An alternative way to learn
Some have said that if I think I could do things better than Appleseed, then I should start my own program. Well, here goes!
The purpose:
When I teach people how to shoot a rifle, I want them to have fundamental skills in the three major positions, as well as the ability to sight in their own rifle. The student should also be taught how to shoot from a rested position.
The equipment:
Shooters should bring a repeater rifle, that can hold no fewer than 5 rounds in the magazine. Single-shots are not permitted. Rifles will be separated into two main categories: manual action and semiautomatic.
Also permitted will be the use of scopes, slings, bipods, sand bags. Scopes or spotting scopes are recommended so that the shooter can more easily observe hits.
Ammo requirements will vary, and will be detailed later as the course framework is solidified.
The courses of fire:
There will be three stages of course of fire:
1) Sighting in.
This stage will use 1" squares at 25 yards. Shooters will shoot from a supported position (prone or seated at a bench).
2) Positional Shooting.
This stage will use either Appleseed "Redcoat" targets, or similar sized circle targets. When possible, "Shoot-n-see" targets or similar will be used to assist the shooter in spotting hits.
3) Qualification
Appleseed "Redcoat Targets" will be used for score. This target, designed for use at 25 yards, offers scaled targets of 100, 200, 300, and 400 yards, as well as a "250-yard 'headshot'." Depending on ammo and time restrictions, there will be versions where each target will be shot twice, four times, or five times.
The Instruction:
1) Safety
Students will be taught the four rules of firearm safety, as made popular by Col. Jeff Cooper.
- All guns are always loaded
- Finger off trigger until sights on target
- Keep muzzle pointed in a safe direction
- Be aware of target, and what is beyond it
Students will also be taught how to make a safe rifle for moving down range.
- Magazine out
- Bolt open
- Chamber flag in
- Safety on
- Nobody touches rifle. (rifle "grounded")
Students will be guided through a 15-shot "Redcoat Challenge." The instructor will score the Redcoat Target, and retain it so that the student will have a reference point for later.
2) Supported shooting
Students will learn about the fundamentals of firing a good shot:
I. Sight Alignment
II. Trigger control
Students will sight in their rifle at 25 yards with the same type of ammo they intend to use later for scoring. This will be done from prone supported, or from the bench.
After sighting in is done, student will do a few more 5-round stages of shooting 1" targets at 25 yards to verify that the rifle is sighted in.
3) Standing shooting
Students will learn the fundamentals of firing a good shot, and steady hold factors for the standing - or "Offhand" - position:
- Support elbow under the rifle, support hand relaxed.
- Sling properly positioned (if used)
- Good cheek weld
Student will practice at 25 yards on the Redcoat 100-yard scale silhouette target, or a circle target - at least 5" across (preferably a bit larger).
4) Sitting shooting
Students will learn the fundamentals of firing a good shot, and steady hold factors from the sitting (or kneeling) position:
- Support elbow under the rifle, support hand relaxed.
- Sling properly positioned (if used)
- Good cheek weld
Students will practice at 25 yards on the Redcoat 200-yard scale silhouette target, or a circle at least 2.5" (preferably a bit larger).
5) Prone shooting
Students will learn the fundamentals of firing a good shot, and steady hold factors from the prone position:
- Support elbow under the rifle, support hand relaxed.
- Sling properly positioned (if used)
- Good cheek weld
Students will practice at 25 yards on the Redcoat 300-yard scale silhouette target, or a circle at least 1.75" (preferably a bit larger).
6) Prone supported
Students will learn the fundamentals of firing a good shot, and steady hold factors from the prone supported position:
- Support hand to the rear of the stock.
- Rifle properly rested.
- Good cheek weld.
Students will practice at 25 yards on the Redcoat 400-yard scale silhouette targets, or a circle at least 1.25" (preferably a bit larger).They will also practice on a 1" square.
The Measurement:
To measure the student's progress, the student will shoot the Redcoat Challenge during the final "class." Beginning and final performance will be evaluated.
General Rules of the Redcoat Challenge:
- Shooters will shoot 20 rounds. 4 rounds per stage, five stages.
- Hits count. Misses do not count. If the bullet breaks the line of the silhouette, it counts.
- Scores of 12-14 hits will earn the shooter a title of "Marksman"
- Scores of 15-16 hits will earn the shooter a title of "Sharpshooter"
- Scores of 17-20 hits will earn the shooter a title of "Expert"
- The shooter will be awarded the highest title earned, even if it was only shot once.
- Shooters have 60 seconds for each stage, if shot in stages.
- If the course is shot through, shooters will have 5 minutes total time.
- Transitions will not be made with a loaded magazine in the rifle.
Additional Levels
Smallbore:
- Shooters will use a rimfire rifle.
- Scopes allowed.
- No bipods or rests - unsupported prone only for stages 3, 4, & 5. Slings allowed.
"Trident course" (High Power):
- Shooters will use a centerfire rifle.
- Scopes or iron sights allowed.
- Use an 8" circle at 18 yards.
- No bipods, slings, or rests.
- 5 rounds each - standing, sitting, prone
- 3 mags - each with 5 rounds.
- 30-second time limit.
- Scoring: you start with 50 points. -5 points for each miss. -1 point for each second over 30 seconds.
- Marksman: 29-37 points
- Sharpshooter: 38-44 points
- Expert: 45-50 points
High Power:
- Shooters will use a centerfire rifle (preferably 5.56mm, 7.62x39 mm, 7.62 NATO, or .30-06)
- Iron sights and scopes permitted.
- No bipods or rests permitted - unsupported prone only for stages 3, 4, & 5. Slings allowed.
"No Excuses:"
- Shooters will use a rimfire rifle.
- No scope, no sling, no match grade ammo.
- No triggers under 4.5 lbs. Factory issue barrels only.
- Concept is a "rack grade" military style rifle. The rimfire should be comparable (factory grade). Exceptions for triggers only, as some rimfires have exceptionally heavy triggers.
"Ultimate:"
- "No Excuses" COF shot with a military (or clone) centerfire rifle.
Notes:
Each additional level shot will earn the shooter a star - up to 5 stars.
Shooters with 2 stars or more may instruct.
Shooters with 5 stars are "Master Instructors" (MI's)
Ranks:
Rank is not awarded - it is earned. Any shooter may earn any rank - with or without the approval of an instructor. All that is needed is the ability to shoot to the standards for each level. A witness is required for each level.
In short, instruction is separate from rank. Rank is earned solely by accomplishment. Instruction is done with the goal of enabling the shooter to progress in skill to the point of being able to shoot for rank.
Initially, all participants will receive a "Rifle" patch, and a "Pro-marksman" patch. This is the entry rank. The Pro-Marksman patch is affixed immediately below the Rifle patch.
Rank Patch Placement:
If the shooter wears a shooting jacket, the rank patches should be affixed to the right arm sleeve (left sleeve for left handed shooters). If the shooter wears a shooting vest, then the rank patches should be affixed at the left breast (right side for left handed shooters). Do not have rank in both places on the same garment.
Assistant Instructors:
Assistant instructors should indicate their dedication to teaching the shooting arts, as well as their commitment to become a full instructor, by wearing rank patches indicating as much.
Above the "Rifle" patch, the shooter should place an "Assistant Instructor" patch.
Under the standard "Basic Practical" patch, the student will place:
- Five (5) "Pro-Marksman" patches - one each for the 5 Additional Levels.
- These are placed, in order, for: Smallbore, Trident, High Power, No Excuses, and Ultimate - from top to bottom. (Bottom is Ultimate)
As the Assistant Instructor shoots "Marksman," "Sharpshooter," or "Expert" on any given course, they should update their rank patch. Courses need not be shot in a particular order, but patches are placed in specific order.
When an Assistant Instructor earns an Expert rating on one of the 5 Additional Levels, he should place a star above the Assistant Instructor patch.
Instructors:
When the second star is earned, the shooter places the "Instructor" patch above the "Rifle" patch, in place of the old "Assistant Instructor" patch.
As the shooter earns additional "Sharpshooter" and "Expert" ranks, then the patches should be updated accordingly. Stars should be kept up to date, as well. Stars should be placed horizontally above the "Instructor" patch.
Master Instructors:
As the shooter earns their fifth and final "Expert" rank, and the last star is added, some other options are available.
Master Instructors should put a "Master Instructor" patch in place of the older "Instructor" patch. The five stars should be placed evenly in a line atop the Master Instructor patch. DO NOT place the stars in a circle.
At this point, the shooter may, at his discretion, remove the "Basic Practical" and all of the lower five "Expert" patches. This leaves the Stars, Master Instructor, Rifle, and Expert patches in place.
Targets:
Shooters are encouraged to keep their targets. This provides a record of each rank earned. Label the targets by date, and place the score on them.
Keep a record of targets in a log book or Excel Spreadsheet. Have patches ready for when you earn the designation.
The purpose:
When I teach people how to shoot a rifle, I want them to have fundamental skills in the three major positions, as well as the ability to sight in their own rifle. The student should also be taught how to shoot from a rested position.
The equipment:
Shooters should bring a repeater rifle, that can hold no fewer than 5 rounds in the magazine. Single-shots are not permitted. Rifles will be separated into two main categories: manual action and semiautomatic.
Also permitted will be the use of scopes, slings, bipods, sand bags. Scopes or spotting scopes are recommended so that the shooter can more easily observe hits.
Ammo requirements will vary, and will be detailed later as the course framework is solidified.
The courses of fire:
There will be three stages of course of fire:
1) Sighting in.
This stage will use 1" squares at 25 yards. Shooters will shoot from a supported position (prone or seated at a bench).
2) Positional Shooting.
This stage will use either Appleseed "Redcoat" targets, or similar sized circle targets. When possible, "Shoot-n-see" targets or similar will be used to assist the shooter in spotting hits.
3) Qualification
Appleseed "Redcoat Targets" will be used for score. This target, designed for use at 25 yards, offers scaled targets of 100, 200, 300, and 400 yards, as well as a "250-yard 'headshot'." Depending on ammo and time restrictions, there will be versions where each target will be shot twice, four times, or five times.
The Instruction:
1) Safety
Students will be taught the four rules of firearm safety, as made popular by Col. Jeff Cooper.
- All guns are always loaded
- Finger off trigger until sights on target
- Keep muzzle pointed in a safe direction
- Be aware of target, and what is beyond it
Students will also be taught how to make a safe rifle for moving down range.
- Magazine out
- Bolt open
- Chamber flag in
- Safety on
- Nobody touches rifle. (rifle "grounded")
Students will be guided through a 15-shot "Redcoat Challenge." The instructor will score the Redcoat Target, and retain it so that the student will have a reference point for later.
2) Supported shooting
Students will learn about the fundamentals of firing a good shot:
I. Sight Alignment
II. Trigger control
Students will sight in their rifle at 25 yards with the same type of ammo they intend to use later for scoring. This will be done from prone supported, or from the bench.
After sighting in is done, student will do a few more 5-round stages of shooting 1" targets at 25 yards to verify that the rifle is sighted in.
3) Standing shooting
Students will learn the fundamentals of firing a good shot, and steady hold factors for the standing - or "Offhand" - position:
- Support elbow under the rifle, support hand relaxed.
- Sling properly positioned (if used)
- Good cheek weld
Student will practice at 25 yards on the Redcoat 100-yard scale silhouette target, or a circle target - at least 5" across (preferably a bit larger).
4) Sitting shooting
Students will learn the fundamentals of firing a good shot, and steady hold factors from the sitting (or kneeling) position:
- Support elbow under the rifle, support hand relaxed.
- Sling properly positioned (if used)
- Good cheek weld
Students will practice at 25 yards on the Redcoat 200-yard scale silhouette target, or a circle at least 2.5" (preferably a bit larger).
5) Prone shooting
Students will learn the fundamentals of firing a good shot, and steady hold factors from the prone position:
- Support elbow under the rifle, support hand relaxed.
- Sling properly positioned (if used)
- Good cheek weld
Students will practice at 25 yards on the Redcoat 300-yard scale silhouette target, or a circle at least 1.75" (preferably a bit larger).
6) Prone supported
Students will learn the fundamentals of firing a good shot, and steady hold factors from the prone supported position:
- Support hand to the rear of the stock.
- Rifle properly rested.
- Good cheek weld.
Students will practice at 25 yards on the Redcoat 400-yard scale silhouette targets, or a circle at least 1.25" (preferably a bit larger).They will also practice on a 1" square.
The Measurement:
To measure the student's progress, the student will shoot the Redcoat Challenge during the final "class." Beginning and final performance will be evaluated.
General Rules of the Redcoat Challenge:
- Shooters will shoot 20 rounds. 4 rounds per stage, five stages.
- Hits count. Misses do not count. If the bullet breaks the line of the silhouette, it counts.
- Scores of 12-14 hits will earn the shooter a title of "Marksman"
- Scores of 15-16 hits will earn the shooter a title of "Sharpshooter"
- Scores of 17-20 hits will earn the shooter a title of "Expert"
- The shooter will be awarded the highest title earned, even if it was only shot once.
- Shooters have 60 seconds for each stage, if shot in stages.
- If the course is shot through, shooters will have 5 minutes total time.
- Transitions will not be made with a loaded magazine in the rifle.
Additional Levels
Smallbore:
- Shooters will use a rimfire rifle.
- Scopes allowed.
- No bipods or rests - unsupported prone only for stages 3, 4, & 5. Slings allowed.
"Trident course" (High Power):
- Shooters will use a centerfire rifle.
- Scopes or iron sights allowed.
- Use an 8" circle at 18 yards.
- No bipods, slings, or rests.
- 5 rounds each - standing, sitting, prone
- 3 mags - each with 5 rounds.
- 30-second time limit.
- Scoring: you start with 50 points. -5 points for each miss. -1 point for each second over 30 seconds.
- Marksman: 29-37 points
- Sharpshooter: 38-44 points
- Expert: 45-50 points
High Power:
- Shooters will use a centerfire rifle (preferably 5.56mm, 7.62x39 mm, 7.62 NATO, or .30-06)
- Iron sights and scopes permitted.
- No bipods or rests permitted - unsupported prone only for stages 3, 4, & 5. Slings allowed.
"No Excuses:"
- Shooters will use a rimfire rifle.
- No scope, no sling, no match grade ammo.
- No triggers under 4.5 lbs. Factory issue barrels only.
- Concept is a "rack grade" military style rifle. The rimfire should be comparable (factory grade). Exceptions for triggers only, as some rimfires have exceptionally heavy triggers.
"Ultimate:"
- "No Excuses" COF shot with a military (or clone) centerfire rifle.
Notes:
Each additional level shot will earn the shooter a star - up to 5 stars.
Shooters with 2 stars or more may instruct.
Shooters with 5 stars are "Master Instructors" (MI's)
Ranks:
Rank is not awarded - it is earned. Any shooter may earn any rank - with or without the approval of an instructor. All that is needed is the ability to shoot to the standards for each level. A witness is required for each level.
In short, instruction is separate from rank. Rank is earned solely by accomplishment. Instruction is done with the goal of enabling the shooter to progress in skill to the point of being able to shoot for rank.
Initially, all participants will receive a "Rifle" patch, and a "Pro-marksman" patch. This is the entry rank. The Pro-Marksman patch is affixed immediately below the Rifle patch.
Rank Patch Placement:
If the shooter wears a shooting jacket, the rank patches should be affixed to the right arm sleeve (left sleeve for left handed shooters). If the shooter wears a shooting vest, then the rank patches should be affixed at the left breast (right side for left handed shooters). Do not have rank in both places on the same garment.
Assistant Instructors:
Assistant instructors should indicate their dedication to teaching the shooting arts, as well as their commitment to become a full instructor, by wearing rank patches indicating as much.
Above the "Rifle" patch, the shooter should place an "Assistant Instructor" patch.
Under the standard "Basic Practical" patch, the student will place:
- Five (5) "Pro-Marksman" patches - one each for the 5 Additional Levels.
- These are placed, in order, for: Smallbore, Trident, High Power, No Excuses, and Ultimate - from top to bottom. (Bottom is Ultimate)
As the Assistant Instructor shoots "Marksman," "Sharpshooter," or "Expert" on any given course, they should update their rank patch. Courses need not be shot in a particular order, but patches are placed in specific order.
When an Assistant Instructor earns an Expert rating on one of the 5 Additional Levels, he should place a star above the Assistant Instructor patch.
Instructors:
When the second star is earned, the shooter places the "Instructor" patch above the "Rifle" patch, in place of the old "Assistant Instructor" patch.
As the shooter earns additional "Sharpshooter" and "Expert" ranks, then the patches should be updated accordingly. Stars should be kept up to date, as well. Stars should be placed horizontally above the "Instructor" patch.
Master Instructors:
As the shooter earns their fifth and final "Expert" rank, and the last star is added, some other options are available.
Master Instructors should put a "Master Instructor" patch in place of the older "Instructor" patch. The five stars should be placed evenly in a line atop the Master Instructor patch. DO NOT place the stars in a circle.
At this point, the shooter may, at his discretion, remove the "Basic Practical" and all of the lower five "Expert" patches. This leaves the Stars, Master Instructor, Rifle, and Expert patches in place.
Targets:
Shooters are encouraged to keep their targets. This provides a record of each rank earned. Label the targets by date, and place the score on them.
Keep a record of targets in a log book or Excel Spreadsheet. Have patches ready for when you earn the designation.
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