On Saturday, June 9th, and Sunday June 10th, The Wayne County Militia deployed to the newly enhanced berm at The Badlands Training Facility at an undisclosed location in Monroe County.

Of course, we just HAD to break in the new berm as best as we could, and there is no better way to do that than with our favorite drill: The Four Pin Run and Shoot!!

The event will normally be conducted with a minimum of Level One gear.

You may have heard us mention this before, but let me explain what this drill is about: The goal is to knock down four bowling pins with your rifle, from distances which vary from 100 yards to 25 yards. This is normally a timed event. Time begins with your first shot, which is from a standing position at 100 yards. You may use the post at the range bench for support if you wish, you don't have to if you don't.

After the first pin drops, you then put your weapon on "safe", take your finger off of the trigger, and then run to the second position, which is kneeling, at about 75 yards. There will usually be something likea sawhorse there, which you may use for support. You don't have to use any support, but if you want to you can. You then knock down the second bowling pin.

After the 75-yard pin goes down, you then put your weapon on "safe", take your finger off of the trigger, and run to the third position, which is prone unsupported at about 50 yards. There will be some kind of marker to indicate where you are supposed to go prone. Prone unsupported will very likely be the most commonly used firing position in any type of warfare. It is the position that the military primarily trains Infantry soldiers to use. Always use caution when dropping down into a prone position, as it is possible to crack weapon stocks, and body parts if not done properly. At this point, you knock down the third pin.

Following the effective dispatch of the third pin, you then put your weapon on "safe", take your finger off of the trigger, get up from the prone position (this can be fun to watch, especially if you are watching some of us older, and slightly ummmm...bulkier militia people), and proceed to the last position, which usually is a standing unsupported position, but somehow, a lot of the guys drop down into a kneeling position. Though the last pin is only 25 yards, it is by far the hardest to hit, both because of the standing unsupported position, and the fact that one has just ran (or lumbered) 75 yards with a combat load.

Time stops when the final pin goes down.

At this point, it is critical that you lock and clear your rifle, put it on "safe", and re-set the bowling pins. If the range people think you haven't done this, they will yell very loudly. Don't take this personally, we are just trying to be safe.

This is possibly the best drill we have come up with. Personally, I love it. We have come up with several drills for the range, and may collect them into a book.

We also have (ta-daa!) an excellent videotape of this event, which will be compiled with other video segments, like the Independence Shoot, for your enjoyment, amusement, and we hope, inspiration.

Come on out with us next time......

-Lee