I spoke with Para about history a few times and have been really disappointed about the lack of civics and history in school and marksmanship in Scouts. (My daughter is an avid shooter and despises what she now calls the “cookie scouts” for doing away with marksmanship.)
Over the last few months, I’ve been able to attend an Appleseed shoot and have been really impressed by the quality of content and the caliber of instructors.
I recently agreed to serve as a volunteer and built three “Liberty Training Rifles” to use as loaners; we have ample class slots and willing shooters (often vets and scouts) but not enough rifles to go around.
I’d like your help with that. My last fundraiser was crazy successful, so I asked Para if we could do a modest one with a goal to match my own contributions: three kitted out loaner rifles.
Here is my 255 character pitch from FundRazr:
“Oct 17, 1777 Gen Burgoyne’s attempts to quell American Revolution end in surrender for 6000 men. It is also my birthday! To celebrate, I am asking SigForum to help with loaner rifles for Project Appleseed and support a mission of history and marksmanship!”
Literally any amount will do: even a small contribution will buy slings, scope rings, etc. needed to build up a Liberty Training Rifle.
If you’d like to help (1) pass on marksmanship skills, (2) get others to learn about Colonial America and our Revolutionary War history, or (3) celebrate my birthday then please visit:
The butcher with the sharpest knife has the warmest heart.
July 25, 2023, 07:02 AM
MikeinNC
Tell us about the rifle OP.
"Violence, naked force, has settled more issues in history than has any other factor.” Robert A. Heinlein
“You may beat me, but you will never win.” sigmonkey-2020
“A single round of buckshot to the torso almost always results in an immediate change of behavior.” Chris Baker
July 25, 2023, 07:07 AM
Blume9mm
Number of years back I attended an Appleseed two day training event and was really impressed. I also through some fluke earned my patch. In fact, not sure they still have them, but the Rifleman pin was my idea. The really quality part of the program was the lack of politics during the lecture breaks... just history. In retrospect I do now find it kind of limiting in that it was all about April 19th and patriots shooting redcoats from distance.... I really think, if they have not already, they should teach about one if not the most major turning point of the revolution.. the battle Kings Mountain. It is where true markmansship made the difference.
All his life he tried to be a good person. Many times, however, he failed. For after all, he was only human. He wasn't a dog.” ― Charles M. Schulz
July 25, 2023, 10:46 AM
Legal Beagle
Woke up today to notifications from FundRazr that I already have enough for one rifle!
I was asked about the rifles:
I am a big fan of the now discontinued Marlin 795, which can be used with Tech-Sights or a 4x fixed power rimfire scope, but they are hard to find, and very few manufacturers make a 4x with any acceptable level of quality.
(I try to snag a rifle like that whenever I can find it; I’m up to three of them as loaners.)
Now, I look for a Ruger 10/22 with a .920” bull barrel, add a Vortex Crossfire II, Grov-Tec swivels and a USGI sling.
The rifle at dealer cost is right around $300, which is a small premium over $260 for the absolute base synthetic stock/barrel band, so a worthwhile spend on the upgrades. The optic is about $150 with rings etc., and another $50 puts swivels and a sling on the rifle.
That makes for a very good package for just about anything you would want to do with a .22.
I have also bought several Volquartsen Superlite rifles (at a discount, they are awesome to work with for LE/MIL) that I use as loaners; they are equipped with the same sling and swivels and a 2-7 Leupold rimfire scope.
Thanks for a great question and thanks to everyone who has an interest in this project! I have been trying to send out thank you emails to each and every person who has supported the fundraiser; I appreciate all of the help!!!
Originally posted by Blume9mm: Number of years back I attended an Appleseed two day training event and was really impressed. I also through some fluke earned my patch. In fact, not sure they still have them, but the Rifleman pin was my idea. The really quality part of the program was the lack of politics during the lecture breaks... just history. In retrospect I do now find it kind of limiting in that it was all about April 19th and patriots shooting redcoats from distance.... I really think, if they have not already, they should teach about one if not the most major turning point of the revolution.. the battle Kings Mountain. It is where true markmansship made the difference.
I can personally attest the lapel pin is alive and well! At my last Appleseed, everyone got one. I agree completely about the importance of the battle and think the scope of the history section is limited just to the first April 19 battles to get people excited about history and start them on the road to learning more. It certainly worked that way for me, and I was fascinated by Cowpens, Saratoga and Kings Mountain — but it started at Lexington for me.
Originally posted by Legal Beagle: I am a big fan of the now discontinued Marlin 795, which can be used with Tech-Sights or a 4x fixed power rimfire scope, but they are hard to find...
Every now & then, I come across a used 795. When I do, they're usually reasonably priced, around $125-150. They do not have the cachet or collectability of its similar sibling, the Model 60, which sells for more.
Main problem about 795s now are its magazines. They're out of production and becoming prohibitively expensive. I believe going rate is $50-60 for 10rnd mags.
July 25, 2023, 12:06 PM
Legal Beagle
If you can find them, please tell me where! Mags are coming back down to about $30 per, so not /as crazy/ as they used to be:
300 + 36 = Ruger and three mags 200 + 90 = Marlin 795 and three mags
The 795 was a screaming deal for a long time and my hot take is a pre-Remington 795 is better out of the box for Appleseed than a base model 10/22 carbine. That gap narrows very very quickly with some Volquartsen small parts like the bolt release etc., and it’s a way more customizable platform.
I wouldn’t be the least bit upset to grab some 795s if I could find them in good condition.
You guys are amazing!! All of your kind messages and your support gave me a huge lift this week. Thank you all so, so much.
I’m really grateful to have your help. To share a quick story, I shot this past weekend at an Appleseed with a guy about 45-50 who had never shot and was afraid of guns. He came with two of his friends, both vets, and took like it to a duck to water. Started out with a loaner and confident he’ll be buying his first rifle soon.
Super excited to share my update with y’all! Thanks to your generous support thus far, I was able to order three (3) 20” threaded light varmint 10/22s from my FFL at cost and get them on the way to my local Appleseed shoot boss. A&A Optics was able to hook me up with two 2-7 Vortex Crossfire Rimfire optics and rings at a substantial discount, and Chad and Scott from Volquartsen generously donated a gift card to cover all the “guts” for two rifles and one Mark III (for the Appleseed pistol clinic). I’m really, really close to my goal of three fully equipped rifles. If you’d like to help, please consider supporting my campaign so I can finish strong with one more optics package, three sets of slings/swivels, and three shooting mats. I plan to get some pictures soon when everything arrives and is assembled. We have shoots in September and December so looking forward to getting some range reports as well. Thanks again to everyone!!!
The butcher with the sharpest knife has the warmest heart.
September 25, 2023, 10:55 PM
Legal Beagle
It’s been a while since an update, so I thought I would share one with y’all. I purchased three (3) Ruger 10/22 varmint rifles, two Vortex Crossfire, and some slings. I also had a generous donation of a scope and $500 worth of parts from Volquartsen, which went into the purchased rifles. The result was fantastic! Thanks to your generous support, I was able to get rifles into the hands of an El Paso scout troop for an Appleseed!
The kids had a blast, as did everybody hosting the event.
It was really humbling to be able to help these kids fire a rifle for the first time and teach them about American history and liberty. It would not have been possible without y’all.
We have several more shoots planned for the rest of the year so I’d like to keep the campaign going, and hopefully add one or two more rifles to our loaner pool.
If you’re looking for a good way to celebrate Oktoberfest, my birthday(!!), or want more cool Appleseed photos, please consider supporting my loaner rifle fundraiser!
then please visit:
