I like a real scope for for really accurate distance shooting myself...

Same here; I wanted my CAR-15's to be quick for close-in use, but at the same time knew they were capable of reaching out there several hundred yards, so I compromised and went to a compact 1-4X shotgun scope with very-good light gathering qualities and heavy duplex reticule. Left at 1X (zero magnification), the bright picture and bold reticule make them very fast to acquire, but the ability to zoom instantly to 4X makes them useable a lot farther out (for me at least) than a non-magnified red dot does.

[UneasyRider]

Originally Posted by quake

Same here; I wanted my CAR-15's to be quick for close-in use, but at the same time knew they were capable of reaching out there several hundred yards, so I compromised and went to a compact 1-4X shotgun scope with very-good light gathering qualities and heavy duplex reticule. Left at 1X (zero magnification), the bright picture and bold reticule make them very fast to acquire, but the ability to zoom instantly to 4X makes them useable a lot farther out (for me at least) than a non-magnified red dot does.

That sounds like a good way to do it Quake. Where I live it's hard to find a 200 yard shot if your not at a range or on a boat so my red dot works ok here.

[wrenrj1]

Got my titanium spork and water treatment pills from Amazon.com today...

Wren

[emt1581]

Originally Posted by wrenrj1

Got my titanium spork and water treatment pills from Amazon.com today...

Wren

The spork...how do you like it?

We use sporks at the kiddie prison I work at. Ridiculously flimsy (on purpose for obvious reasons) But I could see how one with some integrity would be highly useful. Only gripe I have with sporks is when you try to stab something, the curvature of the spoon impedes your effort.

-Emt1581

[lawman800]

Originally Posted by emt1581

Only gripe I have with sporks is when you try to stab something, the curvature of the spoon impedes your effort.

-Emt1581

But the curvature helps when you try to scoop out your victim's still beating heart out of his chest cavity.

[jarubla]

Originally Posted by emt1581

The spork...how do you like it?

We use sporks at the kiddie prison I work at. Ridiculously flimsy (on purpose for obvious reasons) But I could see how one with some integrity would be highly useful. Only gripe I have with sporks is when you try to stab something, the curvature of the spoon impedes your effort.

-Emt1581

I've had a few of the 'light my fire' brand (but plastic) for 24+ months. They have survived through every day use by >3 and <10 humans. Don't believe the hype that the plastic ones are crap, I have been very pleased with mine!

On the preps side, I am doing more health related junk I have put off. This past week I have been going to the chiropractor; he found some cervical spine stuff he is going to get worked out (C3 and some others out of whack from an old 'yard sale' ski wreck I had the luck of performing right under the ski lift 7 years ago). Very hopeful that what he is adjusting will help resolve my neck issues!

I put some $ down @ a local funshop (Pi***a's Pawn) on a layaway boomstick. Down to earth folks, easy layaway terms, I will be sending more $ their way!

Also picked up a few cool books:

"Food in Jars" ISBN 978-0-7624-4143-3 (tailored to preserving food in small batches, this is key as we rarely do bushel-at-a-time stuff)
"Girl Hunter" ISBN 978-0-7382-1466-5 (author was a hoity toity chef, left that as she became interested in harvesting/preparing her own game. Her exploits converted her to the hunter lifestyle)

-Jay

[The Shadow]

Built a tactical 10/22 rifle for my wife, repaired my defective CETME, bought some .308 ammo, worked on restoring an old tube HAM transceiver.

Terry

[owl6roll]

I'll qualify a couple of times with a new weapon and shoot a match or two and then It's good to go.

[Stevekozak]

Originally Posted by owl6roll

I'll qualify a couple of times with a new weapon and shoot a match or two and then It's good to go.

I think you might be in the wrong thread?

[wrenrj1]

Originally Posted by emt1581

The spork...how do you like it?

We use sporks at the kiddie prison I work at. Ridiculously flimsy (on purpose for obvious reasons) But I could see how one with some integrity would be highly useful. Only gripe I have with sporks is when you try to stab something, the curvature of the spoon impedes your effort.

-Emt1581

The one I got was titanium. It has a serrated edge on the fork piece to use as a knife, but you gotta watch out when you eat. It's not seriously sharp, but just serrated. I mainly got it to use at work for lunch. I'm tired of using plastic forks. You do need to get used to using it though, as you are right with the stabbing of the carcass!

Wren

[quake]

Came across an almost crazy-good deal at gander mountain of all places. They had a used taurus 4" 82 (one of the old CAI imports), that had a problem. The hardened nub at the cartridge-rim end of the center-pin had been attached very slightly off-center; almost not enough to see really, but just enough that it would bind the centerpin and keep it from returning free to lock up in the faceplate recess. This meant the cylinder wouldn't lock closed and would flop open/closed completely free. May have been that way from the factory, or may have been worked on later; I couldn't say for certain, but the rifling, muzzle & forcing cone look completely wear-free, so I suspect it came that way from the factory 30+ years ago.

The nub problem was an easy fix, but they don't have a gunsmith on staff there anymore, and had written it off as 'bad', and kept marking it down to try & get rid of it. It'd been setting in the case for a long time evidently and I picked it up for $179. Fifteen minutes for cylinder disassembly & some very minor nub filing, and it works perfectly. Ran some rounds thru it the other night and was surprised to find that its muzzle velocity constantly runs 3%-6% faster than a same-length smith revolver, for 6-10% muzzle energy increase compared to the smith. Don't know if it's a slight difference in the bore diameter or rifling, or if it's simply due to the smith being a .357 and the increased bullet-jump inherent there; but with three different loads that was the case.

Regardless, $179 and fifteen minutes' work got us another second-tier gun that's completely reliable, and in a decent, commonly-available caliber that I already reload for. (Did have to buy new speedloaders though; haven't owned a k-frame in years.)