If you are planning to attend an Appleseed basic rifle event, listed below are are a few (proven) ideas on how to score your Rifleman patch. As far as what rifle to bring, well, that is another discussion that we can have if you're interested. My main focus here is to give you all the advantages possible to shoot a Rifleman score. You'll find this is best achieved if you do some practice at home before attending.
How do I know this works, well, I spent a little bit of time as an Appleseed Instructor (and Shoot Boss, and State Coordinator, and .... well, it just doesn't matter since I was unvolunteered from that program). Plus, I tried everything that is listed below and have shot a Rifleman score on multiple occassions.
So, here’s the pro tip for anybody shooting an Appleseed AQT and wants to earn their Rifleman patch. Since the whole idea is to get a maximum score, you need to hit the area that scores the most points. To do this with the zero set from earlier in the training program you’ll need to adjust your aim point. Sounds simple, here's how it works out with the AQT target.
Let’s say you are shooting a 6 o’clock hold with aperture sights (Tech Sights). When you zero at 25 yds (25 meters … whatever), you’re setting your point of impact to be 1/2” above your point of aim. Keeping all your shots in the black on this target translates to a 4 MOA group. All well and good on a 1” square. Now move to the modified “D” target used for the AQT.
The target for the slow fire prone stage (Stage 4) has the TOP of the V circle (the 5 scoring area) right at 1/2” above the bottom of the dark area on the target. The 6 o’clock hold works great here. Keep in mind that the width of the 5 scoring area isn’t a full 1” wide, so finding your NPOA for each target is critical. As is knowing that your shots are going to group in a 2 MOA (1/2" square) area, not a full 4 MOA (1" square) area. If you are keeping all your shots in the 4 MOA square at 25 yds. then you will be scoring 5’s and 4’s on the 4th stage. Remember that this stage has a 5 minute time limit. If anything, and I mean ANYTHING, doesn’t jive when you check your NPOA, reset before firing your shots.
The target for the rapid fire prone stage (Stage 3) has the MIDDLE of the V circle (the 5 scoring area) at 1/2” above the bottom of the dark area on the target. The 6 o’clock hold also works great here. Since the target is larger, the 1” square (4 MOA square) is mostly 5’s. Time is much shorter for this stage, so finding your NPOA for each target is critical. Find your NPOA, verify your NPOA, then TRUST your NPOA. You don’t have time to fuss your shot. Remember, finding NPOA is part of your preparation period! When you get into position, it should be very close to NPOA if you did your work during your prep period.
The target for the rapid fire sitting stage (Stage 2) has the BOTTOM of the V circle (the 5 scoring area) right at 1/2” above the bottom of the dark area on the target. The 6 o’clock hold does not work so great here. To maximize your score on this stage, you want to hold just slightly above the 6 o’clock hold … let your front post just drift into the black. If you are keeping all your shots in the 4 MOA square at 25 yds. you will receive more 5’s than 4’s with this approach. Time is short and sitting is an uncomfortable position for most, so make sure you have your NPOA before sending your shots (remember to use your prep period wisely … heck, put a big handful of spit on your mat at your first NPOA so that you don’t have to figure it out when you first sit). You might find it more expedient (and higher scoring) to use the kneeling position here … especially if you’re shooting a bolt or lever action rifle.
The target for the standing stage (Stage 1) has the BOTTOM of the 5 scoring area at 1/2” above the bottom of the dark area of the target. The 6 o’clock hold fails on this target. You will want to hold center of the black area to have the best chance of scoring 5’s and 4’s on this stage. The center of the black area is just above the “shoulders” of the black target area. Remember that there are 2 minutes on the clock for this stage. That is an eternity. Take your time, rest, and take two or three shots when you are at your respiratory pause and the target is aligned with your sights. Yes, NPOA is important for this stage too.
What if you’re using a scope and want to hold center of mass? No problem on a nice square at 25 yds. Easy, peasy. So, where do you place your horizontal crosshair when shooting the “D” target? Where on the “shoulder” of the target gives you maximum points to earn that much coveted but elusive Rifleman’s patch? Might I suggest that you try something different? First off, you should set your scope at a low power setting … no more than 4x … that is a given even if you continue to shoot center of mass. The different part is to set up your scope to shoot a 6 o’clock hold by setting your horizontal crosshair on the bottom of the 25 yd. square and use the hold overs noted above. Yes, it works … I’ve done it, and you can too. Is it conventional? Hell no! But you’re not shooting for convention, you’re shooting for a score that will get you the Rifleman’s patch ... stay focused on the prize.
What if you’re using a red-dot? You have more work to do since it’s hard to hold a dot anywhere but center of mass. Make sure your red-dot is smaller than 4 MOA and get a good zero on the 25 yd. square targets. If it’s bigger than 4 MOA, do your best to turn down the power so that you can use a 6 o’clock hold and follow the suggestions above.
What if you want to shoot factory open sights ... front post of some sort and a notch for the rear sight? Fuhgeddaboudit ... buy some Tech Sights or a scope. Have people earned their Rifleman patch using factory sights? Sure, but who wants that sort of aggrevation?
The Appleseed AQT is a game and you need to use every advantage to win this game.
If you want to practice before the event, or just verify what I stated above, you can print out the attached targets. They’re PDF’s that were available to the Appleseed Instructors back when I was still volunteering for that program. Print them at full scale on 8-1/2” x 11” paper.
Best of success on your Appleseed event. You are sure to learn much and it's all good intel to learn about your rifle.
How do I know this works, well, I spent a little bit of time as an Appleseed Instructor (and Shoot Boss, and State Coordinator, and .... well, it just doesn't matter since I was unvolunteered from that program). Plus, I tried everything that is listed below and have shot a Rifleman score on multiple occassions.
So, here’s the pro tip for anybody shooting an Appleseed AQT and wants to earn their Rifleman patch. Since the whole idea is to get a maximum score, you need to hit the area that scores the most points. To do this with the zero set from earlier in the training program you’ll need to adjust your aim point. Sounds simple, here's how it works out with the AQT target.
Let’s say you are shooting a 6 o’clock hold with aperture sights (Tech Sights). When you zero at 25 yds (25 meters … whatever), you’re setting your point of impact to be 1/2” above your point of aim. Keeping all your shots in the black on this target translates to a 4 MOA group. All well and good on a 1” square. Now move to the modified “D” target used for the AQT.
The target for the slow fire prone stage (Stage 4) has the TOP of the V circle (the 5 scoring area) right at 1/2” above the bottom of the dark area on the target. The 6 o’clock hold works great here. Keep in mind that the width of the 5 scoring area isn’t a full 1” wide, so finding your NPOA for each target is critical. As is knowing that your shots are going to group in a 2 MOA (1/2" square) area, not a full 4 MOA (1" square) area. If you are keeping all your shots in the 4 MOA square at 25 yds. then you will be scoring 5’s and 4’s on the 4th stage. Remember that this stage has a 5 minute time limit. If anything, and I mean ANYTHING, doesn’t jive when you check your NPOA, reset before firing your shots.
The target for the rapid fire prone stage (Stage 3) has the MIDDLE of the V circle (the 5 scoring area) at 1/2” above the bottom of the dark area on the target. The 6 o’clock hold also works great here. Since the target is larger, the 1” square (4 MOA square) is mostly 5’s. Time is much shorter for this stage, so finding your NPOA for each target is critical. Find your NPOA, verify your NPOA, then TRUST your NPOA. You don’t have time to fuss your shot. Remember, finding NPOA is part of your preparation period! When you get into position, it should be very close to NPOA if you did your work during your prep period.
The target for the rapid fire sitting stage (Stage 2) has the BOTTOM of the V circle (the 5 scoring area) right at 1/2” above the bottom of the dark area on the target. The 6 o’clock hold does not work so great here. To maximize your score on this stage, you want to hold just slightly above the 6 o’clock hold … let your front post just drift into the black. If you are keeping all your shots in the 4 MOA square at 25 yds. you will receive more 5’s than 4’s with this approach. Time is short and sitting is an uncomfortable position for most, so make sure you have your NPOA before sending your shots (remember to use your prep period wisely … heck, put a big handful of spit on your mat at your first NPOA so that you don’t have to figure it out when you first sit). You might find it more expedient (and higher scoring) to use the kneeling position here … especially if you’re shooting a bolt or lever action rifle.
The target for the standing stage (Stage 1) has the BOTTOM of the 5 scoring area at 1/2” above the bottom of the dark area of the target. The 6 o’clock hold fails on this target. You will want to hold center of the black area to have the best chance of scoring 5’s and 4’s on this stage. The center of the black area is just above the “shoulders” of the black target area. Remember that there are 2 minutes on the clock for this stage. That is an eternity. Take your time, rest, and take two or three shots when you are at your respiratory pause and the target is aligned with your sights. Yes, NPOA is important for this stage too.
What if you’re using a scope and want to hold center of mass? No problem on a nice square at 25 yds. Easy, peasy. So, where do you place your horizontal crosshair when shooting the “D” target? Where on the “shoulder” of the target gives you maximum points to earn that much coveted but elusive Rifleman’s patch? Might I suggest that you try something different? First off, you should set your scope at a low power setting … no more than 4x … that is a given even if you continue to shoot center of mass. The different part is to set up your scope to shoot a 6 o’clock hold by setting your horizontal crosshair on the bottom of the 25 yd. square and use the hold overs noted above. Yes, it works … I’ve done it, and you can too. Is it conventional? Hell no! But you’re not shooting for convention, you’re shooting for a score that will get you the Rifleman’s patch ... stay focused on the prize.
What if you’re using a red-dot? You have more work to do since it’s hard to hold a dot anywhere but center of mass. Make sure your red-dot is smaller than 4 MOA and get a good zero on the 25 yd. square targets. If it’s bigger than 4 MOA, do your best to turn down the power so that you can use a 6 o’clock hold and follow the suggestions above.
What if you want to shoot factory open sights ... front post of some sort and a notch for the rear sight? Fuhgeddaboudit ... buy some Tech Sights or a scope. Have people earned their Rifleman patch using factory sights? Sure, but who wants that sort of aggrevation?
The Appleseed AQT is a game and you need to use every advantage to win this game.
If you want to practice before the event, or just verify what I stated above, you can print out the attached targets. They’re PDF’s that were available to the Appleseed Instructors back when I was still volunteering for that program. Print them at full scale on 8-1/2” x 11” paper.
Best of success on your Appleseed event. You are sure to learn much and it's all good intel to learn about your rifle.
