2008 Corona, Ca. Appleseed

I saw the event scheduled a few months ago, and after a bit of research decided to go. I'll be attending with a friend who is somewhat new to rifle shooting.

I'll be there October 18th and 19th. If you're also attending, let me know!

I'm not going so I can shoot on the move, fire from cover, practice tactics for the urban long gun, engage in life-fire stress training, or learn how to set punji stick traps. I don't care if Fred once said to someone who knows someone who knows my ex-brother-in-law's neighbor's gardener's wife that he was a jelly donut.

I'm going to learn techniques to improve my marksmanship.

Because that's the service offered.

They use slings in their training, which somehow makes people dubious. "A sling?! The devil you say! Harumph! Harumph! Harumph!" When I started learning to shoot (not to pull the trigger; to actually shoot) I didn't even know you could USE a sling to steady your rifle in prone, sitting, and standing positions. After I bought Art of the Rifle by Jeff Cooper, I learned about the shooting sling and how highly he regarded it. At the time, though, I practiced his other techniques and eschewed the shooting sling as an anachronism. But that didn't stop me from picking up two cheap ones from the next gun show. After a few false starts, and a bit of practice revisiting Col. Cooper's tips, I realized that I could hold a rifle in the prone position as steadily as I could from a bench.

Anyone who argues there is no value in that is flat-out wrong.

Of course, none of the above has a damn thing to do with my primary reason for attending the Appleseed program. Which is; of course, "Because I feel like it." So don't bother wringing your hands or stamping your feet. I'll attend, and report my experiences.

If it sucked; I'll tell you.
If the guys were douches; I'll tell you.
If it was a waste of time and money for my current skill level; I'll tell you.
If they tried to indoctrinate me into a sling-related cult; I'll tell you.
If I had a great time and would recommend it to anyone interested in improving their riflecraft; I'll still tell you.

I bought a 10/22 for it, because 500 rounds of 5.56 at $0.45 is more than a new 10/22, and this range only allows the 25 yard training. I may bring the m39 out for the second day. I would bring the AR, but I can't do mag changes without being sent to prison. (Whoopsie! You're a felon!) The Space Gun would have been too oddly shaped to get practice that would transfer to other rifles. (Besides, I don't think I'd even be able to sling up with it...)

Looking forward to the event, and the practice I'll do leading up to it.