What: Revere's Riders Rifle 125
Where: Bedford Contingent Range, Bedford, IN
When: Sept. 23-24, 2017
When NFL players were busy "taking a knee" for the National Anthem, 20 or so patriotic citizens gathered amid the cornfields of Bedford, IN to practice their rifle marksmanship. Only goes to show that some people in this country have their priorities straight
This was the usual well-run and well-instructed Revere's Riders event. Congratulations to Rayne, Ol Huff, Unbridled Liberty, Chilidog, Slim, Heeter and others that put in work to make this event possible. All of you did an OUTSTANDING job.
The students for the class were about evenly mixed between new and repeat students. Saturday began with a "Morgan's 13" target (targets scaled to correspond to about 12"x12" at 100, 200, 300 and 400 yards plus a "shingle" scaled to represent a target approximating a roofing shingle of 4"x5" at 250 yards; see "Morgan's Shingle" for the story behind the shingle). This is a test to set a baseline for the marksmanship skills of the group.
I failed. MISERABLY.
The rifle I THOUGHT was zeroed at 25 yards, was not. Not even close. Like barely on the paper...
Time to get out tools and tighten rings and mount. Shoot a couple "5 squares" to get my reset my zero and I was back in business. Lesson learned: check your zero before you show up and have the appropriate tools in your kit to make repairs/adjustments should you discover that your "preparation" was less than optimal.
The reminder of Saturday was spent learning rifle marksmanship: using the sling in the standing, seated and prone positions, firing the shot ("ABCs"), sight adjustment and "natural point of aim" (NPOA). If you haven't been taught these markmanship fundamentals (especially NPOA) they WILL improve your shooting.
Towards the end of the day on Saturday, we managed to get in one 25 yard rifle qualifier. Finally, everyone shot the "Morgan's 13" target to compare how they did in the morning before any instruction and at the end of the day after extensive instruction. Most, if not all, students improved. I know I did, as I was on target now but had some "help" on my target from my next-door-neighbor on the firing line. Not a problem. I've "been there, done that" when I was still learning marksmanship and was trying to put together everything I had just heard about making an accurate shot rather than worrying if I was shooting my target or someone else's.
Sunday morning started off with a short service by Chilidog. I don't consider myself an overly religious guy, although I believe in Christian morality. However, I always make it a point to attend Chilidog's Sunday morning service; there is something about his morning talk (I don't consider it a "sermon" as Chili is a humble man) while you are watching the sun rise over the cornfields and listening to the roosters and the world around you wake up. Worth it to come for that alone...
After quickly verifying our zeros, most shooters participated in "carding sights" to help with establishing NPOA. Then it was on to more 25 yard rifle qualifiers, a quick "known distance" lecture on ballistics and site adjustment to compensate for target range before ringing some steel at 100 yards. Finally, Rayne brought out her "US Rifle Caliber .30 M1" for those who cared to shoot a "full power" rifle.
I managed to shoot a "Master" score on one of my qualifier targets (48/50; one miss in the simulated 400 yard prone COF, which counts double) and to back it up with a 45/50. Pretty happy with that given the heat and the initial lack of a working zero for my rifle.
As usual, lunch was included and consisted of burgers/dogs, potato salad, chips, cookies, etc. on Saturday and fried chicken, green beans, potato salad, chips, cookies, cupcakes, etc. on Sunday. Having lunch included in your event fee makes it VERY convenient as you don't need to pack anything yourself or leave to swing by the McDonalds.
During lunch on Sunday, Ol Huff gave an inspiring talk about the M1 Garand what it meant to our war effort as well as how it reflects American values. Dave Goodrich contributed the history on Saturday. If you left Bedford not inspired by what our forebears sacrificed in the name of freedom and liberty you weren't listening at all.
Not that I'm biased, but if you haven't attended a Revere's Riders event yet, you should. Pretty much everyone will learn some marksmanship skills, you will meet some fantastic people (both instructors and students) and enjoy a day or weekend of perforating paper and/or ringing steel. For the price, you can't beat a Revere's Riders event.
Remaining Revere's Riders events for 2017:
We are working on the 2018 schedule now.
Subscribe to the Revere's Riders email newsletter to get upcoming event notifications in your inbox; simply go to the Revere's Riders website and sign up using the form in the website footer.
Where: Bedford Contingent Range, Bedford, IN
When: Sept. 23-24, 2017
When NFL players were busy "taking a knee" for the National Anthem, 20 or so patriotic citizens gathered amid the cornfields of Bedford, IN to practice their rifle marksmanship. Only goes to show that some people in this country have their priorities straight
This was the usual well-run and well-instructed Revere's Riders event. Congratulations to Rayne, Ol Huff, Unbridled Liberty, Chilidog, Slim, Heeter and others that put in work to make this event possible. All of you did an OUTSTANDING job.
The students for the class were about evenly mixed between new and repeat students. Saturday began with a "Morgan's 13" target (targets scaled to correspond to about 12"x12" at 100, 200, 300 and 400 yards plus a "shingle" scaled to represent a target approximating a roofing shingle of 4"x5" at 250 yards; see "Morgan's Shingle" for the story behind the shingle). This is a test to set a baseline for the marksmanship skills of the group.
I failed. MISERABLY.
The rifle I THOUGHT was zeroed at 25 yards, was not. Not even close. Like barely on the paper...
Time to get out tools and tighten rings and mount. Shoot a couple "5 squares" to get my reset my zero and I was back in business. Lesson learned: check your zero before you show up and have the appropriate tools in your kit to make repairs/adjustments should you discover that your "preparation" was less than optimal.
The reminder of Saturday was spent learning rifle marksmanship: using the sling in the standing, seated and prone positions, firing the shot ("ABCs"), sight adjustment and "natural point of aim" (NPOA). If you haven't been taught these markmanship fundamentals (especially NPOA) they WILL improve your shooting.
Towards the end of the day on Saturday, we managed to get in one 25 yard rifle qualifier. Finally, everyone shot the "Morgan's 13" target to compare how they did in the morning before any instruction and at the end of the day after extensive instruction. Most, if not all, students improved. I know I did, as I was on target now but had some "help" on my target from my next-door-neighbor on the firing line. Not a problem. I've "been there, done that" when I was still learning marksmanship and was trying to put together everything I had just heard about making an accurate shot rather than worrying if I was shooting my target or someone else's.
Sunday morning started off with a short service by Chilidog. I don't consider myself an overly religious guy, although I believe in Christian morality. However, I always make it a point to attend Chilidog's Sunday morning service; there is something about his morning talk (I don't consider it a "sermon" as Chili is a humble man) while you are watching the sun rise over the cornfields and listening to the roosters and the world around you wake up. Worth it to come for that alone...
After quickly verifying our zeros, most shooters participated in "carding sights" to help with establishing NPOA. Then it was on to more 25 yard rifle qualifiers, a quick "known distance" lecture on ballistics and site adjustment to compensate for target range before ringing some steel at 100 yards. Finally, Rayne brought out her "US Rifle Caliber .30 M1" for those who cared to shoot a "full power" rifle.
I managed to shoot a "Master" score on one of my qualifier targets (48/50; one miss in the simulated 400 yard prone COF, which counts double) and to back it up with a 45/50. Pretty happy with that given the heat and the initial lack of a working zero for my rifle.
As usual, lunch was included and consisted of burgers/dogs, potato salad, chips, cookies, etc. on Saturday and fried chicken, green beans, potato salad, chips, cookies, cupcakes, etc. on Sunday. Having lunch included in your event fee makes it VERY convenient as you don't need to pack anything yourself or leave to swing by the McDonalds.
During lunch on Sunday, Ol Huff gave an inspiring talk about the M1 Garand what it meant to our war effort as well as how it reflects American values. Dave Goodrich contributed the history on Saturday. If you left Bedford not inspired by what our forebears sacrificed in the name of freedom and liberty you weren't listening at all.
Not that I'm biased, but if you haven't attended a Revere's Riders event yet, you should. Pretty much everyone will learn some marksmanship skills, you will meet some fantastic people (both instructors and students) and enjoy a day or weekend of perforating paper and/or ringing steel. For the price, you can't beat a Revere's Riders event.
Remaining Revere's Riders events for 2017:
- Pistol 100 (Basic Pistol) – One Day (Crawfordsville, IN) – Revere’s Riders
- Rifle 125 (Basic Rifle) – Two Day (Nashville, IN) – Revere’s Riders (includes S'mores by the fire!)
We are working on the 2018 schedule now.
Subscribe to the Revere's Riders email newsletter to get upcoming event notifications in your inbox; simply go to the Revere's Riders website and sign up using the form in the website footer.
