By MamaLiberty

I LOVE the smell of cordite and the sound of gunfire in the morning!

Have you ever been to an Appleseed shoot? I’ve been to four of them, three as a participant, and the last one at my own gun club as “the nurse” covering the first aid station.

The weather was sunny and hot here the end of July, but the twelve shooters and eight instructors were not to be discouraged. Even though there was a covered area, they chose to set up in the full sun.

Ready! Aim! Fire!

But let’s back up a bit… The event starts with a thorough covering of the safety rules and introductions.

Participants enjoy the shade for a little while

Then, things take a decidedly different turn from the usual shooting match. The “shoot boss” begins to tell the story of the American Revolution – where marksmanship made all the difference. All through the Appleseed, the instructors take turns continuing to tell the story while the shooters grab a bottle of water and (mostly) rest in the shade.

Shoot boss Ken, right. Wife Lori, also an instructor, left

The instructors work closely with each participant, both to teach and to maintain safety. Participants come with every level of skill, and some have never fired a gun before, but everyone benefits from the instruction and everyone learns while they have a great time.

Getting ready to shoot

At the target line

At the end of the second day, the scores were totaled and we were introduced to a new “rifleman.”

Rifleman Jim

And then, a final gathering and we were all ready to go home and get cooled off.

The group picture.

Project Appleseed: Building a Nation of Riflemen

Can you hit a target at 25 yards? How about at 500 yards? Whether you are new to the shooting sports or a seasoned shooter Appleseed will be able to teach you a thing or two.

For the new shooter we can teach you to use your rifle safely and also be able to hit your target. For the seasoned shooter we can teach you to shoot more accurately – even out to 500 yards.

Project Appleseed can help transform you from a man with a rifle into a Rifleman. A Rifleman is more than a man (or woman) with a rifle. A Rifleman understands that owning and mastering a rifle is part of his heritage as an American. And he knows why: This is a nation founded by Riflemen — men and women skilled in the use of arms.

Those skills served the colonists well when they stood up to the British on April 19, 1775, at Lexington and Concord, and routed the British forces that tried to seize the colonists’ arms. They did it with grit, with determination, and with superior skill in marksmanship. They pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor to the task. And they didn’t stop until they had won. Throughout history, Riflemen have embodied personal responsibility and been pillars of their communities, characteristics that are becoming ever more rare in our nation.

At Project Appleseed, we want to return America to being a nation of Riflemen. And we want you to join us.