For people who have NOT been to an Appleseed

[N8RV]

... Personally, finances and time margin in life are the only reason I'm not going to a couple a month and volunteering to get a funny colored hat ....

Hahaha! Dude, you're a freakin' rich dentist! Who you tryin' to kid? .

I have something like 3 patients tomorrow, so i'll try to research a little into this Appleseed stuff. I told my spousal unit that it involved history, and she said she'd be interested.

Imagine her surprise when we show up and she finds out that she has to hump a ruck a few miles and haul whatever she needs for a couple of days.

Anybody know a good divorce attorney?

 

[42769vette]

Will a experienced shooter find everything they teach in Appleseed a brand new game changer he can add to his toolbox? Absolutely not.

Will a experienced shooter find a few things to add to his toolbox? I would say 99% of the time yes.

Do I believe every shooter has something they can learn and improve on? Absolutely.


Is it the best training you will find for 80 bucks? Absolutely

For me Appleseed was about a lot more than shooting techniques. Appleseed is something that's really hard to explain until you go. I think its one of those type things where you leave proud to be a American. No not everything is going to be brand new material but it doesn't have to be to have a great time with great folks and learn. If you pick up a couple things you can add to your game its a good weekend.

 

[cedartop]

.

For me Appleseed was about a lot more than shooting techniques. Appleseed is something that's really hard to explain until you go. I think its one of those type things where you leave proud to be a American. No not everything is going to be brand new material but it doesn't have to be to have a great time with great folks and learn. If you pick up a couple things you can add to your game its a good weekend.

Correct. To be honest, the rifle training was the least interesting part of it for me. I don't believe in being "in" your sling on a fighting rifle, and all of the other stuff I had done before. DO NOT take this to mean I don't like the program. I think it is great and I would go again just for the fun of it. Their instructors are great people with a love for what they do. The history aspect is great, not to mention the thing is next to free. Wonderful organization.

 

[ATM]

Link to the bestest most INGOest Appleseed AAR to date:

https://www.indianagunowners.com/fo...n_in_appleseed_6_23_24_12_epic_pics_vids.html

That should satisfy a bit of the curiosity.

 

[Twangbanger]

Well, I am curious but totally uninformed about Appleseeds. I have perused the links a few times but didn't get enough info to answer any of my questions. I would love to know more about it but, like you, I don't ask questions about things I have absolutely no knowledge of. Also, I don't currently own a long gun. That would make it tough.

Thanks for starting the thread. Maybe someone will be along to 'splain.

That's me in a nutshell! I had been selling stuff, looking for a target pistol but not finding one. Then I stumbled across this thread advertising free centerfire ammo and a chance to get on Atterbury with it (I do not have a place I can burn stuff like that). I had no gun. I agonized for a day, then signed up with 3 spots left out of 40. A shopping trip and a .223 bolt gun later, my play money fund was depleted and I was in. I think of all the guns I've bought that were just nice possessions, but didn't really involve me in any kind of "experience." I got my money's worth back out of this one in two days, and then some.

What creeps me out is how close I came to not doing it, or even finding out about it. I really like how it's absolutely NOT an equipment race, like every other type of organized shooting activity seems to turn into. You need a reliable gun with sling and detachable mag that will go bang at least 5 times, and with a sighting system that's easy to manage and repeatable. The rest is all just education and application.

It's training, for people who would never see themselves being a $500 tactical-course training addict. It's a shooting sport, for people who'd never see themselves entering a match. It's an engaging history lesson, for people who wouldn't be caught dead in a history classroom again, at this point in their lives.

The Appleseed folks have a great thing going here. And now, with corporate sponsors getting behind it, I can envision it really going somewhere if it's presented to people the right way.

 

[Black Cloud]

I've wanted to attend a Seed since I found out about them a couple years back. Sadly, as a starving artist with a family, I don't think I'd be able to afford even one attendance fee in the near future.

 

[hawkhavn]

Black Cloud,

It doesn't cost anything to show up and watch/listen/learn.
Show up, sign a waiver and invest a weekend in yourself.

HH

 

[snorko]

Below is a pic from a 2006 Appleseed event at Red Brush. It makes me giddy every time I see it. What is the quote? A rifleman behind every blade of grass?



Gunning for tradition » Evansville Courier & Press

 

[gregkl]

Below is a pic from a 2006 Appleseed event at Red Brush. It makes me giddy every time I see it. What is the quote? A rifleman behind every blade of grass?



Gunning for tradition » Evansville Courier & Press

Interesting! I was envisioning mostly .22's. Maybe I should wait until I build another AR. Or use my Garand. LOL.

 

[snorko]

Interesting! I was envisioning mostly .22's. Maybe I should wait until I build another AR. Or use my Garand. LOL.

Most use .22s now. I think early on most folks used ARs, AKs M1As, etc. The move towards 22s served to open it up to a lot more shooters without sacrificing training and instruction. I hope to do an appleseed in the fall and will likely use an iron sighted .22 bolt gun.

 

[the1kidd03]

Black Cloud,

It doesn't cost anything to show up and watch/listen/learn.
Show up, sign a waiver and invest a weekend in yourself.

HH

Huh...

I was not aware of this. I just always assumed "bystanders" were not allowed...

 

[teddy12b]

1. If you have not been to an Appleseed (like me), why not?

2. Do you ever read the Appleseed sub-forum?

1.) For me, it just boils down to the two days. I'm away at work all day long and when I get home, I need to give my wife her first break of the day from the kids. Time away from home is asking for a lot more work from her when there's three kids under the age of 5. I love target shooting and history, but I don't have the time to travel a few hours, spend a day, then travel a few hours home. There are times when I could pull that off, but for two days in a row like that, I'm not convinced that it'd be worth it. I've qualified as an expert with an M16, and I shoot steel at 1,000 yards every time I go to the range. I don't doubt that I would learn something new, I doubt that what little tidbits of information I'd pick up would be worth all the headache it'd cause my family. If the appleseed could be condensed into an 8hr day with the history lessons broken up by range time then I'd do it in a heartbeat, but for two days it's just out of the question. If I were a bachelor, I'd be all over the appleseeds. If these weren't two day events I'd probably take my nephew to one of them.

2.) Didn't even know we had one until reading this.

 

[ol' Huff]

What an interesting thread. I am really impressed by the number of people who openly admit their unwillingness to ask questions.

the1kidd03 - Bystanders are always welcome at public events. Private events, like the one lovemywoods hosted or the one I did for my 4-H kids may be a different affair but these aren't listed openly either, so any one you see posted you are more than welcome to attend just to watch. At Bedford there are probably half a dozen folks who just show up to eat lunch and hear the history.

teddy12b - " If the appleseed could be condensed into an 8hr day with the history lessons broken up by range time then I'd do it in a heartbeat" Have you ever asked anyone that has been to an Appleseed, or anyone affiliated with it on this forum, what exactly happens at an appleseed?

I ask because its pretty much this, "an 8hr day with the history lessons broken up by range time". Some are two 8 hour days, some are one 8 hour day, but they are both history lessons broken up by copious range time. Skip isolating the wife. Send the kids to Grandma's for the weekend and come with the wife. According to Rayne, Grannies love kids. I don't know. Me not a Granny.

 

[gregkl]

My wife is not a shooter, but when I said something about both of us going, a date you can call it, she was excited. It will be something new for her completely. Plus she will be with me for the whole weekend!

 

[the1kidd03]

What an interesting thread. I am really impressed by the number of people who openly admit their unwillingness to ask questions.

the1kidd03 - Bystanders are always welcome at public events. Private events, like the one lovemywoods hosted or the one I did for my 4-H kids may be a different affair but these aren't listed openly either, so any one you see posted you are more than welcome to attend just to watch. At Bedford there are probably half a dozen folks who just show up to eat lunch and hear the history.

teddy12b - " If the appleseed could be condensed into an 8hr day with the history lessons broken up by range time then I'd do it in a heartbeat" Have you ever asked anyone that has been to an Appleseed, or anyone affiliated with it on this forum, what exactly happens at an appleseed?

I ask because its pretty much this, "an 8hr day with the history lessons broken up by range time". Some are two 8 hour days, some are one 8 hour day, but they are both history lessons broken up by copious range time. Skip isolating the wife. Send the kids to Grandma's for the weekend and come with the wife. According to Rayne, Grannies love kids. I don't know. Me not a Granny.

Excellent!

and excellent opportunity for the "fence sitters" one might come across too.

 

[N8RV]

I've not been to an Appleseed shoot. In fact, until yesterday, I'd never even heard of it. Well, I'd read the occasional reference to it, but I assumed that it was some sort of training camp for kids.

I've spent my afternoon researching Appleseed because there's an upcoming shoot next month near me. I'd like to go. I even started a thread in the Appleseed Sub-forum to see if anyone else was interested.

However ...

My biggest hang-up right now is my rifle choices. I had intended to use my Colt M-4 (.22LR) for the appropriate exercises, and my Colt M-4 (5.56) for anything else. I had some concerns about using the .22LR because the magazines for it are 25-rounders, and hang down too far for prone. Several posters on the Appleseed forum have advised against using this rifle.

I could pick up a 10/22 I suppose, but my goal is to become intimately familiar with the AR platform, not get comfy with a plinker just to win a patch.

Anybody want to push me one way or the other?

 

[teddy12b]

I'll be the first to admit I haven't fully researched everything that is Appleseed in this world. From my initial impression and the youtube videos I've seen I was under the impression that the normal appleseed was rule and a one day appleseed was the exception. I looked into it a little more when I saw the marlin 795 model that was designed specifically for the appleseed. I understand that it's a history lesson broken up by shooting lessons, but from what I understand it's not in the 8hr/1day timeframe. Do you know of one at or near Fort Wayne that's a one day event?

 

[ol' Huff]

teddy - The concept of a one day is only slightly compressed. Just attend the Saturday. We teach all the critical concepts and history points on Sat and use Sunday for repetition and in-depth coaching. Just attending a Saturday is more than acceptable. Go to Ossian, they serve GREAT chow at lunch. Its a fantastic environment. In fact, I am completely confused as to why more people don't go there. If Bedford is the Field of Dreams, Ossian is Bedford North.

N8RV - just contact the SB of the event and borrow a rifle. Don't buy one just because. The problem with the 25 round .22 mags is that they are a lower mag than a 5.56 30 rounder in some cases. A ten rounder is fine. Appleseed instructors are literally moving arsenals on the weekends. We did a shoot for 50 Rose Hulman kids, none of which had rifles or ammo or equipment. It took less than 9 hours to get the stuff into the back of the truck. Its really not that big of a deal.

kidd - Pick a shoot near you and PM the Shoot Boss. Most of them are on here.

 

[Gabriel]

I've not been to an Appleseed shoot. In fact, until yesterday, I'd never even heard of it. Well, I'd read the occasional reference to it, but I assumed that it was some sort of training camp for kids.

I've spent my afternoon researching Appleseed because there's an upcoming shoot next month near me. I'd like to go. I even started a thread in the Appleseed Sub-forum to see if anyone else was interested.

However ...

My biggest hang-up right now is my rifle choices. I had intended to use my Colt M-4 (.22LR) for the appropriate exercises, and my Colt M-4 (5.56) for anything else. I had some concerns about using the .22LR because the magazines for it are 25-rounders, and hang down too far for prone. Several posters on the Appleseed forum have advised against using this rifle.

I could pick up a 10/22 I suppose, but my goal is to become intimately familiar with the AR platform, not get comfy with a plinker just to win a patch.

Anybody want to push me one way or the other?

If your goal is to get familiar with the AR platform, then that is what you should use. On the other hand, the skills you learn should be transferable to any rifle.

I shoot prone with the AR a lot and have never had an issue with the magazine. The biggest issue will likely be magazine changes. You'll have to get somewhat out of position and rotate the rifle inward to get the magazine out and the next one in. It shouldn't be that big of a deal, but it won't be as smooth as dropping a flush fit magazine and popping in the next one.

One of the biggest things I see posted on the Appleseed forum is to bring what you have and they'll help you make it work the best they can.

 

[teddy12b]

teddy - The concept of a one day is only slightly compressed. Just attend the Saturday. We teach all the critical concepts and history points on Sat and use Sunday for repetition and in-depth coaching. Just attending a Saturday is more than acceptable. Go to Ossian, they serve GREAT chow at lunch. Its a fantastic environment. In fact, I am completely confused as to why more people don't go there. If Bedford is the Field of Dreams, Ossian is Bedford North.

If I only attended the Saturday with my 11 year old Nephew would he be able to earn a patch in one day? If it's ok for people to only attend one day then I'm going to take a very serious look at attending with my nephew.

Is there any update on the Marlin 795LTR? I've got a scoped bolt 22lr and a 10-22 with tech sights that he could use, but I'd rather buy him a 795LTR and make him earn it by attending a one day with me and learning how to use it there.