Appleseed Shoot

[Mikey]

I went to one of the 100 Appleseed shoots scheduled for this weekend to commenmorate some of the earliest fighting of the revolution, and had a ball.  I seriously recommend a Appleseed shoot for everyone who owns a mil-surp and has ever wondered if they could ever (really) use it effectively. 

The Appleseed Project is pretty interesting:  there is a lot of historic information presented, a lot of safety issues covered and shooting styles and practices overviewed.  The first day of shooting is interspersed with history and training, but then ya get to shoot, and for those of us who have been there it seems to bring it all back.  The second day is when you really burn up the ammo.......

I was positioned between a friend with a AR, I used my AK, a gal next to me was using a M1 Carbine, the young fella next to my buddy was shooting a SKS.  It was rainy and cold, the wind was blowing, most of us were soaked with muddy water, there was sand everwhere and with the noise, brass flying by or sizzling in a puddle of water, the gunsmoke and smell of burned off mil-spec ammo, everything seemed to fade out except the front sight and the target, the way it should be.  One older man - my age - was using a 8mm Mauser.  He, I and my buddy can all tell you that as you age it is very tough on older bones and joints to drop (?) from a standing position to a kneeling or sitting position (like we used to be able to do when we were much younger) and then flop on down to the prone position on sore elbows and keep shootin' acurately - but it sure was one hay of a lot of fun and I am quite surprised and very happy with my scores and the knowledge that I can still hang in there and hit almost as well as when I was younger.

By the way, does anyone here realize that the first casualty of the Revolutionary War was a 63 y/o man who commanded a troop of the local militia.  If a man that age can commit to that level of sacrifice I most certainly can aspire to the same.

[Graybeard]

What is the significance of the name "appleseed shoot"?

[Mikey]

I felt the focus of the project was training with a strong historical outlook.

I took the following from their frequently asked questions website:  Appleseed is a program that instructs Americans on the traditional rifle marksmanship skills that have been passed down from generation to generation, along with reconnecting today's Americans with the people and events of the Founding era. Participants are taught fundamental rifle marksmanship skills that are required to allow a Rifleman to be accurate out to 500 yards, with iron sights, standard rifle and surplus ammo. This is the traditional 'Rifleman's Quarter mile', which is an uniquely American Rifleman skill, that has been part of this nation from the very first days.

Most of the instruction at an Appleseed is conducted at 25 meters, at reduced size targets to simulate 100 to 500 yards. This well proven technique allows us to concentrate on the shooter's mechanics and less time walking a range. At those locations that allow for actual distance shooting, participants are often able to see first hand that the skills that they learn at 25 meters directly apply to actual distances out to 500 yards. These foundational skills are not being passed on to future generations, and so Appleseeds are great for new or experienced shooters alike.

Why "Appleseed?"

"Appleseed" comes from Johnny Appleseed, the American folk hero who toured the country, planting appleseeds so that future generations would benefit. The Appleseed Project is designed to ensure the next generations will the benefit of the same Liberties as the generations before them.

The Appleseed Instructors will travel anywhere in the nation, bringing the proven Appleseed course, as a complete, self-contained package, to your range/club/farm, so that you and your neighbors can experience Appleseed in your back yard.

They seek to do three things: teach marksmanship and respect for the tradition of such, and to preserve the knowledge of our Revolutionary War history. That's all we're about, plain and simple. They believe that if we teach it, it'll wake our fellow Americans...and an awake America is an America that cannot be defeated. We want freedom to ring strong. We want Lady Liberty to be safe.  HTH.

[The Pistoleer]

There is a good write up on The Appleseed shoots in this month's Backwoods Home Magazine by Massad Ayoob.  22s are very popular since around 500 rounds are required.
 I think scopes are allowed.

Pete

[Mikey]

Pistoleer:  you are right about the use of scopes, and 22s as it is one heck of a lot cheaper to shoot the course of fire with 22s than with centerfire, but centerfire is the basis for the standard of the quarter mile shot, or the ability to make a shot to 500 yds.; and there were a significant number of 22 shooters who attened.  The only non-mil-surp centerfire I saw was a mini-14.  Ammo requirements are about 200-250 rounds the first day and 250-400 the second day so you can see where the cost benefit of using 22s comes in but one of these matches is going to see me with a 303 British, really good elbow pads and a recoil pad; in the interim I think I will stick with the AK I used and get some really good elbow pads and practice yoga so I can get down into the sitting position, and get up from it. 

[bremraf]

Thanks for posting up about this.. i really want to attend one. I'll probably use a 22 for the first day and pull out the ak for the long range stuff... I'm in fl and there are a couple around the state that let you shoot up to 500 yards the second day.  Hoping to attend one in the very near future.