Retro Friday: Riflery Skill
Posted by phil
I feel like a staple of Camp has always been learning to shoot a .22 Rifle. For a very long time, we have been teaching boys to safely and accurately shoot rifles here at Camp Ridgecrest. The rifles have changed a bit. As far as I know, they have always been a .22; does anyone remember differently? And the Riflery Range has changed a few times as well. But one thing will probably never change. Boys love to learn how to safely shoot rifles. They love to hit the target, to hit the bulls-eye, and to get better with each lesson. Camp Ridgecrest Riflery Skill was my first opportunity to learn the proper technique of how to shoot. What about you? Tell us below what you remember…
Posted in News | Tagged Camp Alumni, Camp Ridgecrest, Retro Friday, Ridgecrest Summer Camps, Rifelry
When I was a Choctaw camper in 1972, the Riflery instructor’s name was Will. I still today get a laugh when I hear the command “Shoot at Will!”
Well, if metal of lead has current market value
I’d suggest that one dig in the soil of the draw
between Arap hill and old red Infirmary.
And also give dig in that old log horizontal
upon which all targets were pinned.
There’s years of old riflery deep in that ravine.
buried from short-case loads from our carbines.
Always with discipline, and always with fun
we fired rounds with focus from our bolt action guns.
Then sent with a march to retrieve proof in targets
of what we had thought we had done.
Lots of lead in that log and in that sloped moist ravine.
Lots of deep thumping click as we loaded the chambers.
Firing with utmost attention to discipline,
again, a lesson of Ridgecrest.
Soft lead projectile lodged deep in in soft log.
has pierced paper of target,
done its job.
Now with a blunt blade I dig log and retrieve it,
single bullet, hunk of lead.
Were I had known of what force and velocity
other projectiles elsewhere were whirring.
But in that ravine, soft log and soft knife,
Best I could do was muse upon bullet,
Next skill was archery.
There was one year in the 50’s when they replaced the .22s with Crossman CO2 Pellet guns, didn’t work out too well as the gas went down, the accuracy went down too. We had leather slings on the rifles we shot and used the slings to brace for additional support, military style I think.
I have since added BB guns to my assemble
Copper pellets.
My son,a Ridgecrester, loved them.
As did I did.
Wow I came across this photo while browsing the site and I am 99% sure that I am the camper on the left that is shooting. I am the one the counselor is helping. I am pretty sure he was my cabin counselor but I can’t remember his name. This would have been around 1980 or 1981. Anyway this picture made my day! If anyone knows the names of that counselor or the other campers please post. I sure do remember a lot more about the rifle range now that I have seen this picture.
Erik,
Great to hear from you! We are excited that you ran across this picture. I personally don’t know any more details about who else is in that picture, but hopefully someone else will see this and respond! Thanks!!