chairyland
Member
The Marriotsville Appleseed this weekend was windy, rainy, cold, and overall a great time 
This was my second time attending. Compared to last year (where I think everyone was shooting .22lr), we had at least six people shooting .223/5.56. One guy made rifleman with his. I feel like doing it with a higher caliber rifle, whether an AR or a Garand, is an extra mark of accomplishment for having to overcome more recoil and the extra weight of the rifle (especially in the standing position). I have a lot of respect for folks that make rifleman with any rifle, but an extra gold star for those that do it with a centerfire cartridge. If you are reading this, awesome shooting Matt R!
Going a second time served as a great refresher of the marksmanship techniques they teach, but my personal improvement from last year was unfortunately minor (although I am much more consistent now). I think my next Appleseed will be a full-distance shoot.
What really sunk in this year was the history of April 19th 1775. Beswift did a great job of conveying the sacrifices that the colonists made for *the chance*, not the guarantee, of being able to enact change in their governance. That these people risked their lives to face terrible odds against a superior force so that I don't have to. So that I can talk to my elected representative and vote in elections to enact change without the need for violence.
I think being less worried this year about getting my rifleman patch and absorbing the firehose of marksmanship information left me with more brainwaves to listen to what Appleseed teaches. It really is powerful stuff.
Appleseed does a great job of not being political or partisan. But I do wonder if our voter turn out rates would be higher if everyone knew the sacrifices that were made just so that we *can* vote. No, I don't wonder. I know it would be.
This year, I really understand what Appleseed is about. It is about personal empowerment. It is about letting people know that with patience, effort, and desire, they can achieve their goals. Whether that is shooting 210 on the AQT to get that rifleman patch, or improving their community and country.
Thank you Beswift for volunteering so much of your time to run these shoots. Same to you Anna and Ed - good luck getting your red hats!
This was my second time attending. Compared to last year (where I think everyone was shooting .22lr), we had at least six people shooting .223/5.56. One guy made rifleman with his. I feel like doing it with a higher caliber rifle, whether an AR or a Garand, is an extra mark of accomplishment for having to overcome more recoil and the extra weight of the rifle (especially in the standing position). I have a lot of respect for folks that make rifleman with any rifle, but an extra gold star for those that do it with a centerfire cartridge. If you are reading this, awesome shooting Matt R!
Going a second time served as a great refresher of the marksmanship techniques they teach, but my personal improvement from last year was unfortunately minor (although I am much more consistent now). I think my next Appleseed will be a full-distance shoot.
What really sunk in this year was the history of April 19th 1775. Beswift did a great job of conveying the sacrifices that the colonists made for *the chance*, not the guarantee, of being able to enact change in their governance. That these people risked their lives to face terrible odds against a superior force so that I don't have to. So that I can talk to my elected representative and vote in elections to enact change without the need for violence.
I think being less worried this year about getting my rifleman patch and absorbing the firehose of marksmanship information left me with more brainwaves to listen to what Appleseed teaches. It really is powerful stuff.
Appleseed does a great job of not being political or partisan. But I do wonder if our voter turn out rates would be higher if everyone knew the sacrifices that were made just so that we *can* vote. No, I don't wonder. I know it would be.
This year, I really understand what Appleseed is about. It is about personal empowerment. It is about letting people know that with patience, effort, and desire, they can achieve their goals. Whether that is shooting 210 on the AQT to get that rifleman patch, or improving their community and country.
Thank you Beswift for volunteering so much of your time to run these shoots. Same to you Anna and Ed - good luck getting your red hats!
