Project Appleseed - Clinics and Boot Camps

Clinics and Boot Camps

Project Appleseed uses two paths for teaching traditional rifleman marksmanship skills. The path most commonly taught is a two day shooting clinic that is taught over a weekend for what is termed an "Appleseed'. Less common, but available for those wishing to learn rifleman skills more quickly in a more intense setting, is a weeklong Rifleman's Boot Camp, that then terminates into a two day Appleseed.

Most commonly, .22 Long Rifle cartridges are used, especially initially, since the ammunition is inexpensive and recoil is negligible - factors that bear consideration in the face of two or more days of very intense shooting practice, firing 500+ rounds. A magazine-fed, semi-automatic rifle with quality iron peep sights and a military loop sling is what is most commonly used; example rifles are the Ruger 10/22 and the Marlin 795. The unofficial preferred rifle is a so-called "Liberty Training Rifle" (LTR), consisting of a Ruger 10/22 with military-style aftermarket sights made by Tech-Sights, and an inexpensive military-style web sling. Tube-fed magazine rifles, such as the Marlin Model 60, can be used, but are not as amenable to learning all the skills that are taught since they do not have removable magazines, and the action of changing out a magazine has to be simulated. Some participants prefer to use a telescopic sight if their eyes are not able to work well with iron sights. Appleseed shooting clinics require approximately 500+ rounds of ammunition for the two-day course. The skill sets that are taught include shooting from standing, sitting, and prone (flat on the ground) positions, as well as shooting after transitioning from standing to sitting, and after transitioning from standing to prone, all of which are shot with time limits. Rifles are generally never loaded when transitioning from standing to either sitting or prone positions, in keeping with the 4 Rules, except when doing a 4 Minute AQT containing transitions from standing to sitting and from sitting to prone, during which times the rifle's safety is engaged. Extensive use of the loop sling is made for accuracy, and multiple sling techniques/positions are taught (e.g., hasty-loop two-point sling, hasty-hasty two point sling, single point loop sling, high-loop sling, etc.). These sling positions are variously suitable for shooting accurately either quickly or slowly, over low/medium/high ground cover, among standing/sitting/kneeling/prone positions, as situations merit. Different techniques for shooting off-hand are also taught, dependent on the style of stock on one's rifle (e.g., using a high "chicken-wing" technique with a straight rifle stock vs. using a low "chicken-wing" technique with a pistol-grip rifle stock).

The first day of shooting of an Appleseed focuses on shooting at a known fixed distance, only. The second day adds lecture details on shooting at varying distances, and shooting in wind, although shooting at varying distances is not always practiced. Some Appleseeds, however, are shot at real distances on day two, or at both 25 meters and 100 meters on day two, depending on specific shooting range facility limitations. For these Appleseeds, the typical progression is shooting at 25 meters only on day 1 with a .22, then shooting at varying distances on day two with a .30-caliber or other center-fire service-type rifle (5.56mm, etc.), or shooting at 25 meters and then at 100 meters with a .22 for part of day two for those students demonstrating an ability to maintain 4 MOA accuracy. Oral history stories regarding individuals involved at the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, such as Paul Revere, as well as the "Three Strikes" that were needed to start the American Revolutionary War, are discussed during breaks in the shooting activities. Stories regarding the role of rifle marksmanship during the retreat on April 19, 1775, are also told.

Upon completion of an Appleseed shooting clinic, or a Rifleman's Boot Camp, participants receive a signed certificate from the Revolutionary War Veterans Association, a CMP affiliated club, establishing participant eligibility to purchase a military rifle through the Civilian Marksmanship Program, and to have a rifle and/or ammunition shipped to their door, provided they are not legally barred from owning firearms. The CMP is run by the Corporation for the Promotion of Rifle Practice and Firearms Safety (CPRPFS), a not-for-profit corporation chartered by the United States Congress in 1996 to instruct citizens in marksmanship and promote practice and safety in the use of firearms. The group holds a congressional charter under Title 36 of the United States Code. From 1903 to 1996, the CMP was sponsored by the Office of the Director of Civilian Marksmanship (DCM), a position first within the Department of War and later in the Department of the Army.