Appleseed shoot this weekend!

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tehweej

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I am planning on attending the Appleseed shoot here in Billings this weekend, and I am super excited! I ordered 600 round of 7,62x54r on chargers from AIM, and that should be here tomorrow. I know a MN is not the ideal rifle for one of these, but it is cheap to feed for a centerfire. Isn't the AQT setup for a 1903 Sprgfld? I think it will be a blast shooting an old rifle, and a good test of the rifle's and my accuracy. I had it hitting an 8" circle at 300 from a bench 4 out of 5 times until it heated up and the POI changed. Once I changed my hold point I could hit it again with similar results. The part I am interested in seeing how I do is using a sling and running the bolt with my left hand (as I am left handed) Correct me if I am off, but when using a sling, your support arm is tied up in the sling, which rules running the bolt with my right hand out. I have never done one of these shoots before, so I am not 100% sure on the way the shooting is done. Should be a kick though! (pun intended):D
 
Appleseed is a blast, me and my fiance loved it.

We used 22LR and my shoulder thanked me after two days of non-stop firing but their were plenty of people using 308's so you should be alright. I don't know how it will go with a bolt action but the stripper clips will help.

I think your biggest problem is going to be shooting lefty when working the bolt. You should be able to still adapt the use of the sling but using your left hand will cause a longer time to get back on target. This with the time spent using the stripper clips to reload will make the timed parts difficult.

I am left handed as well but right eye dominant. I shoot shotguns and handguns lefty because both eyes are kept open. I was forced to shoot rifles righty but after a while I was thankful. It improved my accuracy forcing me to concentrate on every aspect and most things are set up for rightys.
 
Doing an Appleseed with a Mosin...

Wow! Tehweej--Good on you going to an Appleseed!

Re: Shooting that much with the Mosin: are you relatively recoil-insensitive?? Never fired a Mosin myself, but they have a reputation as really hard kickers. In a typical Appleseed event you fire hundreds of rounds.

Should be an "interesting" time!

Now, if you're serious about this, I'd: get a PAST shoulder pad for yourself. Also get a slip-on recoil pad for the rifle. Between the 2 of 'em that should lessen the kick to some extent.

You do know that you need a military-type sling for the rifle. To get the max benefit from the instruction, this is a MUST.

Something the Appleseed bring-list mentions but does not emphasize is elbow pads--I found them indispensable. Use the pads used by volleyball players, or skateboarders, and with skateboard pads I put soft stuff inside the pads also. All that prone shooting plays hob with the elbows.

The AQT is indeed set up for the '03 Springfield. Most of it is shot @ 25 yds, using size-modified targets for 100, 200, and 300 yds, so if you're practiced up with the Russian rifle you will probably do OK.

Anyhow, have fun, be open to learning, shoot well, enjoy, and if you could, report back here with pix. :)
 
Plan on learning something and you will. It is certainly an enjoyable process. I can definitely say that elbow pads are a must-have, as is a shooting mat of some sort. I was REALLY glad that I took not only a padded shooting mat but also a carpet remnant to go under the mat. We shot on concrete and I needed all the padding I could get.

However, you will have a hell of a time qualifying "Rifleman" with your Mosin. The course of fire is designed around the Garand, not the Springfield, so autoloaders have a distinct advantage. Which is why the Ruger 10/22 with Tech Sights is so popular. The open sights and manually operated action make it a much greater challenge, particularly in the second and third stages. Working a right hand bolt left-handed will make it near impossible to get it all done within the time constraints.
 
Appleseed is FANTASTIC.

I agree the mosin will be an excersize in frustration.

But what the heck, bring it along, and a backup. if you dont think you can hack it after the first day, switch.
 
Is the canvas sling that comes with the mosin on par for the sling requirements? It is pretty basic so I am not sure if it meets the grade. I do have a limbsaver slip on recoil pad that tames the steel buttplate down to a rather comfortable level. I was benchresting at the range last week and put probably 30-40 rounds through it no problem, no bruise.

I have a set of hockey elbow pads that I will bring along, good advice there! I am looking forward to the challenge of seeing if I can score high enough to make rifleman. Even if I don't make the grade, I am sure I will learn alot about shooting fast and accurately, which will make the next Appleseed (next year, and after I get myself a nice shiny EBR :evil: ) easier to make the grade.
 
Dont cheap out on the sling. you really got to get the GI one. Seriously.

If my experiance was indicative, dont worry about the elbow pads, bring a shooting mat or sleeping bag mat and you will be fine. the pad itself starts to rub ya after a while.

and some quick detach sling swivles would be a serious nice thing to have.
 
Your worst problem will be your sights. They lack the fine adjustment that is necessary for this type shooting.
 
Agreed on the GI sling, its *by far* my favorite sling for competition and target shooting in general. At only $15 from appleseed's online store http://www.appleseedstore.flyingcart.com/ its a bargin too. I'm sure you can find it other places, but its tricky to get the right one.

I find it vastly more usable and practical than the typical leather 1903 sling with its myriad of holes, hooks, and keepers.

I've modded mine with pushbutton QD links at either end, and I just bought a second for my new Rem 700.
 
More shooting, more recoil...

Teweej--You said
I was benchresting at the range last week and put probably 30-40 rounds through it no problem, no bruise.
Click to expand...
At an Appleseed it is more like 150-200 rounds per day, for 2 days.

If you're going to the Appleseed this weekend, there won't be time to mail-order a sling from The Appleseed website. (You could 'phone-order, and pay astronomically for 3-day delivery, of course.) But in Billings, or environs, there should be a sptg gds store or 2, and what you want is a "G. I. style sling" either in webbing, or in leather. I would expect that you could find one locally, with a little 'phone research.

ETA--Here's a U-Tube presentation of how to use a G. I. sling. www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaRCFpH27-w
 
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They may have GI web slings at the shoot, they did at mine. They tried to sell me on one but I'm glad I stuck with my Brownells Competitor Plus 1907. I qualified three times with it so I think it worked pretty well.

If you have the elbow pads, take them. Unless you spend all day on them at work, you'll be glad you did. They also make it easier to pivot on your lead elbow when changing from target to target, without chafing.
 
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Ouch!

If you can get your rifle zeroed to be right-on at 25m you will be ahead. The goal is 5 shots in a 1 inch square.
Seems simple but it could take you most of day one to get it correct with the drift/file adjustable sites on the Mosin.

It will be fun anyway.
You will sure get everyones attention on the opening volley "Redcoat" target.;)
 
Every rifle owner should attend an Appleseed to learn the correct way to shoot. You also get to know your rifle very, very well.

If you're into your sling properly, the recoil isn't that bad.
I shot an Appleseed with an 8mm Yugo Mauser. 450 or so rounds and my shoulder was fine. Keep the sling tight and the stock won't slam, it'll just push.
 
tehweej ; dont think for a moment that the Mosin will be a bad deal for you, there are 2 points to consider, 1st, the recoil managment benifits of the positions the instructors will teach you will more than overcome any problem you may have with the Mosin, if incorporated with a sling and it's proper use. 2nd, The Appleseed program was origonally designed around the use of surplus millitary rifles, which of course the Mosin fits perfectly, as I believe you mentioned you have aquired your ammunition on stripper clips so recharging the rifle rapidly is no big deal either. Inso far as being left handed goes, I'm reasonably certian that this is mearly a function of being more familliar with your rifle, which you will be by the end of the course, just think it over where you need to place your ammunition to quickly grasp it, and go with an attitude that will allow you to absorb the material they present. Additionally, as a refrence to what I've just written I personally instructed a young man in Laramie Wyo this Feburary ,also a lefty, with the regular 90$ Mosin, who shot an amazing 232 points on the course, so I know it's not only doable with that rifle, I've seen it done several times during the Appleseeds I've instructed.
 
Leather sling. In a pinch you can chew on it to deal with the pain of shooting 600rds of 7.62x54R. ;)
 
Risky business - Wow! Thanks for that bit of encouragement.

I just picked up a surplus M1 Garand sling from the local Army/Navy surplus store. (told the guy I was doing an Appleseed, and he said this sling will work) Looks like it might need a little work to get it to work on my gun, but maybe using the dog collars it won't be too bad.

I also got my shipment of lacquer-coated-glory-in-a-box! It was very cool knowing that I was the first person to see the inside of those lovely zinc cans since 3-9-1953 :D Talk about a sturdy box! The wood box that the cans arrived in from this point forward is going to be my main ammo box (until I get some US surplus metal ones, that are watertight :))

Also had a chance the other night to float the barrel (save the end) and put a slice of cork under the very front. I am anxious to see how it does now!

Oh! and ALSO.... jk. Just realized I was using also a lot....
 
Appleseed is a great program. It's high quality instruction, and a lot of fun.

You can actually use the Mosin sling if it's adjusted properly. It can be set up around your bicep almost as well as a GI sling. Just undo the rear dog collar, put your arm in the large loop of the sling, and slip the leather loop down snug against your bicep. Adjust the tension using the slider until it's right. The GI sling is much easier to adjust, however.

Now, as to your choice of rifle. I applaud your courage at taking the equivalent of 30-.06 recoil in your shoulder several hundred times in a weekend, but that is a recipe for developing a flinch.

I would highly recommend that if you have access to a .22 with detachable mags, you take it, and an extra mag. I'm not going to say you can't do it, but it is extremely difficult to reload a bolt action fast enough for the rapid fire segments, especially left handed. The course of fire is set up like the Army AQT, which is actually based on the fact that the M1 Garand clip holds eight rounds. So.....for the 10 round rapid fire segments, you load 2 and then reload with 8, or they allow 5 and 5 if that's why your mags hold. Strippers will help, but it's going to be challenging at best without being able to just slap in a 2nd mag and keep going.

But what you need to remember is that while only a few earn their rifleman patch, everyone learns, if they listen and practice what is preached. I considered myself a pretty good shot, but my shooting was greatly improved by attending. Pay attention and keep a teachable attitude, and you'll have a great time.

It's worth going just for the history lesson!
 
I was looking through these posts and apparently about 1/2 of these folks have had some contact with the Appleseed program, that is outstanding, I can only hope that more folks get on board with it.
 
What's keeping you???

G. A. Steffens--You said:
I am hoping to participate some day as well.
Click to expand...
Well, what's keeping you?? All you need is (1) a reasonably accurate rifle, and several hundred rounds of ammo, (2) transportation to the Appleseed site, (3) a weekend of your own, and (4) most importantly, THE WILL TO DO IT!!!

See you @ an Appleseed!
 
I shot my first Appleseed earlier this month. It was a "mini" event consisting of only one day instead of two. I brought my bolt action .22 with just a regular carry sling and I still got a lot out of it. With the bolt action, I didn't get off all of my shots and I was always fighting with keeping my sling in position because I had to use the hasty method, but I still scored 185 (need 210 to get the patch). I have no doubt that next time I attend an event, I will be able to take an autoloading .22 with a military sling and easily shoot a 210. You will have a lot of fun!
 
After 2 days, you'll be working that bolt with your left hand like a pro!

I learned a lot, met some great people, had a ton of fun, and a bunch of sore muscles by Sunday evening :D
 
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