The equipment
A while ago I posted this photo. In preparation for a rifle training weekend, I had purchased a Ruger 10/22 rifle. In this photo it is bone stock, although it is the 'Tactical' version, which means it comes with a Picatinny rail. It came with one 10-round magazine which sits flush in the rifle body.
The research
A family member had told me about the rifle training he did with Project Appleseed. It did sound like a lot of fun, and since I had no rifle handling skills to speak of, let alone any theoretical knowledge, I decided to check Project Appleseed out. After reading up on their different programs, I decided to sign up for the 'appleseed' event. This is a two-day program that 'teach the rifle marksmanship skills that were once commonly practiced in America', according to their website.
You can read more about the program I picked (and browse the rest of their website) here: Project AppleseedProject Appleseed
The preparation
The Appleseed website has information that helps you prepare for their training, including which rifles are allowed (and which ones are not), what to wear etc. There are also a few modifications to your rifle they suggest you apply to your rifle in order to make your life during training easier. As I was a complete newb in rifle land, I decided to follow these suggestions.
The first modification I made was to add a sling to my rifle. A USGI-style sling was purchased, along with the locking swivel set needed to attach it to the rifle stock. These items I purchased from Appleseed's own store, but of course you are free to buy them anywhere you like. Earlier, I had already installed a larger magazine release lever.
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One more modification was made: the stock sights were replaced with GI-style sights. These are both adjustable; front sight for elevation, rear sight for windage. After attempting to remove the stock front sight myself, I decided to leave it to a professional and had a local gunsmith do it. Didn't take but a minute while I browsed the store.
With these modifications I should now be ready to do the training. The rifle now looked like this:
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