What to expect at Appleseed

[Sam1911]

Hi All!

I'm seriously considering attending the PA Appleseed shoot in September. I don't know that much about them (RWVA) than what's on their site, but it looks awesome and a great chance to learn.

I'm curious to hear from folks who've participated about what to bring and what to expect.

Once upon a time I shot NRA 3-position smallbore for some years (shot at Perry in '94), and a little high-power. I did the DCM thing, back when it *was* DCM, so I am not a brand newbie to "practical" rifle shooting. But I'd be planning to enter this as a blank slate.

I've read over their list of recommended items to bring, and that all looks fine, except I didn't catch whether you should plan on 400 rounds for the high-power gun by itself or 400 rounds between the big one and your .22 or 400 rds each? What do you need?

I'm planning to bring either my Garand or '03-A3. I think. Maybe one as a back-up for the other. I have around 300 rds. of Korean ball, maybe 120 rds. of Greek ball, and then some "match" hand-loads I made up last year. When they speak of average shooters with rack grade rifles and service ammo ... well, are they serious? Should my DCM Garand and some Korean surplus ammo be all I need to do this, or would you all invest in the components to make some high-quality ammo for this event? Again, 400 rds of good stuff? That's going to cost significantly more than my match fees, for sure! Is it going to make that much difference?

Further, what would you do to prepare? What kind of practice and how much?

Finally, as I've said, I've planned to shoot this with the '03-A3 or Garand. I also have a couple of buddies who might like to shoot it but haven't purchased rifles yet...and I might just be curious about other guns. What, of the following, would you feel good bringing to an Appleseed shoot:

K-31
FAL (Stg58)
M48A Mauser
SKS

(for giggles?)
AKS-74, AKM, M1 Carbine?

Thanks for the advice!

-Sam

 

[realmswalker]

Hello Everyone,

Being That I am in cali, we haven't really had a chance to participate in one of these until now, and I must say it was one of the greatest experiences of my life.

The shoot was held and mike rahaagues shooting range in Corona. It was a very good turnout and we had so many people we actually had to do relays with one line on a left target and one line on a right target.

Day one ran from 830 to almost 6 oclock, we pretty much shot till the sun went down. The instruction I got from this course and the skills I have taken away are Phenomenol, I can not stress highly enough that if you can do this shoot, then do it.

Day two ran like a normal day shoot with only one line of shooters per relay, no swaps. It was windy as heck on day two and sand and dust were blowing everywere, but around 11 or 12 it calmed down and wasnt too bad.

My hats go off to the instructors as they did and AMAZING job not only with instruction, but with range safety, and just being general all around very nice people. If you go to a shoot and are lucky to have Junior Birdman as you coach for the classes, he taught very well and in a manner that anyone can understand, which gave us the basic ways to effectively shoot a rifle.

All the other staff was great such as Koolaid, Bob, Frank, and everyone else, If you read this and I missed you by name I apologize, but everyone did a great job.

And one of my favorite parts of the experience was the history lesson on the start of the revolutionary was on april 19, 1775. All the people who read did a GREAT job and I for one loved it and was inspired.

The only regret I have is that I did not shoot rifleman, I missed it by 8 points on the very last stage But i have taken so many great skills to practice and build upon, I am hoping to shoot it at my next shoot.


This AQT is shot with 4 stages of 10 rounds each. The first stage is shot standing which is the largest target on top, 10 rounds, and you have 2 minutes to complete it. I may be getting my time mixed up on these stages but this is best I can remember, been a long day.

The second stage is shot sitting position starting from standing, 5 in each of the two targets that are side by side. You must do a mag change after the second shot then put three more in the first target and 5 in the last. 50 seconds to complete I believe.

The third stage is shot from the prone position, starting from standing. Three targets side by side side. 2 in the first target, then a mag change then 1 more in the first. 3 in the second target, then 4 in the last target. 60 seconds to complete I believe

The fourth stage is started from prone and stays in prone. 2 shots on the first target, 2 on the second, 3 on the third and 3 on the fourth. 2 and a half or three minutes to complete, Im pretty sure im wrong on the time on this one.

Those targets at the bottom look mighty small through iron sights at 25 meters. But it was a great time.

That was my experience sam. I would also go to the web site and read everything, especially the FAQ on what to expect, and what to bring, then bring everything they tell you to, it will make your day that much better.

As for your ammo, try and stick with the same ammo, chaning your ammo will change your point of impact. the garand is your best bet as you will need to do some reloads pretty quickly

 

[Tarvis]

I attended my first appleseed this year in Vale, OR and it was truly worth while. If you plan on going blank slate, don't worry about practicing. If you are a seasoned shooter and a quick learner (as a true rifleman is ) you won't have any problems with the course information.

I logged every round I shot; I think it was around 300 but I'd have to check. If you are planning on getting the basics on the .22LR then shooting the next day with your center fire, I suggest having a loop sling that will fit both rifles so you aren't re-learning with a different sling.

As the day went on, I noticed my scores getting worse and worse. I shot a 210 Sunday morning, then couldn't get above 188 after that. I think dehydration played a part even though I drank a lot of powerade and water, but also the heat in general. Soak a handkerchief in water and wrap it around your neck to help keep cool. Also, try and get next to someone with a rifle that flings brass up and over you so you don't get pelted. Larger cartridges going off next to my ear makes me flinch a little as well, so the smaller your neighbors rifle is the better, but ultimately you may not get to choose.

Bring an extra center fire rifle just in case; I didn't either of the two I brought FWIW.

We only fired at 25 yards, but it sounds like they usually go out further. For all intensive purposes, I think match ammo is a little bit excessive if it costs you an arm and a leg. While I'm not sure what my rifle was capable of, I did manage to fire some very small groups, which tells me that the bad groups I shot were that way due to failure to follow the steps or bad shooting position. Your equipment will probably not hold you back, as long as it is capable of 4 moa.

especially the FAQ on what to expect

+1. There are a couple of different faq pages, one in the forum I believe, all of which are very helpful.

 

[funfaler]

Some very good replies!

Here is an unofficial site that will give you some good preperation information.

http://appleseedshoot.blogspot.com/

Keep in mind that "new policy" says that women shoot FREE along with Kids under 21 and current Military members.

So, bring lots of friends and family!

 

[chris in va]

I went to the Appleseed in PA last year.

The first day is basically sighting in your gun. Many people show up with various firearms that can't even hit the paper. So sight it in at 25 yards first.

Next comes the sling use lesson. Be sure to bring the cotton 'GI' web sling, nothing else.

Then you settle in on some drills...prone, standing, sitting.

That's about it. Definitely leave the bolt action at home. If you have a 22 semiauto, bring that instead of the Garand. Shooting 400+ rounds in two days will beat the snot out of you, especially prone. OW! I was using my Saiga x39 and I was wishing it had a Limbsaver on it.

I'd say out of all those you have listed, the SKS with TechSights would be pretty good. Might not get you Marksman but will do the job. You want *some* sort of peep sight like on your Garand or AR.

No need to practice, you'll get plenty...believe me. They will show you techniques that will be different from what you're used to.

Oh, either use some low profile electronic muffs or earplugs. Regular muffs will just clunk on the stock. No need for knee/elbow pads either just a nice cushy camping pad.

 

[jrfoxx]

I'd like to give it a go myself, but the only one in the state I know of it near the ID border in Vale, and thats a pretty long trek from here with the price of gas, and only having the 1 car currently (and a wife and 16yo daughter that have things to do that require a car too). Hopefully I can give it a try before to long, once I can afford a second, reliable car.moneys kinda tight, wife cant work for health reasons, and the job is starting to look like a complete shutdown and layoff may be heading this way.

 

[Canuck-IL]

Just finished one 2 weeks ago. Great time, had a lot of senior boy scouts and families in attendance so there was a little more instruction and a little less shooting than the norm - - only needed 250 rounds in the first 2 days of a 3 day session (couldn't make the 3rd day).

The blog listing of supplies is good ... for sure, a camp chair, lots of water, snack bars or granola type things to grab on the run, pack a light lunch w some Red Bull or Gatorade type liquids.

Of the 21 shooters, probably 12 had a Ruger 10-22 - perfectly adequate for what they're teaching. Aperture sights are definitely preferred, a bolt rifle is useable but a hindrance given how much else you're trying to get done during the timed shooting drills. Bring a GI web sling. I used a piece of carpet remnant, about 4*6, I'd probably put a rubber mat or somesuch on it next time ... we set up on a bed of pea gravel and one tended to 'dig in' through the thin outdoor carpet and cause ruts that were a nuisance in repeated prone firings. No need for elbow pads or shin pads w the carpet.

All of our shooting was done at 25 meters. I used an AR and went out and bought a surplus USMC shooting jacket immediately after. Even w the minimal recoil, the repeated mounting / dismounting of the butt left my shoulder pretty sore. My biggest problem was finding the sling length from standing to prone to sitting - big advantage if you can pre-mark your sling for the 3 lengths (or 2, depends on personal preferences). Here's a link for proper use of a GI web sling.

http://www.ray-vin.com/frtech.htm

If you've sat in front of a computer 8-10 hrs a day for the last 30 years, you're going to get a little stiff, sore and fatigued doing all the position changes along w the extended periods in prone or sitting while the instructors walk the line and check things out ... especially if it's 90 degrees. Some yoga or gen'l flexibility exercises beforehand would have helped, but the gf has been telling me that for 5 years - LOL!! A high SPF sunscreen and a hat are a necessity; a couple of towels for general drying off and one for covering the gun as it'll lay out on the line for extended periods while you're having demonstrations and short talks.

Here's the forum for AS ... read over some of the After Action Reports about 12 topics down for more details.

http://www.appleseedinfo.org/smf/

Had a great time, heck of a deal even given my 2 hour drive each way, each day. The history lessons were excellent, the instructors were friendly, very easy-going but professional. I'll be back.
/Bryan

 

[dutch pirate]

I would def say to go with a semi-auto that has a detachable box magazine. AR-15, 10/22, and M1A are the ideal rifles. The guy that had a Garand wore out quicker than eveyone else. Also the COFs with the reloads were a little more difficult for him.
What to expect: Bring an open mind and have fun. The great thing is that you will be there with some people just like you. Yes, there might be one of those guys that MREs for fun and sits on the ground because they taste better that way. But, most of the people I met were good guys.

 

[Sam1911]

Hi!

Thanks for all the great suggestions and war stories! I'm really looking forward to this!

(Maybe I'm slow on the uptake but...) I gather that you could shoot the entire thing with a .22? I was under the impression that there would be actual long-range shooting as well. Does this happen just sometimes, or if you want to?

I'd like to work on technique up close with a .22, sure, but I'd sure want to put some rounds way out there, as well, if only to prove to myself that I'm getting it.

I'll go read all the suggested links.

Thanks much!

-Sam

 

[funfaler]

Range permitting, there may be some actual distance shooting available.

Take a look at the event information that Appleseed provides for your shoot location, it should let you know.

Most of the shooting will be at 25 meters/82 feet. So take the 22 for sure, and if actual distance is available, take your centerfire rifle as well.

Enjoy