Connecticut Appleseed Events, March-June 2010

[CortJestir]

Hi folks:

We've got several Appleseeds lined up for CT, with two in Chaplin, CT just an hour's drive from Rhode Island. Follow the links for more information.

Hope to see you at one of our events! PM or post here with any questions.

Good shooting,
CJ

Colebrook, CT Appleseed: March, 20-21, 2010
Event Information | Registration

Hartford, CT Appleseed: April 17-18, 2010
Event Information | Registration

Chaplin, CT Appleseed: June 19-20, 2010
Event Information | Registration

Colebrook, CT Appleseed: July 31 - August 1, 2010
Event Information | Registration

Chaplin, CT Appleseed: August 28-29, 2010
Event Information | Registration

Schedule of Appleseed Events Nationwide

What To Know Before Attending an Appleseed

 

[Hatterasguy]

I'm interested, what exactly is an Appleseed Event?

 

[CortJestir]

An Appleseed is a 2-day intensive rifle marksmanship course coupled with poignant and stirring presentations of colonial American history, specifically the events of April 19, 1775. But it is much more than that. It's a chance for everyday people to take part in a great and unique American tradition - one that we believe is slowly slipping away and being taken for granted. It's also a chance for rifle owners to become Riflemen and for casual hobbyists to become teachers and passionate volunteers, helping to pass on this unique American tradition on to others.

With regards to marksmanship, Appleseed teaches participants to shoot 4 MOA or better with nothing but themselves and their rifle (no benches, bipods, or rests). We teach the skills and techniques necessary to master the "Rifleman's Quarter Mile" which traditionally is 500 yards. A Rifleman can hit anything within this 500-yard radius of himself.

Additionally, an Appleseed meets part of the eligibility requirements for participation in the Civilian Marksmanship Program, a federally-chartered program that provides surplus battle rifles and accessories at steep discounts to American citizens. For example, service-grade M1 Garands can be had for $595 and M1 Carbines for $575.

Appleseed is one of the fastest growing marksmanship courses in the US, if not the fastest. Since its inception, we have doubled every year. In 2009, we held over 400 shoots nationwide with 10,000 participants. This year, we plan to hold 800-1000 shoots and we are well on our way.

For more information, visit The Welcome Center on the Appleseed Community Forums or have a look here.

To see what other participants of Appleseed have had to say, have a look at the many positive After Action Reports here and a nice write-up by Massad Ayoob here.

PM or post here with any other questions. Hope to see you at one of our events.

CJ
State Coordinator for Connecticut
RWVA Instructor and Range Safety Officer
Project Appleseed
http://www.appleseedinfo.org

 

[SOUTHPAW]

This sounds awesome!


Now I just need a rifle...

 

[bratch]

You can usually shoot both days with a .22lr. Any rifle will work but the two most popular are the 10/22 and the Marlin 795.

You can find photos from an OKC Appleseed last weekend here:

http://okcfirearmstraining.shutterfly.com/

They might help give you an idea what to expect.

 

[CortJestir]

Now I just need a rifle...

Bring a friend who has 2 rifles. Seriously, this happens quite a bit. Or beg and borrow one from a friend. As a last resort, we do have loaner rifles available but their availability is not guaranteed.

Of course, an Appleseed is the perfect excuse to pick up a new rifle

 

[desidog]

CortJestir,

I'm a little confused by the literature; are these Appleseed events focused on long-range shooting, like the 500 yards mentioned frequently in Appleseed literature...or just the 25M at Colbrook and 200yds at Chaplin?

I'd be very interested to do a 500 yard event; but 25M not so much.

Thanks for getting some events to CT, regardless. -dd

 

[CortJestir]

Good question, dd. As you can imagine, 500-yard ranges are few and far between in some parts (not all, but some) of the country, including CT. Because of this, we simulate longer ranges by scaling down targets at 25 meters (82 feet).

Why 25 meters? Because that means we can have Appleseeds even at pistol ranges, if needed. And more importantly, because what works at 25 meters, works at distance, even at 500 yards.

This is why we say we teach you to be a 4 MOA (Minute-of-Angle) shooter. Because an MOA is an MOA no matter what the range is.

25 meters (82 feet) sounds easy, right? Here's a little challenge for you. Next time you're at the range, draw a one-inch black square on a piece of paper and post it at 82 feet. If you can put three rounds into it reliably in under, say, 15 seconds (remember, no benches, bipods or rests of any kind! Just you and your rifle), you just may have what it takes to earn the coveted Rifleman patch with a score of 210 or higher on our qualification test. It's a challenge that very few rifle owners can accomplish these days. This is what Appleseed is trying to change. (BTW, 1 inch at 25 meters is roughly 4 MOA. At 500 yards, 4 MOA is roughly 20 inches - about the width of a man's shoulders. 500 yards is the effective (or practical) range of most battle rifles. See where this is going here?)

That being said, where available, we will have a long distance component at both Hartford and Colebrook (100 yard or 200 yard) to demonstrate that what works at 25m works at distance. All that is needed is to adjust for elevation and windage - and we teach that too.

Hope this helps and don't let the 25-meter distances turn you off to Appleseed. It's the skills and techniques that we teach that turn you into a Rifleman - not necessarily the actual distances at which you fire.

CJ

 

[bratch]

On the scaled target topic:

At last weekend's Appleseed on the 200 yard stage at 25m I shot a 46, on the true 200 yard stage I shot a 48. This has been my observation at other Appleseeds as well, atleast for me my 25m score is almost identical to my KD score.

 

[desidog]

Right, thanks for your replies.

My .22 gets plenty of exercise; and I'm aware of MOA and scaling targets...but since moving to CT my long range rifles have been collecting dust, and i thought that this might be an opportunity for actually shooting farther than 200 yds; I haven't found anywhere in CT to practice....and while scaled down targets and cartridge do serve a purpose, for wind and distance estimation there is no substitute than the real deal, IMO.

 

[CortJestir]

an opportunity for actually shooting farther than 200 yds; I haven't found anywhere in CT to practice

A common lament among those folks that move to CT... Ledyard goes out to 400 yards, I believe. Most other ranges max out at 200 yards. And I don't know of any public ranges that go out further than 100 yards.

and while scaled down targets and cartridge do serve a purpose, for wind and distance estimation there is no substitute than the real deal, IMO.

I won't disagree with you on that one, which is why we include the known distance portion at Appleseed if the range can accommodate. But if a shooter shoots more than 4 MOA at 25m, elevation and windage adjustments will be the least of his worries at the longer distances.

Anyway, I do hope you'll give it a try.

All the best,
CJ

 

[Hatterasguy]

Very interesting, I may sign up for one.

I have a K31 that would be just perfect for this kind of shooting. With some GP11 ammo if I suck I can't blame the rifle.

 

[CortJestir]

Excellent, Hatterasguy. I hope you do make it out to one of our events. Our April event in Hartford is the Big One, commemorating Patriot's Day (April 19, 1775). It's filling up quickly. If you can't make that one, they'll be plenty more down the road. Stay tuned here on THR or visit us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/CTAppleseed to get updates.

Thanks,
CJ

 

[CTGunner]

I picked up a brochure about this at a gun store. I am mostly familiar with handguns and shoot them often. I do own an AR-15, iron sights only, but I have only used it once. Would I be welcomed as a real novice?

 

[bozzman3]

Yes.Applseeds teach the new and experienced!

 

[CortJestir]

CTGunner, absolutely. You'd be very welcome at an Appleseed. We've had everyone from complete newbies (as in having never shot a firearm before) to designated marksmen and everyone in between, all on the same line.