Schützenfest & Paintball (Hagerstown, MD)

This unique event was for our members, prospective members, family, & friends.  The purpose of this event is to familiarize participants with the actual workings & feel of firing a rifle with live ammunition. By actually shooting their rifle live, they got to better understand how different it is when compared to the usual blanks used at events.  For the Marksman competition, our members used their own German K98s.  The winner of the shoot was awarded the German marksman lanyard which can be worn on his uniform during "walking out" occasions.  

The main purpose of the paintball part of the day was to have FUN.  The second purpose had a more educational reasoning behind it.  While reenacting, many of us don't realize what it is like to really be shot at with actual rounds coming at us.  While not really the same, paintball guns offer a way for us to simulate actual in coming fire.  It is hoped that this combat exercise using period tactics had an effect on our members to help them better understand how the maneuvers/tactics actually worked with incoming & suppressing fire.  Most came out of this experience with a better understanding of how one would react when a shot is heard or how they should avoid open fields.  No longer will they just walk tall, but rather stay low. By taking this experience & using it while at historical events, they have hopefully added a new aspect to their combat impressions.