Get Trained!! Project Mapleseed Event Rocks!! 13 Oct 2017

TacticalTeacher

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Location
Georgian Bay, ON
One of the many joys of being a Training Geek that I am, happens whenever I encounter new-to-my-matches shooters. It's quite interesting to hear the first thing out of their mouths in conversation....

"I have a newly purchased McMillan Tac-50, how do I get started in PR?" :eek:

"I'm attending a sniper course in Northern Ontario, you likely will have never heard of this place...." :nest:

"I just bought an Accuracy International rig in .338 Lap Mag, why do I need a .22 trainer?" :evil:

I call these conversation starters, "The KISS of death..." and this experience usually does not end too well for the shooter... :wave:

If you want to get serious about PR shooting, then get some great fundamental training at the (Facebook Search them...) Project Mapleseed Event nearest your home gun club.

These guys are fantastic and their delivery is right up there with mine, better yet, I'm stealing some of their shzt... that's the ultimate compliment!

So here are some pictures and some anecdotal comments to accompany them...

Get a decent .22LR rig with a magazine feed (lots of magazines, too) and mount up the best optics you can. Don't cheap out on the optics. Here's a Vortex PST scope for around $1600 with MRad reticle

22309059_520287578306079_8594110486630775498_n.jpg




22310196_520288364972667_5233611381502291126_n.jpg



I'm using a CZ455 American Synthetic as my personal trainer rig. The optic is a Falcon Optic from Frontier Firearms 5 x 25 x 56mm FFP or front focal plane MRAD reticle

My sling is a Turner Saddlery Biothane (material) M1907 Sling. They are in Clay, Abalama and they ship to Canada. This is the last sling you will buy...


22310323_520287304972773_866709581642720888_n.jpg


Along my journey to my first Black Belt, my sifu/master/sensei/instructor/mentor reminded me that, "Goals you set , are goals you get..."

It's nice to win the Rifleman badge, but the payoff is in your increased skills and marksmanship and self esteem and confidence. That confidence is what you take to the matches with you. Well, the skills too.... :cool:



22489748_520287728306064_4418716203582066_n.jpg




I get a kick out of hunters (I worked at Barrie Cabelas store Gun Counter) who tell me that there's no need to train in the standing position. It costs too much money to shoot from the standing when I can merely sit on the bench.

Well, it costs more money and pride if you DON'T train from the standing position and miss your Trophy Moose/Deer/Bear/Elk/Goat/Sheep



22489909_520288228306014_6230530494269077906_n.jpg




22491494_520288534972650_7978873414820096732_n.jpg



Adopt the sitting position and discover what position gives you the best stability... which leg in front? Take a Yoga class , this helps old pharts like me get into position.



22491761_520288951639275_8245606117232440431_n.jpg



Now have a look at the use of the sling... find a good sling that works for your training purposes. If you are not training, I'm sorry to announce that you ain't gonna have much success once we start stressing you in the competition games.

Examine the different .22LR rigs and their optics choices. You are only limited by your imagination. We even had many iron sight shooters at this event.


22528118_520289008305936_6195760306834231695_n.jpg



Once you get good with your different positions, expand your comfort level and start shooting with a tripod and PIG Saddle



IMG_0163.jpg



In short... they Project Mapleseed folks are top shelf. Their training methodology is top notch and most parallel to my brand of delivery. The $40 or $50 or $60 they charge for ONE day of very intense training understates their great abilities/potential. :wave:

Warmest regards out there!!

Barney

AKA, your tactical Teacher!
 
Last edited:
Thanks for the write-up Barney! We really appreciate your participation, support and encouragement!

For us as a non-profit, the goal is providing cost-effective fundamental marksmanship instruction to Canadians while building a community. We will be adding more layers to the learning lasagna in the future that will provide an even better foundation, as well as some new jokes :) That should set folks up very well for your matches and clinics.

We are pretty overwhelmed by the interest and are going to be ramping up over the winter to deliver more events to more places in 2018.

Cheers,

Kevin
 
+1. I attended Project Mapleseed earlier this autumn, and it was excellent.

BTW, super expensive equipment is not required to learn the fundamentals and shoot reasonably well. Here is the gear I used:
- Ruger 10/22, 22" stainless barrel ($340 on clearance at my local Crappy Tire)
- 2 Ruger mags
- UTG Picatinny rail (too short for the scope's eye relief, the downside of online shopping, lol)
- Simmons Pro-Target 3-9x40 scope (not bad at all, $120 on Amazon) with Weaver rings
- 1" nylon webbing, 1/2" nylon webbing, plus some quick release buckles to create a makeshift adjustable sling. Transitions were super easy: plastic buckles go click-click way faster than standard sling attachments. And it cost about $8 to build.
- UTG butt pad (1" SKS tactical) to adjust LOP - the standard 10/22 stock is too short for me.
- decent ammo - CCI works well.

I also tried doing it with SKS and iron sights for s and g.
 
Last edited:
Mapleseed is on my radar, now just need to find a way to avoid timing conflicts like this year.

Oh, and Barney is behind the counter in Barrie Cabelas ? :) I foresee some folks talking your ears of now ...
 
Mapleseed is on my radar, now just need to find a way to avoid timing conflicts like this year.

Oh, and Barney is behind the counter in Barrie Cabelas ? :) I foresee some folks talking your ears of now ...

Ha ha ha ha.... I was with the store opening back in Summer of 2014. And I do have great stories of Gun Counter conversations. Many people did not know who I was back then. All great fun. :evil:

Now back to the Project Mapleseed fun... it's top shelf instruction and the takeaways are plentiful! These guys rock! And why shouldn't you. Kelly was telling me the targets are 4 MOA or something like that so super accurate rifles are not always warranted. Can you shoot a box stock .22 LR rifle? Sure you can... :eek:

It's all good! :wave:

Barney
 
Any plans for courses out Alberta way?

The Mapleseed folks were in Edson and Grande Cache last summer. Maybe one of them will chime in here for some 2018 dates. I was also working on buckaroo my CQB counterpart at CDTSA Milo Range to host the Project Mapleseed. Especially in their Junior Program context. Win-win, Baby.... :cool:

Cheers, Barney

:wave:
 
TT, I did a mapleseed this past spring with a savage mark 2 and Bushnell AR Optics 4x12x40.

Great fun running through the Mapleseed Qualification Test with a bolt gun beside all those 10/22s. RIFLEMAN!
 
The Mapleseed folks were in Edson and Grande Cache last summer. Maybe one of them will chime in here for some 2018 dates. I was also working on buckaroo my CQB counterpart at CDTSA Milo Range to host the Project Mapleseed. Especially in their Junior Program context. Win-win, Baby.... :cool:

Cheers, Barney

:wave:

Thanks Barney for all the support and kind words. Come back and shoot with us anytime!

Kelly
 
I had the chance to do an Appleseed shoot while in Texas - and based on a quick perusal of the Mapleseed site, I'm in. I've signed up for your mailing list and will be looking to attend Alberta and/or BC based shoots in 2018.

Based on what I'm seeing of targets and pics, my hunch is that there are a lot of parallels with the US Appleseed program - and if that is indeed the case, this is by far, bar none, the BEST value in terms of marksmanship instruction there is. Both in terms of dollars and time invested, I cannot think of any other endeavor that yeilds as much benefit from such a small investments.

I'm also glad to see that someone else has discovered the merits of biothane for shooting slings. I picked up a biothane Rhodesian sling from Andy's Leather prior to doing my Rifle 270 at Gunsite, and I have never looked back.
 
I've read about the project Appleseed events in the US and they seemed pretty cool, good to see similar ones here. I signed up for notifications on the website, and hopefully there will be an event or 2 in the BC interior. I know I'd like to do one, and I might be able to talk my wife into it too.
Kristian
 
I had the chance to do an Appleseed shoot while in Texas - and based on a quick perusal of the Mapleseed site, I'm in. I've signed up for your mailing list and will be looking to attend Alberta and/or BC based shoots in 2018.

Based on what I'm seeing of targets and pics, my hunch is that there are a lot of parallels with the US Appleseed program - and if that is indeed the case, this is by far, bar none, the BEST value in terms of marksmanship instruction there is. Both in terms of dollars and time invested, I cannot think of any other endeavor that yeilds as much benefit from such a small investments.

I'm also glad to see that someone else has discovered the merits of biothane for shooting slings. I picked up a biothane Rhodesian sling from Andy's Leather prior to doing my Rifle 270 at Gunsite, and I have never looked back.

What a great comment! See you when we make our way to Alberta and BC again in 2018!

Cheers, Kelly
 
Back
Top Bottom