Louisiana's First Appleseed - Memorial Day Weekend

[ulshop]

Louisiana will be hosting it's first Appleseed Shoot this May at the Shurburn LA WLF Range. The RWVA is an all volunteer, non profit organization dedicated to promoting marksmanship and the heritage and history of the American rifleman.

http://appleseedinfo.org/

The official posting of the date should come in a few days. They are also in the process of determining if it is to be a two or three day event. It's $70 for the weekend; women, kids under 21, active military shoot for free. Any caliber of rifle is welcomed, scope or iron sights, a few bolt actions even show up.

I brought my Springfield M1a last December to the Davilla, TX and had an amazing weekend.... 500 rounds of .308 and a huge smile. Still working towards that Rifleman's patch. Most of the shooting takes place at 25 meters with reduce scale targets so that anyone with a .22, ar, ak, m1, etc, can show up, participate and have a great time.

This will be our states first Appleseed, we need to get the word out, fill the firing line and make it an event to remember.

A ton of info on the Appleseed site, but if there are any questions let me know.

 

[usmc-nav]

I will be there!! Been waiting for one of these to come around here.

 

[Zero.40]

i will be there hmmm.... .22 or AR hmmm..... what to bring lol

 

[Paul Gomez]

Great group of folks. Great events. I encourage everyone who can to make the trip. You will not be disappointed.

 

[dzelenka]

I appreciate the fact hat people are learning to shoot a rifle from position using only a sling for support. I think it is an important skill to know. I have taught many myself. However, I am still a bit unclear about the Appleseed program. Or possibly, I am trying to understand why people are so willing to pay $70 plus the cost of ammo to learn rifle shooting, but we have a harder time convincing them to come to a highpower clinic that costs $10 plus ammo. Is target shooting perceived to be that much harder? Is it more intimidating? Is the fact that Appleseed starts at 25 yards rather than 100 or 200 the deciding factor. As many of you already know, very good rifle training is offered almost monthly. I would like to know how those of you who are interested in one view the other.

If I am available that weekend, I may run over to Sherburn to check it out and see why it is so popular.

Dan

 

[JustinR]

Man this is great news! I'll be bringing at least 3 friends to this event with me!

 

[BKliebert]

Dan,
I agree, it makes no sense to me either, with money being as tight as it is for most people these days $75 vs $10 and 25m vs 200yds, to most it should be a no brainer. I guess people are scared of the word MATCH. If they would come out and see it's all about having fun, picking on whoever is having a not so stellar day(usually me) and competing against yourself they would understand.

Confused

 

[dzelenka]

Louisiana will be hosting it's first Appleseed Shoot this May at the Shurburn LA WLF Range. The RWVA is an all volunteer, non profit organization dedicated to promoting marksmanship and the heritage and history of the American rifleman.

http://appleseedinfo.org/

It's $70 for the weekend; women, kids under 21, active military shoot for free.

A ton of info on the Appleseed site, but if there are any questions let me know.

So what is the $70 for? Targets are less than $5 and there isn't a range rental fee. The participants supply guns and ammo. The trainers are volunteer. Why the big cost?

 

[BKliebert]

So what is the $70 for? Targets are less than $5 and there isn't a range rental fee. The participants supply guns and ammo. The trainers are volunteer. Why the big cost?

Must be for that boyscout merit patch that says "Rifleman".

damifiknow

 

[SimonJester308]

So what is the $70 for? Targets are less than $5 and there isn't a range rental fee. The participants supply guns and ammo. The trainers are volunteer. Why the big cost?

The $70 is to help pay expenses, like food and lodging and I think for the program to grow. What, you expect these people to pay for their own fuel too? These people work damn hard, and travel all across the country to help wake up America, and get us reacquainted with our inner Patriot that as sat silent for to long. Divisive comments only serve in helping the enemies of Liberty.

 

[dzelenka]

The $70 is to help pay expenses, like food and lodging and I think for the program to grow. What, you expect these people to pay for their own fuel too? These people work damn hard, and travel all across the country to help wake up America, and get us reacquainted with our inner Patriot that as sat silent for to long. Divisive comments only serve in helping the enemies of Liberty.

It was an honest question. Are the instructors local or do they travel especially for this event? I am trying to figure it out. I have heard of the Appleseed program, but don't know how it is different from other rifle instruction. I have experience with the Army Marksmanship Unit clinics (which they put on for free) and know alot about the "train the trainer" clinics that civilian riflemen put on for the Army. But I don't know about this program. I have however spoken to people who have been through it an they had very favorable comments. I have also coached juniors who have been through Appleseed and they were far ahead of other juniors.

I want to make sure that I am clear, anything that gets people out shooting, especially learning how to hit what you aim at, is a good thing. but my question still stands about why choose this event over a highpower or garand clinic.

Dan

 

[LouisianaAKman]

I would love to go to a highpower clinic. Are there any offered in North LA? I have never been, but sounds fun. What are the requirements?

 

[SimonJester308]

dzelenka, I will us myself as an example in trying to illustrate why people would go to an appleseed instead of asking someone like yourself to learn how to improve their marksmanship. You are a NASCAR mechanic when it comes to shooting, I am a shade tree mechanic at best. What do you think would be less intimidating to me, one shade tree mechanic in the middle of lots of NASCAR experts, or a bunch of shade tree mechanics learning from a couple NASCAR experts? Its human nature, and people shouldnt have a hangup when it comes to learning, but it has been my experience that the back of the class seats fill up first so to speak.

Want to know what would be a great idea, for you to go and see how these guys teach. Then add to it your own ideas for a local program to teach people how to really shoot, instead of just wasting ammo.

 

[dzelenka]

I think we already do what you suggest.

On January 24th of this year we had 20 something new (to highpower) shooters at the Palo Alto range for a clinic. There were around 10 experienced shooters available as coaches. We started the clinic with a discussion of basic shooting theory - positions, use of a sling, sight alignment, sight picture, natural point of aim, and trigger control. after the discussion, we went to the 200 yard line and everyone shot from all three positions, both slow fire and rapid fire. They also learned to sight in their rifles. Each shooter on the line had his own experienced coach. We even supplied equipment to everyone who needed it. For this we charged a $10 range fee and a $5 rifle fee if you shot one of ours.

If I can make it, I plan to go and see what it is about.

The only thing I can think of concerning the intimidation factor is that we don't have a cute name for our clinics.

I would like anyone who has received training at Palo Alto or Gonzales to speak up. I would also like anyone who has gone to an Appleseed event to speak up. If you have done both (mtcur3), you need to put your 2 cents in.

Dan

 

[dzelenka]

I would love to go to a highpower clinic. Are there any offered in North LA? I have never been, but sounds fun. What are the requirements?

They have them at Ft. Polk. contact momallard on this board. he is in charge of highpower there.

 

[dzelenka]

He's got a point there, Dan.

.

I know that. I didn't start shooting highpower until I was 41 years old because I didn't think I could shoot as well as a "competition shooter". It only took one match to disabuse me of that misconception. Getting over the mental hurdle and going to the first match (we didn't even have clinics back then - truly deep end of the pool sort of thing) was the hardest part of highpower. Now look at me. Laying down on the line at 1000 yards and shooting against national champions doesn't phase me.

The hardest part of shooting is the discipline to put into practice what you learn. One weekend at an Appleseed clinic isn't going to do that. Learning fundamentals is great, but practicing what you learned is the most important thing. Where are you more likely to put into practice what you learned and hone your skills? Shooting at a target that leaves a record of where your hits are or bustin' caps at the BZ?

 

[ulshop]

my two cents....

I'd love to shoot long distance- high power... but until I can get comfortable shooting efficiently at 100 yards, 200 and beyond is "but a dream". I work with guys that went through rifle training in the service "back in the day".. listening with awe as they talk about hitting man sized targets 500 yards plus with an M14 and iron sights.

I'll be honest, I'm new to this... I bought my first rifle a year ago and up until the Appleseed a day at the range was shoot/spray, hope and go. Now I have a goal each trip and with practice, my shooting is improving. Beyond marksmanship, Appleseed is about keeping our heritage as shooters and riflemen alive. It's about getting new people onto the firing line and getting existing gun owners involved at whatever level.

I looked all over the Appleseed site before signing up and found nothing but great comments and positive feedback. One of my student workers went to Texas this month, had a terrific time, and I have 3-5 students lined up for the Shurburn shoot. Getting people active and involved... add that to the instruction and American history you'll hear, great weekend. Ask anyone who has attended an event and they are likely to be planning on going again.

I don't think it has to be an either/or situation...Appleseed or high power. Once a shooter gets used to shooting 25 meters, they naturally want to shoot further and further - gaining experience and accuracy along the way.

Once the semester ends and things calm down I'd like to come down for one of the Palo Alto clinics. I'm looking for any type of instruction, add that to the opportunity to shoot past 300 yards, good day all around.

 

[dzelenka]

my two cents....

I'd love to shoot long distance- high power... but until I can get comfortable shooting efficiently at 100 yards, 200 and beyond is "but a dream". I work with guys that went through rifle training in the service "back in the day".. listening with awe as they talk about hitting man sized targets 500 yards plus with an M14 and iron sights.

There is very little difference in shooting at any distance. The target looks the same over your sights. If you practice the basics, you are most of the way there. The only real difference is dealing with conditions (wind, light, etc.) That can only be learned shooting at distance. Any other perceived difficulty is in your mind.

I'll be honest, I'm new to this... I bought my first rifle a year ago and up until the Appleseed a day at the range was shoot/spray, hope and go. Now I have a goal each trip and with practice, my shooting is improving. Beyond marksmanship, Appleseed is about keeping our heritage as shooters and riflemen alive. It's about getting new people onto the firing line and getting existing gun owners involved at whatever level.

All of these things are important. especially getting gun owners onto the firing line and learning how to shoot. Having a goal and practicing with a purpose is the only way to improve. You should be doing this even when you are plinking. Anything else is just making noise and wasting bullets.

Getting people active and involved... add that to the instruction and American history you'll hear, great weekend.

Sounds like it to me.

I don't think it has to be an either/or situation...Appleseed or high power. Once a shooter gets used to shooting 25 meters, they naturally want to shoot further and further - gaining experience and accuracy along the way.

Not either/or at all. Perhaps I am not looking at this properly. Is the Appleseed event a basic marksmanship clinic for those who do not know how to shoot without a scope and a bench? If it is, everyone should be shooting at 25 yards with a .22 rimfire. I believe it would be counterproductive to shoot with a centerfire at those ranges with people of that skill level for several reasons - one is the possibility of developing or exacerbating a flinch and the others are related to positional issues that a centerfire rifle would cover-up but would be apparent shooting a rimfire. If you really want to learn to shoot, try 3 position smallbore like BS member MPL2353.

As far as shooting further is concerned, I will repeat - Any perceived difficulty is in your mind.

Once the semester ends and things calm down I'd like to come down for one of the Palo Alto clinics. I'm looking for any type of instruction, add that to the opportunity to shoot past 300 yards, good day all around.

Don't worry about waiting for a clinic. Make plans to attend the Gonzales Match (200 yards) on the 4th Sunday of any month. We will walk you through the process and coach you. If you like shooting, you will likely get hooked.

What I am hearing is that there is an intimidation factor that needs to be overcome. I will work on it.

Dan

 

[ulshop]

registration now open for Shurburne Appleseed

http://appleseedinfo.org/smf/index.php?topic=6463.0

Sign up for a three day event this Memorial Day weekend.

 

[CajunTim]

Women shoot free that is sexist and shouldnt be allowed to take place on Government property with logic like that, the same goes with kids.

Essentially they are discriminating based on age and gender.