QST de N7GMT

I attended an Appleseed Project shoot a few weeks back. I was very impressed with the program and with the ability one can learn to shoot accurately, consistently, and quickly. To that end, a buddy and I went out to the range to practice what we’d learned.

I wanted to practice with something that had decent iron sights on it (i.e., not the stock Ruger 10/22 sights), so I took my AR-15 defense rifle. I had never really sighted it in, so that was the first order of the day. After a few “squares” at 25-meters, I was starting to feel very good about the capabilities of my little rifle.

We put up some AQT targets and took turns shooting and timing. You have to get forty rounds off in 4 minutes: 10 rounds shot from a standing position at the 100-meter equivalent target; 10 rounds sitting or kneeling at 200-meter equivalent target; 10 rounds each from prone at 300- and 400-meter equivalent targets. You have magazine changes and position changes, all within that four mintues [sic]. (Oh, and don’t forget to count the number shots for each target on the bottom rows! 3,3,4 and 2,2,3,3)

09.Oct.2009 11.45h MDT "236"

After a morning of leisurely sighting-in, the AQT didn’t seem that bad, even with the time pressure. I managed to squeeeeeeze off the last round about three seconds before the clock ran out at four minutes. And this was the result:

236/250 points!

Needless to say, I was quite pleased with my score. At the regulation twenty-five meters you can just barely make out the gray fuzz of the 400-meter equivalent targets when focusing your eye on the front sight, as you’re supposed to, but it can be done.

Thanks to One-of-Three for the encouragment … and for the use of his loop sling!

—Two-of-Three

Note to self: order enough loop slings for all rifles.