M14 Forum

charlie98 · September 29th, 2011, 05:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RegularGolf

I went with my bone stock 10/22 with Tech-Sights and M1 sling the whole day.

That's what I shot with my first day...

Just so it's understood... the Appleseed is intended to be shot with an off-the-shelf basic autoloading rifle and ammunition. You don't need match ammo or a built up rifle. 90% of the rifles on my line were stock 10/22's, with a mix of other .22's. Some had TechSights, one had a scope (the guy had very bad vision and couldn't see the target any other way.) One young man tried to shoot with a single-shot bolt .22... and while I admire his tenacity, he swapped it for an instructor's loaner 10/22 pretty quickly.

As I mentioned before, I'm not a big 10/22 fan, but it's a very good tool to learn to shoot on.

M2API · September 29th, 2011, 06:36 AM

I'd like to make it to a shoot this year, but it may not happen.
I have an M14 front sling swivel, an 03 Springfield rear sling swivel and an auto bolt release but haven't had time to work on the 10/22. Somewhere around here I have some spare slings.
I still need to get the Tech sights.
If I can get my chores done I'd like to go soon, but it may have to wait until Spring.
I need to start doing dry fire practice in the house at night.

What about the knee and elbow pads that the Appleseed place says you need? Are they necessary?

charlie98 · September 29th, 2011, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M2API

What about the knee and elbow pads that the Appleseed place says you need? Are they necessary?

You know.... it's not a bad idea. I have knees of steel, so that didn't bother me (and I wore pants, anyway,) but my elbows were chewed up pretty good by the time I was done. Recoil from a .22 won't tear them up, but by the end of the 2nd day, after firing the AR, that's when it started to become an issue.

I bought some cheap foam knee/elbow pads at Home Depot and they were almost more trouble than they were worth. The closed cell material made my arms sweat, which, in turn, made my position more unstable and the already torn up skin wet... making it worse.

I shoot off an old shelter half made of pretty rough canvas, so that probably didn't help the elbows, either.

RegularGolf · September 29th, 2011, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M2API

What about the knee and elbow pads that the Appleseed place says you need? Are they necessary?

I would recommend a shooting mat, just use what you've got around the house (I used a shelter half) and wear a hoodie or jacket (nice anyway because of the sling). No need AT ALL to run out and buy more stuff than necessary.

lbsnake925 · September 29th, 2011, 10:10 AM

Buy the cheap foam volley ball knee pads from sports isle of your local store, 8$. Wear them on your elbows over you shirt or jacket. They easily slide down the forearem when not in use for increased comfort.

John Wayne would never be caught dead wearing'em, but JW never spent two days or more slung up slinging lead the Appleseed way either.

You'll be glad you have them when you see another shooter with raw elbows.

Old saying from the Army... Why stand when you can sit, why sit when you can...you know the rest. Wear'em if you got em, no shame in that. There is shame in not applying wisdom and experience, whether it be your experience or someone else's.

Front sight, NPOA good, and squeeze....Ahhhhhh!

Xsail · September 29th, 2011, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charlie98

That's what I shot with my first day...

Just so it's understood... the Appleseed is intended to be shot with an off-the-shelf basic autoloading rifle and ammunition. You don't need match ammo or a built up rifle. 90% of the rifles on my line were stock 10/22's, with a mix of other .22's. Some had TechSights, one had a scope (the guy had very bad vision and couldn't see the target any other way.) One young man tried to shoot with a single-shot bolt .22... and while I admire his tenacity, he swapped it for an instructor's loaner 10/22 pretty quickly.

As I mentioned before, I'm not a big 10/22 fan, but it's a very good tool to learn to shoot on.

This formatt was originally intended for a bolt action with a magazine and I've seen expert scores turned in with both bolts and lever actions. Good ways to challenge one's self...Or switch hands! :) Yep, elbow pads are a great idea. The ones with a hard plastic shell, is like balancing on a bowling ball, stay away from them. The large square bandaids will work and are cheap......O.L.

charlie98 · September 30th, 2011, 05:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xsail

Good ways to challenge one's self...Or switch hands! :) .

One of our instructors shot a string... left-handed, just to see how he did.

buchkshot · September 30th, 2011, 07:59 AM

As another poster indicated, be sure to take a sling. Also, an inexpensive cloth shooting jacket with padding at the elbows is highly desirable for the reasons indicated. I participated in pre-Appleseed shoots years ago at the range south and east of Ramsuer, NC, and thoroughly enjoyed the marksmanship training but enjoyed meeting the people even more. Have a great time!

savagefellow · October 21st, 2011, 06:21 PM

I find that the best kind of elbow pads for this sort of shooting are also the cheapest. Take a pair of wool (or cotton) hiking or boot socks and cut open the toe to make a tube. Turn them over on themselves, slide them up over your arms under your sleeves. They don't rock n' roll like the plastic ones, you won't sweat as bad as with the foam ones, and these actually breath a bit. Tip courtesy of Ft. Benning School for Boys.