Questions about Rifles for Appleseed

[Seminole]

It looks like I'm finally going to be able to go to an Appleseed event. While I'm a fairly experienced handgunner and have collected a number of cool mil-surp rifles with my C&R, I've never been much of a rifle shooter, with most of my experience being limited to bolt-action .22s and a little with my fairly new 10/22, to which I've now mounted tech-sights.

I'll be taking my 10/22, which I understand is ideal for the short-range portion of the event. For the long-range portion, I'll probably take both my CMP Garand and a Norinco SKS, to which I hope to attach tech-sights before going. I have some questions, however, which you fine folks may be able to help with:

1) Is it a safe assumption that the Garand would be the better weapon for this event and I should use the SKS as a back-up in case my Garand has a problem? Or would the SKS be better as the main rifle, given its larger capacity?

2) All my .30-06 ammo is the Greek HXP already in enblocs. Is this satisfactory or do I need to have some enblocs unloaded? Should I acquire some smaller-capacity enblocs for use in various stages?

3) I have GI-type web slings for both my 10/22 and my Garand. Should I use a GI-type web sling for the SKS? If so, how is the best way to attach a GI web sling to an SKS?

Not being a very experienced rifle shooter, I'm a little nervous about this. I realize I'm not supposed to know everthing, but I don't want to look like a total dufus!

Thanks for any help you can provide!

 

[Wheeler44]

Mag size isn't important, you will only be shooting ten shot strings, at the most. The COF (course of fire) favors the Garand, with the timed portions being 2shots, reload, 8shots for 10 total. You shouldn't need different en blocks either, look around on the Appleseed site, they explain how to load two rounds in a standard enblock. http://www.appleseedinfo.org/smf/

 

[Tarvis]

Web slings are a must. A garand is probably better if you can afford to shoot it, mostly because the sights are better. You will need some enbloc clips that hold 2, 3 and 5 rounds iirc for the AQT. I suggest starting with a 10/22 if you can't afford to shoot the whole class with 30-06.

 

[MiddleAgedKen]

+1 on the sling. I haven't been to an Appleseed yet, partially because I don't have a rifle with a sling yet.

 

[Seminole]

So what is the best way to attach a GI web sling to an SKS?

 

[Mister Peace]

With your hands.

 

[7mmsavage]

10/22 is a good choice

I had the same delima a few months ago befre my frst Appleseed. Just couldn't find a decent way to attach a sling to my SKS without damaging the stock. I drilled my 10/22, added sling swivel studs, and used a cotton G.I. sling. The ruger was fine for what we did, I brought the SKS along but never bothered to get it out. Like I said, it was my first time, so the most important part was learning the technique, not rifle caliber. There's another one coming to my area in November. I am planing on taking an AR this time, but with ammo prices what they are, the 10/22 might be going again.

 

[PMATULEW]

Attaching sling

The back of the sling can be threaded through the existing sling loop. You need a snap hook for the front. I looked all over locally and got nowhere.

Ended up buying and fistful from these folks. -->http://www.umei.com/spring-snaps-1-10.htm

Don't worry about looking like a doofus. Everyone does. That's a given. That's why you're going.

When I went we shot 40 round strings. Brings many mags/clips and lots of ammo.

 

[Seminole]

Thanks, PMATULEW. Those swivel snap hooks look like a good idea. I'll see if I can find something like that locally that is 1 1/4" that would work with a GI web sling--if not, I'll see about ordering from the link you provided.

Has anyone else had any success with other methods of using a web sling on an SKS for an Appleseed?

 

[Recoil Junky]

Ask the person running the Appleseed. They might have a 'loaner' available.

 

[Jason_G]

I know ammo cost would be out of this world, but otherwise, would a Garand or M14 be overkill for an appleseed?

Jason

 

[bobernet]

I know ammo cost would be out of this world, but otherwise, would a Garand or M14 be overkill for an appleseed?

I shot the entire 2 days with my .308 Garand. It was definitely not overkill.

If you can afford to shoot a real centerfire rifle for the event, do it. A 10/22 is fine for cost savings, but if you're doing it because you're afraid it's too much gun, don't.

There is no need for any size clips other than standard 8 rounders. You can individually load rounds into enbloc clips while they're in the rifle, but you don't technically even need to do that. You can just start with a full clip - pull the bolt handle, hit the eject button, load another clip and keep going.

 

[Organdonor]

A quick sling to use on just about any gun (without any modification to the rifle at all) is an IDF sling. They're cheap, and clip to paracord (that's included) that you've secured to the rifle. I found some on sale for just under $10 each. Here's a link to a site with them. You can also get them from eBay.
http://www.onestopisraelshop.com/items/sar1094

 

[Seminole]

Just take the little 1022
All you're going to be doing is plinking at 25 yards anyway.
Don't waste your '06 on that.

Actually, there will be a long-range component at this range. But thanks anyway.