Appleseed Shoot, Kemmerer, WY

"Shooting is the only sport the Founding Fathers endorsed."

Over the weekend I attended my first rifle course. I learned SO much. I'd have to say it was the best class I have payed for since a few upper division classes during my undergraduate program. I highly recommend this class to everyone: gun-hater, beginner, pretty-good-shot, expert.

The course was offered through the RWVA (Revolutionary War Veteran's Association), it is one of their Appleseed Shoots (their purpose is to encourage every American to learn their heritage of marksmanship). The instructors were EXCELLENT, there were 3 and each of them gave individual feedback on my shooting (the feedback got better when I actually it the target so they could interpret my shots). I didn't take many pictures, camera's didn't seem to be common place. The few I did take I got the feeling that everyone looked at me as one of those out-of-place city folk, now couple that with the fact that it took me over a day to hit my targets...I don't like feeling like a tourist.

Here are our targets at 25 yards away. If you click you can see examples of 3 of the four targets we used. My targets are at that spot where you can see the 3 types of targets, sort of in the middle.

I left my siblings for the shoot and parked myself between three of the best shooters at the course (I didn't know it at the time, I was just trying to become more of an independent shooter without always deferring to my brothers for help.) These men were great at making me feel welcome and encouraging me during those discouraging times when there was no evidence on my targets that I fired any bullets at them. There was Vern, a professional trapper, and Mike and Greg (I don't know their professions). Mike was shooting something a big larger than a .22, it was louder and the shells were hotter and larger and flying all around me. Once one of the hot brass made it down my shirt and I got burned, the guys thought it was a real riot (they also felt bad). But they made up for it by helping me learn the right techniques and giving me constructive criticism. By the end of the course my aim had improved a lot, though not even close enough to pass the Army Qualification test to become a Rifleman.

This was a mural on one of the buildings at the gun range. I am not sure what that little pheasant is doing, maybe a rain dance? Maybe since this part of Wyoming is windy it is just waving its wings in the wind in a welcoming manner.


This is where we slept. I have never slept at a gun range. We never left during our stay. I felt like a gun range junkie.
This little brother is challenging me to a draw. I think he forgot that this was a rifle class and none of us were packing pistols.
Oh, maybe he was challenging me to a spitting or a water-fountain contest...he won.

Let's just say that I learned that I am not a very good marksman. But I learned enough to become one. Now I need to practice, practice, practice. They sent us home with yoga poses to do 3 days a week, to keep us limber and ready. Some of the correct shooting positions sure do tax the muscles of your back and neck. And hopefully I will actually take time once a month to go fire a rifle. And, now I want to learn all about the Revolutionary War.

So, in case you were thinking about my NYR's, this actually checks off one of my goals. And, it goes hand in hand with my theme this year: Year of the Reluctant Revolutionaries.

There is a week long course (boot camp) at the end of July...anyone want to take it with me?